I believe that changing the world is possible and see the critical role that solving the waste plastics problem plays in that change.Therefore I joined the team at Braven Environmental, LLC a technology company that aims to establish a network of facilities to redirect and process three million tons of waste plastics away from landfills and waterways annually by 2030. We have designed, built, and tested a comprehensive system that uses a proven science, pyrolysis, to turn waste plastics into chemical feedstocks and oil blend stocks.As Director of Engineering my responsibilities include:• Leading the Engineering team staff of 6-7 expected in 2024, with expansion as additional plants come online. This includes all engineering staff and records management.• Leading operations / maintenance advisory staff of two team members.• Engineering office locations are anticipated in Houston, TX and Pittsburgh, PA. Plants will have engineers located at each site as well.

In looking back at what I have done in my professional life and trying to decide what to do next I came to the realization that my real core competencies center on innovation. The knowledge and skills I have developed lay predominately in moving ideas into practice.Innovation implies much more than merely invention. If you haven't convinced anyone to implement, you haven't innovated. According to a dictionary, innovation is the introduction of something new that deviates from established doctrine and practice. The act of creation, of making something new, is only the first step in a long path to change. What makes something innovative is not just that it is new, but that it takes root in some way to cause people to change material or intellectual habits and replace the old with the new.Innovation refers to the adoption of a better, cheaper, or both and as a result, novel product, idea or method, whereas invention refers to the creation of the idea itself.I have concluded that inventors who come up with ideas with no practical use don’t help with growth, profitability, increased market share or stability – it is Innovation, rather than invention, that really counts. Early in my career I obtained several patents that were never commercial. My current patents and those pending are directed toward driving innovations not just unique ideas.Therefore, on October 8, 2014, I formed “CBI Applied Innovation LLC” and the trade name “Applied Innovation” to allow me to better focus my competences. While not abandoning my current endeavors; I hope to begin to consolidate the “innovation” aspects of them into the new venture and eventually attract like-minded individuals to join me in the effort. Applied Innovation provides advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations transitioning scientific and technical concepts to end user acceptance.

As Chief Science Advisor as requested I use an understanding of the company's needs and identifying opportunities that meet them. When requested I prepare feasibility, pre-design and pre-construction phases of projects; overseeing all design issues and coordinating with estimating and project management services on design-build projects. I also provide guidance as requested on permitting and community relations effort. This includes anticipating and overcoming challenges to maximizing success.IGP Energy, Inc. (IGP) began in 2007 and co-developed the catalytic synthesis of butanol and higher alcohols with Haldor Topsøe A/S (Topsøe). The technology will convert carbon sources such as natural gas, biomass, municipal waste or downstream gas from coal gasification into Butanol and other Higher Alcohols (HA). IGP Methanol evolved as an additional project line that has progressed at more rapid pace. We are also working on the development of US based plants along the lower Mississippi River to supply methanol to chemical factories and for transportation fuel. We currently have Title V air permits for four plants.I was engaged in the design of a potential ultralow ammonia plant near Corpus Christy Texas.

The West Virginia Office of Miners Health Safety and Training (OMHST) is one of the world’s oldest mine safety enforcement agencies. It predates the US federal program by over 75 years. In addition to enforcement, OMHST is also a leader in pursuing technologies and practices that increase safety for miners.It is that function that I led. As Applied Engineering Adviser I evaluated mine safety technologies and practices. Coordinated the approval process for technologies. Advised accident investigations. I also represented the State of West Virginia in regional and national negotiations on mine safety standards. I served as the Chair of the Mine Safety Committee of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, the congressionally recognized organization of the Governors of the mining states. I also am currently still a peer reviewer for the MSHA and NIOSH mine safety groups and am frequently called on to consult with international groups and governments.

The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority is Federally Chartered Urban Redevelopment Corporation charged with advancing the economic viability of one of the nation’s most impoverished counties. They are recognized for their vision and success within the State of West Virginia and throughout the nation.As Director of Project Development I researched and marketed energy projects that fit resources and skills of the county and the surrounding region. I have been involved in the development of multiple small and large projects that are suitable for the Central Appalachia region.Often this activities leads beyond the traditional ‘salesman” function of county economic development, into actually conceptualizing and developing the partnerships required to create a new business or to expand an existing one.

TransGas Development Systems created innovative solutions to the conversion of coal into energy and value-added products. Specializing in the advanced utilization of solid carbon based feedstock, we partnered with the world’s biggest technology and engineering firms to develop unique solutions.TransGas was issued three construction and operation permits in the Central Appalachian region of the USA (two in Kentucky and one in West Virginia) for projects that utilized the most advanced forms of coal conversion into chemicals, liquid fuels and electricity. Functioning as Technical Director on loan from my position at the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, I coordinated the site selection, design, permitting and contracting for the projects. Participate in the exploration of International opportunities, prepare feasibility studies and building of the required partnerships.Challenges of funding new coal based projects eventually ended these efforts.

NETL is part of the US Department of Energy (DOE) and is the US National Laboratory charged with developing technology for production and use of natural gas, oil and coal.Key Assignments NETL Senior Advisor to the Director I was to stay knowledgeable about NETL operations, DOE HQ directions, Congressional actions, and industry trends in order to identify issues and opportunities before they would normally surface. I drafted summary reports and develop options, represented Director in meetings, interacted with Congressional staff. NETL Partnership Development Team Leader I consolidated regional development and technology transfer functions in one team. Goal was to identify emerging NETL developed technologies and build partnerships with business to commercialize. NETL Director of Management and Communications Division The mission was to provide strategic management and communications support to the laboratory. I realigned functions into a new Strategic Planning and Policy Office. NETL Regional Manager, Office of Advanced Fuels I was charged to strengthen support among regional leaders by establishing dialogs with Governors, Congressional delegations and Presidents of universities. NETL Senior Engineer, Office of Environmental Management I reviewed the technical soundness and project management of >$100 million in projects; robotics, remote sensing, protective equipment, and hazardous material handling.NETL Project Manager, Environmental Management Division Responsible for several R&D projects e.g. advanced sensing equipment developed with the Naval Surface Warfare Institute, and hydrocarbons detection (now used by TSA screeners).

Key Assignments DOE/HQ Project Manager, Los Alamos National Laboratory Assigned turnaround LANL Environmental Restoration Program that was labeled by national press as worst managed DOE program. Developed detailed project baseline that resulted in 40% schedule reduction & saving $4 billion. DOE/HQ Project Manager, Rocky Flats Solar Evaporations Ponds Assigned turnaround Rocky Flats Solar Evaporations Ponds Remediation Project behind schedule/over budget & subject of Congress investigation. Prepared project baseline & worked w/regulators; cutting 10yr schedule to 2yr, saving $120 million. DOE/HQ Co-Chair Secretary’s Ecosystem Management Initiative Tasked define future use policy for DOE’s 5 million acres. Visited all weapons & lab sites worked w/local mgmt, elected officials & NGOs & participated ~30 Congressional briefings resulting clear plans Congress estimated saved $100 billon. DOE/HQ Director, Future Use Project Office Developed & implemented process identify community supported future land use DOE major installations 16 states. Represented DOE in meetings w/Congressional, State, Community & Tribal leaders & participated in ~23 Congressional briefings & many public meetings. All sites had future use options in 24 months allowing cleanup. DOE/HQ Acting Director, Office of Integrated Risk ManagementNamed Acting Office Director awaiting Confirmation of nominee. Assembled staff, developed risk policy & conduct former weapons complex risk analysis for report to Congress. Visited all former weapons sites met local staff, citizens groups & represented DOE at White House meetings. Remained with the Office through the Risk Report to Congress. DOE/HQ Member, Residual Radiation Standards Development Working Group Member of an interagency group that developed RESRAD code now used by DOE, NRC & many States to set radiological cleanup levels.

I was recruited from the University of Florida where I was employed in their radiation management program while working toward my degrees, by Lockheed Martin, the operator for the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory for their Hazardous Waste Remedial Action (HAZWRAP) group. I was initially assigned to support the DOE's newly formed Office of Environmental Management (EM). As an Oak Ridge National Laboratory employee I provided technical support initially by review of legislation, I did the technical review of pending federal law concerning NEPA, CERCLA, RCRA, and EPA regulations. I then was assigned to lead a HAZWRAP team that was drafting and reviewing agreements for cleanup at DOE facilities in New Mexico, Ohio, Nevada, Florida and California. My team quickly grew to 10 PhD and 2 legal members. I spent most weeks traveling between the various locations attending meetings with local DOE staff with regulators and to Washington DC to meet with DOE HQ staff. As a new DOE organization focused on environmental cleanup grew, as one of their key contractors, I had become integral to their operations and thus offered me a job which I accepted.

During College I worked nights and weekends as a Psychiatric Technician at an adolescent psychiatric facility. This involved working with medical and other treatment staff in planning and executing treatment for adolescent’s who were placed in the facility due to a variety of problems. While it was a departure from my career path, it not only provided the funding to allow me to go to College, it helped me better understand the interpersonal aspects of management that have benefitted me throughout the rest of my career. In addition to assisting in treatment planning, I conducted group sessions, did crisis intervention, taught communication skills and acted as the facilities IT support. I later claimed, not without merit, that the group session skills I honed with psychiatric patients was key to my successful in managing technical staff. Grant Center was refocused on addition rehabilitation and renamed the Phenoix House and is part of the HCA family of treatment centers.

Originally hired as an Regional Engineer, I was reassigned to operations and progressed through Area Manager, District Manager then Regional Director of Operations. Bill Church was an engineer and the company designed and built all its equipment. During this period I was responsible for the design of several equipment advances that were patented by the Company including being part of the small team that designed and built a proprietary Point of Sale device and lead the writing of the software for the Company's units. Financial World magazine ranked Church's Fried Chicken as the nation's No. 1 growth company for several years in a row in the late 70's and by the mid 80's had over 1,000 stores world wide. I left after my daughter was born to return to college for degrees in physics and eventually nuclear engineering. Church's fell into decline after the death of its founder in 1980 underwent several changes in owenership and now exists as a regional franchise operation.

I joined Allied Radio on my 16th birthday. I had been an Amateur Radio Operator since I was in grade school. Allied Radio’s catalog had been the bible of this community as they sold not only transmitters but parts and test equipment. When they opened a store near my home in St. Louis I started going every chance I could. I knew the catalog better than many of the staff but they couldn’t hire me till I turned 16. I quickly moved from the stockroom to the parts sales then to department lead. The Store did $1.2 million in 1969, a huge sum. When I graduated high school they promoted me to Assistant Manager. The chain went through a series of mergers and I ended up with the retail division folded into the Team Electronics brand of Dayton Hudson (Target's Parent Company). Allied Radio is now Allied Electronics and still specializes in electronic parts and equipment for technicians. I was assigned to open a new market in Kansas City then as Area Manager for Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. I was next mover to Minneapolis where I ran the Central Store where we worked with their corporate marketing group on new products and campaign development and where new management and franchisees were trained. I left when my half-brother died at age 6 and returned to St. Louis to assist in my family’s construction business and where I took a position in the food service industry.

My Step Father owned a construction business. We specilized in residential and light commercial construction. In addition to custom builds we also did what ios called today flips, buying older buildings and updating them and small strip mall construction. I was expected to help after school and on the weekends.Over the years I became proficent in rough and finsih carpetntry, electrical, plumbing and sales. During High School I had evolved into the drafting role where i would work with potential customers to turnm their ideas into drawings that would be used for the construction. I did not only the general design, but the detailed electrical, pumbming ans site elevations that were then used during the construction.

My father was a master tool and die maker. he learned his trade as machinist in the US navy during WWII where he served first on the Yorktown then after it sunk in PT Boat Squadrons keeping them running. After the War he returned to St. Louis and worked of a custom fabrication shop that specialized in one-of-a-kind and small production runs for the aerospace and automotive industry.In 1958 he opened a small machine shop behind our house where he took on small projects as well. I worked there after school and weekends and he trained me in running the various machines. I became proficient enough that by age10 I was repairing and building new parts for customer’s farm equipment that had broken. I was able to run lathes, drill presses, milling machines, and to welded.My father was also an early adopter of what is now referred to as computer automated machines (CAM). We modified several of our machines to accept code for precision tooling. Since there were no computers to buy we built our own logic circuits and programed them. It is during this period my fascination with electronics and computers began. I was writing machine and assembly code for his machines while in middle and high school.My father was also an inventor and had several patents along with working with other inventors to prototype their ideas. He developed the prototype and the manufacturing tools for making the Dole fountain head that dispenses soft drinks even today. I can remember him had carving the prototype the melting the plastic on our stove to pour into the molds used by the inventor to make the sale to Coca-Cola.He passed in 1985 and was working as the head prototype maker for Brown Tool in Houston making the first production of drill heads and flexible stems used in horizontal drilling.