Algenol Executives and Advisors

Paul Woods
Chief Executive Officer
While working as a student in genetics at Western Ontario University in 1984, Paul Woods invented a method for producing ethanol from blue-green algae. Patents were established for the technology in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007.

Mr. Woods started his successful business career in 1989 at Alliance Gas Management, which completed an IPO in 1997. He built the firm, raised $80 million in capital, and sold the business in 1999. At the time of the sale, the company had 490,000 customer equivalents and $100 million in revenue. In 1997 Mr. Woods founded United Gas Management Inc. in the US, which grew to over 240,000 customers, 130 employees, over 800 sales people and $75 million in revenue. He then sold the company in 2000. Paul subsequently retired in 2000 when gasoline prices were very low, and crude oil prices had been under $20/b. for almost 15 years.

The last three years have brought about unparalleled change in the energy business with rapid volatility in demand and pricing of oil at a time of heightened political uncertainty in many oil-producing countries. Mr. Woods and his partners started Algenol Biofuels Inc. in Mar 2006 to commercialize the process on an industrial scale.

Craig Smith, M.D.
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
From 1993 to 2004, Dr. Smith served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly held biopharmaceutical company that he co-founded in 1993. From 1988 to 1992 Dr. Smith was Vice President of Clinical Research and from 1992 to 1993 Senior Vice President of Business and Market Development at Centocor, Inc., a publicly held biotechnology company, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. From 1975 to 1988, he served on the faculty of the Department of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Smith has served on many corporate and charitable Boards. He is currently a member of the Johns Hopkins Alliance for Science and a member of the Board of Directors of Adams Express Company (NYSE: ADX), a publicly held closed-end equity investment company, Petroleum & Resources Corporation (NYSE: PEO), a publicly held equity investment company specializing in energy and natural resources, Depomed, Inc. (NASDAQ: DEPO), a publicly held specialty pharmaceutical Company. Dr. Smith holds an M.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and trained in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1972 to 1975.

John Coleman, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. John R. Coleman was the Vice-Principal (Research and Graduate Studies) at the University of Toronto Scarborough, and a Professor in the Department of Cell and Systems on the St. George campus of the University of Toronto prior to joining Algenol. He was Chair of the Department of Botany from 1998 to 2004 and played a primary role in the formation of the new Department of Cell and Systems Biology in 2006. Dr. Coleman obtained his Ph.D. in plant biochemistry from York University in 1981 and continued his studies in plant molecular biology as an NSERC postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington at Stanford University prior to joining the University of Toronto in 1984. He has been a member of numerous grant selection committees for NSERC Discovery, Strategic and Facilities Access grant programs, is a member of the College of Reviewers for the Canada Research Chair program, and has reviewed numerous infrastructure applications for the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Dr. Coleman’s basic research program is funded by the NSERC Discovery grants program and has recently held research grants from the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) and Genome Canada. He was also the Principal Investigator for $6.9 million award from CFI for new plant growth facilities at the University of Toronto received in 2001.

Dr. Coleman’s research interests lie in the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry of photosynthetic carbon metabolism in higher plants and cyanobacteria. In particular, his research is examining how the initial substrate for photosynthesis, CO2, and photosynthetic products, such as sucrose and starch modulate gene expression and photosynthetic capacity. Some of his specific projects include: regulation of plant gene expression in response to elevated or sub-ambient CO2 concentrations; identification and characterization of CO2 responsive mutants of Arabidopsis; structure/function analysis of plant carbonic anhydrases; and genetic engineering of carbon metabolism in cyanobacteria. The use of model organisms in the lab, such as Arabidopsis and Synechococcus allows his research group to exploit technologies such as gene chip analysis of expression, generation of transgenics, and characterization of gene knock-out lines. Ultimately, knowledge gained from these studies can be employed to modify the products of photosynthesis and enhance the efficiency of this process. With atmospheric concentrations of CO2 increasing, optimization of plant photosynthetic performance and the development of novel plant-generated products may be an important strategy for mitigating the deleterious effects of high CO2.

Edward Legere, MBA
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Edward J. Legere has over 18 years experience in the biotechnology industry as a consultant and active business manager and has over ten years of public company experience in the role of member of the Board of Directors. He has also served as the President and CEO of publicly traded biotechnology company Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. While at Peregrine, he launched Avid Bioservices as a wholly owned subsidiary. Avid is a contract manufacturer of proteins made from mammalian cells which serves the biopharmaceutical industry. He received a BS in International Business from Florida Atlantic University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Ronald Chance, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of CUTCO2 Technologies LLC, an affiliate of Algenol
After graduating from Dartmouth College with a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Dr. Chance began his career with Honeywell Corporation, where he served at Research Manager, before accepting a position with Exxon as the Director of their Polymers and Fluids Laboratory, after which he became their Division Manager of Paramins Technology. After serving Exxon in these capacities for a decade, he has continued to work with Exxon as a Distinguished Scientific Advisor for the last 12 years. Currently, Dr. Chance is a Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ron Chance has edited two books and has filed over 30 U.S. Patents and patent applications. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Society of Petroleum Engineers, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the North American Membrane Society. Dr. Chance is also a fellow of the American Physical Society and sits on University Advisor Boards, including: Global climate and Energy Program – Stanford, Chemical Engineering – U. of Southern California. In 2006, 2007, and 2008, Ron Chance was appointed Distinguished Scientific Advisor Emeritus with Exxon Mobil.

Dax Denman
Senior Program Manager
Dax Denman received his B.S. in Microbiology from Indiana University and his M.S. in Molecular Physiology from the University of Virginia. He brings over 10 years experience from the bio-pharmaceutical industry commercializing recombinant therapeutic proteins through his work as a research scientist with Bayer Healthcare, and as project manager supporting technology transfer of commercial processes to Ireland, Germany, and Puerto Rico with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Amgen. Mr. Denman will, as Senior Project Manager, coordinate Algenol’s research efforts at it’s US and European facilities.  

Paul Dickerson, J.D., CPA
Energy Advisor
As chief operating officer at the Department of Energy’s office of energy efficiency and renewable energy (EERE), Dickerson oversaw the EERE’s $1.8 billion budget, helping to move alternative and renewable energy technologies from the “vision” stage to real-world development. As an expert on the pressing needs of the global energy market, he speaks about the tangible, real-world solutions that can be implemented now, from increasing efficiency, bio-fuels, solar, and wind investments, to connecting venture capitalists with the cutting-edge scientific researchers in the field of sustainable energy.

While at the Department of Energy, Dickerson led a team of 1,000 staff. Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Dickerson served as chief of staff for the United States and Foreign Commercial Service at the Department of Commerce. At the Commercial Service, he was responsible for day-to-day management of a worldwide network of 1,700 employees in 260 offices.
Dickerson is a Partner at the international law firm of Haynes and Boone, LLP, where he leads the firm’s clean-tech practice group. Dickerson has published numerous articles and frequently appears on the media circuit discussing politics, business, taxation, financing, and other issues relevant to international trade and business. Through articles, interviews and speeches, he has appeared regularly in the local, statewide, nationwide and international press, including frequent citations in the New York Times and the Houston Chronicle. Dickerson is an attorney and certified public accountant.

Edward Laws, Ph.D.
Algenol Scientific Advisor
Dr. Laws is a phytoplankton ecologist with scientific interests in algal physiology, primary production, water pollution and aquaculture. He is the author of more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific publications and several encyclopedia chapters. His college textbook entitled Aquatic Pollution, first published by John Wiley & Sons in 1980, is now in its third edition and has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. Dr. Laws received his bachelors degree in chemistry from Harvard University in 1967 and his Ph.D. in chemical physics, also from Harvard, in 1972. He joined the faculty of Florida State University as an instructor in the oceanography department in 1971. In 1974 he was hired as an assistant professor in the oceanography department of the University of Hawaii, where he remained for 30 years, becoming a full professor in 1984. Dr. Laws served as the dean of the School of the Coast and the Environment from 2005 through 2008 and is currently a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences. Dr. Laws’ most widely cited papers have included (1) continuous culture studies of carbon and nitrogen metabolism by marine phytoplankton, (2) field work related to phytoplankton growth rates, primary production, and nutrient uptake, and (3) theoretical studies related to the analysis and interpretation of experimental data.

Paul Falkowski, Ph.D.
Algenol Scientific Advisor
Paul G. Falkowski is a Board of Governors’ Professor at the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences and the Department of Geology at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He is also the acting director of the Rutgers Energy Institute. His research interests include biophysics, photosynthesis, photobiology, molecular evolution, signal transduction, apoptosis, biogeochemical cycles and symbiosis. He was named a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow in 1992, has been a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union since 2001 and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2002. In 2007 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and in 2008 became a Fellow at the American Academy of Microbiology.

Dr. Falkowski is an advisor to the National Science Foundation and NASA and serves on the Mars Architecture Mission team, the Earth System Science and Applications advisory Committee, is the co-chair of the IGBP Carbon Cycle Working Group, and a member of the Carbon Cycle Science Steering Committee. He has co-invented and patented a fluorosensing system that is capable of measuring phytoplankton photosynthetic rates non-destructively and in real time. He has authored or co-authored over 250 papers in peer-reviewed journals and books, is on the Board of Reviewing Editors for Science and is an associate editor of 5 other journals. Dr. Falkowski lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife and two daughters.

Joe Katz, Ph.D.
Algenol Scientific Advisor
Joseph Katz is the William F. Ward Sr. Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University. He is a Fellow of ASME, and the Technical Editor of the Journal of Fluids Engineering. His research focuses on experimental fluid mechanics and development of advanced optical diagnostics techniques for laboratory and field applications, including particle image velocimetry and holography. His group has been involved in studies of turbulent single and multiphase flows, bubble dynamics and cavitation, fuel droplets formation and transport, flow structure and turbulence within turbomachines, structure of turbulent flows, as well as turbulent boundary layer both in laboratory setting and in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean and within plant canopies. Using holography, his group has also been involved in measurements of swimming behavior of plankton both in the laboratory and in the ocean. He has received several awards including the 2004 ASME Fluids Engineering Award.

Benjamin Moll, Ph.D.
Algenol Scientific Advisor
Benjamin Moll brings a strong science and industry background to the project, with an education at Stanford (B.A., Biology), graduate work at U.C. Berkeley (PH.D., plant physiology) and University of Missouri (MBA), and industry experience with Advanced Genetic Sciences, DNA Plant Technology, Desert Energy Research and Sinaloa Seafields International.

At AGS, he worked on stress physiology, publishing several papers focused on chilling effects on photosynthesis, and on measurement technology. AGS later was merged with DNA Plant Technology, Inc. Dr. Moll's work, as a senior scientist included studies in transformation and selection aimed at chloroplast transformation, a goal later accomplished by DNAP scientist Pal Maliga. It was at DNAP that Dr. Moll began working on algae systems, and his interest in engineering high efficiency ethanol production resulted in US patent # 5,270,175, "Methods and Compositions for Producing Metabolic Products from Algae". In 1991, Dr. Moll left DNAP for Penn State, where he worked in the Biotechnology Institute. In 1994, he founded Desert Energy Research, Inc., with the intention of developing Enteromorpha as an energy crop. This work led to "Enteromorpha clathrata: A Potential Seawater Irrigated Crop.” Bioresource Technology, 52: 255-260, US Patent # 5,843,762, “Method for the high-yield agricultural production of Enteromorpha clathrata”, and US patent # 5,935,842, “Isolated Enteromorpha clathrata haploid progeny of Enteromorpha clathrata cv. Berkeley.” Dr. Moll's recent work has been on potential uses for seaweed products, algae production with minimal capital investment and operating costs, species control issues, and high yield Enteromorpha culture.

Robert Langer, Ph.D.
Algenol Scientific Advisor
Robert S. Langer is one of 13 Institute Professors (the highest honor awarded to a faculty member) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Langer has written approximately 1,000 articles. He also has more than 600 issued or pending patents worldwide. Dr. Langer’s patents have been licensed or sublicensed to over 200 pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology and medical device companies. He served as a member of the United States Food and Drug Administration’s SCIENCE Board, the FDA’s highest advisory board, from 1995 -- 2002 and as its Chairman from 1999-2002. Dr. Langer has received over 160 major awards including the 2006 United States National Medal of Science; the Charles Stark Draper Prize, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for engineers and the 2008 Millennium Prize, the world’s largest technology prize. He is the also the only engineer to receive the Gairdner Foundation International Award; 70 recipients of this award have subsequently received a Nobel Prize. In 1989 Dr. Langer was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and in 1992 he was elected to both the National Academy of Engineering and to the National Academy of Sciences. He is one of very few people ever elected to all three United States National Academies and the youngest in history (at age 43) to ever receive this distinction. Forbes Magazine (1999) and Bio World (1990) have named Dr. Langer as one of the 25 most important individuals in biotechnology in the world. Discover Magazine (2002) named him as one of the 20 most important people in this area. Forbes Magazine (2002) selected Dr. Langer as one of the 15 innovators world-wide who will reinvent our future. Time Magazine and CNN (2001) named Dr. Langer as one of the 100 most important people in America and one of the 18 top people in science or medicine in America (America’s Best). Parade Magazine (2004) selected Dr. Langer as one of 6 “Heroes whose research may save your life.”

Eberhart Voit, Ph.D.
Algenol Scientific Advisor
Eberhard Voit studied biology and mathematics at Cologne University, Germany, where he received Master’s degrees in biology and mathematics, and a Ph.D. in developmental and theoretical biology. He held research and faculty positions at the University of Michigan, the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and at a forest research center in Tasmania, Australia. Voit currently serves as the inaugural director of Georgia Tech’s new Integrative BioSystems Institute (IBSI). He is a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and the David D. Flanagan endowed chair in Biological Systems in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech, with the rank of Professor. He also holds appointments in Computing and Biology at Tech as well as a faculty position at Emory Medical School.

Voit’s research interests are in the area of complex systems in biology and medicine, and he is considered one of the leading experts in metabolic pathway analysis. He has authored or co-authored about two hundred scientific articles and book chapters as well as several books, two of which have been translated into Chinese. Voit has reviewed manuscripts, book proposal, and grant applications for numerous publishers and funding agencies, serves on several editorial boards, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Mathematical Biosciences. He regularly receives invitations to speak at international conferences and has presented uncounted seminars and workshops on biological systems within the U.S., in Canada, China, Germany, Japan, the Philippines, Portugal, and Taiwan.

Bob Jackson
Algenol Plastics Advisor
Before opening his own business, Bob Jackson started his career first at Peninsular Machinery, then Beloit, and then Farrel where he was an engineering and/or sales manager for the manufacturing of injection molding machinery. He later moved into the marketing arena as President of Marketing at American Eagle, then returned to engineering in 1985. He served as President and CEO of Novi Plastic Machinery, Rochester Plastic Machinery, and now, Jackson Machinery, Inc.

Mr. Jackson serves as National Councilman for the Blow Molding Division of the SPE and is Chairman of the Blow Molding Division of their Board of Directors.

Samuel Belcher
Algenol Plastics Advisor
Mr. Belcher is a graduate of University of Akron and received a BSME and completed the Marketing Management Program at Stanford Graduate School. Mr. Belcher started in the plastics industry in 1958 with Rubbermaid in Wooster, Ohio. Then spent 14 years with Owens Illinois in Toledo, Ohio, after which he served Wheaton Industries in Millville, N.J. as Research Director. After Wheaton Industries, he joined Cincinnati Milacron in Cincinnati, Ohio. After leaving Cincinnati Milacron in 1987, Mr. Belcher has been consulting in the plastics industry for over 20 years.

Mr. Belcher was inducted into “The Plastics Hall of Fame” in 2003 – the highest honor one can receive in the plastics industry. He has 60 U.S. and foreign patents, and has written chapter for SPE’s Handbook of Blow Molding, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, and Modern Plastics Encyclopedia.

Robert DeLong
Algenol Plastics Advisor
Following his graduation form Clarkson University with an honors degree in Chemical Engineering, Bob began his 52+ year career in plastics. He entered the business in 1956 working for Hercules on their newly developed polypropylene resin. His career-long association with polyolefins and blowmolding began there as he blew the world’s first PP bottles. He has worked in all aspects of the industry, from sales and marketing to technical service, managed three different production plants, and held management positions on the machinery side. A frequent lecturer and author, he is known and respected internationally. He was recognized for his expertise by his selection as a Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers, their highest honor, in 2003. He was chosen to receive the Lifetime Achievement award from the SPE’s Blowmolding Division in 2004. Retiring from a 20 year span at Ineos Polyolefins as a Senior Consultant, he established Blasformen Consulting in 2006.

David Binning, P.E. and AEM Corporation
Algenol System Engineering Advisor
Dave Binning has over 40-years of utility and urban systems experience. His background includes the planning, management, design, construction, start-up and operation of public utility systems, with a strong presence in the public water sector. He has held the most senior positions in both public water and wastewater as General Manager of urban and rural systems. He has years of senior management leadership as the Chief Engineer of one of the nation’s largest water providers. Among his achievements are:

Design, construction and start-up of a 120 MGD ozone water treatment plant. 75 MGD expansion of water treatment plant. Permitting, design, construction of 300 MGD off-shore, run of the river intake. Design, construction and start-up of 15 MGD activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. Design and installation of integrated Security System and Plant Control Systems (SCADA) for both major and rural water and wastewater systems. Led 16-nation infrastructure expansion and water system operation improvements for NATO. Formed and deployed 800-man construction company responsible for in excess of $60million in utilities and administrative facilities in its first year. Presented to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, May 18, 2005. David holds a Master of Civil Engineering, University of Delaware. David has held the following appointments: Director, Infrastructure Programs, Applied Engineering Management Corp. Director Planning & Engineering, Fairfax Water. Director of Infrastructure, North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Executive Officer, Public Works Center, Pearl Harbor, HI. Commanding Officer, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVEN. Director of Infrastructure, The White House. Facilities Manager, Naval Security Station, Washington, DC