Board of Directors

Dr Jason Lai, Chief Technical Officer

William Haynes, Vice President of Business Development

Don Collins

Mr. Collins is Chief Executive Officer of Western Research Institute (www.westernresearch.org) since December 2007. He leads a diverse R&D team in development of clean fossil and renewable energy technologies, environmental remediation and prevention technologies, highway asphalt and pavement advancement, and highly specialized analytical services and test devices.

Previously Mr. Collins spent six years working for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Mostly recently he was Director of the Power Systems Division for the Office of Coal Power and R&D, where he managed and was responsible for the implementation of technology research and development, and national initiatives for advanced hydrogen turbine and fuel cell technology programs. In this position he led nine project managers in the definition of R&D problem statements/needs and in the selection and negotiation of financial assistance $140M/YR R&D agreements with external participants, including industry, academia, other national laboratories, and state and federal agencies. The division managed 115 projects with total value of $1.7B.

In addition, he assisted the Federal Project Management Center of NETL in development of project management guidelines and methodologies specifically for basic and applied R&D endeavors. He served on the Technical Advisory Board for the West Virginia University Advanced Power and Electricity Research Center and a joint project between the NETL Office of System Analysis and Policy and Carnegie Mellon University to studying energy storage technologies and market cost-benefits.

Prior to becoming the Director, Mr. Collins was the Fuel Cell R&D Project Management Team Leader. He managed fuel cell research and development projects executed via cooperative agreements with external organizations. Responsibilities primarily focused on reviewing, assessing, and awarding research proposals/plans and negotiating technical project work scopes for the overall fuel cell program team and for specifically assigned projects. Duties included developing and processing solicitations for fuel cell technology research and development. Efforts were closely coordinated with program stakeholders to integrate R&D focus with overall Department of Energy goals and funding levels.

Dr. Victor Gatto Jr.

Dr. Gatto is a corporate executive in profit and non-profit organizations, and brings EMPS extensive experience in managing and funding in renewable energy projects. Dr. Gatto is Principal and Chief Operating Officer for Caletta Renewable Energy. He is leading the development of a renewable energy initiatives including deployment of innovative gasification technology to convert available biomass feedstocks into electric power.

Dr. Gatto spent seven years developing the key business sector for the environmental company, Molten Metal Technology, Inc. ("MMT"). Under his leadership as President of Molten Metal Technology of Tennessee, the Government and Nuclear Sector of MMT produced more than $140 million dollars in revenue, and the sector grew from one person to more than 200 employees in five years. He secured over $30 million in research and development support and then created two key strategic partnerships for the technology rollout, a $70 million joint venture with Westinghouse and a $90 million partnership with Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Dr. Gatto also has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector as an administrator and in technology companies as a senior officer and director. Dr. Gatto serves as Chairman and CEO of Achieve Telecom Network, a telecommunications carrier that provides distance learning transmission services.

Prior to his tenure with MMT, Dr. Gatto worked in Massachusetts State politics and for 20 years was actively involved in education and athletics. In addition to earning a doctorate degree in education from Harvard, Dr. Gatto coached football at three colleges, Bates College, Tufts University and Davidson College and played an academic role at each school as well.