Our Team
Our expertise in chemical engineering, intellectual property development and commercialization is extensive. Our domestic position and international industrial recognition and portfolio of patents, patents pending, proprietary and proven technologies are the foundation and strength that has elevated Algae to Energy™, LLC to a position of market leader in the alternative energy, biomass and energy sectors. Our contributions and breakthroughs in technology will be shepherded by an experienced and dedicated group of executives.
Tommie Merimon – Board Chairman & Chief Executive Officer – Founded and is currently the CEO of Algae to Energy, LLC., a woman owned Biofuels Company. Tommie is an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of diverse management experience and has held a variety of positions in business, healthcare and law. In 2007, with private funding she founded Missing Link Technology, LLC to exploit cutting edge, patented and patent pending technologies in the biofuels and alternative energy markets. Most recently, Tommie was instrumental in the acquisition of The Energy Freedom Park. In her former career, Tommie was a Director for a large national healthcare company where she was responsible for the risk management and claims department for many years. She has extensive experience covering research, consulting and training. [email protected]
James A. Hooper – President – Has over 20 years of progressive experience in all aspects of finance, strategy, new venture development, planning & analysis, capital raising, construction management, contracts and management. Jim’s primary area of expertise is in all facets of launching new business ventures. He is and entrepreneur, business owner and strategy consultant to numerous clients across a broad and extensive list of varying industries.
His wide-ranging and extensive background includes leading the finance and strategy disciplines for large corporations such as Edison International and has served entire organizations in the role of President and Chief Financial Officer in small to mid-sized firms in the energy, construction management, infrastructure, telecommunications, retail, hospitality, and the technology development and commercialization sectors to name a few.
He received his Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration on Entrepreneurship and Finance from the University of Southern California and his Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and Business Law from Cal Poly University. Jim resides in Pacific Palisades, California and Bella Vista, Arkansas and is involved in organizations supporting inner-city business development opportunities and is a Board Member of numerous profit and non-profit ventures [email protected].
John Bolan – Chief Financial Officer – Has advised on the placement of more than $5 billion in bond financings from more than 450 municipal financings since 1985. His clients have included bond issuing authorities, underwriters and financial advisors in 38 states. Also serves as Chairman/Chief Financial Officer of Structured Finance Corporation of America, located in Huntington Beach, CA, and is a specialist in the Bond Market. Prior to founding Structured Finance Corporation of America in 1986, Mr. Bolan served as Senior Vice President of Great American Federal Savings. Mr. Bolan received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Western Kentucky University.
Sam Shepherd – Chief Technology Officer – is an accomplished business man, scientist, inventor and a technical expert in the Energy and Environmental industries with proven technical application and commercialization abilities in a wide range of process technologies. These stem from his initial education in chemical engineering through progressing advancements through the Petrochemical Industry. He has extensive training in Homeland Security and is a Diplomat of the American College of Forensic Examiners, with specialties in WMD and COBRNE. He has held positions from Materials Specialist, Technical Engineer, Polymer Research Engineer, Production Engineer, and Sales Executive in a number of corporations, including Gulf Oil Chemicals, Air Products and Chemicals, and has held positions as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer in Bioset Inc. and as a Director of Holloman Corporation. [email protected]
Charles E. O. Anderson – Director of Strategic Planning & Analysis – Charles is a management and strategy professional experienced in all aspects of finance, strategy, real estate, new business development, and general sales management He specializes in financial planning & analysis, team building, general management, strategic planning, capital acquisition, and investment management relations.
Charles’ primary focus is in all facets of building new businesses and new venture management. He is a business owner and operator of a commercial real estate lender and brokerage. Charles has also provided strategy consulting to numerous clients across a broad and extensive list of varying industries primarily in the renewable energy sector. He is extensively involved in non-profit efforts including the development of a microfinance model to relocate underprivileged families from hotels to homes and serves as a representative for donor relations on behalf of the Bay Area Rescue Mission, a nonprofit organization. Charles received his BA degree in Advertising with a concentration in Business Management from California State University, San Diego and is currently completing his Post Graduate work at Stanford University (MBA – Class of 2010) [email protected]
Sean O’Hanlon – Director of Marketing and Public Relations – Serial Entrepreneur and consultant for 20 years to multi-million dollar International Business ventures throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. His knowledge base about biofuels is as broad as it is deep and he has spent a good portion of his career developing coalitions. He has the dedication, knowledge, experience, talent, connections, and skills needed to help the organization reach its goals. He is one of those very rare individuals who combine deep insight with clear strategies to get the job done. A genuine creative problem solver, both at the technical and the political levels, he employs tactics that are both practical and effective in the near term, with results for the long term objectives. He brings an invaluable level of expertise to our project through his experience and these skills will be essential to the success of our company.[email protected]
David Wieties – Director of Business Development – Thirty-year career in industrial waste management with an emphasis on recycling and beneficial reuse of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes and by-products. His knowledge in alternative energy and waste management is predicated by his education in Biology (B.S.) with Major in Zoology and Minors in Health and Safety from the Eastern Illinois University in 1976. David’s professional experience is highly robust and includes positions as; Environmental, Health and Safety Manager for Illinois Environmental, Inc.; with responsibilities in Facility development, permitting, and EH&S program management; Vice President, Waste Division, Environmental Operations, Inc., specializing in consulting and business/market development for recycling, recovery and beneficial reuse of industrial by-products; and President Resourceful Environmental Ideas, Inc., responsible for the marketing of wastes and by-products to the recycling industry. His experience as Consultant to hazardous and non-hazardous waste generators and manufacturers of supplemental fuels has provided him with invaluable and intimate knowledge of the Alternative Energy markets. He is the Inventor of “17-HAT” drum cover; patent issued and has extensive knowledge in landfill development, biogas recovery and operations. David also has extensive experience in the Petrochemical industry and in environmental assessment and permit management and procurement. [email protected]
