Management

Jay Toups, Chief Executive Officer

Jay Toups has guided Bioroot Energy from inception in 2010 to one of today’s best positioned clean fuel startups. A resident of Darby, Montana, since 1998, Mr. Toups’ interest in wastes and advanced alcohol fuels began in 2007 with his research work for Big Sky Coalition, a Montana non-profit dedicated to improving private, state and federal forest management practices. The organization’s mission to “do something about overgrown forests, rural community jobs and the environment” continues with the Bioroot Energy focus on advanced alcohol fuel production using woody biomass and municipal wastes. Prior to founding Bioroot Energy, Jay worked for over 40 years as a serial entrepreneur, executive, consultant or employee in the arenas of real estate, oilfield services, information technology, music, retail merchandising, publishing, and marketing communications. An award-winning guitarist and lifelong supporter of the performing arts, Jay studied English and Business at the University of Southern Mississippi.

 

David Butler, Chief Financial Officer (Interim)

David Butler has over thirty five years of business experience, including twenty years as a financial and operations executive, primarily at smaller privately held companies. He has supported or managed five preferred stock rounds, convertible bridge debt transactions, multiple bank lines of credit and venture debt transactions, debt restructurings and buy-outs during times of duress, and six different M&A transactions both selling and buying. David recently served as CFO, COO and eventually President of Alara, an x-ray imaging company serving medical and security markets. Previous roles have included CFO at Integrated Insurance Technologies, VP of Finance and Administration at Rivio, VP and Controller at Diamond Multimedia, and CFO and General Manager at Plextor. David holds a BS in Finance from San Diego State University and an MBA from Santa Clara University. More information

 

Charles Vincent, Project Engineering

Charles (Charlie) Vincent is a licensed professional engineer and project development professional with over 30 years of experience in the petroleum and energy industries. He has leadership experience in project management, engineering, construction management, and maintenance management, including completion of a number of small-to-medium scale projects ($1-$120MM) from inception through start-up. Charlie is currently serving as a project management and technical consultant for a major integrated oil company and was previously Engineering Manager for RedLeaf Resources, a shale oil development start-up. Prior projects include: diesel and gasoline hydro processing, high-pressure steam boilers, crude unit furnace replacement, sulfur recovery, flare gas recovery, crude railcar loading, onshore and offshore pipelines, wastewater treatment facilities, and offshore production platforms. He has a BS in Metallurgical (Materials Science) Engineering from Michigan Technological University, Professional Engineering Licenses in California and Utah, and is a certified Project Professional.

Thomas Slabe, Environmental Scientist

Thomas (Tom) Slabe is a biologist whose work spans academic, governmental and community realms. Recently retired from the U.S. EPA Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, his work focused on analyzing environmental samples and supervising the microbiology laboratory for EPA’s Region 8, including Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Tom also audited state drinking water microbiology laboratories. As a member of the National Green Building Workgroup, Tom focuses on “Sustainable Sites Initiatives,” promoting low-impact development and has recently conducted research on the U.S. EPA’s Denver office green roof, completing three papers that are in Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Cities Alive Conference proceedings. While at the EPA, Tom worked on aquatic resources assessments and environmental justice and sustainability efforts. Prior to working at the EPA, Tom worked in biomedical research, molecular biology, biochemistry, electron microscopy, botany, fish culture, and ecology, and he served four years in the U.S. Navy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Mansfield University, Pennsylvania, and a Master of Science degree in biology from Cleveland State University.

Gerry Wass, Community Education

Gerry Wass is a retired world languages teacher with a passion for education and caring for the Earth. He is also an organic farmer dedicated to the practice of Quantum Biodynamics and ‘farming carbon’ while continuing to substitute teach and support the activities of the school/community recycling program he founded in Purdy, Missouri, in 2005. Gerry is also a paid spokesperson for his local solid waste district, where he promotes the Bioroot Energy vision. Gerry earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the College of William and Mary, a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and Education, St. Cloud State University, and a Masters degree in Educational Administration from William Woods University.