meet the team

stephen johnson

founder & ceo

Stephen is an accomplished entrepreneur with a focus towards finance and commercial implementation of clean technologies, efficient infrastructure, and advanced clean energy systems. In 2006, Stephen founded Illinois Clean Fuels, a commercial production-scale synthetic fuel project that will produce 414 million gallons per year of ultra-clean climate-friendly renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel from municipal garbage. Stephen has twenty years of experience in the synthetic fuels industry, including project development, financial engineering, process technology selection, feedstock supplier and product offtake relationship development, both buy and sell-side capital raising, management team development, environmental affairs, and government community and media relations. Prior to ICF, Stephen spent 5 years running Stonebridge Asset Management, a hedge fund that returned over 30% annualized during his tenure as Portfolio Manager.

synthetic fuels team

paul thone

chief technology officer

Paul has over 35 years of experience in bioenergy, petrochemical, refining, and gasification including assignments in research, engineering, licensing, plant construction, operation, and program management; Leadership positions at Texaco, Sasol, and Vale Energia Limpa. Paul managed the development of the world’s first integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants based on non-recourse project financing. General Manager of IGCC facility in Italy and was CTO responsible for execution of Biomass and coal to liquids faculties.

adrian popescu

gasification & syngas conditioning engineering lead

Adrian has over 25 years of experience in Gasification including the development and operation of Texaco’s Coal Gasification Process during its initial commercial license offering and demonstration. Mr. Popescu has also participated in field construction and design engineering management positions with both Fluor and Bechtel and has consulted as Gasification SME for Projects using Entrained Flow, Fixed and Fluidized Bed Gasifier designs since 2007.

waste feedstock procurement team

john lamanna

svp of feedstock procurement

With over 40 years of experience in the environmental industry in North America, John heads the feedstock supply and facilities team. His background includes key roles with multiple publicly traded and private equity companies in the solid waste and recycling industry. Before joining ICF, John served as the CEO/President for Tunnel Hill Partners, one of the largest waste-by-rail entities in the US. Previously, John lead operations for Waste Management, Republic Services, and Progressive Waste.

matt neely

vp of feedstock procurement

Matt has worked in the waste and environmental industry for public and private organizations for almost forty years managing recycling, remediation, compliance, construction, permitting, and operations activities. Matt has directed corporate and regional disposal and logistics operations for WM, Republic, WIN Waste, and Progressive, and has been the senior regional executive in New York, Ohio, and Michigan. Matt has worked with many metropolitan areas to provide long term logistics and disposal solutions in the US and Canada.

anita dean

vp of feedstock procurement

Anita has over 25 years of experience in the Environmental Services Industry. She has worked in the waste sector in a sales and business development capacity since 1991, starting with Waste Management. Since 1999, Anita has worked primarily in the New England, New York, and Canada markets with Cassella, Synagro, Jay Cashman, and Denali Water Solutions. Her background includes municipal solid waste, organic residuals, and construction and demolition sectors.

don kerik

vp of feedstock procurement

Don has been in the solid waste and recycling industry for 34 years. In his most recent role, Don served as Vice President of Transfer Operations and Ash Hauling at WIN Waste Innovations overseeing divisions throughout NYC, NJ, CT, and MA. He has extensive experience in collecting, processing, and transporting solid waste and recycling by truck and rail. Don has been successful in his career by building teams focused on safety, environmental stewardship, trust, and shareholder return. Don began his career in the waste industry in 1988 as a truck driver and was ultimately promoted to Operations Manager of Five Brothers Carting / Robros Recycling NYC. He went on to serve as NYC District Manager with the publicly traded IESI/BFI of Canada. Don remained with the team as the NYC District Manager up to 2019 when he accepted the position of Vice President of Transfer Station Operations with WIN Waste.

victor storelli

feedstock procurement consultant

Victor is the founder of Storelli Recycling, bringing more than 35 years of business and industry knowledge to the ICF Team. Victor is widely known throughout the solid waste industry in Florida and the southeast for his extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with facility operations. In the early 2000s, Victor served as manager of Municipal Markets for Recycle America Alliance, a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. working with jurisdictions to optimize recycling programs and identify advantageous markets for recyclable materials. Before that, Victor was responsible for overseeing operations at all of Waste Management’s recycling processing plants located on the East Coast from 1990 to 2000. Victor served as Vice President of Durbin Paper Stock, in Miami, from 1970 to 1990, responsible for overseeing the business operations of six processing plants and the domestic and international movement of brokered tonnages.

michael mucci

feedstock procurement consultant

Mike has over 40 years in the waste business, including 30 years with the New York City Department of Sanitation. Mike was the Director of the Fresh Kills Landfill, serving New York City during the 9/11 search and recovery operation, and was the Director of the Bureau of Waste Disposal for 6 years. He was responsible for all interim waste export contracts, negotiated Long-Term export contracts, worked on the design and implementation of the Marine Transfer Stations and the Staten Island Transfer Station. He did consulting work for IESI, Progressive Waste and Waste Connection.

finance

ian mcbane

chief financial officer

Ian spent over 15 years in the asset management industry, managing portfolios across the capital structure in both public and private equity. His experience includes Renewables, Resources, Energy, and Project Finance. Most recently, Ian was a Partner at Phase 2 Partners and before that he was a Portfolio Manager at Talkot Capital. Prior to his investment career, Ian was a Research Analyst in the Quantitative Practice at ECONorthwest, a leading regional economics and finance consulting firm.