WE ARE A PASSIONATE GROUP OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT BELIEVES IN THE VALUE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Dan Colussy – Chairman of the Board
Dan Colussy currently serves as chairman of Gemini Capital, where he evaluates and executes investment opportunities. His previous positions include: Chairman and CEO of Iridium Satellite LLC from 2000 – 2009, where he bought and restructured the company out of bankruptcy, grew revenues to over $300 million, and successfully took it public on the NASDAQ in 2009. Eccentric Orbits, a new best seller book, masterfully traces the birth of Iridium and Mr. Colussy’s tireless efforts from startup to a very successful IPO.
As President and CEO of UNC from 1985 – 1997, he restructured the business, growing revenues to over $1 billion through acquisition, and sold the company to General Electric. In addition, Mr. Colussy was President and CEO of Canadian Pacific Air Lines Limited from 1981 – 1984, and President and COO of Pan American World Airways from 1970 – 1980. Mr. Colussy holds a BS in Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and an MBA from Harvard University.
Fernando Lehrer - President & CEO - Board Member
Fernando was appointed as President & CEO in July of 2020,and Board Member in February of 2021.
A serial entrepreneur, with a reputable and outstanding career in the corporate world, Fernando brings 25+ years of experience in creating new companies, launching new products and services, turn-around services, and improving efficiencies in existing businesses to drive growth and value.
Prior to joining NanoVapor, Fernando was Managing Director and Head of Environmental, Industrial and Marine Services at Seabury Capital, a New York-based investment bank, where his main focus was deal sourcing and origination
Fernando’s career include President, North America of London Offshore Consultants, a global engineering firm, where he leads the expansion and growth in the Americas, Co-founder of Seaproc, a procure to pay platform , and an extensive career in the the consulting and maritime sectors. For more information, visit Fernando's Linkedin profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernandolehrer/
Robert Peterson
Bob is a senior industry executive who has worked across the energy value chain for operators, service companies, manufacturers, and private equity. He assists executive teams in setting strategy and developing and implementing action plans to achieve those objectives. With 40 years of industry and consulting experience, Bob has held senior executive positions at ExxonMobil and Schlumberger. He holds a BS in Physics from Carleton, a BSEE from Michigan Tech., and an Executive MBA from SMU.
Beginning his career at ExxonMobil, Bob rose to a series of senior technical and management positions, ultimately managing global geoscience research and technical services.
In that role, his organization discovered and booked over 1 billion barrels of reserves in its last year of operation. Over the years, he has built three major energy consultancies, with cumulative revenue growth of over $200mm. During his career, he has consulted with over 75 energy clients. He currently advises four energy technology startups.
Ken Gazzola
Kenneth E. Gazzola retired as Executive Vice President from the McGraw Hill Companies (MGH) after a distinguished 35 year publishing career. As Executive Vice President/Publisher of Aviation Week Group, a division of MCGraw-Hill, he served an audience of some one million professionals and enthusiasts in more than 180 countries. Aviation Week is the world’s largest multimedia information service provider to the global aviation and aerospace industry. Mr. Gazzola is a an active Board Member Emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum; Past President, Board Member and Chairman of the historical and education committee of the Wings Club; Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society; Past Chairman and board member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Washington DC Branch; Board member of Airlink, non-profit humanitarian disaster relief organization; Board member Washington Airports Task Force; Board member Aero Design Labs, LLC; Consultant in commercial and general aviation, He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Fordham University and an honorary doctorate from Vaughn College of Aeronautics. He was received the “Distinguished Statesman of Aviation” award from the NAA in 2015. He is a current, instrument rated, multi-engine land pilot and served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
William (Bill) J. Flynn
William J. Flynn grew up as the son of a train driver in Bridgeport (Connecticut). He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1975 from the University of Rhode Island with summa cum laude . He then studied Latin American studies at the University of Arizona , from which he graduated in 1976 with a Master of Arts .
In 1977 he started working for the container company Sea-Land . First he worked in Caracas, later he was responsible for the Central America area from 1983 to 1987 from Guatemala. With the takeover of Sea-Land in 1986 by CSX Corporation , he came to this group. From the beginning of the 1990s he was responsible for the Asian market with the container ports in Hong Kong and China. From 2000 he worked in advertising for CSX Transportation and strategic planning for CSX Corporation.
In 2002 he left CSX and took over the logistics company GeoLogistics as President and Chief Executive Officer. He managed to drive the company back into profitability and to initiate the sale to an investor in 2005.
He then was CEO and President of the cargo airline Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings until January 1, 2020 . During that time, he increased revenue from $ 1.1 billion to $ 3 billion between 2009 and 2019. He has been Chairman of the Board of the airline since August 2019.
On April 15, 2020, he took over the position of President of the rail passenger transport company Amtrak, succeeding Richard Anderson .
Bill retired from Amtrak in February of 2022. In addition to NanoVapor , he is a board member and advisor to several logistics and airspace companies..
John Belcher– Director
John Belcher was chairman and CEO of ARINC for 11 years, building it into a global business with revenues over $1.4B. He sold the company at the end of 2013 in 4 parts with an excellent return for shareholders. Mr. Belcher has more than 30 years of experience in the aviation, aerospace, airport, information technology, and defense industries. Previous executive positions include President and CEO, Hughes Aircraft of Canada, Ltd.; Vice President, Hughes Aircraft Company;President and CEO, Thompson-Hickling Aviation; Senior Vice President, SPAR/PRIOR Data Sciences; Executive Director, Transport Canada; and Director General, Supply and Services Canada.
A leading authority in aviation and air transportation, Mr. Belcher served as Chairman of the Canadian Advanced Technology Association, President Advisory Board University of Waterloo,and on the Board of Directors for numerous national trade associations and aerospace technology companies.
Robert Peterson - Director
Bob is a senior industry executive who has worked across the energy value chain for operators, service companies, manufacturers, and private equity. He assists executive teams in setting strategy and developing and implementing action plans to achieve those objectives. With 40 years of industry and consulting experience, Bob has held senior executive positions at ExxonMobil and Schlumberger. He holds a BS in Physics from Carleton, a BSEE from Michigan Tech., and an Executive MBA from SMU.
Beginning his career at ExxonMobil, Bob rose to a series of senior technical and management positions, ultimately managing global geoscience research and technical services.
In that role, his organization discovered and booked over 1 billion barrels of reserves in its last year of operation. Over the years, he has built three major energy consultancies, with cumulative revenue growth of over $200mm. During his career, he has consulted with over 75 energy clients. He currently advises four energy technology startups.
Ken Gazzola- Director
Kenneth E. Gazzola retired as Executive Vice President from the McGraw Hill Companies (MGH) after a distinguished 35 year publishing career. As Executive Vice President/Publisher of Aviation Week Group, a division of MCGraw-Hill, he served an audience of some one million professionals and enthusiasts in more than 180 countries. Aviation Week is the world’s largest multimedia information service provider to the global aviation and aerospace industry. Mr. Gazzola is a an active Board Member Emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum; Past President, Board Member and Chairman of the historical and education committee of the Wings Club; Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society; Past Chairman and board member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Washington DC Branch; Board member of Airlink, non-profit humanitarian disaster relief organization; Board member Washington Airports Task Force; Board member Aero Design Labs, LLC; Consultant in commercial and general aviation, He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Fordham University and an honorary doctorate from Vaughn College of Aeronautics. He was received the “Distinguished Statesman of Aviation” award from the NAA in 2015. He is a current, instrument rated, multi-engine land pilot and served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
William (Bill) J. Flynn- Director
William J. Flynn grew up as the son of a train driver in Bridgeport (Connecticut). He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1975 from the University of Rhode Island with summa cum laude . He then studied Latin American studies at the University of Arizona , from which he graduated in 1976 with a Master of Arts .
In 1977 he started working for the container company Sea-Land . First he worked in Caracas, later he was responsible for the Central America area from 1983 to 1987 from Guatemala. With the takeover of Sea-Land in 1986 by CSX Corporation , he came to this group. From the beginning of the 1990s he was responsible for the Asian market with the container ports in Hong Kong and China. From 2000 he worked in advertising for CSX Transportation and strategic planning for CSX Corporation.
In 2002 he left CSX and took over the logistics company GeoLogistics as President and Chief Executive Officer. He managed to drive the company back into profitability and to initiate the sale to an investor in 2005.
He then was CEO and President of the cargo airline Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings until January 1, 2020 . During that time, he increased revenue from $ 1.1 billion to $ 3 billion between 2009 and 2019. He has been Chairman of the Board of the airline since August 2019.
On April 15, 2020, he took over the position of President of the rail passenger transport company Amtrak, succeeding Richard Anderson .
Bill retired from Amtrak in February of 2022. In addition to NanoVapor , he is a board member and advisor to several logistics and airspace companies..
Hank Krakowski - Director
Captain Krakowski brings 40+ years of global aviation experience with a career that encompasses well over two decades of Executive Level leadership in aviation operations, regulation, safety, security, maintenance & repair, environmental safety, sustainability and industry financing.
He is currently CEO/President of The Conure Aviation Group, which is an aviation operational, safety and compliance consultancy, as well as a Principal with NEXA Capital Partners an Aerospace Finance and Investment firm based out of Washington DC. He previously served as CEO/President of NanoVapor.
Captain Krakowski served nearly 4 years as Chief Operating Officer of the US Federal Aviation Administration as the top official responsible for the US Air Traffic Control system.
Prior to FAA Captain Krakowski held numerous executive level positions at United Airlines including Vice President of Safety, Security and Quality Assurance, Vice President of Flight Operations (Chief Pilot), Director of Flight Operations Control (OCC Director) and Director of Flight Crew Scheduling and Manpower Planning. He served as the FAA post-holder as Chief Pilot, Director of Operations and Director of Safety.
Captain Krakowski led the Operations Control Center response during the 9/11 terrorist event in 2001. He also served and led numerous international trade organization committees as well as numerous security related industry initiatives in the post 9/11 reconfiguration.
He holds a BS degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and MS Business & Management and has over 19,000 flight hours in numerous transport aircraft types.
Professionally he holds the following FAA Certifications with Experience
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Airline Transport Pilot
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Commercial Pilot
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Aircraft Dispatcher
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Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic
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Flight and Ground Instructor
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FAA Low Level aerobatic waiver (solo aerobatics, formation & formation aerobatics)
Captain Krakowski served as Co-Chair of the FAA CAST (Commercial Aviation Safety Team – FAA safety initiative) which received the prestigious Collier Trophy in 2009.