Ludwig Christian Koch - Founder and CEO - Mr. Koch attended college at Erlangen, Bavaria. He received his economics degree in Nuremberg at Grundig Academy for Business. Chris has extensive international consulting, sales and management experience. In 1998 he became Germany´s youngest chief executive of his own consultancy firm working internationally in Germany, Russia, and the United States. In 2002 Chris turned his attention to the burgeoning industry in Germany of catalytic chemical processes. In 2004 he founded a new company, based on his research, for commercialization of catalytic fractional conversion technology ("CFC"), catalytic oxidizers for pollution cleaning of volatile organic compounds, and catalytic sulfur removal in industrial liquids. Some of the company's major customers were GE, VolksWagen, Medtronic Inc., Ford Motor Company, Pirelli Tire, and Royal Philips N.V.
With his team of engineers and technicians, Chris designed, built, and operated the first CFC proof of concept demonstration system, which offered feedstock validation and performance data. This CFC 50 liters/hr. system was operated in Germany in 2009 until the system was moved to the United States in 2011. The CFC demonstration system was then in operation at Alcoa Inc.’s research and design facility in the Reno-Sparks Industrial Center where it conducted tests in converting a variety of Alcoa Inc.’s waste oils into renewable catalytic fuel oils.
Jeff Hershkowitz - Founder and COO - Mr. Hershkowitz attended Butte College and CSU Chico, where he studied engineering, and electronics. He was the founder of his own construction and development company, focusing on redevelopment projects on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, while also flying as an airline pilot
In early 2006, Jeff was commissioned to vet and evaluate the possibility of producing a renewable fuel technology through catalytic fractionation of organic materials. At that time Germany was the leading nation in research and development of catalytic fractionation systems. While studying the technology in Germany Jeff met Christian Koch. The two became fast friends, and now form the nucleus of Catalytec.
With his technical background and a penchant for hands-on building, farming and flying, he leads the operational side of Catalytec
Harold J. Gentner - Co-founder and President - Mr. Gentner is one of the founders of Catalytec, he was instrumental in the Company’s initial capital formation and business development activities.
- Served as President and Registered Principal of Commonwealth Capital Formation Inc. an SEC registered broker/dealer, engaged in raising capital for affiliated public Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). During his tenure, he was instrumental in raising in excess of $300M to fund the growth of REITs that were focused on acquiring, owning and financing real estate property and mortgage investments, including Peregrine Real Estate Trust (formerly Commonwealth Equity Trust), Commonwealth USA REIT, CalREIT, and Del E. Webb Investment Properties Inc.
Former partner at the law firm of Dierdorff, Stout & Gentner, where he focused his practice on corporate and real estate law serving clients in California. Served as executive vice president at Ackman-Ziff Goodkin LLC a real estate capital advisory firm focused on commercial real estate debt and mezzanine financing, preferred and joint venture equity. Studied at the University of California San Diego School of Law Graduate Program in Taxation and holds an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.