WARNER BABCOCK - Key Persons
Alex Hsu joined WBI in 2021, bringing with him interdisciplinary research experience in polymer chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology. Prior to joining WBI, Alex's research focused on the synthesis and characterization of polymeric prodrug materials for central nervous system injuries. He is excited to be at the forefront in the development of sustainable technologies to help bring awareness and advance the field of green chemistry. Alex received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Biomedical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Chris Livesey joined WBI in 2021, bringing with him a wide range of experience from different parts of the chemical industry. Prior to joining WBI, Chris has had a proven track record of success in everything from product development and commercialization to synthesis and chemical characterization. Chris is driven by the thrill of innovation and is inspired by the urgent need for modern sustainable chemistry. Chris received his B. Sc. In Biochemistry from Rowan University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Position of Chief Financial Officer of the Warner Babcock Institute
Christopher Hill has held the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Warner Babcock Institute since its founding in 2007. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Hill acted as Chief Financial Officer for Above Board Technologies, a company founded to manufacture construction products made from sustainable, non-wood fibers. Since 1995, he has served as the President and CEO of Modulus Guitars, a manufacturer of guitars and basses for professional musicians. From 1987 to 1995, he served as Senior Financial Manager, Vice President of Finance, and Director of Information Technology for ViTel International Inc., an international leader in electronic business messaging. Mr. Hill has over twenty-five years of experience in finance and information systems management. He holds a degree in Accounting from Carlow University in Ireland.
Cindy Yao joined WBI in the summer of 2022 as an intern. She is currently a senior at the University of Massachusetts Lowell studying chemistry. Cindy's love for chemistry and her desire to create a better world led her to WBI.
Dr. Brandon Ackley joined WBI in early 2022 and brings broad experience in synthetic chemistry, specifically in catalysis and organometallic chemistry, as well as aerospace-relevant high-temperature materials. Brandon started his career as an intern at WBI in 2014, where he first learned about green chemistry and grew his passion for environmentalism and education. The internship at WBI sparked his interest into studying catalysis and materials which he studied both as a graduate student and during his time as a contractor with ARCTOS working at the Air Force Research Labs. Brandon is passionate about environmental issues and innovative chemistry and sees WBI as the best place to work to be involved with both. Brandon received his Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from the University of Vermont and his B.S. in Chemistry from Bridgewater State University.
Dr. Rich Kearney joined WBI in early 2012 as an experienced polymer chemist with expertise in polymer coatings, imaging systems utilizing polymers, and analysis of polymers and polymer-containing materials and products. Rich started his career at Polaroid Corporation in the R&D and the graphics imaging division working on polarizer research and the development of formulas for a digital printing plate system. From there he worked at Presstek for 15 years focusing much of his research on coatings technology. Rich got his B.Sci. from the University of California, Riverside, and his M.Sci. and Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Dr. Sara Tabandeh joined WBI in July 2022, bringing a broad range of experience in materials design and formulation. Sara's academic and industrial activities prior to joining WBI led to remarkable successes in controlling the structure and properties of polymeric materials with a focus on peptide and urethane-based systems. She received her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Central Florida and her BS and MS in Polymer Engineering from the Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic). Sara is passionate about developing sustainable products and using science-based approaches to address environmental challenges.
Job Titles:
- Founder, and Board of Directors Chairman
Jim Babcock founded what is now Cthulhu Ventures in 2007, and during this same year, he collaborated withJohn Warner to found the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry. Prior to this,he was a co-founder (in 1977), CEO, and, ultimately, Chairman of Babcock & Brown Limited, a global investment-banking and funds-management firm that was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in 2004
Prior to founding Babcock & Brown, Jim practiced corporate and tax law, having graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and Harvard Law School (where he was a member and officer of the Harvard Law Review), and serving for a year as a law clerk to Judge James R. Browning on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jim serves on the boards of a number of the companies in which Cthulhu Ventures has invested, including, inter alia, the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, Collaborative Medicinal Development, Collaborative Aggregates, and Advantage for Analysts.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Executive Officer of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry
Joe Pont was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry on June 1, 2011. Prior to his appointment, Joe served in senior R&D and commercial roles in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries in the US and Europe, including the last 10 years with Lonza, where he most recently served as Head of Research & Development (2008 - 2009) and Vice President of Marketing & Key Account Management (2010 - 2011). He has extensive experience leading diverse, global organizations and a substantial track record in sales and marketing. Joe holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Princeton University.
John Warner received his BS in Chemistry from UMASS Boston, and his PhD in Chemistry from Princeton University. After working at the Polaroid Corporation for nearly a decade, he served as a tenured full professor at UMASS Boston and Lowell (Chemistry and Plastics Engineering). In 2007, he founded the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry with Jim Babcock.
While at the Polaroid Corporation, Warner coauthored the defining text for the field of Green Chemistry with Paul Anastas and codified the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. He is the editor of the journal "Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews". Warner is on the advisory panel for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy has been elected a full member of the Club of Rome. He has served as sustainability advisor for several multinational companies. His research and publications in synthetic organic chemistry, noncovalent derivatization, polymer photochemistry, and low temperature metal oxide semiconductors has provided the foundation for his theories of what he calls "entropic control in materials design".
John has received awards as an academic (PAESMEM - President G. W. Bush & NSF, 2004), industrial chemist (Perkin Medal - Society of Chemical Industry, 2014), inventor (Lemelson Ambassadorship - Lemelson Foundation & AAAS) and for governmental chemicals policy (Reinventing Government National Performance Review - Vice President A. Gore & EPA, 1997). In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of the American Chemical Society and named one of "25 Visionaries Changing the World" by Utne Reader. He serves as Distinguished Professor of Green Chemistry at Monash University in Australia, and as Bath Global Chair at the Bath (UK) University Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies.
Sam Ellman joined WBI in 2020, bringing with him a broad base of materials synthesis and characterization experience. Prior to joining, his primary focus was on the synthesis of novel biodegradable polymer poly(pro-drugs) for the continuous treatment of chronic diseases. Sam's passion for environmentalism and green chemistry were what initially spurred him to become a chemist, so he greatly enjoys working on the cutting edge of green innovation at WBI. Sam received his M.Eng. in Materials Science and his B.S. in Chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.