ION Team
Dr. Alfred “Buz” Brown, CEO and Chairman
Dr. Brown has over thirty years technology commercialization and venture creation experience, including large and small companies, academic and venture capital roles, with particular expertise in start-ups in the areas of therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, software and technology based businesses. Previously, Dr. Brown served as BCM Technologies’ President where he directed all investments, provided management assistance and served on the board to more than eleven early-stage portfolio companies. Dr. Brown joined BCM Technologies from Yale School of Medicine, where he served as Director of the Office of Cooperative Research and developed an international reputation for creating venture backed start-ups. Companies created with Dr. Brown’s assistance while at Yale include Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Applied Spine Technologies, HistoRx, Kemia, RibX Pharmaceuticals, and VaxInnate. Prior to Yale, Dr. Brown served as founder and CEO of Penn Technology Group, Knowledge Express Data System and Ontyx, Inc. (now Apelon, Inc.). He started his professional career at SmithKline & French Labs in immunology and cancer research and later assumed responsibility for strategic planning and biotechnology business development. Dr. Brown received a B.A. in Biology from Colby College and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Joan Wright, Director of Finance and Administration
Joan Wright has extensive experience in managing rapid growth and cash flow for start-ups and small to medium sized companies. She brings strong skills in business analysis and forecasting and thorough understanding of internal and external reporting requirements for both small and large corporations. In addition, Wright has experience in developing the back office operations, employee policies and benefit programs for new companies. Prior to joining ION, Wright held key financial and administrative roles with Architectural Energy Corporation (acquired by United Technologies), Energy Window, Financial Times Energy and ESource. Wright holds a B.S. in Accounting from City College of New York.
Jerrod Hohman, P.E., Director of Engineering
Jerrod Hohman contributes over fifteen years of experience with process simulation and engineering design in natural gas processing, refining, chemical production and gasification industries to the ION Team. His work has ranged from research and development through all aspects of process engineering, plant commissioning and operations. Recent work included the evaluation of commercially available CO2 capture technologies and process simulations for CO2 removal systems in biofuels production. Prior to joining ION, Hohman held key roles with Range Fuels in their pilot plant tests and production plant design, NOVA Chemicals, SNC-Lavalin Engineering and Construction, Matrix Engineering and Dickson & Tryer Engineering, where he managed all aspects of the design and fabrication of skid-mounted natural gas processing equipment. Hohman holds a B.S., Cum Laude, in Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University.
Dr. Andrew LaFrate, Director of Chemistry
Andy LaFrate is an organic chemist with a broad background in chemical engineering, polymer science, medicinal and materials chemistry. Dr. LaFrate received a B.A. in chemistry from Kalamazoo College followed by a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where his thesis work focused on the synthesis and biological properties of novel small molecule inhibitors for the estrogen receptor. He then moved to the University of Colorado at Boulder to pursue a postdoc in materials science working on a number of projects with lyotropic liquid crystals, ionic liquids and their polymers as materials for aerospace lubricants, reactive thin films for military applications, and membranes for water purification and alternative energy projects. Prior to joining the team at ION, Dr. LaFrate worked with polymers, thin films and liquid crystals for a company in Denver that develops thermochromic smart windows as a research and development chemist.
Nathan Brown, Director of Business Development and Project Management
Nate Brown joins ION with a strong scientific background and experience conducting basic scientific research and commercializing early stage technology. Prior to ION Brown founded KEMIA, a chemical company specializing in the development of anti-friction and anti-static surface coatings for specialty applications. Brown began his scientific career at the University of Colorado (CU) where he developed polymer systems for bio-responsive drug delivery and tissue regeneration. He pursued translational research efforts at the CU and managed research teams on Boulder and Denver Campus. While at CU, Brown raised significant funding for pre-clinical development of novel bio-polymer chemistries, funding which resulted in numerous invention disclosures all of which have been successfully licensed. Brown has a strong track record commercializing technology, brings additional experience managing intellectual property (IP) portfolios, and has previously been responsible for securing, managing, and licensing academic IP. Brown holds a B.A. in integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado.
Greg Staab, Senior Engineer
Greg Staab has over twenty years of industry experience including work with high pressure gases, chemical analysis, materials analysis, and design and fabrication of research and production equipment. Prior to joining ION, Staab conducted research and development for production of high-temperature ceramic fibers as a scientist with Matech Global Strategic Materials. His work there included distillation, evaporation and filtration techniques with inorganic polymers and thermal/mechanical testing. He also designed and fabricated experimental apparatus and managed a laboratory as a research engineer for the Georgia Institute of Technology. Staab received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida.
Michael Huffman, Research Associate
Mike Huffman joins ION as a recent recipient of a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. During his undergraduate career, Huffman gained strong experience in chemical engineering and basic scientific laboratory research. Prior to ION, Huffman contributed to the development of a novel wound healing polymer with the Anseth Group Laboratory at the University of Colorado. Huffman also worked with Wright Water Engineers where he assisted in water chemistry, treatment, and engineering design.