About Us
Our History
For over a decade, Braven has been developing, testing and perfecting our waste plastics processing, and building the early support needed to prove our solution at commercial scale. Our model works and is ready today. It’s the result of applying an entrepreneurial mindset to solving a global problem. By delivering an effective solution to waste plastics, we are building a legacy company designed to create lasting change.
Our business model is as focused, efficient and sound as our solution to waste plastics. We studied the waste-to-energy companies that came before us, and we understand why they’ve struggled. As a result, we know what it will take to deliver strong financial returns that yield long-term, triple-bottom-line success for our partners, customers, investors and most importantly—for the generations that will inherit our earth.
Our Leadership
Nicholas Canosa
President, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
Nicholas Canosa
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Founder
Prior to founding Braven (formerly known as Golden Renewable Energy, LLC), Mr. Canosa founded Lion Fuels International, LLC (“LFI”). LFI manages a 2,500 acre jatropha farm in Honduras, Central America. Nicholas also founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Global Financial Credit, LLC (“Global”), one of the first companies to advance funds to people/plaintiffs involved in a lawsuit awaiting settlement. Prior to USAG, Inc., Nicholas founded and was Chief Executive Officer of Affordable Diagnostics, Inc. an operator of freestanding independent multi-diagnostic centers that include MRI, CT-Scan and X-Ray equipment. Prior to Affordable Diagnostic, Inc., he founded and was Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Physical Therapy Centers (“Northeast”) which later merged with ProSports Care, Inc., which he took public in 1994 (NASDAQ: PSCM).
Nicholas' extensive experience founding and developing successful companies in a wide range of industries led to the founding of Braven when he recognized that waste management did not include the technology necessary to deal with our nations waste. With Braven’s technology, he sees bridging waste management with the PetroChem industry to better and more efficiently manage our planets waste. After spending over a decade developing the technology to process plastics via a low-carbon impact cycle, he now leads the company's global growth as the only proven, modular and ready to implement solution to the world's plastics problem.
Nicholas received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Business Administration from New York University and received a juris doctor degree from Yeshiva University Benjamin Cardozo School of Law in New York City. He has been a member of the Westchester County and New York State Bar Association; however, is not currently engaged in the practice of law. In his free time, Nick enjoys spending time with his three children and traveling.
Michael Moreno
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder
Michael Moreno
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder
After a long and successful career in asset management, Mr. Moreno was driven to co-found Braven by a deep desire to be involved in a company that could contribute to the betterment of the planet and deliver attractive financial results.
Prior to co-founding Braven (formerly known as Golden Renewable Energy, LLC), in 2014, Michael was a Principal and one of the four owners of Black Diamond Capital Management, LLC (“BDCM”), an approximately $9.0 billion alternative asset management firm specializing in amongst other things, the acquisition, stabilization, growth and sale of distressed companies in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining BDCM, Michael was a Principal at Atlantic Pacific Capital, a placement agent specializing in raising institutional capital for alternative investment managers. Michael began raising alternative investment capital in 1996 for ING Asset Management.
Michael started his career at Chemical Bank, in the Loan Syndications, Structured Finance and Private Placements Group, worked at ING in Emerging Markets investment banking and co-headed emerging markets loan syndications for BankBoston.
Michael received his B.A. in Political Science from Tulane University.
Michael spends his free time traveling, cooking and surfing, which fuels his desire to keep our oceans plastic free.
Jeffrey D. Neumann
Chief Administrative Officer
Business Development
Ross Sloane
Director of Business Development
John (Ross) Sloane
Director of Business Development
Mr. Sloane is responsible for leading Braven’s project development efforts, including identifying potential facility sites, sourcing waste plastic suppliers and offtake partners.
Prior to joining Braven, Ross had over 10 years in the financial services industry as a Senior Vice President of commercial institutional wealth at PNC Bank, Senior City President for SunTrust and Vice President for Wachovia/Wells Fargo retail and business banking. His responsibilities included the management of personal and business financial portfolios for both private and public companies with annual revenues greater than $1 billion. Prior to banking, Ross was the owner of several successful companies in the medical and communications industries.
Ross’s entrepreneurial spirit started after college when he joined a family cable business and expanded its footprint to cover the southeast as acting President. He was instrumental in the negotiating the FEMA funding for the utility companies in the communications rebuild of Florida after the hurricane disaster season of the “Summer of Six.” The successful growth of that company led to an acquisition by then named Brighthouse Communications, now Charter.
Ross was a student athlete at Penn State University where he received his B.A. in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. He continued his education at the Bryan School of Business at UNCG with a concentration in economics.
Our Triple Bottom
Line Promise
With every new facility established by Braven, we create job growth and support local initiatives to better care for the communities. We are committed to using a localized workforce to fill positions across the spectrum, especially pulling from local trade schools, colleges and universities. We are further dedicated to create a fair, safe and prosperous work environment, driven by strong family ties within the company itself.
