About Us
Our History and Commitment
For over a decade, Braven has been developing, testing and perfecting our waste plastics processing with our Braven Reactor Train™, and building the early support needed to prove our solution at commercial scale. We studied the waste-to-energy companies that came before us, and we understand why they’ve struggled. As a result, we now know that we can 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. That success is a result of applying an entrepreneurial mindset to solving a global problem.
We are now able to develop facilities with our BRT™ quickly and efficiently across the globe because our business model is as focused, efficient and sound as our solution to waste plastics. We are building a legacy company designed to create lasting change, and we believe that the people behind the technology are an invaluable part of our success. We are inspired by their steadfast dedication to the mission, commitment to a strong and inspiring culture, and willingness to show up everyday to play their part in changing the world.
Our Team
James Simon
President and Chief Executive Officer
James Simon
President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Member
James J. Simon is a seasoned senior executive with over 30 years of experience in new venture and project development, board governance, and strategic planning in the clean energy, oil and gas, and chemical industries. He is a proven business leader who has successfully led operations of over 700 staff plus 2,000 contractors and has driven initiatives from concept to sustainable results.
Before joining Braven as President and CEO, Jim was Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board Directors of IGP Energy, Inc. a clean energy technology and methanol project development company. Prior to IGP, Jim served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Corval Group, Inc., an oil and gas engineering and construction company, where he drove business development and relationship management processes resulting in over $250 million per year in new revenue.
Jim also spent 14 years at Flint Hills Resources, a the refining subsidiary of Koch Industries, where he held various leadership positions, including Production Director, Vice President of Strategic Planning, Director of Reliability, Engineering, and Construction, Business Improvement Team Leader, Operations Area Superintendent, Maintenance/Turnaround Manager, and Project Manager.
Jim earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. In addition to leading Braven’s commercialization, Jim enjoys time with family and friends, cooking and fitness training.
Heath DePriest
Chief
Operating Officer
Heath DePriest
Chief Operating Officer
Previously, Mr. DePriest served as General Manager of Global Strategy, where he led the strategy, portfolio, and capital allocation process which culminated in a dynamic long-term vision focused on a sustainable and financially attractive future. As Manager, Midstream Growth and Strategy Execution, and subsequently as Managing Director, Midstream Terminals Business Development, he led the establishment of a new growth program that effectively deployed over $15B of growth capital leading to a Midstream organization providing $2B+ in annual EBITDA.
Prior to Phillips 66, he held a variety of critical development roles at ConocoPhillips, John Zink, and Koch Refining focused on process operations, project management, economics and planning, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate strategy.
Mr. DePriest holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University. Beyond professional commitments, he finds joy in exploring new cultures, sports and outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends.
Michael Moreno
Chief
Commercial Officer
Michael Moreno
Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Board Member
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.
In addition to his responsibilities at Braven, Michael also serves as a Senior Managing Director at Avenue Capital Group, a $12Bn global investment firm. Prior to co-founding Braven, 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 Neumann
Chief Administrative Officer
Jeffrey Neumann
Chief Administrative Officer and Treasurer
Mr. Neumann was drawn to Braven by the opportunity to join a company with great purpose and tremendous value proposition.
Prior to joining Braven, Mr. Neumann was the founder and CEO of RMH Franchise Holdings, one of the largest independently owned restaurant franchise operators in the country. Previously, Mr. Neumann co-founded private equity firm Coda Capital Partners in 2002. Prior to joining Coda, he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of FrontLine Capital Group, a publicly traded investment vehicle. At both Coda and FrontLine, Mr. Neumann held senior leadership positions at several portfolio companies across a range of industries. Before joining FrontLine in 1998, he was a Vice President in GE Capital's private equity investment subsidiary. Previously, Mr. Neumann was the President of CompuTower Technologies, a manufacturing company, and of Modern Healthcare Services, a healthcare company.
Jeff started his career with the investment banking firm of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. in New York.
Jeff holds an MBA in Finance from the New York University Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Ithaca College.
He spends his time out of the office with his wife, three kids and two dogs.
Jesse Goellner
Chief
Technology Officer
Jesse Goellner
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Goellner brings to Braven Environmental over two decades of experience converting concepts into impactful solutions for the energy, chemicals, and defense markets. At Braven, Jesse oversees quality engineering support for future projects and current operations as well as fostering partnerships to accelerate the impact of Braven's technology innovations. Jesse was compelled to join the Braven mission because he believes strongly in the potential to bring pragmatic solutions to the market in a timeline that can have a serious impact on the waste plastic problem.
Before joining the Braven team, Jesse earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis. Subsequently, he joined ExxonMobil Chemical driving their research assets to application through the development, scale-up, demonstration, and commercialization of a novel catalysis-based technology for converting natural gas to olefins.
Jesse earned his M.B.A. as a James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business focused on bringing technology to the marketplace. He leveraged his technical and business expertise in driving the growth of Powercast (provider of wireless power and sensor solutions) and Capital Technologies International (renewable and fossil energy technology developer). He also provides leadership to Booz Allen Hamilton’s energy practice leading resiliency, infrastructure, industrial control systems, advanced energy technology, and energy systems analysis support to the Department of Defense, civil agencies, and commercial clients.
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.
