About Us
High Quality Tidal Solutions
Verdant Power is Dedicated to Advancing Tidal Energy
Verdant Power is at the forefront of advancing the global tidal energy industry to make tidal energy technology available worldwide. We focus on validating the unique benefits of clean, renewable, and reliable tidal energy and creating lasting partnerships to expand the marine energy industry.
Experts in Marine Renewable Energy
Verdant Power adapts innovative tidal turbine system technology to develop marine power projects with partners to generate clean energy
With over 20 years of experience, Verdant Power has developed industry-leading capabilities in tidal power generation:
- Marine Renewable Energy Systems Design, installation and operations
- Compliance with and setting the bar for International Electrical Commission (IEC) Marine Energy standards for Power Performance from tidal energy turbines
- Verdant Power Resource Assessment and site evaluation
- Project Licensing and compliance through adaptive management and environmental monitoring
Verdant Power conducted in-water testing of its turbine system, successfully demonstrating the technology as an efficient source of clean energy achieving a 98% availability.
The Team
Joseph Helpern
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joseph Helpern has 36 years of experience as a physicist and has previously held leadership positions in several companies. He currently sits on the Boards of Cynvec and New Vision Research. As a Member (elected) of the National Academy of Inventors, he was involved with the establishment of the field of MRI. Dr. Helpern was a Professor at New York University School of Medicine and was the founding Director of the Center for Biomedical Imaging. He has been conferred numerous awards including the Excellence in Research Award from the State of New York. Dr. Helpern received his PhD from Oakland University, his MA (organic chemistry) from The University of North Carolina, and his BA from Case Western Reserve University.
Joseph Klein
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joseph Klein has over 20 years of experience in investment banking, with a concentration on providing capital raising and capital structure advice to public companies. Mr. Klein most recently served as Managing Director and Head of Fixed Income Capital Markets for Leerink Partners, a privately held investment bank. Prior to that, he was a Partner and Co-Founder of KKS Securities. Mr. Klein holds an MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Yale University.
Mark Gelnaw
Chief financial officer, Board of Directors
Mr. Gelnaw has significant experience in the financial services industry having held senior positions at Lehman Brothers, Salomon Brothers and Arthur Andersen as well as Global Head of Business Development and Head of Strategic Funds for the Asset Management division of Deutsche Bank. Mr. Gelnaw currently participates in various developing private equity ventures and is President and CEO of Breakwater Ventures. He is a graduate of Georgetown University where he earned a BSBA in Accounting. Mark is a Certified Public Accountant with Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Jeb Hamel
MARINE PROJECT MANAGER
Jeb Hamel is a Marine Project Manager. He holds a BSE and MSE from the University of Michigan in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Jeb has previously worked at Bristol Harbor Group, Inc., where he focused on naval vessel structure and systems design, and shipyard construction oversight.
Haig Rickerby
Marine Energy Project Analyst
Haig D. Rickerby has experience in environmental science and project management. At Harmony Desalting, he managed over 50 funding applications, securing just over half a million dollars in non-dilutive funding. He spearheaded community engagement for the first commercial-scale offshore wind project, benefiting over 400,000 homes. He holds a BA in Biology from Boston University, an MS in Business Management from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, and an MPS in Marine & Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Miami.
Bruce Phillips
Operations Manager
Bruce Phillips is a resourceful leader with over 35 years of global industrial experience in senior management, operations, and business development. As owner of consulting firm Dovetail Solutions LLC, he has executed an array of client projects in the power generation and specialty metals industries. Mr. Phillips spent much of his career with Praxair, Inc., and Union Carbide Corp. serving in a broad range of commercial and operations leadership roles. As an outside contractor, he was a key contributor to the successful Verdant Power Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project (East River – New York, NY). Mr. Phillips has an Industrial Management degree from Purdue University.
Brittany Bradley
Executive Assistant
Brittany has many years of experience across a wide range of industries as an Administrative Professional in supportive roles, most recently in the field of Architecture in New York City. She graduated from West Virginia University with a M.S. in Integrated Marketing and B.A. in Advertising & Communications.
Glenn Smith
TECHNICAL & BUSINESS ADVISOR
Mr. Smith is a managing partner of Verto Impact Partners, a specialist advisory and management platform focusing on decarbonization and Waste to Value related opportunities. He is the former Acting CEO of Verdant Power and a highly experienced executive with more than three decades of diverse international knowledge of both private and public companies. His senior leadership, operational and investing experience spans numerous aspects of the Energy and Infrastructure asset classes, encompassing institutional fundraising, structured financing, merger, acquisition, and restructuring, with a special focus on renewable energy and sustainable resource development.
Mary Ann Adonizio
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Mary Ann Adonizio is a civil/environmental engineer with over 40 years of experience in renewable electric generation and transmission, including project development, feasibility analysis, capital construction and operating project management. Her early career work focused on hydroelectric project management for various clients. Most recently for the past 15 years, a consultant to Verdant Power, she has provided project development and management of various projects including the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project (East River – New York, NY) and the Morlais West Anglesey Demonstration Zone in Wales. Ms. Adonizio holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Penn State University.
Jonathan A. Colby
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Mr. Colby is actively involved in Standards and Conformity Assessment through the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). He currently serves as the Chair to IEC/TC 114 (Marine Energy) and as the Convener of the Marine Energy Sector Working Group under the IECRE, among other international and national roles. He is the recipient of the IEC 1906 Award in 2015 for his work with the IECRE. Mr. Colby was previously with Verdant Power for 15+ years, most recently as the Director of Technology Performance where he played a lead role at Verdant’s Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project (East River – New York, NY), the first tidal energy project to receive a federal commercial license in the United States.
Stefanie Ponte
Media coordinator
Stefanie Ponte’s background is in journalism and communications. Stefanie is a multifaceted professional with a diverse background in marketing. After a career working as a reporter, Stefanie transitioned outside of news and is responsible for media inquiries and website management. Stefanie graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. and M.A. in Political sciences. She went on to pursue an additional journalism and broadcasting degree at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Canada.
Tara Coker
Media Coordinator
Tara Coker brings a unique blend of sociological insight and marketing expertise to our team. Tara graduated from the College of Charleston with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Crime, Law, and Society. Her career journey began in media at two local radio stations in Charleston, SC, where she transitioned from a Marketing Consultant to a Digital Content Coordinator, then to a Promotions Coordinator, and eventually to the role of Promotions Director.
Colin Gagne
Intern
Colin is a rising senior at The Ohio State University studying mechanical engineering. He has worked in experimental aviation, humanitarian engineering, and outdoor education and is passionate about working in marine energy. Colin enjoys spending most of his free time climbing, surfing, and snowboarding.
Cooper Ronald
Intern
Cooper Ronald is a rising senior at Duke University, pursuing degrees in history and renewable energy. He has previously worked as a site selection analyst for a solar developer. Prior to that, he interned for a startup developing biochar reactors. In his free time, Cooper loves to hike, surf, and backpack.
Joseph Helpern has 36 years of experience as a physicist and has previously held leadership positions in several companies. Dr. Helpern received his PhD from Oakland University, his MA (organic chemistry) from The University of North Carolina, and his BA from Case Western Reserve University.
Joseph Klein has over 20 years of experience in investment banking, with a concentration on providing capital raising and capital structure advice to public companies. Mr. Klein holds an MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Yale University.
Mr. Gelnaw has significant experience in the financial services industry having held senior positions at Lehman Brothers, Salomon Brothers, Arthur Andersen and Deutsche Bank. He is a graduate of Georgetown University where he earned a BSBA in Accounting.
Joseph Helpern
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joseph Klein
President, board of directors
Mark Gelnaw
CHIEF Financial OFFICER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeb Hamel is a Marine Project Manager. He holds a BSE and MSE from the University of Michigan in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Jeb has previously worked at Bristol Harbor Group, Inc., where he focused on naval vessel structure and systems design, and shipyard construction oversight.
Haig D. Rickerby has experience in environmental science and project management. He holds a BA in Biology from Boston University, an MS in Business Management from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, and an MPS in Marine & Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Miami.
Bruce Phillips has over 35 years of global industrial experience in senior management, operations, and business development. Mr. Phillips has an Industrial Management degree from Purdue University.
Jeb Hamel
Marine Project Manager
Haig Rickerby
Marine Energy Project Analyst
Bruce Phillips
Operations Manager
Brittany has many years of experience across a wide range of industries as an Administrative Professional in supportive roles, most recently in the field of Architecture in New York City. She graduated from West Virginia University with a M.S. in Integrated Marketing and B.A. in Advertising & Communications.
Glenn Smith is a managing partner of Verto Impact Partners, a specialist advisory and management platform focusing on decarbonization. He is an experienced executive with more than three decades of international knowledge of both private and public companies.
Mary Ann Adonizio is a civil/environmental engineer with over 40 years of experience in renewable electric generation and transmission, including project development, feasibility analysis, capital construction and operating project management. Ms. Adonizio holds a BS in Environmental Engineering from Penn State University.
Brittany Bradley
Executive Assistant
Glenn Smith
TECHNICAL & BUSINESS ADVISOR
Mary Ann Adonizio
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Jonathan Colby is actively involved in Standards and Conformity Assessment through the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). He was previously with Verdant Power for 15+ years, most recently as the Director of Technology Performance where he played a lead role at Verdant’s Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project.
Stefanie Ponte’s background is in journalism and communications. Stefanie graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. and M.A. in Political science. She went on to pursue an additional journalism and broadcasting degree at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Tara Coker brings a unique blend of sociological insight and marketing expertise to our team. Tara graduated from the College of Charleston with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Crime, Law, and Society.
Jonathan A. Colby
Executive Assistant
Stefanie Ponte
Media Coordinator
Tara Coker
Media Coordinator
Colin is a rising senior at The Ohio State University studying mechanical engineering. He has worked in experimental aviation, humanitarian engineering, and outdoor education and is passionate about working in marine energy.
Cooper Ronald is a rising senior at Duke University, pursuing degrees in history and renewable energy. He has previously worked as a site selection analyst for a solar developer. Prior to that, he interned for a startup developing biochar reactors.
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