Find out about Aquion Energy, its origins and name, mission and values, and people behind
About Aquion Energy
Aquion Energy is the manufacturer of proprietary Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI™) batteries and battery systems, optimized for stationary and long duration daily cycling and energy storage applications. This includes off-grid and microgrids, energy management, and grid-scale energy storage applications. Aquion’s battery systems provide reliable and flexible modular energy storage that optimizes existing generation assets and enables broad adoption of renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar, as well as reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and optimization of existing grid-tied generation assets. Aquion’s economically compelling batteries can be assembled into systems ranging from kilowatt-hours to megawatt-hours.
Aquion Energy Origins
In 2007, with support from Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Jay Whitacre began researching low-cost electrochemical approaches to bulk energy storage. In 2008 he produced the first functioning Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) battery. The result was promising enough to attract the attention of VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, and by 2009, the technology was developed enough to spin out of Carnegie Mellon’s labs. The operations moved from Carnegie Mellon to the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Under the leadership of CEO Scott Pearson, Aquion began low volume production in the summer of 2011 and broke ground on a full-scale manufacturing facility in nearby Westmoreland, PA in 2012.
For many years, Aquion has been the furthest along among emerging energy storage companies offering new battery technologies, has been among the most innovative new Renewable Energy Companies.
Redefining Energy Storage
Aquion has always been dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy by delivering stationary energy storage systems that are high performance, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective. This unique combination of attributes delivers industry-leading value for customers and can fundamentally change the economics of power generation, transmission and distribution.
Name
Aquion, pronounced [Ah-kwi-ahn] is a portmanteau of the words “aqueous ion.”
Locations
Aquion set up manufacturing facilities at a former Sony television assembly plant in East Huntingdon, Pennsylvania initially proposing a capacity of 500 megawatt-hours per year in 2013 and 2014. In March 2014, Aquion Energy announced that commercial shipments of batteries would begin in mid-2014, and in May 2014 Aquion Energy announced they had shipped 100 units.
Aquion’s Missions & Values
Aquion Energy’s mission is to transform the way the world consumes energy by delivering affordable, reliable, and most importantly, safe energy solutions.
Battery Manufacturers
Top Global and US Battery manufacturers, and information on where to buy batteries.
Board of Directors
Throughout the years, Aquion has worked with some of the best operational, technical, and financial professionals in the field of energy.
RAY LANE, CHAIRMAN
Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Ray Lane is a Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, focused on helping entrepreneurs with technological and market insight, organizational development, team building, selling and managing growth. Since joining KPCB, Ray has sponsored several investments for the firm in enterprise and consumer technology, as well as clean and alternative energy.
Before joining KPCB, Ray was President and Chief Operating Officer of Oracle Corporation, the second-largest software company in the world and the leading enterprise software and services company. During his eight-year tenure, Oracle exhibited phenomenal revenue growth from approximately $1 billion in 1992 to over $10 billion. Ray led Oracle’s business expansion beyond its core database technology into enterprise applications and professional services.
Before joining Oracle, Ray was a senior partner with Booz-Allen & Hamilton, where he pioneered and led the Information Systems Group, a worldwide consulting practice targeted at helping senior management achieve better results from information technology. He also served on Booz-Allen’s board of directors and executive management committee. Prior to Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Ray served as division vice president with Electronic Data Systems Corp (EDS). In addition, he spent ten years with IBM in various product-management, sales and marketing positions.
SCOTT A. PEARSON
Chief Executive Officer
With over 20 years of experience leading a wide range of technology-based companies and organizations, Mr. Pearson joined Aquion in March of 2011 as its Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Pearson’s professional experience spans a broad range of industries including defense systems, digital imaging, electronics assembly equipment, uninterruptible power systems, personal electric vehicles, fuel cell power systems and stationary batteries. Prior to joining Aquion, Mr. Pearson served as President and CEO of Protonex Technology Corporation for six years and subsequently held the role of Chairman of the Board through a successful sale to Ballard Power Systems in October, 2015. Before Protonex, Mr. Pearson held executive or senior roles at Eastman Kodak Digital, Cookson/Speedline, Invensys Powerware, and Nova Cruz LLC.
Mr. Pearson holds an M.B.A. from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.
PROFESSOR JAY WHITACRE
Chief Scientist and Founder
Dr. Whitacre is the Founder of Aquion Energy and has served as the CTO and Chief Scientist. He joined Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, with a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy departments, and was promoted to Full Professor in 2015. Prior to his time at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Whitacre was a post- doctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology from 1999 to 2000 and subsequently became a member of the technical staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. His work there was focused on synthesizing, characterizing, and implementing materials for electrochemical devices such as batteries and fuel cells. Starting in 2005, he was a Cognizant Engineer for Mars Science Laboratory rover program, where he was in charge of the energy storage components of the descent stage module. His work at CMU has been focused on developing and analyzing new materials and systems for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. In 2008, a first-generation version of the AHI chemistry was developed in his labs at CMU, and subsequent incubation work resulted in the spin out of Aquion Energy from CMU in late 2009.
Dr. Whitacre received his BA from Oberlin College in 1994, where he graduated with honors in Physics. He then earned his masters (1997) and PhD (1999) from the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Michigan. Whitacre has authored or co-authored over 60 peer review papers and is an inventor on over 30 patents that are issued or pending. He has numerous honors to his name, including the 2014 Caltech/Resnick Sustainability Institute Resonate Award, was listed as one of the top 25 Eco-Innovators in the world by Fortune Magazine in 2014, and was the 2015 winner of the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize for Innovation.
JAN VAN DOKKUM
Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Jan van Dokkum is an Operating Partner with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers with the specific task of assisting the Greentech ventures toward commercialization. He brings many years of experience in building organizations to achieve rapid growth in the areas of sales, marketing, manufacturing, quality and supply chain development.
Prior to joining KPCB, Jan assisted a number of KPCB companies as an independent consultant. Before that, Jan served as president of UTC Power, a division of United Technologies, Inc., for 7 years and was instrumental in advancing UTC Power’s on-site power generation product and service offerings. These include stationary fuel cells, renewable power solutions, and combined cooling, heating and power applications for the commercial building markets. He led the effort to improve energy productivity and energy security in commercial buildings by offering in depth analysis of a building’s electrical and thermal systems. In addition, he focused the company’s fuel cell activities toward transportation, working closely with the world’s leading automotive manufacturers and seeking out other early uses for fuel cells, such as transit buses.
Before joining UTC Power, Jan was with Siemens for 17 years where he served the last 6 years as president and chief executive officer of Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc. Jan is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee, and contributed to the Department of Energy’s Grid 2030 National Vision for Electricity’s Second 100 Years. He also co-chaired the Energy Efficiency in Buildings project for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. He has served on the board of directors of WestStart-CALSTART and was chairman of the California Fuel Cell Partnership for 2 years.
Jan immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands in 1978. He holds a bachelor and masters degree in electrical engineering.
THOMAS R. MCDANIEL
Director/Advisor Clean Tech Companies
Mr. Tom McDaniel is an experienced and knowledgeable executive and director within the energy and CleanTech sector. His career spans a diverse and successful set of experiences as a CEO, CFO/financial expert and director of a variety of companies within the energy sector. As a director, Mr. McDaniel has chaired Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Governance and Finance Committees for public and private companies. He currently serves as a director of SunPower (Renewable energy), SemGroup & Rose Rock Midstream (Midstream oil & gas), Aquion Energy (Sodium ion batteries & energy storage systems) and chairman of the board for Tendril (Smart grid/meter services). In addition, he serves on the advisory boards of On Ramp Wireless (Smart grid/meter communication networks-electric, oil, gas & water) and Cypress Envirosystems (Energy efficiency).
Mr. McDaniel retired from Edison International (EIX) on July 31, 2008 completing 37 years of service with the Company. EIX, with assets of $ 48 billion, is the parent company of Southern California Edison, a regulated electric utility, and the Edison Mission Group, an independent power company which develops, owns and operates fossil fuel and renewable energy generating projects across the US. Prior to retirement, Mr. McDaniel was executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Edison International. He was responsible for the company’s financial, risk management, controller, internal audit and IT functions. He was elected to this position in December, 2004.
Prior to January 1, 2005, McDaniel was chairman, chief executive officer and president of Edison Mission Energy, a power generation business specializing in the development, acquisition, construction, management, and operation of power production facilities. During this period, Edison Mission Energy owned generating plants in the US, Europe, Asia and Puerto Rico. Mr. McDaniel became CEO and president on August 1, 2002 and was elected chairman on January 1, 2003.
McDaniel was also chief executive officer and a director of Edison Capital, a provider of capital and financial services supporting the growth of energy and infrastructure projects, products, and services both domestically and internationally. Edison Capital had interests in nuclear, coal, natural gas, waste to energy and wind generating and transmission projects in the US, Europe, Africa and Australia. The company was also an investor and sponsor of Latin American, Asian and Eastern European infrastructure funds. Edison Capital also established itself as a leading investor, asset manager, and syndicator of affordable housing projects that qualify for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. McDaniel was elected president of Edison Capital in September 1987 in connection with the formation of this wholly-owned Edison International subsidiary.
McDaniel joined Southern California Edison in 1971 in the engineering department and, prior to forming Edison capital, he held a variety of management and senior management positions in the areas of corporate planning, customer service, and corporate finance. McDaniel has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from UCLA. He completed graduate studies in business and corporate finance at California State University, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California.
In February, 2009, Mr. McDaniel became a Director of SunPower Corp., a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems for the domestic and international renewable energy market. SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) generated revenue of over $2.7 billion in 2013.
Mr. McDaniel is a Director of SemGroup Corporation & Rose Rock Midstream based in Tulsa, OK, a midstream energy service company, with revenue of more than $1.4 billion in 2013, providing the oil and gas industry with the means to move products from the wellhead to the wholesale marketplace. SemGroup Corp. (NASDAQ-SEMG) & Rose Rock Midstream (NASDAQ-RRMS) provides diversified services for end-users and consumers of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products and asphalt. Services include purchasing, selling, processing, transporting and storage.
In September 2011, Mr. McDaniel became Chairman of the Board of Tendril. Located in Boulder CO., Tendril provides utilities with wireless equipment and management software for Smart Grid communication networks that improve energy efficiency; lower operating costs and integrates renewable energy resources. Tendril’s wireless data collection solutions enable utilities to successfully implement demand response, time-of-use billing and critical peak pricing initiatives.
In July 2014, Mr. McDaniel became a Director of Aquion Energy, a Pittsburgh-based company that manufactures Aqueous Hybrid Ion batteries and energy storage systems. The company provides low-cost, deep cycle energy storage for grid connected and off grid systems utilizing environmentally safe and widely available input materials.
Mr. McDaniel served for 13 years as a Director of the Senior Care Action Network (SCAN), a Medicare Advantaged HMO with annual revenues of approximately $2 billion which provides healthcare to senior citizens. He is also a former Director of the $200 million SCAN Foundation whose mission is to support initiatives to improve the cost effectiveness and quality of healthcare for the elderly.
He serves on several advisory boards, including On-Ramp Wireless, Inc., a wireless communication technology company focusing on smart grid, energy efficiency, security and healthcare applications. Additionally he is a former Director of Cypress Envirosystems; a leading Silicon Valley based technology company that develops and markets automation technologies that save energy and lower maintenance costs for commercial and industrial facilities, and is currently an Advisor of that company.
Mr. McDaniel is the owner of TR Ranch, Inc., a working cattle ranch located 75 miles southeast of Austin, Texas and sponsors the Songwriter Serenade performing songwriter competition, Live Oak Fiddle Camp and the Texas State Fiddle Competition.
Mr. McDaniel is actively involved in a variety of charitable activities through the McDaniel Family Foundation, such as the Free Wheelchair Mission. He and his family have distributed 3,000 wheelchairs to the poor and disabled in Chile, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The Family Foundation also supports Heifer International, where he has traveled to Nepal for Heifer programs supporting the economic independence for the women of Nepal. In addition, the Foundation supports the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Adult Day Care Center & Alzheimer’s Family Service Center.
STEVE VASSALLO
General Partner at Foundation Capital
Steve Vassallo is a venture capitalist at Foundation Capital, where he works with companies in the areas of cleantech, consumer, and software & services.
Steve serves on the board of directors of Airy Labs, Akiban, Aquion Energy, AutoGrid, Control4, Read It Later, Sentient Energy, and SunRun. Steve also serves on the board of the Nueva School and advises the Aquaya Institute.
Before joining Foundation Capital in 2007, Steve helped launch Ning, a consumer Internet service where anyone can create their own social network. Prior to Ning, Steve was Director of Engineering at Immersion [IMMR], which pioneered the field of tactile feedback and human touch technology. Prior to Immersion, Steve was a project leader and design engineer at IDEO, where he developed more than a dozen successful products for market leading companies including Cisco, Nike, BMW, Steelcase, McDonalds, and Caterpillar.
Steve earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar.
BILL WIBERG
General Partner at Advanced Technology Ventures
Bill is Advanced Technology Ventures’ lead partner for investments in the cleantech sector. He is an active board member of GreatPoint Energy, Calisolar, Coskata, Oasys Water, Rive Technology and HVVi.
Bill joined ATV in 2003, bringing with him extensive operational and venture capital experience, including 19 years with Lucent Technologies. He was President of Lucent’s Cellular and PCS Wireless Networks division from 1997 to 2000, a $5 billion business in 2000. Additionally, Bill served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA). Subsequent to Lucent, Bill was a General Partner at Orange Ventures, a wireless-focused fund backed by Orange, one of the largest mobile service providers in the world. He also served as a General Partner with Bowman Capital’s Private Equity Group.
Bill earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University, an M.S. from Stanford University, and a B.S. from Cornell University.
Investors
Aquion’s desire to bring innovative technology from the lab to full commercialization was backed up by world-renowned investors dedicated to scientific breakthroughs and making the world a better place. Throughout the years, Aquion secured backing from the following investors:
Advanced Technology Ventures
Founded in 1979, Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) is a bi-coastal venture capital firm with more than $1.6 billion in capital under management. ATV works closely with entrepreneurial teams in several technology markets, including communications, infrastructure, software and services, consumer technology, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and cleantech, to build emerging-growth business ventures into market leaders. With more than 29 years of experience, ATV has a proven track record of success in helping to build strong, sustainable business enterprises
Bright Capital
Bright Capital is an independent venture capital firm that invests globally in a wide range of promising companies. Its investments are made across multiple product types in energy and resource efficiency, clean technology, industrial biotech. The firm works as a merchant venturing entity in a multi-corporate model, building bridges between USA, Russia & CIS, Middle East and South Eastern Asia. In addition to financial investments and managerial expertise, Bright Capital provides its portfolio companies with direct access to the markets of Russia and CIS through its network of connections to industrial companies. Bright Capital strategically co-invests with top-tier venture funds and corporate partners.
Constellation Technology Ventures
Constellation Technology Ventures (CTV) is the venture investing arm of Exelon Corporation, the nation’s leading competitive energy provider. Constellation is a leading competitive retail supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. Constellation’s family of retail businesses serves more than 2.5 million residential, public sector and business customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100. Baltimore-based Constellation is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2013 revenues of approximately $24.9 billion, and more than 35,000 megawatts of owned capacity comprising one of the nation’s cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. Learn more at www.constellation.com or on Twitter at @ConstellationEG.
Foundation Capital
Foundation Capital is dedicated to the proposition that one entrepreneur’s idea, with the right support, can become a business that changes the world. They helped Atheros create the mobile Internet, EnerNOC invent the energy demand response market, and Netflix revolutionize media distribution and consumption, among many others. Foundation is currently invested in more than 70 high growth ventures in the areas of consumer, information technology, software, semiconductors, and clean technology. Recent public offerings of companies they helped found or grow include Reponsys, Financial Engines and Envestnet.
Bill Gates
Bill Gates invested in Aquion Energy.
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers are actively investing in Greentech innovation and entrepreneurs. Scientists agree the number one trend on the planet is urbanization, as four billion people move from rural to urban living in the next 50 years: they all want and need clean water, clean power and clean transportation. At the same time we face climate crisis. Atmospheric CO2 levels are at an all-time high, with accelerating growth. We are addicted to increasingly expensive oil. Scientific breakthroughs in biology and materials technology mean there’s never been a better time to start and grow a great green venture. Greentech could be the largest economic opportunity of the 21st century. It is an unprecedented challenge that demands great innovation, speed and scale.
Prelude Ventures
Prelude Ventures is venture capital firm based in San Francisco that invests in highly innovative companies capitalizing on the significant market opportunities in the cleantech sector. Prelude focuses specifically on companies that can have a material impact on the carbon intensity of the global economy. Founded in 2009, the fund is flexible relative to the stage, size and structure of our investments.
Total Energy Ventures
Total Energy Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of French oil & gas major Total. Its investments support the development of companies with innovative technologies and business models in areas such as renewable and alternative energies, oil and gas, gas monetization, energy efficiency, energy storage, waste valorization, greenhouse gases reduction, industrial water and sustainable mobility. For more information, please visit https://totalenergies.com/.
Yung’s Enterprise
Yung’s Enterprise is an investment holding company, headquartered in Hong Kong. It focuses on real estate development and investment, energy development, technology and financial investments. Yung’s Enterprise maintains a strong presence within Greater China, while always searching for high value opportunities to enhance its existing portfolio.
Management Team
Aquion Energy has worked with experienced industry leaders specializing in batteries and emerging technologies.
SCOTT A. PEARSON
Chief Executive Officer
With over 20 years of experience leading a wide range of technology-based companies and organizations, Mr. Pearson joined Aquion in March of 2011 as its Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Pearson’s professional experience spans a broad range of industries including defense systems, digital imaging, electronics assembly equipment, uninterruptible power systems, personal electric vehicles, fuel cell power systems and stationary batteries. Prior to joining Aquion, Mr. Pearson served as President and CEO of Protonex Technology Corporation for six years and subsequently held the role of Chairman of the Board through a successful sale to Ballard Power Systems in October, 2015. Before Protonex, Mr. Pearson held executive or senior roles at Eastman Kodak Digital, Cookson/Speedline, Invensys Powerware, and Nova Cruz LLC.
Mr. Pearson holds an M.B.A. from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.
PROFESSOR JAY WHITACRE
Chief Scientist and Founder
Dr. Whitacre is the Founder of Aquion Energy and has served as the CTO and Chief Scientist. He joined Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, with a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy departments, and was promoted to Full Professor in 2015. Prior to his time at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Whitacre was a post- doctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology from 1999 to 2000 and subsequently became a member of the technical staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. His work there was focused on synthesizing, characterizing, and implementing materials for electrochemical devices such as batteries and fuel cells. Starting in 2005, he was a Cognizant Engineer for Mars Science Laboratory rover program, where he was in charge of the energy storage components of the descent stage module. His work at CMU has been focused on developing and analyzing new materials and systems for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. In 2008, a first-generation version of the AHI chemistry was developed in his labs at CMU, and subsequent incubation work resulted in the spin out of Aquion Energy from CMU in late 2009.
Dr. Whitacre received his BA from Oberlin College in 1994, where he graduated with honors in Physics. He then earned his masters (1997) and PhD (1999) from the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Michigan. Whitacre has authored or co-authored over 60 peer review papers and is an inventor on over 30 patents that are issued or pending. He has numerous honors to his name, including the 2014 Caltech/Resnick Sustainability Institute Resonate Award, was listed as one of the top 25 Eco-Innovators in the world by Fortune Magazine in 2014, and was the 2015 winner of the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize for Innovation.
DAN VOELKER
Chief Operating Officer
Dan Voelker joined Aquion as Vice President, Engineering & Technical Operations in January 2012 and brings extensive experience in engineering, product development, and operations leadership from battery and integrated systems businesses. Prior to Aquion, Dan was executive officer and Vice President of Engineering & Operations with Altair Nanotechnologies Inc, from April 2008 to January 2012 where he lead the commercialization of Altairnano’s energy storage products and operations for the electric grid, industrial, transportation, and military markets. Dan was Vice President of Sales and the Vice President of Operations for Wes-Tech Automation Solutions, a systems integration business supplying the automotive industry. He was responsible for several key leadership roles at DT Industries Inc, including Director of Engineering, Director of Program Management, and as General Manager of DT’s Chicago operation. Dan spent over sixteen years of his career at Duracell where he served in roles of increasing levels of responsibility culminating as the Director of Equipment Engineering for Duracell worldwide. He played a key role in several Duracell product launches. Dan has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska.
AMY HIGGINS
Vice President, Human Resources
Amy Higgins joined Aquion in March of 2012 and has over 15 years of HR experience in a variety of industries, including the high-tech and manufacturing segments. In 2006, Amy founded Global Human Resources Group, which provides companies with the knowledge and tools to maximize the productivity, effectiveness and motivation of human capital. Prior to founding Global Human Resources Group, Amy served as the Human Resources Director for Color Kinetics, where she was responsible for the strategic development and operational execution of their global HR efforts. She was also a member of the senior leadership team that successfully executed the company’s IPO. Previously, Amy held leadership roles overseeing the development and implementation of HR strategies for several companies in a variety of industries. Her primary focus is on change management, driving results, and influencing overall business success through people. Amy holds a BS Degree in Business Administration from Stonehill College and an MBA from Bryant College.
PAUL NEUHART
Vice President, Global Supply Chain
With more than 25 years of leadership experience in a wide range of technology-based companies and organizations, Paul recently joined Aquion Energy. Paul’s professional experience spans a broad spectrum of industries including wireless communications, energy storage, electronics, optical fiber, metals and passive components manufacturing. Paul’s background includes joint ventures, turnarounds, M&A and startup management as well as C-level experience with fortune 500 companies such as Alcatel. His global experience has involved business activities in Europe, Russia, Asia, and South America. Early in Paul’s career, he was the SCM leader for a startup in Iran. His breadth of experience also includes manufacturing, engineering, sales, consulting and various boards. Paul has achieved significant results in cost improvement, organizational performance and profitability in every role and every company, regardless of size or position, where he has served. Most recently, Paul has been focused on founding Optimos International as well as Accelerated Alignment Group. Paul holds BS and MS degrees as well as CPM and CPIM certifications.
TIM POOR
Vice President, Business Development & Sales
Tim Poor joined Aquion in June of 2013 and brings over 20 years of sales, business development and operations experience in the high tech, energy and power systems industries. Tim’s primary focus is commercializing leading-edge technologies and forging and maintaining strong relationships with customers and industry partners in both domestic and international markets. Prior to Aquion, Tim served as Executive Vice President of the Wind Energy Business at American Superconductor Corporation where he led successful teams in commercializing new products, developing and implementing growth strategies, and establishing new global businesses and operations resulting in substantial revenue increases for the company. Prior to America Superconductor Corporation, Tim held senior sales leadership roles in GE’s Industrial Systems Division, where he was responsible for significant sales wins and operating margin improvements and earned a Six Sigma Black Belt. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University.
VIC WARREN
Vice President of Manufacturing
Vic Warren joined Aquion Energy as Vice President of Manufacturing in September 2014. Vic is passionate about manufacturing excellence and is working to develop and launch a lean manufacturing program, reliability-centered maintenance, and key performance indicators to drive the right behaviors on the Aquion manufacturing floor. He brings 25 years of technical and engineering experience in high-speed, consumer-goods manufacturing. Prior to joining Aquion, Vic was a plant manager and director of operations at Berry Plastics, where he improved profitability, site management, employee relations, and staff development. He previously spent 11 years managing machine design, plant engineering, and manufacturing for Proctor & Gamble’s Duracell Division and six years at Milliken & Company, a manufacturer of chemicals, floor coverings, and performance fabrics and textiles.
Vic holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from LaGrange College. He also has 10 years of hands-on experience in Lean Manufacturing.