Berkner Group

Join us for this discussion during The Engine's Tough Tech Week!

Join us for this discussion during The Engine's Tough Tech Week!

We’re excited to join the Aepnus Technology team in celebrating their new Head of Product Development, Adrian B.! Aepnus Technology is cutting industrial costs, reducing environmental harm, and showing how sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. As they continue scaling their breakthrough electrolyzer systems, Aepnus needed a Head of Product Development with deep mechanical design expertise and a proven track record of bringing complex hardware to market. Adrian is a mission-driven mechanical engineering leader with over a decade of experience advancing electrochemical systems at Verdagy, EnerVenue, and Bloom Energy. He has led high-performing engineering teams, driven cost-effective redesigns of meter-scale cell systems, and helped secure ~$40M in DOE funding for scaling electrolyzer cell manufacturing in North America. Known for his hands-on leadership and data-driven mindset, Adrian thrives in early-stage environments. “I love early-stage start-ups because you get the chance to build a product and a company at the same time, “ he shared. “I find working on tech that has a positive impact on the environment to be the most rewarding - and that is what we’re doing at Aepnus.” At Aepnus, Adrian will lead product development, including prototyping, cell and stack design, and manufacturing scale-up for next-generation electrolyzers. With his technical depth, manufacturing know-how, and climate commitment, Adrian will play a pivotal role in advancing Aepnus’s mission to electrify chemical production and decarbonize industrial processes. Congratulations, Adrian and Aepnus—we can’t wait to see what you build together. #ClimateTech #CleantechHiring #ProductLeadership #Electrolyzers #GreenChemistry #Decarbonization #MechanicalEngineering #Sustainability #BerknerGroupSuccess #AepnusTechnology

We’re excited to share that Arick Sade has joined SirenOpt as Electrical Engineering Manager. SirenOpt is pioneering a paradigm shift in advanced materials characterization. By combining cold atmospheric plasma with physics-informed machine learning, the company transforms measurement blind spots into multi-layered material insights, accelerating R&D, optimizing processes, and enhancing production quality. To drive this vision forward, they sought a Principal Electrical Engineer with deep technical expertise and proven leadership experience. We introduced them to Arick Sade, an accomplished engineering leader with over 20 years of experience in FPGA design, PCB development, and system architecture. At KLA Corporation, Arick managed and mentored global engineering teams, led full product lifecycles, and drove compliance and regulatory standards. He brings both hands-on design expertise and strong technical ownership, making him an ideal fit for SirenOpt’s complex, high-precision systems. At SirenOpt, Arick will play a key role in developing reliable, high-performance electrical systems that advance the company’s real-time, non-destructive measurement platform. His leadership and technical depth will directly support SirenOpt’s mission to transform advanced manufacturing intelligence. Congratulations to Arick and the SirenOpt team! We look forward to seeing the impact of this collaboration on the future of smart, sustainable manufacturing. #DeepTech #EngineeringLeadership #PlasmaTechnology #ManufacturingInnovation #ElectricalEngineering #StartupGrowth #BerknerGroup

We’re excited to join the team at VOID Technologies in celebrating their new Chief Executive Officer, Mike Dennis! VOID Technologies is transforming packaging with its patented VO+ additive technology, enabling manufacturers and brand owners to reduce plastic at the source, lower CO₂ emissions, and make recycling easier, all at parity or cost improvement versus competitors. VOID sought a CEO to accelerate the company’s drive to commercialization, bringing early-stage leadership experience, proven go-to-market skills, and a strong history of fundraising success. We introduced them to Mike Dennis, an accomplished leader in the packaging and plastics industry who combines a strong engineering foundation with proven success in scaling new market developments. Over the course of his career, Mike has built go-to-market strategies and driven revenue expansion, steering organizations through critical phases of commercialization and closing multimillion-dollar deals. His blend of startup experience, fundraising expertise, and highly relevant technical knowledge in films, laminates, and resin technologies makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead VOID into its next stage of growth. At VOID, Mike will drive commercialization and market momentum, strengthen investor engagement, and guide the company’s next phase of growth while continuing to advance sustainable packaging innovation. We look forward to seeing what Mike and the VOID Technologies team will accomplish together! #SustainablePackaging #CircularEconomy #ExecutiveSearch #Leadership #ClimateTech

We’re pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Graybill, CPA as Controller at 3 Rivers Energy Partners. 3 Rivers Energy Partners is on a mission to empower organizations to create a sustainable future. By transforming organic waste streams into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertilizer, they help partners close the nutrient life cycle, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen surrounding communities. To continue advancing their mission, they sought an experienced financial leader with a proven track record in operational excellence, strategic planning, and cross-industry expertise. We were proud to introduce them to Eric, who brings over 15 years of senior financial leadership across manufacturing, aerospace and defense, real estate, and industrial services. As CFO at Dynamic, he oversaw multi-facility operations while driving efficiency gains, implementing strategic financial planning, and navigating complex market transitions. His earlier roles include serving as the first CFO at Hoosier Crane, where he built the company’s financial systems from the ground up, and leading large-scale ERP implementations at Holladay Properties. Eric’s collaborative leadership style, depth of technical accounting expertise, and ability to deliver measurable operational improvements make him an exceptional fit for 3 Rivers Energy Partners’ mission-driven culture. His experience managing risk, optimizing reporting systems, and aligning finance with organizational strategies will be instrumental as 3 Rivers Energy Partners continues to grow its renewable natural gas and regenerative agriculture initiatives. We’re excited to see the impact Eric will make in helping 3 Rivers Energy Partners deliver innovative, sustainable solutions to their partners and communities. #ClimateTechHiring #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Controller #FinanceLeadership #RenewableNaturalGas #BerknerGroup

We’re pleased to share that Joseph Hogan has joined Invasive Species Corporation as their newest Sales Manager, bringing his deep expertise in nature-based water treatment solutions to lead sales and customer engagement for their growing water business. ISC is on a mission to regenerate nature with nature, developing environmentally responsible biological solutions to control invasive species in water and agriculture. To drive adoption of products like Zequanox® and the upcoming Piscamycin™, ISC sought a Sales Manager with both deep technical knowledge and a proven ability to build markets from the ground up. Joseph brings over six years of experience in lake and aquatic ecosystem restoration, with a strong emphasis on biologically-based treatment solutions. He has a track record of new market development and long-cycle technical sales across municipalities, utilities, and environmental agencies. “I’ve been in lake management for almost 6.5 years, working on the applicator side and mostly in a new business development role. I might even get into a boat to help out,” Joseph shared during our conversations. “But my focus is prospecting, running initial meetings, proposing tailored solutions, and closing business.” Joseph’s technical fluency and genuine commitment to sustainability make him well-suited to advance ISC’s mission. With Zequanox Gen 1.5 ready for market and Piscamycin nearing re-approval, Joseph is poised to expand ISC’s reach across industrial, utility, and government sectors, reviving dormant customer relationships and opening doors to new opportunities. We’re excited to see how Joseph helps drive ISC’s growth while promoting nature-positive innovations that protect aquatic ecosystems. #ClimateTech #InvasiveSpecies #SustainableWaterManagement #AquaticRestoration #EnvironmentalSales #Zequanox #Piscamycin #BerknerGroup #NaturePositiveSolutions

We’re excited to join the UpSolv team in celebrating their new Chief Commercial Officer, Rahul Rasal, PhD, MBA! UpSolv is on a mission to make recycled plastic as cost-effective as virgin plastic. Their scalable technology platform delivers custom-purified products by removing contaminants and retaining additives on demand, helping industries meet the highest quality standards while navigating increasingly stringent regulations. Rahul brings over 15 years of leadership experience across global organizations such as NatureWorks, ExxonMobil, and 3M, where he consistently delivered revenue growth, launched new business segments, and negotiated complex high-value agreements – including a $20M+ commitment deal at ExxonMobil. He was honored three times with 3M’s prestigious Circle of Technical Excellence & Innovation award — an exclusive recognition reserved for individuals whose technical achievements set the benchmark for both innovation and measurable business impact. Most recently as Global VP of Commercial at NatureWorks, he led Sales, Marketing, and Product Management functions. He has a strong track record across recycling, low carbon solutions, specialty chemicals, and high-volume commercial operations. His cross-functional experience spans R&D, manufacturing, marketing, and sales, paired with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University and an MBA from Rice University. Rahul is poised to drive UpSolv’s commercial strategy, help scale its purified resin offerings, and strengthen its position in a rapidly evolving circular economy. Congratulations to Rahul and the UpSolv team! Looking for your next transformational leader? Connect with Berkner Group. #CircularEconomy #RecyclingLeadership #AdvancedRecycling #SustainabilityJobs #CleanTech #ExecutiveSearch #PlasticsInnovation #BerknerGroup #UpSolv

We’re excited to join the Lithios team in celebrating their new Principal Electrode Manufacturing Engineer, Christopher Plonski! Lithios is commercializing a new electrochemical platform to produce sustainable, low-cost lithium from vast untapped brine resources in the U.S. and beyond. Their patented Advanced Lithium Extraction (ALE) technology minimizes processing requirements—reducing costs, inputs, and environmental impact. To help scale this breakthrough technology, Lithios sought a seasoned manufacturing leader with deep expertise in electrode fabrication. Chris brings over 11 years of experience in lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing, with a strong track record in electrode processing, capital project management, and facility buildouts. His work at Nyobolt, A123 Systems, 24M Technologies, and Ionic Materials showcases his ability to optimize processes, reduce scrap, and scale from R&D to pilot production. At Lithios, Chris will play a key role in advancing electrode manufacturing processes and supporting the scale-up of their ALE platform. His hands-on expertise and leadership in dynamic, innovation-driven environments make him a strong addition to the team. Congratulations to Chris and the Lithios team! #ClimateTech #BatteryManufacturing #LithiumExtraction #CleanEnergy #ElectrodeEngineering #SustainableTech #BerknerGroup #EnergyTransition #DeepTechHiring

It was a pleasure working with Jane Melia, Ph.D., Earth Foundry and MUUS Climate Partners to help Harvest find their excellent new CEO, Kenneth Munson. Congratulations to the entire team!