Our team is dedicated to developing innovative technologies and business models geared toward extracting the latent value of organic waste. Provided below is a brief overview of each of our team members, their background, and a discussion of the unique skills and attributes they bring to the ReGenerate team.
Hunt Briggs – Director of Finance and Marketing
Hunt serves as the team expert in energy efficiency technologies and project development. Hunt has worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to develop energy efficiency strategies in the commercial real estate and hospitality industries, and with Cisco’s EnergyWise department through the deployment and assessment of a novel building energy management system. Hunt also brings soil biology and chemistry expertise to the organization. A former educator, Hunt was the science department chair at a college preparatory academy, teaching college-level chemistry and biology classes. Hunt graduated from the University of Michigan with masters degrees in sustainable systems and business administration.
Paul Davis – Director of Strategy and Operations
Paul serves as the team expert in waste management, transportation and food system sustainability. Paul previously worked for S4 Energy Systems, a plasma gasification firm. At S4 Energy systems, Paul was involved in assessing the financial desirability of different waste feedstocks as well as the operational benefits of combining plasma gasification technology with complementary waste-to-energy systems. Paul also brings expertise in transportation operations having spent several years as an Operations Planner for San Diego’s public transit system. Finally, Paul brings hands on experience in food system sustainability, having worked in organic agriculture production and food service sustainability metrics development.
Robert Levine – Chief Science Officer
Bobby serves as the team’s expert in the microbiology of anaerobic digestion, reaction kinetics and reactor engineering. Early in his academic career, Bobby worked on anaerobic digestion technologies for Vermont dairies, completing his thesis research on an algae-based bio-refinery that integrated anaerobic digestion with on-farm liquid fuel production. In 2009, Robert was awarded a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the Graham Institute of Environmental Sustainability Graduate Fellowship for his research on biofuel production from microalgae using novel reaction pathways in hot, compressed water. Over the last year, Bobby has led the development of ReGenerate’s pilot anaerobic digester. He has focused on design modifications to improve operational stability and understand how to maximize biogas yields under high organic loading rates.
Nolan Orfield – Chief Technology Officer
Nolan leads ReGenerate’s product design and manufacturing efforts. Nolan unique background in mechanical engineering, life cycle analysis, and construction, have helped him develop a keen mind for developing and building functional, low-cost and environmentally friendly products. In coordination with Michigan based manufacturers, Nolan built ReGenerate’s first pilot reactor, which is currently being tested at Michigan State’s Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center. Nolan is currently an Engineering Sustainable Systems PhD student in University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, where his research focuses on the environmental impact of hydrocarbon production from algal biomass. Prior to coming to Michigan, Nolan served as the Founder and President of Clear Estimates, Inc., a software development company providing cost-estimating tools for construction trade contractors.Â
