NuCycle Energy Leadership Team

Mark Barasch is the CEO of NuCycle Energy, as well as the Managing Director of Gemini Capital LLC, one of the two lead investors in NuCycle. Prior to his involvement in NuCycle and Gemini, Barasch spent the preceding thirty years as a business owner in New York City, serving and consulting for a list of clients that includes many of the world’s largest technology and media and advertising firms (i.e., Lucent Technologies, Apple, SONY, Abbot Labs, Sirius XM, HBO, Turner Broadcasting, and Universal Music Group. among others).

Mark also has the honor of sitting on the Advisory Board of the International Council for Caring Communities, a 501 C3 not-for-profit organization that focuses on Sustainability Initiatives and that has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. In that role, Barasch has had the privilege to manage and oversee several projects promoting global economic and environmental sustainability at United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY.

Jim joined NuCycle Energy in 2004 as part of the original start-up team. He has held many positions including Plant Manager, Vice President of Materials Acquisition, Vice President of Business Development and in 2017, was named its Chief Operating Officer. Jim has over thirty-three years of business experience including leadership roles in the solid waste and recycling industry, having built and sold his own company to Waste Management in 1999 before joining that organization. Jim was with WM until coming on board at NuCycle Energy. Jim has lived in Massachusetts most of his life and now resides on Cape Cod with his wife, close to his two daughters and grandchildren.

Zach invested in and later joined NuCycle Energy in late 2015 and became the company's CFO in 2017. Zach's role at NuCycle far exceeds the responsibilities of a typical CFO. In addition to overseeing corporate finance, Zach is involved in business development, operations, and overall company administration. Prior to joining NuCycle, Zach was Vice-President of Finance for Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ: ROIC), a publicly traded real estate investment trust. Zach is a graduate of Amherst College and received his MBA from the Columbia Business School. Zach was raised in New York prior to relocating to Colorado.

Chris joined NuCycle Energy in 2017, he has been instrumental in the start-up of the Plant City location working with the market development, funding, site selection, permitting, and construction oversight. He currently leads the Material Acquisition efforts along with overseeing the Operations. His career began as an apprentice engineer for Magnetek Electric Motor Company, where he designed electric motors, generators, and drives. Later, he transitioned into the waste and recycling industry in 1993 with Browning Ferris Industries before joining Aspen Waste Systems, Inc. He was responsible for the start-up in terms of Business Development and Operations of the St. Louis, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa locations. He is the proud father of 4 grown children, he and his lovely wife relocated to Tampa in 2017.

Joseph Knapik is the Director of EHS & Quality. He has been involved with NuCycle Energy since 2004 and led our efforts in defining our materials sourcing program that resulted in the EPA designation of Enviro-Fuelcubes®. Joe has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing management, EHS compliance, quality systems, and governmental affairs. He has experience across and in a variety of industries, including utility power generation, semiconductor manufacturing, precision metal manufacturing and heavy demolition. Joe graduated with a BS in Environmental Science from Nasson College and holds an MS in Industrial Hygiene from Montana Tech and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Joe and his wife live in Massachusetts.