Senior Management
TRI's management team and Board of Directors have significant experience in technology development, project management, and the pulp and paper industry. TRI's leadership is committed to developing the world's leading biomass-to-energy company.
Daniel A. Burciaga
President and CEO
Dan Burciaga is President and CEO of TRI, ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc., an innovative technology firm leading the commercialization of the thermochemical biorefinery platform. He brings to bear over 30 years of experience in new technology startups, technology development and deployment, project development, project management, industrial engineering and construction. Prior to joining TRI, he was Vice President and General Manager of Industra Engineers & Construction, a firm serving the pulp and paper, chemicals and metals industries. He also served in the international division of Procter & Gamble (P&G) where he was responsible for a wide range of international projects over the broad spectrum of P&G's manufacturing technologies. Mr. Burciaga received his B.S., M.S. and Engineer degree all from Stanford University, and an MBA from Xavier University.
Eric J. Connor
Senior Vice President, Business Development
Eric Connor has over 30 years experience in business development, marketing, engineering and construction with particular experience in the pulp and paper industry. Previously, Mr. Connor served as Senior Director, Corporate Development for Enron North America, where he was responsible for the acquisition/divestiture and management of assets in the forest products and steel industries. Prior to Enron, he served as VP of Marketing for Industra Engineering, Director of Business Development for Fluor Daniel, Inc., and in a number of manufacturing management positions for Procter & Gamble's Cellulose and Specialties Division. Mr. Connor has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta.
David G. Newport
Vice President, Project Management
Dave Newport has over 20 years experience in diversified engineering services. Prior to joining TRI, Mr. Newport served as Senior Corporate Engineer for Sappi Fine Papers and, before that, the Projects Director for Sappi (Pty) Limited, a major South African paper company. Prior to Sappi, he was a Project Manager for Uhde (Pty) Limited, and a process engineer for John Brown, Kemplant (Pty) Ltd and Unilever. His experience includes a number of projects in GTL and petrochemical technologies. Mr. Newport completed his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of WitWatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and received an Advanced Project Management Certificate from Tuks University Business Management School in Pretoria.
Ravi Chandran, Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer
Ravi Chandran has over 25 years experience in gasification and combustion technologies. Dr. Chandran has direct experience in steam reforming, pulsed combustion, pulsed gasification, fluid bed processes including combustion, power generation, fuel cells, waste treatment and drying. He holds 9 patents and has 5 patent applications in process. Prior to joining TRI, he was Vice President of Engineering at MTCI, and a Research Specialist at Babcock & Wilcox where he coordinated the fluidized bed combustion fuels characterization program. Dr. Chandran earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University. He is a recipient of ASME Melville medal.
Christopher J. Doherty
Vice President, Finance
Chris Doherty has over 15 years of management experience in government and private companies. Mr. Doherty served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in Europe for several years, and has headed two separate education-focused organizations, one in the United States and one abroad. He was also appointed to senior leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Education, where he served for nearly five years. Mr. Doherty has worked as a management consultant, both in the United States and overseas, focusing primarily on large manufacturing clients. He graduated with Academic Distinction from Stanford University with a B.A. and earned an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from Northwestern University's Kellogg School, where he was named an F.C. Austin Scholar, the school's highest award.