Expertise in Business Development, Economic Development & Finance Across Enterprise & Govt.
Co-Creation
Management Team at a Glance.
Rick Harlow, CEO and Chief Revenue Officer
Background
- 25+ years in Business Creation, B2B Business Development, and Revenue Generation in the Tech, Energy and Manufacturing spaces.
- Areas of expertise include Energy, Transportation, Defense, Cyber, Networking, Applications, and Emerging Tech Solutions – IoT, AI, AR/VR and Blockchain
- Has a massive professional and personal network of business leaders, government officials, and university administrators
- Award winning business leader in the global software and industrial IoT markets with successful exits across multiple start-ups and global companies across multiple industries.
Responsibilities with TWGL
- Front man on Business Development and Market Opportunities Generation.
- Discussing and consulting on business objectives, strategy, and goals & what you need to bring those to fruition.
- Manage raising funds, creating joint ventures, managing senior management strategies, identifying, structuring and creating joint ventures, manufacturing facilities & profitable operations.
- Business objectives include spearheading the advancement & commercialization of leading-edge, market-ready solutions through collaborative co-creation, proven product launch & go-to-market strategies, and bespoke funding solutions.
Kevin White, President & Chief Legal Officer
Background
- Served in the Army as a JAG Corp Officer
- Specialized in finance and contracts law for government contracts.
Responsibilities with TWGL
- Closer
- Puts pen to paper to generate MOUs and investment agreements between TWGL and portfolio companies and investors.
- Acts a mediator to get everyone to agree to the terms
If you have other legal or data privacy questions or needs for your business – Kevin can set-up an external agreement with you for billable legal services through his private practice – outside of TWG.
Blake Upshaw, Chief Financial Officer
Background
- Managing GAAP, FASB, and ICOFR audit engagement teams.
- Equity investments, lending (conventional and convertible), Reg CF raises, purchasing and selling companies.
- Structuring & restructuring loans between entities.
Responsibilities with TWGL
- Oversees The Techwerx Group Limited financial department.
- Performs effective risk management and plans the organization’s financial strategy.
- Drives the company’s financial planning, perform risk management by analyzing the organization’s liabilities and investments,
- Decide on investment strategies by considering cash and liquidity risks,
- Controls and evaluates the organization’s fundraising plans and capital structure.
Tina White, Chief Marketing Officer
Background
- Drove all aspects of the product vision, commercialization, roadmap, go-to-market strategy, and business-development planning at Fortune 50 companies
-
Drove revenue growth by forging new and leveraging existing relationships with Distributors, resellers, OEMs, and EPCs within industrial companies.
- Developed and managed the sales strategies for global MNEs in the energy, EPC, and manufacturing verticals by understanding and aligning critical industry challenges and objectives with Vodafone’s product portfolio.
- Has led geographic expansions into the US for global telecom companies co-facilitating a cross-functional collaborative teams with Product Marketing and the key internal business units and establishing resell and partner alliances with US-based telco carriers, ILECs, and ISPs
Responsibilities with TWGL
- Responsible for developing and leading the market positioning and target-based messaging (ABM) strategy.
- Developing and managing digital marketing strategy for a tech innovation co-creator, accelerator, and investment fund administration.
- Driving positive brand awareness and expanding investor pools in order to increase overall investment funds for portfolio companies.
- Decide on investment strategies by considering cash and liquidity risks,
- Controls and evaluates the organization’s fundraising plans and capital structure.
Paul Latiolais, VP of Economic & Business Development
Background
- 10+ years as university innovation director and business professor
- Developed, set up and managed center of innovation and entrepreneurship at Lamar University for over ten years.
-
Twenty years of successfully driving technology adoption and scaling business in advanced materials, energy, biotech, aerospace, and transportation
- History of leading senior management and key market partners to plan and execute business operations and strategies related to integrated circuits, computer technology, automotive, and aerospace.
- Has been highly successful at managing diverse teams at companies like Northrop Grumman, Schlumberger, Synopsys Software and Mentor Graphics
Responsibilities with TWGL
- Establishing core business models, deployment of them and business strategies with technical teams with portfolio companies, rapid growth and new product offerings
- Developing and managing economic and business development strategies for accelerator and portfolio companies.
- Managing strategic relationships with university partners related to workforce development and intern programs.
- Managing grant and non-dilutive funding opportunities alongside university and government partners.
- Controls and evaluates the organization’s fundraising plans and capital structure.
Brandon Reeves, VP of Innovation
Background
- Served in the U.S. Army, Post 911 Veteran.
- Cyber Security Specialist with Dept of Defense and Enterprise experience.
-
Twenty plus years of successfully driving technology adoption and scaling business in energy, agriculture, freight handling, aerospace, and sustainability.
- History of leading high-performance teams in both the military and private sector.
- Has extensive training in robotics for uses across multiple industries including manufacturing, energy and agriculture.
Responsibilities with TWGL
- Establishing core business development models and deployment of them.
- Establishes business strategies with technical teams and portfolio companies, rapid growth and new product offerings.
- Developing and managing economic and business development strategies for accelerator and portfolio companies.
- Managing strategic relationships with university partners related to workforce development and intern programs.
- Manages relationships with pro sports organizations and department of defense partners.
A Few of Our Advisors
Dr. Christel Bastida
CEO, Published Scientist, Rice MBA Candidate, Full Member of Sigma Xi. IYKYK. business strategy-minded leader, A bleeding-edge innovator, and a scientist.
Tekedra Pierre
Prairie View A&M University Director of Information, Impact and Sustainability Center (IISC) CAHS Marketing and Communications
Abhi Mathews
Managing Director at Castle Placement and a Principal at Minerva Valuations. He has structured and raised equity capital, senior debt, debentures, convertible notes and preferred shares for public and private entities.
Davy Norris
Chief Innovation Officer Louisiana Tech University. Higher education executive and professional economist in government, academics and private consulting.
David Schoonover
Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing at Module X Solutions. Twenty years of industrial manufacturing and operations expertise.
Meghan H. Lopez
SUNN Co-Founder & CEO I Consensus I Environmental - Web3 - Sustainability - Blockchain - Ed I PR & Non-Profit Specialist. Mentor: TWG, Founders Institute & Mediatech Ventures
Jonathan Trent
Founding Director at UpCycle Systems. NASA Scientist with expertise in hydrogen, space, food and oceanics technologies.
Leo Womack
Principal Gulf Equities, Co-Founder Houston Angel Network. Investing in exceptional people and companies. For over 30 years.
Dr. Tom Kelcner, ED
Managing Partner, Empowered Network. Educational Consulting, Educational Technology, and Instructional Design.
Stephen Farrell, PMP, MBA
EVP Ally Energy. 15 years experience cost management & analysis, forecasting & planning in energy, finance and infrastructure.
Bret Gardella
CEO Bastrop Economic Development Corp. Over fifteen years of economic development experience across multiple U.S. government organizations.
Risheem Muhammad
Founder Mojave Inc. SME on planning and training programs, conferences dealing with new classroom procedures, instructional materials and equipment, and teaching aids.
Dr. Elias Jackson
Co-Founder and Sr. VP of Government and Scientific Affairs at Vyripharm Biopharmaceutical. Vyripharm® is a disruptive biopharmaceutical innovator in personalized medicine.
L. Barton Womack
CEO of Eden Grow Systems. He is a Futurist, Investor, Producer, Inventor and has, over the last 30 years, built businesses and executed ideas in a wide range of industries.
Tom Barnett
Director, Strategic Innovation (Innovation and Technology Scouting) Director, Strategic Innovation (Innovation and Technology Scouting) Lumen Technologies.
John Morris
President and CEO, The Morris Analysis Group. Passionate about mentoring next generation engineers and scientists to solve the rapidly evolving difficult problems we are encountering in National Security.
Joey Sanchez
Senior Director of Ecosystems Senior Director, The Ion Houston. Connects founders, investors, innovators and leaders to one another for a more fulfilling business venture that benefits all equitably and personally.
Reid Bowen
CEO Minerva 319. Fosters and incubates start up companies to commercialize and grow their business. Angel Investor and finance consultant on government and enterprise deal structures.
Alvaro Mangual
Agriculture Specialist, High-level Sales Professional with experience as a Consultant, Sales Representative, Account Manager, and Director of Sales across multiple industries.
Felipe Lopez
NFT Strategist and Sustainability Consultant, Co-Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of SUNN: Sustainability for Nurturing Nature building on Polygon, Chief Nautical Navigator of Sponsorships and Partnerships of w3b3
Aamir Raees
Managing Partner at Teclever Solutions - North America. Customer Development, Strategic Marketing, Building startups. Fund Raising. International Sales, Competitive Strategy, Business Strategy,
Tammi Scott
Founder of A L'abri non-profit and Coalition & Volunteer Coordinator at Houston Responds. Deep expertise in societal solutions that enable upward mobility. Construction Engineering specialist and business advisor.
Robert Sachs
President & CEO at TEAM Technologies Inc. and Sigma Advanced Technologies LLC. Advanced Engineering & Water purification specialist within multiple industries.
Giuseppe Liberati
Executive Leader ᐧ Global Business Developer ᐧ Growth Advisor ᐧ Energy Strategist ᐧ Strategic Investor ᐧ Board Member ᐧ Author & Public Speaker ᐧ Visionary Futurist ᐧ Complexity Solver ᐧ Fearless Learner ᐧ Witty Polyglot
Donna Winfrey
Founder Winfrey Commercial Real Estate Group. SME on commercial property and services. The company that goes Beyond the Contract® for its corporate and business clients by managing transactions and projects from inception to completion.
Hans von Meier
CEO & Founder CDS Health Corp. Provides clinical services in the operating room. CDS Health Corp, working with world class innovative partners such as Emcyte, stays on the front lines of new healing and regenerative technologies.
Sibi Shanthi, MBA
Management Consultant at Jabian; Strategic management and technology consulting with an integrated approach to creating and implementing strategies, enhancing business processes, developing human capital, and aligning technology.
Adrian Leal
Advanced Manufacturing specialist with a unique combination of tech savvy and soft skills. Broad range of knowledge in both mechanical and electrical equipment and processes.
Tom Rizol
Vice President, General Manager, Claritone Wireless, Inc. Creates strategies, develops plans and executes through teamwork in growing business from start-ups, SMB, Fortune 500 and Global 40 companies.
John Matthews
Director of Trenchless Technology Center & Eminent Scholar Chair and professor at Louisiana Tech University. Prior to re-joining the TTC, he served as Renewal Service Line Manager for Pure Technologies
Ramu Ramachandran
Associate Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate School at Louisiana Tech University. Experienced executive in research administration, strategic planning, building collaborations and multidisciplinary teams.
Virendra Chhikara
Director at LSBDC-ULM Center. Recognized as an industry expert for business advising experience. Specialties include, Business Valuation, Strategy and Team building, Market Research, Technology commercialization, FDA regulatory affairs, Export and Trade, Business Expansions, Budgeting and Financial projections.
Juan Carlos Alba
Sr Vice President at HSB Solomon Associates. Twenty plus years' experience in large scale energy and petrochemical processing. Deep knowledge of AI/ML, automation, Industrial IoT, Process optimization, energy technologies.
Tristan Pieper
Deep knowledge of Web3, Blockchain, Deeptech, Advanced MFG. Been working with founders, executives and investors for a decade of experience developing partnerships, investor relationships and sales strategy for start-ups.
Steve Tatton
Thirty six years of Product Development and New Technologies at JBT Aerotech & FMC Technologies. Deep expertise in aerospace and airlines industry. Electrical and mechanical engineering, AI/ML, Computer Science.
Chad Broussard CMRP, CRL
Lead, Digital Implementation, Corporate Headquarters, at Phillips 66. Implement systems and programs that promote effective and efficient reliability systems that helps manufacturing companies run their businesses more cost effective, safe and reliable.
Jim Carlson
Over thirty years of experience with Clean Harbors, Quala and Total Clean in Compliance Management · Regulatory Compliance · Project Management · Strategic Planning · Operations Management. Industrial Start-Up mentor and investor.
Tor Jensen
VP Sales Hägglunds Products and Chairman Of The Board at Robert Bosch AS. Over twenty five years of industrial automation experience leading global engineering teams across multiple sectors for Rexroth Bosch.
Simon Littlewood
35+ years working in capital markets, investment, finance & business globally. Recognized expert on sustainability, financing and Emerging Markets. Investing in and working with businesses worldwide, from start-ups to multi-billion-dollar stock market listed groups.
Lanson Jones Jr.
CEO & Founder at Everlast Energy. Motivated and passionate entrepreneur with futuristic thought leadership to launch early stage innovative companies. Extensive transitional experience before and after a successful buyout/merger.
Adam Pellitier
Co-Founder and Mechanical Engineer at Practical Engineering Solutions (PES) with a focus on safety, quality, and efficiency. Strong technical background with an knack for motivating teams towards a common goal.
Tejus Mane
Co-founder of AtmoSpark | Technology Commercialization Associate at Lamar University CICE primarily in biomolecular research, bringing together and leading groups in order to achieve a common goal. College government, teaching student run courses and start-ups at Rice University.
Arnaud Laurent
Vice President - Onshore International | NOV. SME in product & technologies including fluid stream separation, gas processing, oil processing and water treatment, Two/Three phases separators - Electrostatic Oil Dehydrators and Desalters- Compact Electrostatic Coalescer (CEC™)
Jay Bowen
CTO at Brigade Energy. Areas of Expertise: Company Vision, Strategic Direction, Facilities and Construction Planning, State-of-the-Art Engineering Solutions, Large-Scale Project Planning and Execution, Operations and Financial Management. Dedicated Leadership and Team Building Skills.
Brian Bernard
Managing Partner Vaco. Provided IT executives, leaders, and contributors with creative technology project services and resource solutions that helped them achieve their objectives. IT advisory, Project Based Resource Solutions, Direct Hire Recruiting.
Brice Cambas
Principal BC1 Partners. Senior leader with expertise in business law and technologies like AI/ML, Industrial automation, oilfield services across energy, defense and government. Passion for mentoring start-ups and founders.
More about the Techwerx Team
Contact us about how to get involved.
Ruston, LA Office
Houston, TX Office