Seasoned business professional with over 25years experience in running companies and projects in the information technology and software development space. Strong expertise in Business Development and Partner Development to drive desired organizational results. Strong expertise in understanding and gathering customer requirements, working with the end users and bridging the gap between the technical challenges and functional user community. Worked extensively with the Federal government Agencies, such as Depart of Defense, ARMY, NAVY, Department of Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Federal Trade Commission and Department of Agriculture. In the past, Sumanth established a team of 10 sub-contractors, including Deloitte, to bid and win a $250 Million TRADOC OMNIBUS contract through a JV called GDS-MELE Sumanth has re-structured GDS to include next generation cyber security products, Block chain capabilities, Edge ERP and Legacy modernization offerings. Under Sumanth’s leadership GDS is expanding into Energy Storage industry through partnerships with C4V and 40 plus companies in the battery storage industry. GDS is discussing a CRADA with Army Research Laboratory ( ARL ) and ARMY C5ISR Center, which will be focused on commercializing revolutionary technologies to support the high demands of Energy Storage in DOD and the Federal Government. We are in the process of putting together a high-profile Board of Advisors for GDS, as we embark on a journey of exponential growth over the next decade.
EnergyLink3 Management Team
Sumanth K. Chepuri
Dr. Shailesh Upreti
Dr. Shailesh Upreti is a well-respected Li-ion technology expert and inventor of multiple breakthrough technologies. Shailesh has actively worked with Professor Stan Whittingham (the inventor of Li-ion battery technology) in the past. With 17+ years of exclusive experience in developing strategies to advance new technologies, his scientific and entrepreneurial work has shown substantial impact to trigger and influence many projects in academics as well as in industry. His findings have been published in 100+ peer-reviewed international journals and multiple technologies have been commercialized across the globe in various energy storage verticals. He holds more than 6 patents in United States and their equivalent in 35+ countries. Recently he was also awarded a cash prize of USD5,00,000.00 in world’s largest cleantech business competition for his innovative energy storage technology. He has gained an extensive experience in developing technologies for energy storage and has worked closely with United States national labs, OEMs, battery manufactures, hybrid/electric auto manufacturers and grid storage, mostly renewable, solution provider and investment groups at different level.
Education: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, India, PhD, 2006. LBSIMDS, Lucknow, India, Master in International Business Management,1999. Kumaon University, Uttarakhand, India, Masters in Chemistry, 2000
Publications:
Crystal Structure, Physical Properties, and Electrochemistry of Copper Substituted LiFePO4 Single Crystals; Shailesh Upreti, Natasha A. Chernova, Jie Xiao, Joel K. Miller, Olga V. Yakubovich, Jordi Cabana, Clare P. Grey, Vincent L. Chevrier, Gerbrand Ceder, Janice L. Musfeldt, and M. Stanley Whittingham, Chem. Mater. 2012, 24 (1), 166–173. 2. Stability and Rate Capability of Al Substituted Lithium-Rich High-Manganese Content Oxide Materials for Li-Ion Batteries; Zheng Li, Natasha A Chernova, Jijun Feng, Shailesh Upreti, Fredrick Omenya and M. Stanley Whittingham, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2012, 159, A116-A120. 3. Can Vanadium be Substituted into LeFePO4?; Fredrick Omenya, Natasha A. Chernova, Shailesh Upreti, Peter Y. Zavalij, Kyung-Wan Nam, Xiao-Qing Yang, and M. Stanley Whittingham, Chem. Mater. 2011, 23(21), 4733–4740. 4. Electrochemical Performances of LiMnPo4 Synthesized from Non-Stoichiometric Li/Mn Ratio; Jie Xiao, Natasha A Chernova, Shailesh Upreti, Xilin Chen, Zheng Li, Zhiqun Deng, Daiwon Choi, Wu Xu, Zimin Nie, Gordon L Graff, Jun Liu, M Stanley Whittingham and Ji-Guang Zhang, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011, 13, 18099-18106. 5. High Performance Si/MgO/graphite composite as the anode for Li ion Batteries, Wenchao Zhou, Shailesh Upreti and M. Stanley, Whittingham, Electrochem. Comm. 2011, 13, 1102-1104. 6. Tin-Iron Based Nano-Materials as Anode for Li ion Batteries; Ruigang Zhang, Shailesh Upreti, Natasha A Chernova and M. Stanley Whittingham, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2011, 158(12), A1498-A1504. 7. Iron and Manganese Pyrophosphates as Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries; Hui Zhou, Shailesh Upreti, Natasha A. Chernova, Geoffroy Hautier, Gerbrand Ceder and M. Stanley Whittingham, Chem. Mater. 2011, 23(2), 293-300. 8. Electrochemical Performance of Al-Si-Graphite Composite as Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries; Wenchao Zhou, Shailesh Upreti and M. Stanley, Whittingham, Electrochem. Comm. 2011, 13(2), 158-161. 9. Comparative Study of The Capacity and Rate Capability of LiNiyMnyCo1-2yO2 (Y=0.5, 0.45, 0.4, 0.33); Zheng Li, Natasha A. Chernova, Megan Roppolo, Shailesh Upreti, Cole Petersburg, Faisal Alamgir, and M. Stanley Whittingham, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2011, 158(5), A516-A522. 10. A Novel Lithium Copper Iron Phosphate with Idealized Formula Li5Cu2 2+Fe3+(PO4)4: Crystal Structure and Distribution of Defects; Shailesh Upreti, O. V. Yakubovich, N. A. Chernova and M. S. Whittingham, Acta Cryst. 2011, E67, i29-i30.
Andrew Kirksey
Over twenty-eight-year career in defense/aerospace industry and commercial with increasing levels of responsibility and authority. Positions included Vice President and General Manager of a $350M line of business (P&L), Vice President Business Development / Mergers & Acquisitions of a $750M sector for BAE Systems, Inc. and other Sr. Executive Positions throughout the industry with large and small companies. Since 2005, Mr. Kirksey has successfully grown 2 small businesses, wearing many hats to include business development, proposal development and other duties including overseeing the companies, finance, contracts, human resources, facilities, information technology infrastructure and oversight of company support to government customers. Over the years developed and maintained extensive contacts throughout the US Department of Defense and other agencies to include but not limited to the following:
- US Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command
- US Navy, Naval Air Station Patuxent River NAVAIR
- US Navy, SPAWAR West (HQ) San Diego, SPAWAR Charleston
- US Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren
- US Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane
- US Marine Corps, Marine Corps Depot Albany
- US Marine Corps, Cherry Point
- US Marine Corps, Yuma
- US Army – Redstone Arsenal, AMRDEC Systems Engineering Directorate
- US Army Material Command HQ
- US Army PEO-EIS (Enterprise Information Systems Ft. Belvoir)
- US Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, CECOM, Test Center
- US Army TACOM Warren Michigan
- US Airforce AFMLC
- National Security Agency
- FBI Quantico
Mr. Tony Lisuzzo
Executive Leader, Intelligence, Defense, Strategy & Innovation Mr. Lisuzzo brings industry and government together in the research, design, development and deployment of sophisticated electronic and cyber defense systems; protecting industry and government intelligence, information, navigation and communication, command and control systems.
A resent Senior Vice President Joint Research and Development Inc. Responsible for establishing the Communication, Command and Control, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group. Prior Mr. Lisuzzo was Vice-President of Defense, Intelligence, Strategic Innovation and Advanced Engineering with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mr. Lisuzzo defined strategies and business plans for a $250M portfolio. As Vice-President of Electronic Warfare Strategies at L-3 Communication, Mr. Lisuzzo developed acquisition and growth strategies for the Electronic Warfare, Cyber, and Information Operations business. As General Manager of L-3’s Space and Navigation Division’s R&D, Mr. Lisuzzo built strategic alliances with defense companies, which secured the Division’s future growth. Mr. Lisuzzo’s deep knowledge of global electronic warfare defense systems technology, and his wide network of executives in government and industry, was developed during his rise in the US Army Material Command from Division Chief in Communications and Electronic Command’s Electronic Warfare Laboratory to Senior Executive Director of Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate. As Senior Executive Director of Intelligence and Information Warfare – Mr. Lisuzzo was noted for growing the portfolio from $300M to $1.5B in four years. Early in his career as Associate Director of the Communications Electronics R&D and Engineering Center, Mr. Lisuzzo provided technical guidance and insights to the Office Secretary of Defense and Assistant Secretary of the Army to ensure programs were aligned and leveraged across military services. As Associate Director Mr. Lisuzzo also led the Command’s $2.5B Science and Technology programs, involving the development and acquisition of state-of-the-art, sophisticated future defense systems. Currently Mr. Lisuzzo serves as Board Council Member of Maryland State Cyber Security Council, Board of Director for USMA West Point, Board of Director for New Jersey Institute of Technology and Board member for the Maryland Center for the Performing Arts. Formerly Mr. Lisuzzo served as Senior Executive Service Member with the U.S. Department of Defense, and on two blue ribbon panels for foreign military sales and technology exchange. Served as Chairman on numerous NATO Technology committees and was awarded NATO’s Science and technology R&D Award. Mr. Lisuzzo has been honored with numerous awards the most notable being the 2009 United States Presidential Meritorious Executive Award – for superior accomplishment in development and management of programs in the U.S. Government and for noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency in the public service.
Richard S. Reilly
Mr. Reilly has over thirty years’ experience defining and designing global and large-scale enterprise level applications, executive support applications, supply chain management systems, and enterprise infrastructure applications. Mr. Reilly has a broad entrepreneurial background creating businesses and performing several business turn-arounds. He has automated hospitals, energy firms, utility performance management systems, and banks such as Credit Lyonnaise in New York City. He has also engaged in the large-scale planning; defining; constructing; implementing; and operating of several technical infrastructures; for states; and federal government entities such as DOJ and Forest Services; and global enterprises. Industries that Mr. Reilly has supported include: Health Care, Medical Insurance, Software, Financial Accounting, Banking, Supply Chain Management, Warehouse Management, Regulated Utilities, the State of Maryland, and the Federal Government. At Oracle Corporation, Mr. Reilly was appointed nationwide Regional Consulting Manager for the Regulated Utilities Industry. He also directed the information technology for Larry Ellison’s International Oracle Users’ Group and the European Oracle Users’ Group in Cannes, France. The State of Maryland nominated Mr. Reilly for the George A. Bell award for his work on the Redirections of Maryland State Data Processing, a project under the auspices of the Governor and the Maryland State Legislature. Mr. Reilly received a B. S. in Industrial Psychology from Johns Hopkins University. His graduate study in Industrial Organization was also conducted at Johns Hopkins University.
Parag Rajpal
Parag Rajpal brings nearly two decades of financial, operational and strategic experience. Currently, he serves as VP of Finance for a technology company in New York City. Parag Rajpal’s professional experience also spans interim management, restructuring and management consulting. Throughout his career, Parag has provided financial leadership to CEO and CFOs. Overseeing revenue forecasting, expense planning, pipeline management, & investor relations. Accountable for delivering detailed annual financial & operating plan, and the quarterly reforecasts. Responsible for preparing board decks, quarterly business reviews (QBR), designing sales compensation plans, working valuation provider and auditors to complete the 409a valuation report and annual audit. Managed a team of three direct reports • Prepare the monthly reporting package for all departments that includes financial statements, metrics, actual vs, budget variances and detail level explanations for any differences. • Constantly track the company’s expenditures by department and look for opportunities for savings, to deploy capital where it produces best return. • Partner and collaborate with Executive Management & department leaders on headcount planning, growing sales, reducing customer churn, infrastructure investments, improving NPS, and increasing profitability. • Review sales pricing and contracts for existing and prospective clients. • Negotiated favorable terms for debt facility and secured additional term loan from bank. • Assisted in improving business from negative EBITDA and negative free cash flow in 2015 to positive EBITDA and FCF in 2018. • Conducted financial due diligence on M&A deals; provide strategic support to executive team for all merger and acquisition opportunities. • Implemented key business metrics (LTV, CAC, & Magic number) to track in board decks and business reviews. Parag started his career in Management Consulting where he assisted the management of a 300M auto supplier in developing a plan to generate adequate EBITDA to cover fixed charges and secure a new line of credit (Company was sold to Audi) • Managed and developed 13-week cash flows, three statement models and liquidation models/ budgets for retail, telecom, media, and healthcare companies; provided financial models to lenders and potential equity investors. • Worked with 180B beverage client to assess feasibility & profitability of competing in the sports & energy drinks market. (client eventually acquired Honest Tea and entered into the energy drinks market) • Advised the management of 200M paper producer on their restructuring and financing alternatives. Parag holds degrees from University of Michigan and Simon School of Business in Rochester.