Our patented technologies, embedded in established OEM products as ClearSign Core™, and ClearSign Eye™ and other sensing configurations, enhance the performance of combustion systems and fuel safety systems in a broad range of markets, including the energy (upstream oil production and down-stream refining), commercial/industrial boiler, chemical, petrochemical, transport and power industries.
Mr. Hoffman, who goes by “Rob”, is a career investor with a particular focus on identifying companies with sustainable, superior business models. He is the Managing Director of Princeton Opportunity Management LLC, the management company he founded in 2011. In July of 2018, Mr. Hoffman organized clirSPV LLC, a Single Purpose Vehicle that is our largest shareholder. In 2000, Rob founded and was Managing Partner of Candlewood Capital, a long/short fund with AUM in excess of $1 billion. Prior to forming Candlewood, Rob was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager for Scudder Stevens and Clark’s Growth & Income (G&I) product, where he was responsible for all buy and sell decisions. During the decade of his leadership, G&I assets expanded from approximately $1.75 billion to over $25 billion. Mr. Hoffman was also nominated by two separate Governors to serve three terms (1990 to 2002) as a pro-bono member and Chairperson of the of New Jersey State Investment Council, the entity that oversees all New Jersey State & Local pension assets. Rob graduated with an A.B. in Economics from Dartmouth College, and received his M.B.A. with distinction from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Ms. Meline joined the Board of Directors in 2018. She is a specialist in both finance and law having worked for many years with both public and privately held companies as a lawyer, investment banker, board member and investor. Susanne co-founded Francis Capital Management, a value-based investment advisor, where she continues to work as a special situations advisor with respect to small cap companies. Ms. Meline is an experienced legal professional, having worked with Jones Day – an international law firm that provides corporate legal advisory services across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions. She also previously worked as an investment banker with Houlihan Lokey, a global investment bank serving corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide. Susanne is a Board Leadership Fellow through the National Association of Corporate Directors, holds a certificate in Cyber Risk Oversight from Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute and is a Certified Director through the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Ms. Meline received a B.A from UCLA, and a J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law. She formerly served on the board of Aqua Metals, Inc. (AQMS), a cleantech battery recycling company, and is a current board advisor and former board member of Finomial Corporation, a Series B stage Fintech company.
Ms. Schrecker joined the Board of Directors in March 2021. Ms. Schrecker brings more than 40 years of financial and operating leadership and board participation with broad international experience. Most recently Ms. Schrecker was VP of Finance of Flat Rolled Products at ATI Metals Inc., a Global manufacturer of technically advanced specialty materials and complex components, overseeing revenues of over $1B. Prior to that, Ms. Schrecker was Chief Financial Officer of Alcoa's Global Rolled Products business with over $8B of revenues and a member of the executive council of the company. Under her leadership, these businesses achieved historically high profitability. Ms. Schrecker previously served on the boards of Finacity Corporation and Dress for Success Worldwide. She attended the University of Pittsburg Graduate School of Public and International Affairs along with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History, Economics, and Latin American Studies from Temple University.
Gary DiElsi joined the Board of Directors in 2022. Mr. DiElsi is a seasoned energy executive with a broad background of over 40 years of experience from private equity, major global enterprises, smaller industrial companies, and startup ventures. Mr. DiElsi has spent over twelve years with Chevron Corporation, four years with Linde AG's US subsidiary, and two years with UOP. Most recently, Mr. DiElsi has been the Managing Member and Founder of Mountain Pass Energy Investing LLC, where he serves as a senior investment and operations advisor to private equity firms and limited partners investing in both the alternative and conventional energy industries. Gary DiElsi has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (thermal sciences), Summa Cum Laude, and was the recipient of a Rockwell International/Union Carbide Fellowship while earning a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, both from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Dr. Deller joined ClearSign Technologies as our President in February 2019, transitioned to Chief Executive Officer on April 1, 2019 and was appointed as a director on February 13, 2020. Dr. Deller began his career at Hamworthy Combustion while also completing his Ph.D. In 1996, Dr. Deller joined Callidus, where he was employed in Project Engineering and Sales, and over the course of ten years advanced to serve as Chief Combustion Engineer and Manager of Burner Order Execution before being promoted to oversee Callidus’ entire burner business. From 2010 until he left Callidus, following the acquisition of Callidus by Honeywell, Dr. Deller served as General Manager with full profit and loss accountability for the Honeywell UOP Callidus burner business worldwide. During that time, he led his team in developing new international markets, including developing a leading market position in China. From May 2018 until he joined the Company, Dr. Deller served as the interim Global Operations Director for the entire Honeywell International UOP Callidus business, which includes flares and thermal oxidizers in addition to burners. Dr. Deller provides technical and operational expertise to our board which is instrumental in ClearSign Technologies achieving our goals of proving commercial viability of our products, generating interest from end users and original equipment manufacturers and licensing our technology.