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.
Prior to joining ClearSign as a member of the Board of Directors in 2011 and as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer in 2015, Mr. Pirnat was Managing Director of Europe, the Middle East and African operations at Quest Integrity Group, a division of Team, Inc. (NYSE: TISI), which provides asset integrity management and asset reliability solutions in the refinery, chemical, petrochemical, pipeline and power industries worldwide. From 2009 to 2011, he was President of Quest Integrated Inc., a technology incubator and boutique private equity firm. From 2000 to 2009, Mr. Pirnat served as President & CEO of the John Zink Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries and a worldwide leader in the supply of combustion and air pollution control equipment to the energy industry. Mr. Pirnat, a long-time executive with Ingersoll-Rand and Ingersoll-Dresser Corporation, went to John Zink from a previous post as President & CEO of Pangborn Corporation, a leading supplier of surface preparation equipment and associated services to the automotive and aircraft industries. Mr. Pirnat began his career as an applications engineer with the Pump and Condenser Group of Ingersoll-Rand, where he advanced through a variety of sales, marketing, engineering, and operational positions with that company and its successor, Ingersoll-Dresser. These positions included Vice President of Ingersoll-Rand’s Standard Products Division, Vice President of Marketing for Ingersoll-Dresser Pumps, President of Ingersoll-Dresser Pumps Canada Ltd., and Vice President & General Manager of Ingersoll-Rand Engineered Equipment Division. Mr. Pirnat received a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He serves on the board of directors of AZZ Incorporated (NYSE:AZZ).
Prior to joining ClearSign in 2012, Dr. Ruiz served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of OnQuest, Inc., a division of Primoris Services Corporation, and a provider of engineering, procurement and construction services for fired heaters primarily in refinery applications, waste heat recovery units and LNG, hydrogen, ammonia and bio-fuels plants. Previously, he served as Vice President of the Process Burners Group at John Zink Company LLC where he had full operating and P&L responsibility for the company’s original product line. His customers included most major domestic and international oil companies and OEMs. As an executive manager, Dr. Ruiz formed and led highly successful teams of engineers, process engineers, project managers, and aftermarket sales and field service professionals. He had previously been VP Technology and Commercial Development at Zink where he was responsible for all R&D as well as the management of the company’s intellectual property portfolio. Prior to joining John Zink Company in 1997, Dr. Ruiz worked with the Gas Research Institute and later with Air Liquide, where he was commercial and marketing manager in the Glass Group. Dr. Ruiz serves as a Director of Arvest Bank. Dr. Ruiz received a BSc. in Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, an MSc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Prior to joining ClearSign in 2015, Dr. Kendrick served as Director and CTO of Lean Flame Inc., a company that commercializes disruptive, ultra-low emissions combustion systems for gas turbine applications. Previously, he was operations manager for United Technologies Corporation’s Pratt & Whitney PulseDyne Division, where he worked to develop, commercialize and sell the SHOCKSystem™ Online Detonation Cleaning System. He has also served as the Aerothermal Department Head of Ramgen Power Systems, where he developed the first ever Trapped Vortex Combustor (TVC) for land-based gas turbine applications. Donald has authored more than 40 publications and papers in the fields of thermal sciences, fluid dynamics and combustion, and holds 12 patents. Dr. Kendrick has a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and both an MSc. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Prior to joining ClearSign in 2011, Mr. Lee was Senior Vice President, Sales and Business Development for Adapx, Inc. There, he had overall P&L and revenue responsibility, assisted with three product launches, and developed OEM relationships in the medical, commercial and defense industries. Previously, Mr. Lee held the position of Vice President, Sales of Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS) where he developed numerous channel partners in the US, Europe and Asia. Andrew has extensive experience in the aerospace, defense, retail, transportation and medical sectors and expertise in sales force leadership, and the formation of strategic alliances and contract negotiation. Mr. Lee received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Prior to joining ClearSign in 2011, Mr. Colannino was the head of global R&D at John Zink Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries and a worldwide leader in the supply of combustion and air pollution control equipment to the energy industry. There, his responsibilities included management of intellectual property, oversight of John Zink’s testing facility and of the John Zink Institute, which trains more than 1,000 students per year in various aspects of combustion. Mr. Colannino has more than 25 years experience in the combustion industry and has authored or contributed to several books including Industrial Combustion Testing, The Air Pollution Control Guide, The John Zink Combustion Handbook and Modeling of Combustion Systems – A Practical Approach. He is a registered professional engineer and has written and reviewed problems appearing on the NCEES professional engineering exam, given in all 50 states for professional engineering licensure. Mr. Colannino’s areas of expertise include R&D management, combustion, pollutant formation and control, and statistical experimental design. Past and present memberships include the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Air and Waste Management Association, the American Statistical Association and the National Association of Professional Engineers. Mr. Colannino received a BSc. in Chemical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and an MSc. in Knowledge Management from the University of Oklahoma.
Prior to joining ClearSign in 2011, Mr. Harmon was the Chief Financial Officer of Sahale Snacks, Inc., a nationally recognized premium snack manufacturer headquartered in Seattle and now a subsidiary of J.M. Smucker Company. From 1992 through 2008, Mr. Harmon was Sr VP-Investments and Chief Financial Officer of Sabey Corporation, a Seattle-based real estate and investment company that is among the nation’s largest data center owners. He was responsible for all financial matters including transactions and financings for large commercial properties and both publicly and privately traded securities. Previously, Mr. Harmon was a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse where he became an Audit Manager specializing in the manufacturing and retail industries, including SEC registrants filing under the 1933 and 1934 Acts. Mr. Harmon received a B.A. in Business Administration/Accounting from Washington State University.