Leadership
Surajit Khanna (Chairman & CEO) provides the management experience to oversee both the construction and the management teams. Mr. Khanna has more than 15 years of experience in dealing with international business and global teams. He has both participated and managed construction projects across the globe including four bio-diesel construction projects over the past three years and has participated in the $1.8 billion Festival City construction in Dubai. He holds a Bachelors’ degree in Science and Architecture, Masters in Business Administration, Juris Doctorate and a Doctorate in Philosophy. He also holds a certification for Algae Production from the National Algae Association.
Nick Kontonicolas (Director and Co-CEO of C.TRADE-BARD,Inc) is an experienced, well-seasoned professional investor and corporate development Banker. He constantly seeks out new and revolutionary technologies which can be neatly integrated within his network. His involvement with water remediation using ozone, and with hydrocarbon cleanup technology for use in ground water and petroleum spills, both work synergistically with each other. Nick Kontonicolas is an experienced, well-seasoned professional investor and corporate venture capitalist who constantly seeks out new and revolutionary technologies which can be seamlessly integrated within his network. Mr. Kontonicolas’ network includes the marketing and development of automotive and motorcycle technologies, the setup of motorcycle sales distribution points, real estate development and `investment, petroleum logistics solutions and trade of products from Canada and the Middle East.
Arun Fatania (Chief Operating Officer) provides an informed technical and process engineering experience to the team. He has enjoyed a successful career (1976-1994) within the Nuclear Power Plant industry in United Kingdom (UK), where he worked on design of various nuclear power plants throughout the country. During this time, he engaged in various disciplines including plant probabilistic safety and technical analysis, plant design, engineering and construction development. Mr. Fatania holds both a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and also a B.S in Applied Physics (Nuclear Engineering). In recent years, he has helped develop numerous businesses within (construction, engineering, retail), which have utilized not only his past skills but he has also gained valuable skills within business development in various areas.
Howard Bobb (Director) enjoyed a successful career in the Philadelphia Police Department (1961- 1984), where he was both a supervisor and administrator, rising to the rank of Staff Inspector, he worked as a Patrolmen (1961-1965), as a Sergeant (1965-1967), as a Lieutenant (1976-1980), as a Captain (1980-1983), as a Staff Inspector (1983-1984), and retired & opened a law office in 1984 and continuing practicing legal service. Howard is admitted to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. During his 25+ year law career has vast experience in contractual law, real estate law and dealing with business related matters. Over the last two and one half years he has devoted much of his business acumen to the establishment of the BARD name and business plan. He has a Business degree, a Masters degree in Public Administration and a Law degree.
Michelle McCurdy (Director – Legal Affairs) had a short career in the Philadelphia Police Department (1988-1991) as Police Officer, cut short by an injury. She is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has been practicing in both states for 14+ years (1996-current). She has worked in business related matters and has been an asset to the growth of the BARD name and business development. For the past seven years (2003 -current), Michelle has worked as a solo practitioner. She is currently a partner at Philadelphia Law Group (2008-present). She has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice (1987) and a Law Degree from Temple University (1995).
Sohinii Khanna (Director – Production and Quality) has over 12 years of experience in quality & validation technology, project life cycle management in various manufacturing industries. She has extensive experience in designing and maintaining quality systems based on ISO 9000. Her quality assurance experience goes beyond working at Merck, Bristol-Myers-Squibb and other large pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies. She holds a Bachelors’ degree in Biology and a postgraduate diploma in human resource management. She is also a member of American Society for Quality.
Vaidyanathan Nateshan (Director and Vice President of Asia Operation) has worked his career through the operational and strategic aspects of disparate industries ranging from Oil and Gas, Information Technology, Business Consulting and Pharmaceuticals. In these years, he has come around to be identified as a business turnaround expert and a keen strategist. Having held senior management positions in multiple listed companies, he has served as a very useful interface between the expectations of the investor and the customer. Having travelled extensively, he has done business in over 30 countries and executed and managed strategic alliances in over 12 countries, which includes managing a joint venture in China and setting up marketing operations in the Middle East. His ability to raise equity and debt capital in multiple countries is also well recognised. Through his career, Vaidyanathan has managed manufacturing, marketing and financial operations for companies in India, South East Asia and the Middle East. Vaidyanathan also advises large consulting firms on due diligence issues, drawing on his specific experience with the healthcare sector.
Dave Cheema (Executive Officer-Georgia Operations) is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in various industries. Mr. Cheema holds a degree in Electrical Engineering, starting a career with BP Oil co. in 1990. Two years later, he ventured to be an entrepreneur with many projects to his success. He is instrumental in manufacturing the patented BARD Photo bioreactor (PBR) manufacturing in commercial scale.
Syam Nutulapati (Chief Information Officer) has over 20 years of experience in software product and application development. Mr. Nutulapati holds a Masters in Business Administration majoring in IT operations and enterprise infrastructure. He provides innovative web-based solutions using open-source technologies for complex integration problems. He has steered the Company’s product development strategy on to a path of increased customer satisfaction and mutual profitability by adopting the SaaS (Software as a Service) model for enterprise solutions. He has a penchant for advances in architecture and methodologies for software integration that leverage economies of scale in deployment and management. He was working on the Human Care services software product and has many successful implementations, across international clientele, in Master Data Management, Customer Relation Management and Call Center deployments.
Jay Ort (Chief Scientist) is a key member of the scientific and technical team. Mr. Ort’s experience traces back to work done at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility for the Apollo project. He founded Biosystems, Inc. in Roswell, NM to begin algae research for the purpose of recycling and producing air, water, food and energy. He has received patents for his work and is one of the leading experts in algae development. Mr. Ort designed and operated an algae pilot plant in Lubbock, Texas utilizing water from the municipal waste water facility which was one of the first algae projects in the US.
Benny J Tillman (Vice President of Community Outreach) served as president of ISKCON of Atlanta, Inc., a religious nonprofit, for more than eighteen years and he is currently a member of their board of directors. Mr. Tillman received nonprofit management training from The Rowland Company, a San Diego based management and corporate development company, as part of his required training as the president of ISKCON of Atlanta, Inc. He also received Leadership and Congregational Development training from the Iskcon Foundation in 1995. Mr. Tillman serves on the board of directors for The Harris Arts Center in Calhoun Georgia and Be Pro Active Foundation in Atlanta Georgia. Mr. Tillman is the chairman for the Dekalb Interfaith Coalition for Prevention in Dekalb County Georgia.
Margaret Westbrook Ellis (Vice President of Georgia Operation)is the Chairperson of the Capitol City Bank & Trust Company Advisory Board Assistant and serving as the Vice President/ Business Development Officer and the In School Banking Liaison, at Capitol City Bank & Trust Company (CCBTC). CCBTC is an African American owned and operated bank. For the past eight (8) years, Ms. Ellis has served as Secretary for the Paine College National Alumni Association (Augusta Chapter). She served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the American Payroll Association. Ms. Ellis served as Treasurer for the Augusta Management Group. Additionally, she is past President of the Board of Directors for Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center – helping to improve the quality of life in Augusta’s inner city by using an intergenerational model to provide academic enhancement programs to at-risk youth. Ms. Ellis has served as past President of the Federal Women’s Program (Nuernberg, Germany), Toastmasters, and is a notary. Ms. Ellis is an accountant by profession with 11 years of financial managerial experience. Previously, Ms. Ellis has served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the United Neighborhood Federal Credit Union.
Jonna Contacos-Sawyer (Director – Human Resources) has over 24 years of management and human resource experience, which she utilizes to lead HR Consultants, Inc. (HRC), a management and human resource consulting and training firm, in the capacity of President & Consulting Principal. Since becoming the sole shareholder in 2001, Ms. Contacos-Sawyer has led the growth and expansion of HRC’s diverse clientele across the U.S., which includes non-profit and for-profit, local Government and State organizations, in numerous industries including financial, educational, health and human services, professional services, retail, manufacturing, and environment and energy to name a few. Jonna has Doctoral learner in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources; Northcentral University; Masters Degree in Personnel administration/Industrial Relations – Saint Francis University; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management/Economics – University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Jonna achieved National recognition as a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) There are less than 1% of consultants in the country that have earned this designation. She also obtained National recognition as a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR); National recognition as a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP); Certified Management Development Trainer; Certified Professional in 360 Feedback for Leadership Development.
Board of Directors
- Surajit Khanna – Founder and CEO
- Nick Kontonicolas
- Howard Bobb
- Sohinii Khanna
- Michelle McCurdy
General Board
- Vijay Rajput
- All Executive Board Of Directors
Advisory Board
- Dr. Kalina Manoylov
