Our Team
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Ryan D'Amato - Director
Mr. D'Amato is a visionary leader and entrepreneur dedicated to delivering effective decision-making in an increasingly complex world. His professional journey began with selection to study at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC), where he gained specialized expertise in logic diagnostics and troubleshooting. This technical foundation, combined with his skill in applying mathematical principles to business operations, projections, and risk analysis, enabled his successful transition into consulting and financial sectors where his analytical approach proved invaluable.
His career advanced after being hired as a cold caller, later helping to develop the company becoming a partner at Franklin First Financial, a well-known full-service mortgage bank that, was in house lending over $200 million annually. He was primarily responsible for day-to-day operations through trainings, eventually specializing in providing "Hard Money" financial solutions to high-net-worth individuals rather than traditional home equity loan products. Following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, Mr. D'Amato pivoted his focus to commodities trading, participating in Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) that placed U.S. funds in high-risk, high-reward opportunities in developing countries. His expertise in cross-border single trades yielded significant returns by capitalizing on market inconsistencies.
Despite facing profound personal challenges, including developing severe PTSD from his military service and high-pressure business endeavors, Mr. D'Amato has demonstrated remarkable resilience and remained focused on his mission to create value while upholding his principles. He finds grounding in the support of his carefully assembled team and maintains an unwavering commitment to grace, integrity, and kindness in all professional interactions. This humanistic approach to business has distinguished him in environments often characterized by transactional relationships.
Having overseen more than $800 million in transactional volume before turning 30, Mr. D'Amato now leverages his comprehensive expertise to guide private clients through complex business structures that not only generate abundant capital returns but also serve those who serve others. His work spans non-traditional industries including investment-grade gemstones, food commodities, precious metals, and transportation vehicles. In 2015, recognizing the gap between traditional funding options and cutting-edge innovation, he expanded into the technology sector, structuring capital for promising intellectual property from development through to licensing.
Supported by a strong network that includes personal relationships with several undisclosed but significant parties, Mr. D'Amato is uniquely positioned to provide the strategic leadership and innovative thinking needed in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. His ultimate goal transcends mere financial success—he seeks to make a meaningful difference by helping leaders and organizations achieve their full potential while maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct. His combination of technical expertise, financial acumen, personal resilience, and deeply-held values makes him an invaluable member as StarSet's directorial leadership.
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David Neese - Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Neese is a “high-energy”, dynamic business development executive with over three decades of leadership experience across multiple industries. Having served as Director of Business Development at Exlites Holdings, David led merger and acquisition initiatives, fundraising campaigns, and strategic partnership development. His notable achievements include orchestrating an EV company's IPO, raising millions in private investments, and establishing key financial and distribution partnerships for medical device ventures. David's entrepreneurial mindset extends to media, where he created and manages a prominent green energy podcast, delivering daily content across multiple platforms via EVWorld.com.
With 15 years of extensive real estate development expertise, David has successfully constructed or flipped hundreds of homes, transformed raw land into profitable subdivisions, and managed large-scale apartment renovations. His ability to source partners for multi-million dollar projects and build homes for large-scale investment portfolios demonstrates his comprehensive understanding of the real estate market. Before his real estate ventures, David spent 17 years in e-commerce technology sales and marketing, generating over $100 million in online sales and managing substantial advertising budgets across multiple platforms.
David's entrepreneurial journey began in earnest when he acquired Federal Security Corporation, a Tennessee-based security firm. Under his leadership as President, he expanded the company size fivefold, achieving 500% revenue growth before successfully selling the business. Throughout his career, David has demonstrated exceptional business acumen through the acquisition and divestiture of several companies, the development of strong B2B relationships, and the management of substantial procurement operations. David holds a business degree from the University of North Dakota and continues to leverage his diverse expertise to drive innovation and growth across his ventures.
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Joseph Wiendl - Chief of Staff
Mr. Wiendl brings over 20 years of military operations and business finance experience. His service in the U.S. Navy as a qualified surface warfare officer included tours in engineering and combat operations in the Cruiser-Destroyer community, and also as a command legal officer. Later as a civilian, he served as an internal consulting team member at Lockheed Martin Astronautics in Denver, then as a junior officer at investment and merchant banks including Macquarie and Raymond James. For several more years, Wiendl provided consulting and CFO services to numerous small companies under $100 million in revenue. He is an expert in financial strategy, financial operations, valuation, mergers and acquisitions, accounting, and venture development.
Joe carries accredited degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy (Aerospace Engineering: Astronautics), the Wharton School of Business (MBA Finance), and the University of Tampa (MS Accounting). He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida. He is a member of Leadership Florida, where he serves on the audit committee, and the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry. He has served in two voluntary appointed positions in the administration of Governor Jeb Bush, first as a commissioner and then as an economic development officer assisting in Florida’s aerospace industry strategy.
Joe is Chief of Staff for Starcore Nuclear Power.
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Henry Sauvagnant - Head of International Relations
Mr. Sauvagnant
Record of success in project financing, turnarounds, mergers, acquisitions, and growth strategies in diverse industries, including, paper, hi-tech, chemicals and consumer products.
- Expert in Value Creation through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the convergence of Sustainable Development and Strategic Planning.
- Co-Chaired FSC Canada at a moment of Strategic changes, Created FSC French Initiative and managed it to profit.
- Trilingual international executive and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the US, Canada, Europe, working for startups, NGO and Fortune 500 companies.
- Established a personal and working network with international political leaders and foreign business communities specializing in paper industry and high-tech.
- Developed successful marketing strategies for premier companies, such as Dow Chemical and Penford Products, and major consumer brands, such as Charles Jourdan, to achieve double-digit sales increases and expansion of market share.
- Henry Sauvagnat has over 25 years experience in launching, expanding and turning
around companies in the European, Canadian, American markets.
- International Speaker on: Sustainable Development, CSR, Governance, Carbon, Forestry, Water.
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Jigar Shah - Head of US Relations
Mr. Shah is currently a co-host of the Open Circuit podcast from Latitude Media. He is also a part-time Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute. Most recently, Jigar oversaw the reinvigoration of the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he helped inspire hundreds of entrepreneurs and innovators choose to invest in the USA to onshore manufacturing, innovative project finance, and tribal energy. With more than 25 years of experience in clean energy, he is an expert in project finance, clean technology, and entrepreneurship, as well as a visionary leader and innovator in the field of sustainable infrastructure.
Prior to joining the DOE, Shah co-founded and served as the President of Generate Capital, the leading investment and operating platform for distributed energy storage, microgrids, fuel cells, electric vehicles, and organic waste management. He also founded SunEdison, the inventor of the modern solar-as-a-service industry and served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson to help entrepreneurs address climate change. Shah is the author of Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy, a book that outlines his mission to scale the transition to a global clean energy economy.
In 2024, Jigar was named to Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2024.
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Gabriel Araish - Head of Compliance
Mr. Araish Bilingual professional (French, English) with experience in Securities Regulation, Real Estate and Public Accounting. Skills include:
• Profound knowledge of the Securities Act
• Professional real estate investor and problem solver
• Working knowledge of IFRS as well as functional knowledge of US GAAP
• Extensive public speaking experience
• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Analytical and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal relationships with clients and staff at various levels of the business
• Ability to manage projects and supervise a team of 3-5
• Ability to present to Senior Management
• Ability to fulfill multiple tasks in a dynamic and evolving work environment
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Anthony Skurka - Head of Conventional Engineering
!!Needs improvement!! As a team member of the corporation, I'm thrilled to be part of an organization providing services that help businesses start up and grow, providing needed jobs and revenue to the communities they reside......
With a background of disparate vocations from construction, working with the state GSA and Federal DOD, managing divisions of the petroleum industry and later partnering with NCCER of Gainesville Florida to open a vocational school program for the state prison system to give inmates a chance to start meaningful jobs when returning to the community.
The skills that served me well in all those fields was developing protocols for efficiency of operations which is what I bring with me to the corporation to assure clients get the best opportunities at the best prices in the industry !
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Michael Herzog - Head of Infrastructure Development
Mr. Herzog has been lucky enough to spend his in the electric utility industry. 20 years have gone by amazingly quickly and I've had a great opportunity to be on the front lines of the most significant changes the power grid has seen in a century. My formal education is in electrical engineering, with a focus on semiconductor devices. Wanting to stay in the Midwest, I had a great opportunity to take an internship with the local electric utility and shifted my career focus to that space.
I've spent my career in Transmission and Distribution Planning. It's been a great area because I've been able to get into the nitty gritty details of electrical engineering analysis to support growth around the Omaha area and eastern Nebraska. I've worked on efficiency improvements to the grid, integration of electric vehicles, distributed generation resource interconnection, power quality evaluation, reliability metric reporting and interpretation, geomagnetic disturbances, electromagnetic pulses, and a whole lot of system analysis. I was also fortunate to get experience in the bulk electric system world and have worked through power purchase agreements, interconnection studies, NERC standards, NERC audits, and transmission network modeling and analysis.
I've formed my own business, Resilient Electric Analytics PLLC, to support utilities in these areas to make improvements on their systems. The mission of the company is to keep costs low, reliability high, avoid asset walls, and help connect utilities to potential funding opportunities.
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Alan Arthur Tratner - Head of Sustainability
Professor Tratner, is the International Director of Green2Gold and has served as the President of the Inventors Workshop International and the Entrepreneur’s Workshop, Director of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Center in California, a SCORE (US SBA) consultant, and was publisher of the Lightbulb Journal and INVENT! magazines. He is an inventor and serial entrepreneur, with 13 inventions/patents. He has been dubbed the “Minister of Ideas” by the media and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur, Business Week, TIME, USA Today, America Online Forum, NPR, and has appeared on OPRAH, CNN, Good Morning America, and CNBC. Alan has mentored and assisted thousands of green technology, sustainable ecology and energy companies and inventors. He was a former Professor of Environment and Energy, participated in the First International United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm Sweden, was staff member of Environmental Quality Magazine and helped establish Earth Day. He founded the Environmental Education Group Foundation with many supporters, including Nobel prize winner Dennis Gabor. Alan traveled the USA conducting the Ultimate Crisis and Solutions for Survival seminars, led an environmental and alternative energy delegation to the former Soviet Union for the Citizen’s Ambassador Program. He was editor of Energies Journal for the Solar Energy Society of America, published the Geothermal Energy magazine and Geothermal World Directory. In the 1990’s he became Director of the Green Business Conference of the ECO EXPO, created the Eco Inventors and Eco Entrepreneurs Workshops, and the New Environmental Technologies Exhibits. In 2012, Alan was inducted into the International Green Industries Hall of Fame and honored with Lifetime Achievement.
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Chase Broussard - Head of Investor Relations
Mr. Broussard, based in Houston, Texas, United States, is the Chief Executive Officer at Broussard Energy Solutions. Chase Broussard brings experience from previous roles at Sand Tech, Guildcrest Ventures, Broussard Investment Group, and Dealmakers. Chase Broussard holds a degree in Criminology @ TROY. With a robust skill set that includes Pressure, Contract Management, Onshore, Gas, Upstream and more. US Army
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Lawrence Davis - Head of Security
Mr. Davis, A well-decorated combat veteran who served three combat tours overseas, with his primary scope of work being in overwatch and long-distance engagements. After an honorable discharge as a Wounded Warrior and Purple Heart recipient, he moved into the private sector - helping design security facility plans in some of the most dynamic and dangerous locations in the world for some of the largest enterprises in the industry. Since then he’s opened a successful security firm, while also being an active trainer for law enforcement and their tactical units all over the country. He has a litany of licenses as a trainer, operator, and manager of security for almost any climate and arena and is a known and trusted staple in the South Florida shooting and security communities. An avid enthusiast himself, he’s since competed regularly and continued to develop and author cutting-edge war-fighting tactics and philosophy that are in practice within some of the most dynamic and capable defense outfits active today.
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Louis Baggett - VP of Operations
Mr. Baggett brings over 22 years of experience in the oil and gas industry to StarSet, where he has established himself as a Professional Petroleum Landman and GIS Analyst. Raised by a Marine Corps Sergeant and a mother with a heart of gold, he cultivated a strong work ethic, unwavering morals, and dedicated family values that drive him to achieve every goal he sets for himself. Throughout his esteemed career, he has successfully driven projects to favorable outcomes by leveraging his expertise in negotiation and project management while collaborating with prominent oil companies and investors. Mr. Baggett's extensive professional network includes partnerships with industry leaders such as Shell E&P, Devon Energy, Carrizo Oil and Gas, Chief Western, and Encana Oil & Gas, as well as engagements with various government entities, including Texas State Senators, Mayors, County Commissioners, County Clerks, and the Texas General Land Office.
In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Baggett has personally invested in oil plays within the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, which collectively generated over $150 million in profits for all parties involved. He has also funded various real estate projects in East Texas, where he served as the builder and general contractor for multiple single-family homes. Additionally, he has invested in cryptocurrency mining projects based in North America. Furthermore, he has held ownership in multiple businesses, where he empowered CEOs with the knowledge and tools necessary to create and maintain successful operations.
Mr. Baggett is also a proud father of two wonderful children and a grandfather to two beautiful granddaughters, cherishing the family values instilled in him by his parents.
His technical qualifications include a Management Certificate from Reliant, along with advanced proficiency in ESRI Software and Database Systems. He has received specialized training in MapInfo and Excalibur Database, equipping him with a comprehensive understanding of operations within the energy sector, which he now applies to advance StarSet's clean energy initiatives. His adeptness in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and fostering productive relationships with diverse stakeholders is instrumental to the success of the operational leadership team.
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John D. Holden III - VP of Government Relations
Mr. Holden(Jack) is a strategic advisor and development consultant known for his ability to build trust, navigate complexity, and connect the right people at the right time. Previously served as Vice President at New East Inc., a firm that has partnered on over $2.5 billion in luxury, mixed-use, and affordable housing developments across the East Coast. His background spans real estate, political campaigns, and high-stakes public affairs—grounded in early experience on construction sites with The Ingerman Group, and shaped by years of cultivating influence across legal, governmental, and institutional networks.
Originally entering law school to deepen his trajectory in real estate development, Holden was pulled into national politics as Charleston became a focal point in the 2024 election cycle. He served as a policy advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., contributing to core initiatives including mental health and MAHA, and advised Governor Bethany Hall-Long on behavioral health strategy. His work reflects a belief that the most serious issues in American life aren’t ideological—they’re structural—and best addressed through personal trust and principled collaboration.
Holden has advised governors, lieutenant governors, representatives, and state legislators, and is frequently brought into conversations where discretion, strategy, and coalition-building matter most. Known for his emotional intelligence and calm under pressure, he excels in forging alignment among stakeholders who don’t always share the same language—or agenda.
Outside of work, he enjoys golf, tennis, snow skiing, and wakeboarding, and is a self-taught cook and wine enthusiast.
He has attended Pennsylvania State University, MIT, and Charleston School of Law.
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Scott Prentiss - VP of Energy Sales
A highly accomplished sales and business development leader with extensive experience in the tech, finance, and energy sectors, known for driving growth and building strong relationships with key stakeholders.
Verizon Business and MCI, New York, NY Acquisition Account Manager/ Client Executive Led enterprise and commercial sales efforts by using a consultative approach to engage C-level executives and IT decision-makers. Specialized in IP convergence solutions, including data center services, hosting, security, and managed networks. Managed an account portfolio worth $12 million annually, securing new business and expanding relationships with VARs, consultants, and vendors like Cisco, Nortel, and EMC. Consistently surpassed sales quotas, achieving up to 660% of monthly targets, earning multiple accolades such as the Top the Charts Award, President’s Club, and various other sales achievement awards.
Phoenix Fund, New York, NY Director of Sales and Marketing Led sales and marketing initiatives for a boutique private equity firm focusing on commercial real estate, international investments, and insurance. Gained valuable exposure to global financial markets and developed strategies to enhance the firm’s positioning in the marketplace.
NTC, New York, NY Director of Sales Launched energy cost-saving solutions division through strategic partnerships with providers like NRG and XOOM. Developed extensive sales channels, and sub-agent programs, and played a key role in expanding NTC’s footprint in the data center, infrastructure and commercial energy sectors.
ETC, VP of Business Development/ Senior Advisor Traveled globally to key industry events, elite functions, and client meetings to build and nurture business relationships. Engaged with heads of state, royal families, top energy corporations, C-level executives across various industries, government contractors, large utilities, financial institutions, and universities. Instrumental in securing and growing the company’s largest client relationship, which became the primary revenue stream for ETC.
Somerset Capital, Greenwich, CT Managing Partner Advised an AI company on raising capital, marketing its trading platform to top hedge funds based on assets under management (AUM), and connecting with investors. Played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and outreach to major financial institutions.
This extensive experience across a variety of industries, coupled with a proven track record of exceeding sales targets and building long-term client relationships, has positioned me as a versatile and results-driven leader in sales and business development.
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Tony Song - VP of Information Technology
Mr. Song is a multifaceted technology executive with a lifelong immersion in information systems, complemented by formal training in JAVA programming and a finance degree from CUNY Baruch College. His diverse career path reflects a unique ability to bridge technological solutions with practical business applications across multiple industries. After completing his education, Mr. Song entered the hospitality industry where he specialized in serving Asian tour groups, developing culturally nuanced digital systems that enhanced customer experience while optimizing operational efficiency.
Leveraging his combined expertise in technology and financial systems, Mr. Song founded a successful cross-border payment processing business, demonstrating his capacity to navigate complex international financial regulations while implementing secure, scalable technical infrastructure. His entrepreneurial journey expanded to include marketing services, U.S. domestic logistics operations, and most recently, pioneering work in Crypto Mining and AI infrastructure development. Parallel to these ventures, he has applied his technical and organizational skills to assist families of medical doctors in establishing community-based urgent care clinics, implementing tailored IT solutions that improve patient care while streamlining administrative functions.
At StarSet, Mr. Song leads the information technology strategy with a comprehensive approach that encompasses cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, system integration, and digital transformation initiatives. His expertise in aligning technological capabilities with organizational objectives ensures that IT investments deliver measurable business value while maintaining robust security protocols. His forward-thinking approach to emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation positions StarSet at the forefront of technological innovation in the energy sector.
What distinguishes Mr. Song is his exceptional ability to leverage his understanding of both Asian and Western business cultures to optimize workflows and streamline management processes. This cross-cultural fluency, combined with strong communication skills and technical proficiency, enables him to facilitate successful business transactions and operations using the most advanced available technologies. His leadership in establishing robust IT governance frameworks while cultivating a culture of cybersecurity awareness ensures the protection of sensitive information while enabling operational efficiency across all StarSet business functions.
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Rodney Lamar - VP Public Relations and Events
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Mark Julian - Certified Public Accountant
Mr. Julian is a Certified Public Accountant by trade with a focus and track record as a results-driven Business Leader and Strategic Growth Expert. Having three decades of experience helping to build him and his clients successful business from the ground up.
Mr. Julian is an accomplished business leader with a proven track record of driving exponential growth and transforming companies into industry powerhouses. Currently, I am on a mission to spearhead the growth of a billion-dollar company at ExhiPower (www.exhipower.com), a cutting-edge firm revolutionizing the electric vehicle industry. He holds over $350 Million in Company Building Experience. Throughout my career, I have played instrumental roles in building and scaling companies to unprecedented heights. Having contributed to the success of one company with over $100 million in revenue and another with over $250 million, I am now focused on driving ExhiPower's ascent to billion-dollar status. Through my strategic vision, business acumen, and relentless drive, I consistently deliver exceptional results that exceed expectations along with others including our joint venture partners. An Entrepreneurial Journey with a deep passion for entrepreneurship, I have cultivated a vast portfolio of achievements. I have bought and sold over 30 companies, expertly navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions. My experience spans across diverse industries, allowing me to adapt and excel in various business landscapes. Notably, I have spearheaded the development and successful launch of more than 61 highly sought-after products, generating sales in excess of $400 million. Mastering Company Structure and Growth Optimization is a key facet of where my expertise lies effectively structuring companies to streamline growth while minimizing costs, including taxes. Through meticulous planning and astute decision-making, I have honed the ability to create robust and agile business structures. By leveraging strategic partnerships and joint ventures, I have consistently forged mutually beneficial collaborations, opening doors to new opportunities and driving exponential growth.
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Jairo Mendez - Legal Council
Jairo Rodriguez is a seasoned attorney with a decade of experience in constitutional law, international private and property law, corporate legal strategy, and civil rights advocacy. His career spans both Latin America and the United States, where he has led high-impact legal initiatives, advised on complex litigation matters, and contributed to meaningful legal reform.
He has worked with multiple law firms, where he played a central role in litigation strategy, client advisory, and managing legal operations across civil, corporate, and constitutional domains. His U.S. legal experience includes supporting large-scale litigation involving a Fortune 500 company, specifically addressing the discontinuance of planned obsolescence in globally used communication devices—a matter with wide-reaching implications for consumer rights and corporate accountability.
Jairo also brings experience from within the public sector, where he contributed to legal oversight efforts, supported institutional compliance, and helped drive government accountability through ethical and transparent legal mechanisms. His work in this domain reflects a commitment to public service and legal-integrity.
As Legal Director of FEMM Corporation, a nonprofit NGO, Jairo led national civil rights advocacy efforts focused on advancing LGBTQ protections and promoting equitable public policy. He managed legal teams, developed litigation strategies, and worked in coordination with public institutions and civil society to defend human rights and expand access to justice.
His academic background combines a comprehensive education with advanced studies in mediation, strategy, and public policy. Throughout his career, Jairo has demonstrated a commitment to using the law as a tool for structural change, civic empowerment, and the defense of human dignity.
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Glenn Russo - Chief Strategy Officer
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