A LITTLE ABOUT US
Dedication, experience and
pride of ownership
creating results
The Astra team is a group of dedicated and extremely motivated professionals with decades of diverse experience across multiple industries. Their pride of ownership and whole-hearted commitment position Astra and the communities they work in for future success.
KERMIT HARRIS
President & Director
Kermit Harris is a proven and unique transformational leader with over 20 years of experience in real estate acquisition, commercial financing, business development, and strategic planning. He's also considered to be a top performer, dynamic spokesperson, and change agent in executive leadership roles due to his out-of-the-box thinking and risk-averse solutions. Kermit has an extremely versatile combination of high-quality cross-functional management qualifications that incorporate effective business strategies, and institutional and governmental engagement and connections, that contribute to his tireless efforts in carrying out the strategic initiatives of any organization he dedicates himself to.
Mr. Harris is a Finance Major of the Gary Owen College of Business. From 1997 to 2019, Mr. Harris has held the positions of Business Development, Acquisition Portfolio Manager, and Operations and Commercial Lending for such organizations as Donato Group, S-2 Partners Development, What Crepe, Brown-Schroder, Old Kent Bank and Regional Financial Group. His responsibilities and achievements in these roles were many, and included:
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identifying opportunities to enhance and streamline operations within construction/development projects
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developing and implementing strategies to increase efficiency and mitigate risk and loss
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managing relationships with investment and development partners
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managing negotiations for land acquisition suited for adaptive re-use, ground-up structures, joint ventures, and private-public partnerships
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reporting key issues to the investors/developers both operationally and strategically
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facilitating international investment opportunities
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managing loan originations, REO (distressed assets) dispositions, and residential rentals
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writing proposals and securing opportunities to conduct distressed assets mitigation
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overseeing a portfolio of assets in Michigan for investment firms, banks, and loan servicers
DAN CLAYCAMP
CEO - Astra Holcomb Systems Inc.
Daniel Claycamp is the current Chief Operating Officer for Astra Energy Inc. and past Vice President of Operations for GenCanna Global USA. He is an experienced professional with over 34 years of experience providing executive management for engineering, construction, environmental, and operational activities on several food-grade grain milling, food processing, biofuels, hemp, and cannabis facilities. Dan has also successfully managed greenfield projects in Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky from concept design to operational cash flow, with the latest project being an $83M food-grade hemp processing facility.
Mr. Claycamp is a graduate of Kansas State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Milling Science and Management. He has held senior management positions at top milling companies including Quaker Oats, Bunge, SEMO Milling, Didion Milling, and United Maize.
Dan has successfully managed and directed teams to execute pathways for successful 3rd party accreditations, licenses, permits, and compliance with governing agencies like the FDA, USDA, EPA, ESSA, OSHA, FSMA, SQF, and BRC in the grain milling and food industries. He has also managed and developed supply chain platforms from suppliers to customers, that have met and exceeded company visions, goals, and objectives, all with a focus on being environmentally friendly and green.
Through his 34 years of experience managing several large-scale construction projects, he has gained a deep knowledge of AC and DC electrical design parameters for electrical transformers, switchgear, controls, and motors in either alternating or direct current applications and high, medium, and low voltage design applications.
Dan is also a seasoned expert in reviewing and identifying opportunities for process improvements on proposed and current technologies in the food manufacturing and biotechnology industries. As the past Chief Operating Officer of MOR Technology, Dan was crucial in the intellectual property development of fractionation and supercritical extraction technologies and has authored or coauthored 7 United States patents.
Mr. Claycamp is currently a board member and director for Greenspot Biomedical located in Peru and is an advisory board member for Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. located in Poway, CA. He has been a member of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Illinois Corn Growers and Marketing Board, International Association of Operative Millers, and Renewable Fuels Association.
RACHEL BOULDS
Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Rachel Boulds has been engaged in her sole accounting practice which she has led since 2009 and which provides all aspects of consulting, audit preparation and accounting services to clients, including the preparation of full disclosure financial statements for public companies to comply with GAAP and SEC requirements.
Rachel also currently provides outsourced chief financial officer services to select clients. From August 2004 through July 2009, she was employed as a Senior Auditor for HJ & Associates, LLC, where she performed audits and reviews of public and private companies, including the preparation of financial statements to comply with GAAP and SEC requirements. From 2003 through 2004, Ms. Boulds was employed as a Senior Auditor at Mohler, Nixon and Williams, and from September 2001 through July 2003, she worked as an ABAS Associate for PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Ms. Boulds earned a B.S. in Accounting from San Jose University in 2001 and is licensed as a CPA in the state of Utah.
HEIDI THOMASEN
Corporate Communications Officer
Ms. Heidi Thomasen is instrumental in driving the dialogue that will help Astra Energy’s leadership team communicate the progress and value of Astra as it moves forward. She leads the development and implementation of the organization's internal and external communications, manages public relations and branding in line with Astras' vision and strategy, and drives and executes digital communications and environmental initiatives.
With over 15 years of experience assisting in the growth and success of several small startups in the health industry, including her own, Heidi will effectively execute on the Company’s corporate communication priorities and values.
As Astra Energy Inc. becomes an essential contributor and collaborator in the waste-to-fuel market, Heidi’s assistance in building a trusted brand in the sector and within the eyes of the Company’s investors will be critical to the Company’s future success.
LISA THOMPSON
Corporate Secretary
Mrs. Lisa Thompson brings over 20 years of experience as a corporate/securities paralegal, working with both large and small public companies listed for trading on US and Canadian stock exchanges.
For the past 5 years, Mrs. Thompson has provided corporate secretarial consulting services for US and Canadian companies.
Lisa has also served on various non-profit boards and committees and is a member of the BC Paralegal Association. She operates Meraki Corporate Services in Vancouver, BC.
TONY THOMPSON
CEO Astra Energy Africa
Tony Thompson has over 34 years experience in many facets of power plant construction, startup, operations and maintenance.
Tony studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois and is a product of the US Navy Nuclear Power Program, where he was responsible for operation of the nuclear propulsion plant aboard an Ohio-Class ballistic missile submarine.
Upon leaving military service, Tony joined NAES, where he was involved in construction, startup, and continuous operation of multiple domestic and international merchant power projects, traveling extensively across North and South America, Europe and The Caribbean.
In 2000, Tony joined the management team at Electric Energy, Inc., a 1086MW coal-fired generating station, where he served as Production Manager.
FRED NYANZI
VP Project Development and Planning
Fred Nyanzi is a seasoned urban planner with over 17 years of professional urban planning practice in Uganda and Canada.
Fred holds a Bachelors degree of Urban Planning (MUK), a Postgraduate Diploma of Urban Design (MUK), and Certificate of Project Management from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (Canada).
Fred started his career as an Urban Planner at Kira Town Council (Uganda) in 2003. In 2006, he moved to Canada as a Regional Planner with the City of Edmonton. Fred later accepted a position with the Provincial Government of Alberta as a Regional Planner in 2008. In 2016 he joined Buganda Land Board (Uganda) where he established a center of excellence in urban renewal, urban design, and housing.
Fred got involved in the energy sector during his time in Canada. He started by developing the oil and gas policy for the City of Edmonton. The policy established protocols for the orderly and safe co-existence between oil and gas facilities and urban development in and around the city. Fred also coordinated the approval of oil refineries and pipelines in Alberta’s capital region, and was involved in the planning, development and management of transportation and utilities corridors in both Edmonton and Calgary during his time as a Regional Planner with the Ministry of Infrastructure within the Government of Alberta.
Fred currently advises Astra Energy Inc. on building relationships and liaising with the Government of Uganda, local governments where Astra does business, and Buganda Kingdom on issues related to sustainable energy development.
FRANK CONCI
Astra Holcomb Systems Consultant
Frank Conci is a seasoned expert with 46 years of experience in the power generating and coal mining industries.
Frank attended Rolla School of Engineering at Missouri University where he studied civil engineering. After college, Mr. Conci started his career directing the mechanical and electrical maintenance activities for both the surface and underground at the coal mines of Old Ben Coal Company and then Kerr-McGee, which later became Murray Energy.
After leaving the coal mining industry Mr. Conci joined the team at Electric Energy Inc.in Joppa Illinois, directing the maintenance and operational activities of a six-unit 1086MW coal-fired continuous cycle power plant. Frank later joined the team at the large public utility company Ameren (with operations in both Missouri and Illinois) where he was responsible for the compliance, operations, and maintenance of the 69KV to 345KV high voltage bulk power transmission, distribution, substations, transformers, circuit breakers, CCVTs, Las, and CTs for all of Region 6 in Illinois.
Mr. Conci is an experienced veteran with a massive knowledge of operations and maintenance of continuous cycle power plants and high voltage 69KV to 345KV bulk transmission and distribution systems.
DAVID LUTZ
Director
Mr. David Lutz has extensive experience in small business management consulting, corporate finance, and business valuation. He has performed and supervised over 200 business valuations and has assisted in building a valuation department that produced over 500 business valuations a year. With over 18 years' experience in the brokerage industry and 7 years' experience with a major Chicago-based management consulting firm, Mr. Lutz has acquired a unique and diverse skillset in legal and business matters uncommon among business valuation experts.
Mr. Lutz has worked with businesses in numerous industries and has assisted clients for a variety of purposes; including merger and acquisitions, succession planning, employee stock ownership plans and various litigation and economic damage matters. He has developed reports to assist emerging companies develop their strategies, achieve their goals and assist them to enhance and improve their value for the future.
Mr. Lutz earned "The Best Certified Business Appraisal" award from the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA) prior to it's merger/acquisition by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. This award has been earned by only 8 other individuals since IBA was founded in 1978.
In addition to a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Mr. Lutz’s valuation credentials include the
Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) designation issued by the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). He is also a Certified Business
Appraiser (CBA), and has Accredited in Business Appraisal Review (ABAR) designations issued by
the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA).
Mr. Lutz is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA). He was a Captain in the United
States Air Force as a Budget Officer. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the
University of Northern Colorado and graduate work in business administration and accountancy
at the University of Oklahoma.
BENJAMIN GRIER
Director
Benjamin Grier is a licensed attorney, certified public accountant and a certified treasury professional. For the past 20 years he has worked as an attorney and as an investment and finance professional, basing most of his career in the insurance and banking industries.
Benjamin serves as the board treasurer for a Michigan non-profit and sits on the investment committee of another 501(c)(3). He is a trusted advisor to leadership with a wide range of expertise across treasury, finance, accounting, investments, tax, and law.
In his spare time, Benjamin enjoys golf, fitness and spending time with his family and friends.
PETER SHERBA
Advisory Board
Peter Sherba is an industry leader in the electricity sector having been the driving force behind the growth of Krueger Electric.
Bringing over 30 years of electrical expertise, Peter is well known in the industry. His project experience includes airports (including the Prince George Airport), hospital renovations, power plants, grounds facility improvement, school district lighting, agricultural plans, hotel renovations, mall expansions, and working directly with the Ministry of Transportation in both the Northern and Okanagan regions of British Columbia, Canada on electrical contracts.
Peter’s areas of expertise include contract negotiation, project planning, estimating, purchasing, legal requirements, quality management and control, crew requirements, new business, and AutoCAD tech. His insight and experience will be invaluable to Astra Energy as it navigates the technical and regulatory landscape of electrical generation in Jamaica.
GRANT MITCHELL
Advisory Board
Dr. Grant Mitchell is a physician, entrepreneur, and seasoned executive across multiple industries including biotech, fintech, agriculture, and retail. He holds a B.A. in Economics from New York University, an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business.
During medical school, Dr. Mitchell co-founded AdhereTech, a leading smart pill bottle company that improves medication adherence and monitors clinical trials. After completing his medical degree, he joined McKinsey and Company as a consultant in their Silicon Valley office with a focus on biotechnology. In 2016, Dr. Mitchell moved to McKinsey's London office to help integrate machine learning capabilities across the firm globally. There he led teams that pioneered the use of big data in multiple industries from real-world evidence and clinical trial design to professional sports injury prediction.
After Dr. Mitchell's career at McKinsey and Company, he launched Primordia Biosciences, the largest producer of hemp-derived cannabinoids in California. He currently invests in and consults on early-stage businesses across industries.
Dr. Mitchell resides in La Jolla, CA with his wife Kate, and dog Russell. As a hobby, he is a record-holding stone skipping professional.
DOUGLAS HAMPTON
CEO Astra Energy California Inc.
Douglas Hampton is the CEO and co-founder of Astra's subsidiary Astra Energy California Inc. He is also the Principal and Owner of his own lawn firm and an Adjunct Professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
As an accomplished attorney with 30 years of experience in a blend of commercial, business and criminal litigation, Doug is result-orientated and brings a practical, professional and disciplined value system to all his endeavours.
Doug is also a seasoned and passionate leader, beginning as Secretary and Treasuer of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, and advancing to President within 2 years. His leadership roles have brought improvement to the administration and quality of justice in the community through education, dialogue, and outreach.
He is well known for his clear and concise presentation skills, his preparation and clarity in media engagement and the integrity he brings to everything and everyone he represents. Doug is a valued and integral member of the overall Astra team.
