Meet Our Team
Our leadership team combines over 200 years of experience in industrial growth, finance, and innovative resource management, staffed with world-class hydrometallurgists, pyrometallurgists, chemists, and technicians.
Together, we are dedicated to developing domestic mineral processing solutions that secure the future of U.S. manufacturing and national security.
Ellis Sullivan
-
Sullivan brings over 20 years of experience in building and scaling industrial and service businesses, with a strong emphasis on reshoring critical mineral processing and implementing low-carbon, waste-to-value strategies. As the former Co-founder and CEO of ROC Minerals, he successfully led initiatives that advanced sustainable practices in mineral processing. His previous leadership role at one of North America's largest suppliers of industrial minerals showcased his ability to drive operational excellence and innovation in the sector. Sullivan is committed to fostering environmentally responsible practices and enhancing industry standards. He holds a degree in Business Administration and has been actively involved in initiatives that support sustainable development within the mining and minerals industry.
Jonathan Nielsen
-
Nielsen brings over 30 years of technology development and operational management experience in the mining and metal recovery sectors. As Senior Vice President of Technology, he is responsible for leading innovative advancements in hydrometallurgy and mineral extraction processes. Before joining us, Nielsen served as Director of Lithium Operations at Arizona Lithium, overseeing a 20,000 ft² analytical laboratory and pilot plant facility. His previous roles include Director of Technology at E3 Lithium Ltd, where he successfully developed novel lithium extraction technologies and managed a corporate technical strategic planning initiative, and Managing Director at Engitec Technologies USA, where he managed international operations and a patent portfolio. Over his career, Nielsen has authored over 30 technical papers and has presented at numerous international conferences, showcasing his expertise in process development and optimization. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and an MBA from Louisiana Tech University.
Jessica Garvey
-
Garvey is a finance and leadership professional with over 20 years of experience in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors. As Chief Financial Officer at ElementUSA, she accelerates access to critical materials domestically. Previously, at HARMAN International, she served as Senior Vice President of Procurement and Vice President & General Manager for Headphones, Wearables, and Smart Audio in Shenzhen, China, leading her teams to win over 240 awards for innovation across more than 150 consumer audio products. Jessica holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a BSBA from American University, starting her career at Deloitte as an audit professional after obtaining her CPA. She has been recognized as one of Dealerscope’s Powerful Women in Consumer Technology (2018) and a Women Worth Watching by Diversity Journal (2016). As a Founding Member of Chief, she advocates for women in leadership and serves as Treasurer on the board of the Second Chance Society, empowering homeless individuals through support and pathways to self-sufficiency.
Ryan Boland
-
Boland is the Executive Chairman, has been on the board of ElementUSA since April of 2022, and previously served as Chief Executive Officer. In August 2025, he was named Board Member and Audit Committee Chair for Firefly Aerospace (NASDAQ: FLY). Boland was named to the Board of Lulu Snacks Inc. in January 2025. Boland is also the CEO of a private family office, responsible for originating and executing all public and private investments since 2016. Boland was previously an Executive Director at JP Morgan, where he worked across the Investment Bank and Private Bank in New York, London, and Chicago for over eleven years.
Chris Young
-
Young led the launch of ElementUSA in 2020, where he serves as Chief Strategy Officer, advancing the company’s mission to extract critical minerals and develop sustainable solutions from industrial waste streams. Prior to launching ElementUSA, Chris spent more than 35 years in leadership roles across supply chain operations, business development, and business process transformation. He spearheaded business development at New Day Aluminum and directed global sales of Jamaican bauxite into China and the cement market while managing key logistics partnerships. At Noranda Aluminum, Young oversaw sales and operations planning across the integrated supply chain and drove business development in the aluminum alloy sector.
Before entering the aluminum industry, Young co-founded a software exchange, built sales and market presence for an early-stage education distributor, and held increasing leadership roles at Mead/MeadWestvaco. There, he directed operations for a one-million-ton-per-year paperboard manufacturer, managed a $300 million industrial distributor, and led an enterprise resource planning system implementation for a $1 billion consumer products business.
Young began his career as an engineering and weapons officer aboard a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer, completing deployments in the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and Persian Gulf. He currently chairs the board of a $450 million mutual fund trust managed by EBS Asset Management. He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Dan Byrne
-
Byrne has over 15 years of experience in financial markets and currently serves as CFO of a Private Family Office. He is a board member of Element USA and Niche Fused Rolled Products, an Italian aluminum rolling business. Previously, he ran a U.S.-based metal recycling business. With 12 years in banking and finance, most recently at J.P. Morgan, Byrne has spent the last 6 years managing various businesses for DADA Holdings. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
-
Tallman brings over 40 years of infrastructure development experience, specializing in the commercialization of innovative and sustainable technologies. As the founder of Renova Capital, a private equity firm, he has successfully invested in and developed sustainable infrastructure assets across multiple industries. His extensive background includes serving on the Board of Governors at the Colorado School of Mines, where he contributes to advancing educational initiatives in the engineering and applied sciences fields. Tallman is dedicated to fostering sustainable practices and driving forward-thinking solutions in infrastructure development.
Rick Tallman
John Rice
-
Rice brings more than 20 years of experience in the energy and environmental industries, with a focus on infrastructure development and project finance. Prior to joining ElementUSA, he was a Principal at Renova Capital, a Denver-based private equity firm that financed, developed, and owned middle-market renewable energy infrastructure assets. His expertise spans market assessment, capital raising, transaction structuring, project underwriting, and full-cycle infrastructure development. Rice earned a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College, and an MBA and MS in Sustainable Systems from the University of Michigan.
Hector Garza, Ph.D.
-
Garza is a Geochemist and Development Lab Manager at ElementUSA in Cedar Park, Texas, with expertise in geochemistry, mineralogy, and geochronology. He holds a Ph.D. in Geology and Geochemistry from The University of Texas at Austin, where he also earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology. Hector’s experience includes a two-year Research Fellowship at Sandia National Laboratories focused on critical minerals characterization and recovery, as well as an Operations Geologist Internship at Chevron.
At Premier Oilfield Group, he managed technical operations and an XRD lab while also helping establish and manage an XRD facility in Cairo, Egypt. Passionate about education, Hector has taught geology and hydrology through programs like GeoFORCE Texas. He has published research on topics spanning the integration of radiogenic isotope geochemistry to understand early terrestrial ecosystems and paleocontinents, as well as geochemical investigations of Earth's lithospheric and sedimentary systems.
Hong Ng
Laboratory Technician
Jessica Valdes
Laboratory Technician
Jacob Gomez
Laboratory Technician
Kaveh Asgari
Laboratory Intern
Jinny Choi
Laboratory Intern
Alma Farrington
Office Manager
Meet Our Technology Partners
ElementUSA is selecting top technology partners for all stages of mineral development through our Critical Resource Accelerator. We proudly collaborate with innovators in resource recovery. Stay tuned for updates and see the testimonials below to learn about our partnerships with technology leaders.
DISA Technologies is revolutionizing mineral recovery with their patented High-Pressure Slurry Ablation (HPSA) technology, an innovative solution that upgrades critical minerals from mined ore and legacy waste. Serving both the mining and remediation sectors, DISA recovers valuable resources that power industry, strengthen energy independence, and restore contaminated sites to productive use. DISA technology unlocks economic and environmental value, transforming how the world processes, remediates, and recycles essential mineral assets.