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.
ElementUSA is guided by a Board of Directors with deep experience in critical minerals, industrial operations, government affairs, and finance — providing strong governance and strategic oversight.
Together, we are dedicated to developing domestic mineral processing solutions that secure the future of U.S. manufacturing and national security.
Board of Directors
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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.
Ryan Boland
Ellis Sullivan
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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.
Dan Byrne
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Byrne brings over 15 years of experience across financial markets, metals, and industrial businesses. He serves as a board member and Chief Investment Officer of ElementUSA, where he helps guide the company's strategy and investment initiatives. Previously, he served on the board of an Italian aluminum rolling business and prior to that 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 7 years managing various ventures for a private family office. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
David D'Addario
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D'Addario serves as Chairman and CEO of Dada Holdings, Chairman and CEO of NICHE European Holdings, and Chairman of Niche Fusina Rolled Products, bringing more than 40 years of leadership across the industrial, metals, and minerals sectors. He built Wise Metals Group into the world's third-largest producer of beverage-can-stock aluminum, ultimately leading it to a sale valued at over $1 billion. He went on to lead New Day Aluminum Holdings and its subsidiaries, Noranda Alumina and Noranda Bauxite, and earlier served as President and CEO of D'Addario Industries.
Darren Ma
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Ma serves on ElementUSA's board of directors and brings more than two decades of public- and private-company financial leadership to the role. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Firefly Aerospace, where he led the company from its Series A round through its initial public offering in under five years. Prior to Firefly Aerospace, Ma served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Spectra7 Microsystems and as Chief Financial Officer of GigPeak, Inc., and earlier held roles as a business unit controller at Semtech Corporation (NASDAQ: SMTC) and a finance manager at Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC). He is known for partnering closely with CEOs, executives, and management teams to drive profitability across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap public companies, with particular depth in P&L optimization at complex manufacturing businesses and in structuring capital raises — including equity, private placements, debt, PIPEs, and IP-based financing. Ma was named CFO of the Year by the Austin Business Journal in both 2023 (medium-size private company) and 2026 (public company), and is NACD Certified. He holds a BS in Managerial Economics from UC Davis and an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Tim Keating
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Keating serves on ElementUSA's board of directors and brings more than three decades of government affairs, public policy, and aerospace and defense industry leadership to the role. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Government Operations at AMD, following senior government-affairs leadership roles at Sierra Space and The Boeing Company, where he directed public policy efforts and federal, state, and local government engagement. Throughout his corporate career, Keating has also served as Senior Policy Director at the Washington, D.C. law and lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Earlier in his career, he served in the Clinton Administration as Special Assistant to the President and Staff Director for White House Legislative Affairs, and held positions with the U.S. House of Representatives, including assistant floor manager for the Democratic leadership. Keating serves on the boards of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Children's National, and the Trilateral Commission's North American Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government from the University of Scranton.
Leadership Team
Ellis Sullivan
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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.
Hani Madbak
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Madbak is a seasoned global engineering and operations executive with 18+ years leading capital and transformation programs, including accountability for more than $1B in cumulative capital investments and direct responsibility for portfolios exceeding $500M. He brings deep experience scaling engineering governance, capital prioritization, and operational readiness across multi-site manufacturing and complex, regulated environments. Madbak served as Senior Director of Engineering Operations and Plant/R&D Manager at ATI, led global capital engineering programs at BASF, and managed large equipment and infrastructure portfolios at Siemens Energy and Duke Energy. He is proven at improving capital efficiency and delivery reliability, building and scaling PMO and engineering teams, elevating early risk visibility, and aligning engineering execution with commercial and operational priorities during acquisitions and organizational change. Madbak holds an MBA from Clemson University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering & Mathematics from the University of Kentucky.
Chris Boling
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Chris is a seasoned finance executive with extensive public- and private-company experience across manufacturing, tech, renewable energy, specialty materials, and health sciences. He brings deep expertise in SEC reporting and SOX/compliance, de‑SPAC and pre‑IPO readiness, mergers and acquisitions, ERP and systems implementations (SAP, NetSuite, MS Business Central), cost accounting, budgeting and forecasting, and KPI/dashboard development. Most recently he served as Corporate Controller at USA Rare Earth, leading the finance function through de‑SPAC public‑company readiness and SEC reporting. Prior roles include CFO and operating leadership positions at Skorpios Technologies, Xymogen, EOS North America, Alternate Health Corp., and other manufacturing and industrial businesses. Chris holds an MBA from Berry College and a BBA in Accounting from the University of Georgia, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He also holds an ICAEW Certificate in IFRS, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and a NetSuite Financial Management certification. His strategic finance leadership and operational experience will strengthen ElementUSA’s financial systems, reporting, and growth initiatives.
Dan Byrne
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Byrne brings over 15 years of experience across financial markets, metals, and industrial businesses. He serves as a board member and Chief Investment Officer of ElementUSA, where he helps guide the company's strategy and investment initiatives. Previously, he served on the board of an Italian aluminum rolling business and prior to that 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 7 years managing various ventures for a private family office. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Chris Young
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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.
Kelly Kordzik
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Kordzik is a general counsel and senior legal executive with 35 years of intellectual property and technology law experience. He most recently served as Vice President & General Counsel at Sortera Technologies, Inc., where he built the company's in-house legal function from the ground up as its first General Counsel — leading negotiations on more than $205 million in Series A, B, and C financing, building a worldwide 225+ patent portfolio, and initiating the company's IPO-readiness workstreams. Earlier in his career, Kordzik was a Partner at Matheson Keys & Kordzik PLLC, a Principal at Fish & Richardson P.C., and a Shareholder at Winstead P.C., where he formed and led a nationally recognized Nanotechnology Practice Group, while also serving as the President of the Texas Nanotechnology Initiative. He is a licensed attorney in the State of Texas, registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, an MBA from the University of Houston, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Jessica Garvey
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Garvey is a seasoned leadership and finance professional with over 20 years of experience in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors. Currently serving as Chief of Staff at ElementUSA, she is dedicated to accelerating access to critical materials domestically. Prior to this role, Jessica served as Founding Chief Financial Officer at ElementUSA for five years, establishing the company's financial infrastructure and strategic framework. Previously, Jessica held key leadership positions at HARMAN International, including Senior Vice President of Procurement and Vice President & General Manager for the Headphones, Wearables, and Smart Audio Global Business Units while based in Shenzhen, China. In her product development roles, she was instrumental in driving innovation for renowned audio brands such as JBL and harman/kardon, leading her teams to win over 240 awards for design and 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 and Women Worth Watching by Diversity Journal. As a Founding Member of Chief, she advocates for women in leadership and serves as Board Chair and President of the Second Chance Society, empowering homeless individuals through support and pathways to self-sufficiency.
Rick Tallman
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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.
David Traub
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Traub brings more than 15 years of international experience spanning metals, mining, and raw materials trading, business development, structured finance, and commercial strategy. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Intermetals, he led the company's rare earth element initiative in Vietnam. He has previously held senior commercial roles at thyssenkrupp Accelis Trading, Marex, and Gerald Metals, and began his career in BNP Paribas Corporate & Investment Bank's Structured Finance group, covering metals and mining clients. Traub has spent his career building and scaling commercial organizations and brings proven expertise in deal negotiation, commercial integration, risk management, and go-to-market execution across global supply chains. Traub holds a B.A. in Economics from The George Washington University and is completing an Executive MBA at Texas A&M's Mays Business School.
John Rice
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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.
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Oliver served as VP of Operations at Paragon Geochemical Laboratories, where he led lab design and commissioning, integration of acquisitions, and upgrades to quality and LIMS systems while overseeing multiple facilities and up to 60 staff. Coming from a background in industrial chemistry and extractive metallurgy, he has more than 15 years’ experience in assay laboratories and minerals processing plants across Australia, Southeast Asia and Texas. He previously managed Intertek’s Jakarta minerals laboratories, supervised metallurgical operations at Glencore’s McArthur River Mine and worked as an analytical chemist at Entegris. Oliver holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry from Queensland University of Technology, a Graduate Diploma of Metallurgy from the West Australian School of Mines and an M.Sc. in Nuclear & Radiochemistry from Tennessee Technological University. He brings hands‑on expertise in ICP‑MS/ICP‑QQQ/ICP‑OES, fire assay, XRF, fusion, thermal and wet‑chemical analysis, LIMS and inventory systems, cleanroom protocols and radiation safety.
Robert Oliver
Ismail Yildirim, Ph.D.
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Yildirim is a senior technical leader with more than 20 years of hands-on experience in alumina-based refractories and high-temperature thermal processing, combining deep process engineering expertise with proven leadership at the plant, pilot, and R&D levels. He has led extrusion, pelletizing, densification, spray drying, calcination, and rotary kiln sintering programs across refractory, alumina, kaolin, and iron-related systems, with a consistent track record of scaling technologies from lab and pilot trials to full commercial operation. His background includes director-level ownership of refractory manufacturing, extensive thermodynamic modeling and energy optimization, and delivery of multimillion-dollar cost savings and revenue-generating products. A PhD-trained engineer with significant patent authorship, Yildirim brings the rare combination of technical authority, scale-up judgment, and strategic leadership required to drive innovation and industrialization in advanced alumina, refractory, and thermal processing technologies.
Sharrydon Bright Chinosengwa Mapengo, M. Eng.
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Bright is a highly accomplished Senior Metallurgical Process Engineer with 10+ years of experience advancing hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical technologies for critical mineral recovery. He has designed, operated, and optimized high-temperature chlorination systems, including sealed rotary reactors operating up to 1100°C under HCl atmospheres. His background includes developing gas–solid kinetics models, refining chlorination and volatilization parameters through DoE test campaigns, and integrating analytical data (SEM, XRD, XRF, ICP) into process models that support scale-up and process optimization. Bright has extensive experience in corrosion-resistant materials selection for halogen environments, producing BFDs/PFDs with detailed mass and energy balances, and leading safety and compliance programs for reactive gas systems.
Kaveh Asgari, Ph.D.
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Asgari completed his PhD at West Virginia University, where his research advanced mineral processing through innovative grinding and flotation approaches focused on energy efficiency, improved mineral liberation, and sustainable resource use. Asgari also holds an M.Sc. in Mineral Processing Engineering and a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering. He brings deep expertise in mineral processing, leaching and flotation, process development, and experimental scale‑up, together with an extensive record of publications, books, and patents. His hands‑on skills include potentiostat/galvanostat work, leaching reactors, flotation cells, mills and crushers, magnetic separation, and analytical lab equipment. Proficient in MATLAB, Design‑Expert, Origin, and Mendeley, Kaveh is a recipient of awards including the SME MPD Fred C. Bond Award for best paper in comminution.
Ganesh Pilla, Ph.D.
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Pilla is a metallurgical engineer specializing in bauxite residue valorization and sustainable multi-metal recovery, with expertise in pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and hydrogen-based reduction processes. Holds a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from KU Leuven, where his research focused on hydrogen reduction roasting of bauxite residue to recover iron, alumina, sodium aluminate, and rare earth elements including scandium. Author of over 15 peer-reviewed publications and conference papers on bauxite residue recovery and sustainable metallurgy.
Jessica Valdes
Laboratory Technician
Hong Ng
Laboratory Technician
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.