CEO, Michael Bartoszek. Prior to founding Laidlaw Energy, Mr. Bartoszek spent over 10 years in the securities industry with a number of top investment banks. Later in his career on Wall Street, Mr. Bartoszek was engaged in advising energy and independent power companies in connection with acquisitions and financing. He was also a key player in connection with a number of project financings and restructurings for major capital projects in other industries. In 1999, Mr. Bartoszek founded a successful business engaged in acquiring and operating natural gas fired power assets and related businesses. In 2003, Mr. Bartoszek changed his focus to renewable energy and founded Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc. to focus on the development of biomass energy projects.
The other operating principals of Laidlaw Berlin, LLC are Lou Bravakis and Ray Kusche, both biomass industry veterans, each with more than 20 years experience in the sector. Mr. Bravakis has been involved as an advisor, project and construction manager, for numerous successful biomass energy projects. He founded and operated a successful manufacturer of biomass gasification systems and started his career in this industry by operating a business engaged in wood chipping. Mr. Kusche has substantial industry experience, having developed and operated successful biomass and hydroelectric projects in New England. He currently operates a 16 megawatt biomass project in Maine. Mr. Kusche has direct experience overseeing the types of boiler upgrade to a bubbling fluidized bed and balance of plant upgrades contemplated as part of the Berlin Project.
In addition to Mr. Bartoszek, the other members of the board of directors of Laidlaw Berlin, LLC are Mr. Lester Petracca and Mr. Richard Buhr. Mr. Petracca is a successful real estate developer in New York, having developed major commercial, residential and commercial projects (see www.triangleequities.com). Mr. Buhr is a Managing Director with the investment banking firm Chatsworth Securities of Greenwich, CT (see www.chatsworthgroup.com).
