November 13, 2024
Today, we're thrilled to announce the addition of three distinguished industry leaders to the Alder Renewables Board. Each brings their own unique blend of expertise and insight to our work, and is committed to our mission to replace fossil-based products and help rebalance our relationship with the planet.
C.R. Sincock, II joins our board with an extensive background in aviation fuel and services. As Executive Vice President of Sincock-family owned Avfuel Corporation, the largest supplier of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in business aviation, C.R. brings Avfuel's 50+ years of logistics expertise to Alder Renewables.
C.R. leads Avfuel's focus on innovative sustainable solutions, including expanding the availability of physical SAF across Avfuel's network of airports, deploying robust book-and-claim programs, and making investments in next generation SAF technologies. He also serves as President and CEO of Avflight (26 FBOs globally) and sits on NATA's board. His operational leadership will be vital as we advance the Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) platform. Along with an undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School, C.R. is also completing a master's degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. Furthermore, C.R. is the founding investor and senior strategic advisor of Kriya Therapeutics, a leading gene therapy company developing long-term cures for chronic diseases.
Kennedy Ricci brings a unique blend of aviation heritage and sustainability expertise to our board. As the President of 4AIR, Kennedy has been at the forefront of facilitating the decarbonization of the aviation industry.
A passionate pilot himself, Kennedy comes from a family dedicated to aviation. He launched 4AIR to create programs that cater to the industry's unique needs while promoting transparency and making sustainability more accessible. These programs can include carbon offsets, new sustainable fuels, contrail mitigation, research around novel technologies, and tracing SAF through the Assure SAF registry.
Kennedy's perspective on the intersection of aviation and sustainability will be crucial as we continue to trial and test SAF derived from our core ARC platform.
We're also excited to welcome Darren Fuller, our very own Chief Commercial Officer, to the company board. Darren joined Alder Renewables in May 2022 and oversees our commercialization strategy, financial and customer engagement.
With nearly two decades of experience in aviation, Darren has spent his career at the intersection of business development, aviation, and sustainability. His extensive background includes roles at World Fuel Services, where he managed their exclusive relationship with Dow Chemical for aircraft deicers and over $350m in fixed assets to support branded dealership and airport relationships. Prior to joining Alder Renewables, he found a passion for sustainability and led efforts to introduce carbon reduction and accounting products to business and commercial aviation customers.
He is a past member of the Environmental Committee at the National Air Transportation Association, and a current member of the SAF Coalition, the goals of which are to advance sustainability initiatives across the aviation sector in the United States. Darren is a private pilot, avid golfer, and a graduate of Hamilton College.
The addition of these three industry leaders to our board comes at a crucial time for Alder Renewables. As we continue to develop our technology and pursue pilot scale development, their combined expertise and deep sector-specific experience will be invaluable.
Welcome aboard, C.R., Kennedy, and Darren. We look forward to the impact your collective experience will have on our work to unlock decarbonization for refiners and maximize their commercial optionality.
August 8, 2024
This summer, Genevieve (Genna) Rump had the unique opportunity to explore the world of decarbonization and renewable fuels as a summer intern at Alder Renewables. Genna, an incoming junior at the University of Colorado Boulder, was tasked with assisting in conducting research, collecting and analyzing data, and operating lab-scale chemical separation processes at the firm’s new lab facility in Colorado.
One of Genna’s initial tasks was to learn about pyrolysis oil and its potential upgrading routes — the core technology that Alder Renewables is advancing for commercialization. Through reviewing published literature and shadowing analytical chemists at Alder Renewables, Genna was immediately immersed in the intricacies of upgrading fast pyrolysis oil into Alder Renewable Crude (ARC). She also got to see up close the unique challenges that accompany benchmarking the performance of a new technology with a suite of analytical chemistry techniques.
Speaking before her summer internship, Genna said, “Participating in lab work and listening to the tech team discuss day-to-day development issues was hugely engaging and helpful for me. I liked that I got to work so closely with the team and be part of testing the company’s renewable fuels.”
The collaborative environment at Alder Renewables was a highlight of Genna’s experience. Team meetings were a space for idea exchange, where the technical team members worked together to find solutions and openly address challenges. Genna had the chance to present her findings and contribute to discussions, which not only helped develop her research skills but also allowed her to see the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation.
Genna’s enthusiasm extended outside her work during the internship. Throughout the summer, the team engaged in various team-building and culture-focused activities. Genna participated in a team hike to an alpine lake, a competitive volleyball game, and many outdoor lunches with coworkers at the Infinite Labs facility, taking in the beautiful views of the Flatirons.
Genna’s mentors, Camille Amador and Hanna Timberlake, played a crucial role in her development. As supervisors, they provided continuous support, offering guidance and constructive feedback aimed at fostering personal and professional growth. Encouraged to ask questions and think critically, Genna’s approach to research and problem-solving evolved significantly over the summer. As Genna’s experience and confidence grew, she was able to take on more responsibility in the lab. One of the most memorable days of Genna’s internship came toward the end of the summer when she operated the Alder Renewable Crude separations process under the supervision of Alder engineers.
Her summer internship at Alder Renewables helped solidify Genna’s desire to pursue research in her career. Derek Vardon, CTO of Alder Renewables, reflected, “The Alder Renewables team is grateful to have benefitted from Genna’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and impressive work ethic. She was an amazing addition to the team — even if just for a summer. We wish her all the best and will be cheering her on as she embarks on the next step of her professional journey.”
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