Team

Elliot Hicks, COO

Elliot Hicks is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Oberon Fuels, where he is responsible for technology development, financial forecasting, budgeting, business model development, strategy, and overseeing daily operations. In his role, Elliot works cross-functionally across all areas of the company aiding in the management of specific engineering projects and intellectual property development, while supporting business development efforts by providing engineering expertise.

Elliot has worked in senior management positions in several technology startups covering a broad range of industries, including LEDs, solar cells, online media and software consulting.

In addition to startup roles, Elliot worked for The Wiremold Company as a manufacturing engineer focused on lean production methods, and for the US Navy providing software and IT systems management.

As an undergraduate, Elliot was a member of the MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team and raced in the 1994 Tour de Sol. As a co-founder of Quanlight, he worked on novel material systems for high performance red LEDs and full-spectrum solar cells. With a lifelong interest in resource efficiency, alternative energy, and transportation technology, he has a broad understanding of the energy technology space and a passion for bringing novel solutions to market.

Elliot holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a M.B.A. from San Diego State University.

Bipin Patel, Vice President of Engineering

Bipin brings more than 30 years of experience leading international oil, gas and chemical projects to his role as Vice President of Engineering at Oberon Fuels. He is an innovative, hands on player-coach with a proven ability to provide the leadership necessary to generate and deliver strategic and effective solutions in highly competitive, rapidly changing business environments.

Bipin leads in-house technology development and application of Oberon’s technology for the company’s California Energy Commission (CEC) project and other projects in the pipeline. In addition, he led the demonstration plant commissioning and the production of the first renewable DME fuel in the United States. He continues to assess third-party technologies on an ongoing basis and integrate innovation solutions into the Oberon product offerings.

Prior to joining Oberon Fuels, Bipin was Chief Technology Engineer at Siluria Technologies, a company whose technology transforms methane into transportation fuels and commodity chemicals, where he led the development of the commercial units focused on its OCM and ETL technologies.

Before joining Siluria, he was a project engineering manager at KiOR where he oversaw the execution of Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for converting 1,500 tons per day of wood chips into 3,000 barrels per day of naphtha and distillate.

Earlier in his career he held consulting, management and engineering positions with LINC Energy, Fluor Enterprises, Foster Wheeler, Shell Global Solutions, Qatar Petroleum and Suncor Energy where he led and oversaw engineering, procurement, constructions and operation of various projects.

Bipin holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Leeds University in the U.K.

Cinch Munson, Vice President, Commercial Development

As Oberon’s Vice President of Commercial Development, Cinch is leveraging Oberon’s 10+ years of foundational innovation to move Oberon’s DME production technology to global, commercial deployment. Cinch has overall responsibility for developing and managing both the feedstock supply required to produce Oberon’s renewable DME as well as securing offtake agreements and fostering DME market development.

Munson has more than 20 years in the energy and agribusiness sectors. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Business Development, for the Propane Education Research Council (PERC), a trade association that promotes the safe and efficient use of propane.

During his tenure, he led business development on behalf of the US propane industry through partnerships, market development, product development, and product commercialization.

Prior to joining PERC, Munson spent more than a decade in business development in the agribusiness industry including Director of Market Operations at Mercaris; Manager of Product Quality and Innovation at Oxbow Animal Health; Associate Vice President at Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise; Verified Services Manager at AgInfoLink; and Market Analyst at Cattle-Fax.

Throughout all these experiences Cinch’s contributions have included business development, leadership, public speaking, strategic planning, product development, commercialization, quality assurance, and project management. He also has experience implementing and leading Stage-Gate, ISO 9000, HACCP, GMP, and FSMA programs.

Cinch earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Cum Laude from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master of Science (M.S.) from Colorado State University.

David Mann, Vice President, Regulatory & Government Affairs

David Mann is Vice President of Regulatory & Government Affairs. In this role directs all local, state, federal, and international advocacy and lobbying efforts for Oberon Fuels. Prior to joining Oberon Fuels, David served as a Senior Director in the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council where he provided strategic, technical, and advocacy management.

Previously he was a Senior Public Affairs Advisor in Holland & Knight’s Public Policy and Regulations Group where he lobbied for electric utilities, energy and industrial technology companies, trade associations, and environmental organizations. Additional experience includes work in the Treasury Department of NextEra Energy, support for the Alliance to Save Energy and National Hydrogen Association, and consulting for independent power project developers.

David received an MBA with a concentration in Energy Finance from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion and Peace & Conflict Studies from Swarthmore College. He is a Certified Association Executive.

Adrian Plascencia, Plant Manager

Adrian is one of the longest-tenured team members at Oberon Fuels. Hired in 2013, he was part of the team that launched and produced first fuel-grade DME in North America, which was used by Volvo Trucks, Mack, and Ford for vehicle demonstrations around the world.

Since then, Adrian has been responsible for ensuring the plant operates at peak performance through planned startups and shutdowns supporting Oberon’s multiple tests and demonstrations with partners around the world. He also has led numerous tours and represented the company before foreign dignitaries, U.S. elected officials, state leaders and private investors.

Now that the plant has transitioned to commercial production, Adrian’s role has evolved to managing a team of operators at the plant, conducting the new protocols resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, and training all new staff.

A native of the Imperial Valley, he worked as a technician at the Naval Air Facility El Centro for four years immediately prior to joining Oberon. Prior to that, he was enrolled in several programs at Imperial County College where he was trained in residential wiring and also was part of the Solar Energy Efficiency Technician (SEET) program, where he earned a certification as a solar technician.