Tell us about your background and how your experience and skill set help lead Smart Tire Recycling?

I have a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from "Polytechnica" University in Bucharest, Romania, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida, and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. During my 20-year career, I worked as a research engineer in the tire industry and introduced new materials and technologies at the pilot and commercial scale. I am also a serial entrepreneur, starting and growing new innovation-based businesses in a variety of fields. My technical skills and entrepreneurial experience in different industries are essential in evaluating and setting the company's commercialization strategy.

How has the company changed since you joined as CTO?

I have been with the company for five years, and now I am on the board and CTO. During the last year, Smart Tire Recycling made tremendous advances in proving that the technology works and producing quality carbon black and oil samples.

Moreover, the company has a well-rounded, experienced, and focused team that can take it to the next level.

What excites you about Smart Tire Recycling?

Bringing technology from the lab to commercial scale is something that always gave me a sense of satisfaction. However, in the current position, I am really working towards solving a global challenge.

In many countries, including my home country, old tires are just burned in local cement factories, with an enormous negative impact on the environment and human health.

The smoke from burning tires is about 16 times more mutagenic than wood smoke and about 8 times more mutagenic than the open burning of plastics.