Our Team
Wayne McFarland
Chairman & CEO
A dedicated outdoorsman, Wayne has spent more than a decade in the field of renewable energy focused on finding solutions for converting biomass and other problematic global waste streams into carbon negative clean energy. His current focus is on how to deliver immediate solutions to some of the world’s most troubling energy, environmental, economic, social and political problems.
Wayne founded SynTech Bioenergy with a mission to be a leader in meeting the challenge of climate change head-on, through delivering renewable, carbon negative clean energy and end-of-waste solutions on a global scale. A successful serial entrepreneur and attorney, Wayne’s expertise in environmental law & policy, global manufacturing, renewable energy and retail energy markets, coupled with his inner drive to better the environment, has been fundamental to his leadership of SynTech.
Prior to SynTech, he served as Managing Member, CEO and Chairman of Admiral Energy, LLC, which explored energy management and green and renewable energy technologies during which time he led Admiral’s successful pursuit of a $1.6B (USD) sustainable airport project for the Republic of the Philippines. Simultaneously he served as Chairman, CEO and Managing Member of Native American Tribal Energy Company, LLC, which focused on delivering a full range of energy related products and services to tribal entities across North America. Wayne holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Lewis University and a J.D. degree with honors from the IIT/Chicago Kent College of Law. He has also served on various Continuing Legal Education faculties speaking on subjects relative to energy and corporate finance.
Long He
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. He is experienced in innovative renewable energy technologies, finance and global markets. Before joining SynTech Bioenergy in 2014, Long earned PhD in Solar Cell Physics and Graduate Energy Certificate from National Renewable Energy Laboratory and CU-Boulder, and he served independent consulting for Colorado Governor's Energy Office to study the biomass energy policies. At SynTech, Long is instrumental for SynTech's acquisitions and operations of BioMax and LiquiMax technologies. He leads our efforts in developing our BioMax massive production facilities in China and identifying project opportunities in Asia. He also heads our technology strategies and R&D processes.
Kevin McFarland
Chief administration officer
Spearheading the creation of a working environment that is healthy and motivating is a top objective for Kevin in his role leading administration for SynTech’s growing enterprise. Kevin also plays a lead role in business development at SynTech holding responsibility for international and special projects. He joined the company on its founding, inspired by SynTech’s innovative end-of-waste solutions. Previously, Kevin was a Manager of Retail Operations for Admiral Energy, where he was responsible for power provider and customer contract management, sales force coordination, administration, HR, public information, information systems and technologies. Kevin is a versatile individual with experience in identifying new markets and suppliers, project management, working in business development alongside billion-dollar companies, and managing talent. He has a BA in Biology and English from Augustana College.
Doug McFarland
Sr.VP, Manufacturing & Engineering and General Manager of Community Power Corporation subsidiary
At SynTech, Doug is responsible for profit and loss as GM of our Community Power Corporation subsidiary as well as project management and customer satisfaction. Since joining SynTech Bioenergy at its inception, Doug’s 20+ years' expertise in project management, manufacturing, enterprise resource planning, efficiencies, supply chain management, and continuous improvement has proven invaluable. His leadership experience includes numerous manufacturing plant startups and revitalizations utilizing the principles of lean manufacturing, application of continuous improvement techniques, ERP implementation and improvement, enhanced Supply Chain Management, Quality Assurance System development and implementation, process improvement and product development.
Doug began his career in liquid fuels R&D, production and planning at Amoco (BP) and continued to advance his leadership as General Manager of Community Power Corporation at the operational level and as VP of Manufacturing at Landmark Industries of Illinois. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.
Eliza McFarland
lead environmental scientist
As Lead Environmental Scientist, Eliza works in feedstock identification and acquisition, in analysis of the expected environmental benefits of each BioMax® installation, in biochar application and analysis, and in regulatory statutes research, exploring developments in environmental regulations and the impact on the company and its clients. Eliza’s multifaceted role at SynTech Bioenergy is informed by her extensive scientific expertise, which includes biogeochemistry, a collaborative practice that connects biology, geology and chemistry. Much of Eliza’s prior biogeochemistry work was focused on wetlands, examining their conversion of runoff into useful nutrients – a process with direct correlation to the BioMax® system’s conversion of manmade materials into environmentally positive products, such as renewable power, heat and biochar.
Prior to joining the company, Eliza’s experience included her role as an instrumental member of a team researching invasive species management via large-scale experiments funded by NOAA and NASA grants. This will prove invaluable to SynTech clients and customers in Hawaii which is fraught with problematic invasive species, the remediation of which provide an excellent source of feedstock for BioMax® operation as well as an organic resource for the production of high quality SynTech biochar. Eliza is also professionally certified in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Michigan State University, earned her M.S. in Wetland Ecology and Engineering from the University of Maryland, and her B.S. Biology and Environmental Studies from Tufts University.
Dr. Chris Guay
technical sales manager
Born and raised in Hawaii, Chris has over 15 years of experience in the field of renewable energy resources and serves as the Hawaii Region Representative for SynTech. With a passion for developing economically viable, sustainable, biomass-derived fuels, his specialties include biomass-based energy resources (biofuels, gasification, etc.); integrated systems for sustainable food, fuel and energy production; ocean renewable energy resources (wave, tidal, OTEC, etc.); marine chemistry; polar oceanography and climate change; trace metals chemistry; and river and estuary biogeochemistry.
Prior to his role at SynTech, Chris served as the Director of Research and Development for Community Fuels, a biodiesel producer that operates a 20 million gallon per year production facility and fuel terminal in California. In addition, he has worked as an independent consultant on several projects related to biomass energy, energy and water efficiency in agriculture, and sustainable systems for local production of food and energy. When he’s not sharing colorful stories and learnings with his SynTech team from his time studying in the Pacific - from a submarine under the polar ice cap - he serves as a part-time lecturer at local universities and colleges. Chris received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Davis, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Oceanography from the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University.