Our Team

Wayne McFarland brings over 20 years of experience in renewable energy, dedicated to transforming global waste streams into carbon-negative clean energy solutions. His mission is clear: deliver immediate, practical answers to some of the world’s most pressing energy, environmental, economic and social challenges.

As a successful attorney and serial entrepreneur, Wayne founded SynTech to lead the fight against climate change by developing sustainable, carbon-neutral and carbon-negative energy technologies and advanced waste mitigation solutions for global society. His deep expertise in environmental law and policy, global manufacturing, renewable energy, and retail energy markets has been instrumental in shaping SynTech’s vision and success.

Before SynTech, Wayne served as Managing Member, CEO, and Chairman of Admiral Energy, LLC, where he spearheaded a $1.6 billion sustainable airport project for the Republic of the Philippines. He also led Native American Tribal Energy Company, LLC, delivering comprehensive energy solutions to tribal entities across North America.

Wayne holds a bachelor’s in Political Science from Lewis University and a J.D. with honors from Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. He has served on Continuing Legal Education faculties and was the keynote speaker at multiple energy and economic conferences.

Vision for the Future

Wayne envisions a world where waste is no longer a burden but a resource—where innovative technologies transform environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. His goal is to accelerate the global transition to carbon-neutral and carbon-negative energy, creating solutions that not only combat climate change but also foster economic resilience and social equity. Through SynTech, Wayne is committed to building a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

Join Us in Shaping the Future

Be part of the movement toward a carbon-negative world. Explore our solutions, partner with us, and help create a sustainable future for generations to come!

Pankaj Gupta is a global business leader with over 20 years of experience driving innovation, strategic growth, and operational excellence across advanced technology, manufacturing, and clean energy sectors. As CEO of SynTech Bioenergy, Pankaj leads a multi-entity enterprise focused on delivering sustainable energy solutions and accelerating global market expansion. He oversees corporate vision execution, organizational alignment, and financial performance while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Before joining SynTech, Pankaj held senior leadership roles at The Dow Chemical Company, including Business Vice President of Dow Industrial Solutions, a ~$5 billion revenue global business. Under his leadership, the business achieved significant growth through strategic investments, operational improvements, and customer-centric innovation. Earlier, as Vice President of Investor Relations, Pankaj managed Dow’s engagement with the global investment community, earning recognition as the #2 Investor Relations Officer in the chemicals sector by Institutional Investor in 2023–24. He also played a pivotal role in major corporate M&A transformation, including the $130B Dow-DuPont merger and subsequent spin-off of Dow Inc.

Pankaj’s career began in research and development, with subsequent roles involving managing global innovation portfolios and collaborations with leading energy companies and consumer brands. He holds 9 patents and has authored more than 25 technical publications. His expertise spans capital management, M&A integration, shareholder engagement, and sustainability advocacy. He has served on industry boards and committees, including the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) and the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3).

Pankaj earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He also holds an M.S. in Polymer Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a B.Tech in Textile Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.

Leadership Philosophy

• Innovation as a Growth Engine – Harness advanced technologies to create long-term value.

• People-First Culture – Build diverse, high-performing teams that thrive on collaboration.

• Purpose-Driven Strategy – Align business objectives with sustainability and societal impact.

Through these principles, Pankaj fosters organizations that achieve financial success while contributing to a cleaner, sustainable future.

At SynTech, Doug has profit and loss responsibility for all design, engineering, manufacturing, field services, and related activities of the Company. Since joining SynTech at its inception, Doug’s 20+ years of expertise in project management, manufacturing, enterprise resource planning, efficiencies, supply chain management, and continuous improvement have 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 both as General Manager of Community Power Corporation at the operational level and as VP of Manufacturing at Landmark Industries of Illinois, a business founded by Wayne which Doug shepherded through growth to public offering. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Bonnie brings nearly two decades of experience in energy law, government contracting, and clean energy procurement, with a proven record of advancing large-scale carbon reduction initiatives. As Corporate Counsel at SynTech Bioenergy, Bonnie provides strategic legal leadership to accelerate the commercialization of SynTech’s advanced renewable fuels and carbon-negative technologies worldwide, while safeguarding regulatory compliance and investor value.

Prior to joining SynTech, Bonnie led federal renewable energy acquisitions valued at over $1 billion, driving the U.S. government’s 2030 carbon-free electricity mandate. With deep expertise in renewable energy frameworks, project finance structures, and carbon reduction strategies, Bonnie is a trusted advisor to investors, developers, and strategic partners in the global clean energy market.

A seasoned attorney and energy strategist, Bonnie holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas and has spent 15+ years navigating complex federal, commercial, and sustainability-focused transactions. Passionate about leveraging legal innovation to catalyze climate solutions, Bonnie is committed to advancing SynTech’s mission of delivering transformational, carbon-negative energy projects at scale.

Spearheading the creation of a working environment that is healthy and motivating is a top objective for Kevin in his role leading the administration of our expanding enterprise. Kevin also plays a strategic role in business development, holding responsibility for all customer project sales and marketing as well as international and special projects. He joined the company on its founding, inspired by SynTech’s innovative end-of-waste solutions.

Kevin identified and has spearheaded our foothold into the production of Graphene from biochar produced by our technologies and is responsible for our evolving Graphene production technologies. 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.

A former Managing Partner with KPMG, Saurabh is an accomplished financial leader with extensive experience as a CFO, providing strategic financial oversight and operational guidance to organizations across a variety of industries. Over his career, he has demonstrated a strong ability to optimize financial performance, implement effective budgeting processes, and enhance decision-making through meticulous financial modeling and data analysis. Saurabh excels in aligning financial strategies with business goals, driving profitability, and ensuring sustainable growth for companies ranging from startups to established enterprises. His leadership in managing financial complexities has earned him a reputation for delivering results in dynamic and high-growth environments.

With a deep understanding of operations and cross-functional collaboration, Saurabh specializes in customer and operational transformation, business strategy, and performance improvement. He has a proven track record of effectively leading and integrating diverse functional and business units to achieve enterprise-wide goals. With over two decades of experience in operations, IT, project management, and Lean Six Sigma methodologies, Saurabh has successfully spearheaded numerous large-scale initiatives. These projects have delivered transformative capabilities, enabling organizations to remain competitive, enhance shareholder value, and exceed customer expectations.

Saurabh's robust academic foundation and certifications reinforce his executive expertise. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, an MS in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University, and a Bachelor of Engineering from India. He is certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt and a Project Management Professional (PMP), reflecting his commitment to operational excellence and project success. Combining his extensive educational background with his professional acumen, Saurabh consistently devises and executes innovative solutions to complex business challenges, ensuring impactful results.

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. Chris received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Davis, and M.S. and Ph.D. degree in Chemical Oceanography from the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University.

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 operated 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, as well as sustainable systems for local production of food and energy. When he is not sharing with his SynTech team colorful stories from his time studying in the Pacific (including in a submarine under the polar ice cap), he serves as a part-time lecturer at local universities and colleges.

Drew Manica is a results-driven leader with extensive experience in driving material science innovations, operational excellence, and quality systems across diverse industries. With a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Pennsylvania State University, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Kansas, and a Six Sigma Black Belt certification, Drew has built a distinguished career with industry leaders like GE, SABIC, and DSM Engineering Materials. He has a proven track record in R&D, quality management, and commercializing cutting-edge technologies. Currently, Drew is instrumental in establishing the pathway for converting biochar to graphene, leveraging his expertise to align technical innovation with commercial strategies.

In addition to his work in advanced materials, Drew contributes to the development of process flow diagrams (PFDs) and carbon intensity score (CIS) calculations, ensuring scalable and efficient system designs. His multidisciplinary approach combines a deep understanding of material science, process engineering, and sustainability metrics to deliver transformative solutions. Drew’s ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and drive innovation positions him as a pivotal force in advancing sustainable technologies and operational excellence.

Long joined SynTech in 2014 and became a member of Sr. Management and Member in 2016 serving as Chief Technology Officer. He holds both a Ph.D. in Solar Cell Physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Graduate Energy Certificate from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and CU-Boulder.  He also holds an MBA from Wharton and has served as a special consultant to the Colorado Governor's Energy Office to study biomass energy policies.   

Long is experienced in innovative renewable energy technologies, finance and global markets and has spearheaded our initial investigation into the potential for producing Graphene from biochar generated by our Advanced Thermal Conversion technology.  He has also led our international efforts to extend our technology reach to China and now serves as the Senior Technology Advisor to the CEO on all matters related to the further development of our technologies, technology strategies and competitive and target technology evaluation.