Mark Miller
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Miller is a serial entrepreneur with a special emphasis on bio and sustainable technologies. Prior to BT, he cofounded and was CEO of Terresolve Technologies, Ltd. An environmentally safe chemical products company.
He led the organization from start-up until his exit, creating a multimillion dollar highly profitable, global industry leader. He has engineered, sold and marketed environmentally acceptable lubricants and base oils for over 30 years. Mr. Miller has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from Manhattan College. He also sits on the Board for The National Foundation For Animal Rescue (NAFFAR) and he and his wife, Shari, have adopted more than their share of homeless critters.
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Dr. Matt Kriech
Chief Operating Officer
Along with being COO of Biosynthetic Technologies, Dr. Kriech supports Heritage Research Group and The Heritage Group in evaluation of potential new projects and investments.
Prior to his current role, he lead the transition team for THG- The Center and worked for Asphalt Materials Inc. in developing predictive economic models. He has also served as General Manager of PIZO and Supply Chain Manager, Tolling Manager, and Business Excellence leader for Monument Chemical. Matt received his B.A. from Wabash College in 2000 and his Ph. D. from the University of Utah in 2005, where he studies protein-lipid interactions using non-linear optical spectroscopy. Prior to returning to Indiana, he worked for ATK as a “Rocket Scientist” in Utah, helping to test and develop state of the art rocket propellants. Matt serves on local charity boards for cancer and diabetes. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with his family, and brewing beer as owner of Wabash Brewing.
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Jeremy Forest
Chief IP Counsel
Mr. Forest works across the company’s major business units to support successful commercial objectives through the implementation of effective intellectual property strategies and policies.
He started his career as an attorney with Finnegan LLP in Silicon Valley, where his practice focused on intellectual property litigation and prosecution in the areas of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Jeremy received his B.A. in biochemistry from St. Anselm College and an M.S. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Hawaii, where his studies focused on the enantioselective synthesis of marine natural products. He also received a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire, with a focus on intellectual property law. Jeremy currently resides in northern New Hampshire with his wife and children. In his free time, he enjoys skiing and hiking with his family and rebuilding his vintage Volkswagen van. He also serves on the board of directors for national non-profit organization for children, as well as advisory boards for several early-stage biotechnology companies.
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Travis Thompson
Vice President of Operations
Travis currently oversees the supply chain and research operations for Biosynthetic Technologies.
In his 10 years with the company, he’s served in various roles in product development, scale-up, and manufacturing. Travis graduated from UC Irvine with a BS in Chemistry, and is named on 40+ patents in the fields of organic chemistry, process design, and formulation chemistry, in addition to authoring many articles in industry-leading publications. Travis currently resides in Southern California with his two kids, and enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with friends and family.
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Julie Austin
Research and Development Chemist
Julie is a highly valued, integral part of Biosynthetic Technologies R&D Team bringing 20 years of chemistry research experience. Julie earned a B.S. in Chemistry with a focus in Environmental Biology.
Julie began her career in exploratory research and development at Reilly Industries (Vertellus) in 1996 making pyridine based intermediates for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. She then moved on to Great Lakes Chemical working as a lead researcher working on various projects that were commercially developed as flame retardants for thermoplastic resins and thermoset foams. In 2014, Julie was recruited by the Heritage Research Group as a lead chemist in the development of an array of products including Safe Aromatic oils and transformer oils. In 2018, she jointly joined Biosynthetic Technologies and began working to develop and pilot estolides while supporting customer sampling needs and commercial production. Julie is a 25+ year member of the American Chemical Society where she has been designing and editing the ACS newsletter since 2014 and is also a contributing writer. With a desire to stimulate young minds in the fields of STEM, she has chaired and assisted with many children’s science camps and festivals. Julie and her husband, Craig, live in Fountain Square where they enjoy spending time with friends at local music venues and restaurants, walking and biking the Cultural Trail, and working to improve their local community.
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Dr. Marlon Lutz
Process Chemist
Dr. Lutz brings 17 years of chemistry experience including 6 years dedicated to Estolide synthesis and product development. He is responsible for researching and commercializing our bio based products using Estolide technology.
Dr. Lutz has a strong passion for chemistry where he excels in developing novel molecules and improving chemical processes with an emphasis on incorporating greener methods. Dr. Lutz graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry and an emphasis in synthetic methodology and medicinal and supramolecular chemistry. In addition, Marlon spent over a decade at Regis Technologies in Chicago where he developed novel synthetic routes for active pharmaceutical ingredients and fine/specialty chemicals, optimized processes, and translated this information to develop safe, scalable and robust processes under cGMP regulations. Marlon holds over 25 publications in peer-reviewed journals/books and is named on 14 U.S. patents in the fields of organic chemistry, process chemistry, medicinal chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and novel cancer therapeutic agents. In his spare time, Marlon enjoys making wine with his wife for their winery, playing sports and his guitar. He also enjoys being outdoors with his wife and their four children whether it is camping, fishing, or just being on the water.
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Alex Kitchel
Project Manager
Alex is a Project Manager for Biosynthetic Technologies, where his role is to oversee both internal and external projects, manage budgets, coordinate supply chain & logistics, and manage quality control.
Previous to his current role, Alex was chemist in BT’s lab, providing various synthesis, analytical, and formulation support. Alex received his B.A.s in Biology and History from Hanover College in 2018 and his MBA in Entrepreneurship from Ball State University in 2021. Alex currently lives in Indianapolis area and in his free time enjoys playing and watching sports, working out, reading, hiking, and scuba diving.
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Cassie Fankboner
AP/AR Accountant
Cassie is an essential part of the Biosynthetic Technologies Operations Team. In her role as AP/AR Accountant, she not only oversees all financial transactions, she manages several other aspects of the commercial side as well.
Prior to Biosynthetic Technologies, Cassie worked for Ascension as an accountant. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Cassie attended Indiana University - Kelley School of Business where she graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration - BBA, Accounting and Finance. She and her family reside in the Indianapolis area.
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