Board of Directors
Akermin’s Board of Directors represents a wealth of experience and leadership in the life sciences, portable power and clean technology industries, as well as the successful commercialization and management of early-stage, venture-funded companies.
Barry Blackwell
President and CEO
Barry is a founding member of the St. Louis Arch Angel Network and has more than 25 years of experience in acquisitions, corporate finance and commercial banking with two regional banks and an international financial services company. He is also a member of Akermin’s Board of Directors and managing partner of Integral Capital LLC, a private equity investment company in St. Louis specializing in middle-market company acquisitions.
Nick Akers
Director - Business Development
Nick Akers is co-inventor of the stabilized enzyme biocatalyst system and is a co-founder of Akermin. His currently responsibilities center on business development and management of funded research contracts with government agencies and corporations that incorporate Akermin’s fuel cell technology into products used in energy, defense, and homeland security.
David Dorheim
Akermin Independent Director
David Dorheim brings more than 25 years of experience in portable power, including with Black & Decker, General Electric and as president and CEO of the start-ups AER Energy Resources and Neah Power Systems, a fuel cell development company.
Chris Fountas
OnPoint Technologies
Chris Fountas is a Director of OnPoint Technologies, a venture capital group headquartered in Orlando, Florida, where he plays a lead role in the investment process and portfolio management, including advising and assisting OnPoint’s portfolio companies and serving as a director or observer for their boards. Fountas has grown and managed an extensive international and domestic M&A and corporate practice, and co-founded several successful start-up companies.
Gregory Johnson
Prolog Ventures
Greg Johnson is founder and managing director of Prolog Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in life sciences. He brings more than two decades of experience as a manager of venture capital funds and corporate venture capital investment programs. He came to Prolog from Gateway Associates, a St. Louis-based venture capital company, where he focused on early-stage investments in biotechnology, medical devices, and advanced materials.
Mike Walkinshaw
Chrysalix Energy
Mike joined Chrysalix in 2002 and has overseen the investment activities of the Fund since that time. In addition to Akermin, Mike sits on the boards of H2scan and Fat Spaniel Technologies and is actively involved in sourcing new investments.
Prior to joining Chrysalix, Mike was with Ballard Power Systems, the worlds' leading developer and manufacturer of PEM Fuel Cells for over five years. Mike held a number of roles within the organization and was the Manager of Product Strategy and a Product Manager for the Nexa Power Module, the world's first commercial fuel cell module, during his final three years with Ballard. Prior to Ballard, Mike also spent six years with Price Waterhouse in Vancouver, gaining his Chartered Accountant status and helping small entrepreneurial businesses grow.
Shelley Minteer, Ph.D. - Board Advisor
Saint Louis University
Dr. Shelley Minteer is an inventor of Akermin’s technology and founder of the Company, and functions in an advisory role to the Board of Directors. Dr. Minteer maintains her position as Professor at Saint Louis University, where her group continues to advance the core technology licensed to the Company. Dr. Minteer actively supports Akermin through formulation of new ideas, provision of oversight and direction of sponsored research programs and through leadership of the company’s industry education programs on SEBS technology. Her work is widely published and patented.