Management Team
Jim Flanary, Chief Executive Officer and President
Jim has over three decades of extensive operating and start-up experience in the solar and high tech manufacturing industries. Jim's solar industry work includes most recently his role as the Chief Operating Officer of HelioSphera, a micromorph silicon module manufacturer located in Tripolis, Greece. From 2001 to 2003 Jim was the Chief Operating Officer of First Solar and responsible for developing and launching the core manufacturing process that allowed First Solar to address early implementation and scale up rapidly to the successful company it is today.
Known for his execution and focus on operational excellence, Jim has held a number of other key roles during his career, including President of OEA Aerospace, and President of Networks Electronic Corporation. Additionally, during a 10 plus year career at ITT Night Vision, Jim developed his operational skills in robust engineering, six sigma, and lean manufacturing and became their Division President and General Manager. Jim was awarded the coveted ITT Ring of Quality and the Harold S. Geneen Award as part of a leadership team that helped establish ITT Night Vision as the world leader in military and commercial night vision products. Jim began his career in semiconductor manufacturing where he spent over 10 years in various operational roles.
Dr. B.J. Stanbery, Chairman of the Board, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Dr. B.J. Stanbery has achieved an illustrious career spanning more than 30 years in the solar industry. He is an expert in the business and science of photovoltaic materials. In 2008, his innovation of inkjet printing of CIGS, won a 2008 R&D 100 Award, often called the "Oscars" of technology commercialization. He founded HelioVolt to develop and commercialize his revolutionary FASST® process for applying CIGS thin-film photovoltaics directly onto conventional construction materials that is now covered by sixteen issued patents globally. Prior to founding HelioVolt, Dr. Stanbery managed Boeing's terrestrial PV program. During his 17-year tenure, his accomplishments included registering seven patents in thin-film PV technology and successfully manufacturing and deploying PV for spacecraft. In 1990, he achieved the world record in multi-junction thin-film PV conversion efficiency, a distinction he still holds today. Dr. Stanbery completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2001 at the University of Florida, having previously obtained an M.S. in Physics from the University of Washington and B.S. in both Physics and Mathematics from the University of Texas.
Dr. Louay Eldada, Chief Technology Officer
A technical leader with a proven track record at small and large companies, and a recognized expert in photovoltaics, optoelectronics, and nanotechnology, Dr. Eldada leads HelioVolt’s technology and product development. He joined HelioVolt from E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DuPont) where he served as CTO and VP of Engineering for DuPont Photonic Technologies, overseeing technical and product development and global operations. While with DuPont in Boston, Louay also chaired the Technical Working Group on Integration, Packaging & Interconnects in the Communication Technology Roadmap industry consortium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to his six-year tenure at DuPont,
Dr. Eldada founded Telephotonics and managed as CTO and VP of Engineering the development and manufacture of its fiber-optic communication subsystems, and led its sale to DuPont. He earlier served for six years at Honeywell in New Jersey, where he started the Telecom Photonics venture and directed its R&D arm. The success of the business led to its acquisition by Corning, where he continued to direct technical development.
Dr. Eldada has published 200 technical papers, books and book chapters, organized and chaired 150 conferences, presented plenary, keynote and invited talks at 160 conferences worldwide, garnered 49 technical awards and has 44 patents. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in New York specializing in optoelectronic devices and systems.
Iga Hallberg, Vice President of Business Development
Ms. Hallberg has extensive experience working with emerging technologies and new markets. Prior to joining HelioVolt in 2006, she was initially Director of Business Development and then General Manager of Electronics Materials and Technologies at NovaCentrix, a manufacturer of nanotechnology-enabled products. During her tenure, she was responsible for commercializing a line of nanoscale conductive inks and processing equipment to enable high-speed printing of electronic devices. Previously, she held a variety of marketing and new business development positions at 3M Company, including running 3M's global electronics ESD packaging product line. Ms. Hallberg obtained her M.S. in International Marketing from Boston University of Brussels.
Steve Darnell, Vice President of Finance
During his 20+year career, Mr. Darnell has been directly involved with over $350 million of public and private debt and equity financing transactions. Since 2006, he has led HelioVolt’s fund raising efforts including a $101 million Series B financing in 2007. Previously to HelioVolt, Mr. Darnell held senior financial positions with Molecular Imprints, VIEO and Advent Networks, having focused his career on building and financing venture-backed technology companies. In total, he has been responsible for over $190 million of private capital financing transactions, including securing over $15 million of capital through commercial banks, specialty finance company and government program transactions.
Prior to 2000, Mr. Darnell held financial management positions at Cisco Systems, Compaq Computer and Seagate Technology. His expertise includes building financial planning and analysis functions, SEC reporting, credit rating due diligence, contract manufacturing management and investor and banking relations. He played key roles in Compaq’s first public debt offering of $300 million and helped establish $600 million of syndicated bank lines of credit.
Mr. Darnell holds a B.S. in Accounting and Economics from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the University of Houston. He is a registered Certified Public Accountant in Texas and Oklahoma.
John Prater, Director of Supply Chain
Mr. Prater leads HelioVolt's Supply Chain activities to include sourcing and procurement of materials and equipment to support HelioVolt's strategic initiatives and international growth plans. John joins HelioVolt from Oerlikon Solar where he led Strategic Sourcing efforts to reduce the net Cost / Watt for the thin film equipment manufacturer. Previously to Oerlikon, John held a wide variety of roles at Applied Materials, supporting Manufacturing, Spares and Applied's thin-film solar sourcing team. John is a graduate of the University of Texas-Arlington.
Fred Norton, Director of Site Services
Fred is the former Director of Facilities for Advent Solar where he led the design and construction of Advent's 88,000 square foot, LEED-certified, solar cell manufacturing facility. The combined effort of his team received Best Project of 2006 from the National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP), and the Southwest Contractors Award for Best Industrial Project 2006. Mr. Norton's experience includes solar cell, semiconductors, aerospace, and chemical manufacturing. He has had an extensive career working with facilities design, process improvement and facility commissioning and startup with Advent Solar, Abbott Laboratories, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)/Austin and AMD Dresden, Germany, and was the Corporate Environmental Compliance Manager for all of United Technologies' (UTC) domestic facilities within the U.S. Mr. Norton holds an MBA in Industrial Management, University of Dallas, M.S. Chemistry, University of North Texas; and B.S. Chemistry, Southern Arkansas University. He holds Certifications as a Six Sigma Black Belt, Manager of Organizational Excellence from the American Society of Quality, and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.
