Mr. Appel founded Changing World Technologies in 1997, and in 1999 started up the Thermal Conversion Process research & development and engineering support center in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to this, Mr. Appel was the principal of Atlantis International, an international trading company. In 1983, he was a principal of Ticket World USA, currently Ticketmaster, where he was responsible for business development and successfully signed several major venues to the company.
In December 2003, under Mr. Appel’s leadership, Changing World Technologies was named to Scientific American’s 50 list of people or companies recognized for their singular accomplishments contributing to the advancement of technology in the category of Energy, for devising a method of turning solid waste into oil. Mr. Appel is a member of ACORE, American Council on Renewable Energy, an organization which works to bring all forms of renewable energy into the mainstream of America’s economy and lifestyle. He is also a member of the Energy Future Coalition, an organization which seeks to bring about change in U.S. policy relating to the production and use of energy. Mr. Appel has authored several papers on the Thermal Conversion Process. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hofstra University, and is a member of the Hofstra Pride Club.
Dan Decker has extensive experience and expertise in both process and general management. Prior to joining Changing World Technologies, Mr. Decker was Vice President-Technical Operations for Continental Grain Company (aka; ContiGroup Companies, Inc.) He has over 25 years experience in operational and P&L management of oilseed processing operations in North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. In addition to his extensive technical processing expertise, Dan’s background in management of commodity related businesses brings to the executive team unique perspectives in logistics and risk management. In addition to oilseed processing management experience, Mr. Decker has experience in joint venture development and construction management in China.
Mr. Decker holds a B.S. in Business - Accounting and Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.
Jim Freiss, previously Vice President of Engineering at CWT (2001 to 2007) is currently serving as Senior Vice President of Business and Technology Development for the company. In this capacity Mr. Freiss’s responsibilities include the oversight and formal development of general and commercial management programs at the company’s agriculture subsidiary (RES), in Southwest Missouri. He is also responsible for the engineering and research and development areas throughout CWT.
Prior to joining Changing World Technologies, Mr. Freiss was Director of Environmental Affairs for Continental Grain Company from 1992 to 2001. At Conti, Mr. Freiss was responsible for environmental management oversight and led research and development programs aimed at sustainable environmental technologies for agriculture. He also coordinated activities between the environmental program and that of loss prevention and safety. Mr. Freiss also provided multi-discipline engineering support to the corporation worldwide in completing successfully numerous acquisitions and divestitures. Prior to his tenure with ContiGroup, Mr. Freiss worked as an environmental consultant designing wastewater and water treatment facilities with CABE Associates, Inc. in Dover, Delaware, and prior to CABE worked as a construction / maintenance manager with Perdue Farms, Inc., a major U.S. poultry processor in Salisbury, Maryland.
Mr. Freiss has chaired and has participated in many agriculture related industry associations and committees; holds multiple patents involving agricultural waste management and more recently improvements to the CWT process for converting organics to fuels and fertilizers; and has published numerous papers on wastewater management issues. Mr. Freiss received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1985, and obtained his Professional Engineering license from the State of Delaware in 1989.
Mr. Lange is an accomplished electromechanical, mechanical, electronics circuitry and electro-magnetic design specialist. Mr. Lange has done extensive work on fluid dynamics physics of molecular sheering, optical systems design, process automation and photographic lab technique. His accomplishments include design, engineering, and fabrication of the first TCP units; blood separation techniques using Pherisis; electromechanical design fabrication and installation of “Yerkes” 41-inch telescope (University of Chicago); electrical engineering and wiring the first IMSI 100 Buss Systems- first PC computer; design, engineering and fabrication of UV sterilizing units extending the life of packaged meats; specialty design of pulseless peristaltic pumps (blood pumps); and designing and engineering first rare-earth magnets (Pancake motors).
Mr. Einfeldt is an accomplished chemical engineer with fourteen years of progressive technical responsibility in the pulp and paper industry, with concentration in the research and development areas of pulping, bleaching and fiber processing; and has continued with six more years of R&D management experience at CWT’s research and development facility in Philadelphia, PA. He has been a Research Analyst at North Carolina State University, Department of Wood & Paper Science, where his main responsibilities included execution and planning of research experiments on a laboratory and/or pilot scale, in a timely and profitable manner. Some of Mr. Einfeldt’s additional responsibilities have included operation of a 3-ton/day CTMP pilot plant, and the development and modification of processes, procedures and equipment designed to optimize chemical consumption and/or reduce costs. Mr. Einfeldt has also held the position of Research Technician at International Paper Company’s Corporate Research Center, where he developed procedures and tested methods to improve product print quality for paperboard business units; conducted mill and plant implementation trials and performed competitive evaluations and data analysis presentations to management. Mr. Einfeldt has studied under Dr. Gratzel and Dr. Med Byrd of North Carolina State University, Department of Wood and Paper Science.
