Michael Allawos (USA) 
Allawos & Company was established by Michael Allawos as its President, fulfilling the goal of using his experience and worldwide access in helping organizations reach their maximum potential. To reach these goals we have a wide range of professionals with decades of experience that enjoy and thrive in helping individuals and organizations through their challenges in attaining positive growth.
Prior to establishing Allawos & Company, LLC., Michael was the President / COO as well as the acting CFO for a southern California renewable energy company responsible for the development and launch of disruptive new wind turbine technology around the world. Before filling the two rolls of Vice President of Business Development and President / COO at the Southern California renewable energy based company, he was the founder and President of a Southern California based manufacturing company for 22 years specializing in the aerospace community with in excess of over 27 million in contracts before it was sold in 2006. In tandem with managing and operating the manufacturing company, he also established a software company that developed industry ERP/MRP software solutions. The software company was sold in 1998.
Michael was also a founding Board member for Southland Business Bank, responsible for being on the Loan Committee, Chairman of Policies and Procedures, and Chairman of the Community Re-Investment Committee prior to being sold in 2003. Michael was then asked to be the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the acquiring Bank.
Michael Allawos is an experienced and knowledgeable “C Level” Executive with decades of experience, who founded and has grown companies from start-up to acquisition through strategic thinking and goal setting. Michael has a wide range of experience including finance, cash management, banking, complex machine part fabrication, software development, sales, business development, renewable energy, facilitation, senior management and international diplomacy. Michael has been acknowledged and decorated by allies of the United States and has been featured and honored in many publications.
The postings of awards and recognitions is a partial listing. Michael has also been active in pro-bono work for start-ups with limited resources on a case by case basis, giving back to the business community for which he came.
Senior Diplomat & Strategist (Austria)
Ambassador Werner Brandstetter has served as Austria’s Ambassador to Canada from 2008 through October of 2012 and currently resides at the Austrian Foreign Ministry in Vienna.
An economist by training, he has published several papers on East-West issues, in particular on energy projections and on the American and the Austrian political systems.
Before arriving in Canada, he was accredited as Austria’s ambassador to Surinam and Brasilia, and has served his country in the United States, the Czech Republic, Germany and Russia.
Senior International Business Development Consultant (South Africa)
Mr. Albert van Rensburg has served as South Africa’s Consul General to Los Angeles from 2000 through 2005 and currently resides in Johannesburg South Africa.
International relations by training with a degree in law, Albert has focused on business and worldwide business development. Albert has focused on several key areas of business and disciplines including Healthcare, Mining, Energy, Government Relations, Consumer Goods, Engineering Strategic Marketing, the Film Industry and Conflict Resolution.
Albert is currently working with multinational companies from around the world in establishing new and existing business opportunities on the continent of Africa.
Albert’s prior diplomatic postings before the United States have been; Vienna Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia.
Senior Consultant (USA) Board Member
Lawrence (Larry) Vertal has a decades long history in the creation or re-molding businesses of all sizes and in guiding them to success. He is seasoned in executive management, corporate strategy, marketing, corporate development and commercialization. He was named by Information Week as “one of the industry’s 15 innovators and influencers.”
Mr. Vertal was Founding Director of the Green Grid, a global consortium of 200 of the largest IT companies. He was also founder of Condor Data and Conita Technologies and has been strategic advisor to a numerous successful startup companies in financial analytics, green tech, energy, services and computing
Previously, he was Senior Strategist for Advance Micro Devices (AMD) where he doubled the $5B company’s enterprise market share and led its global energy and environmental initiatives. Earlier he was director of strategic relations and director of product marketing at AT&T and NCR where he turned around the GIS division resulting in $175 million revenue impact. He also led the high-end systems business at both AST Research and MAI Systems and held P&L ownership of the $80 million high-end systems group.
Senior Consultant (USA)
Bill Dykes our senior business consultant is focused on providing cost effective and efficient business solution, primarily in oil, gas and agriculture that will significantly and positively affect the bottom line both from a capital expenditure and operating expense perspective. Those solutions may be leading edge products and services or business process optimization. The key is facilitating change and business improvement from an agnostic perspective that companies have difficulty achieving with strictly internal resources.
Specialties: Oil and Gas Support Services, Water Resources and Reuse, Business Development, Regulatory Management Processes, Operational Improvement, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, International Relations, Marketing, Brand and Image Management, Community Relations.
Senior Consultant (USA)
James Kohlhaas (Jim) has a long history in innovation and energy matters with nearly three decades of experience in large-scale systems integration and energy. Jim began his career in offshore oil production and exploration and has held various leadership positions at SAIC as Senior Vice President in the energy, environment, and infrastructure business and had focused on executing SAIC’s energy strategy and accelerating the company’s growth in the energy market.
At Lockheed Martin, Jim was the Vice President of Energy Initiatives responsible for developing the strategic direction for the CE&T Energy Campaign and Business Development to leverage capabilities and grow the energy market. Vice President of Spatial Solutions, responsible for delivering spatial intelligence and information solutions to national, tactical, and civil communities. Chief Engineer, Chief Architect, and Program Manager responsible for delivering prototypes, experiments and analysis that demonstrate the advantages of a net-centric approach.
Jim’s experience includes integrating energy efficiency, smart grid, renewables, fuel cells, bio energy, waste to energy, nuclear energy, and carbon management services development and implementation of strategic business into the energy market.
Graduating with a degree in Petroleum Engineering from Penn State University and completing the coursework towards a Masters in Engineering Science, Mr. Kohlhaas is a certified Program Manager, LM Fellow Emeritus and 2 time winner of the LM NOVA award. In addition, he servers on Penn State University’s College of IS&T advisory board.
Senior Consultant (Switzerland)
Magnus Caspar is a “C” level business development specialist with specialties in finance, asset management, venture capitalist and executive coaching.
As a worldwide business professional, Magnus speaks six languages including English, Swedish, German, Norwegian, Danish and some French and has significant global travels.
Magnus built sales from US$ 100 million to more than US$ 2 billion, opened up offices in Abu Dhabi in UAE and in Osaka and Nagoya in Japan.
Holds an MS in Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm with his thesis in computer aided simulation of production flows at ABB Robotics. Magnus holds a Bachelorette in Economics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, with his thesis in Umbrella accounts for banks and large corporations
Senior Consultant Realestate Development & Governmental Affairs (USA)
Dennis Alfieri is a Real Estate Developer and a Governmental Affairs specialist. A Principal at Alfieri Investments and the Founding, Managing Member of Bantry Property Services, LLC as well as one of the original Developers of the Irwindale Speedway.
Dennis is currently Vice Chairman of the Los Angeles County Harbor Commission since 2009 and is responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning issues relating to the operation and management of Marina del Rey located in Southern California.
Dennis is a 31-year member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association and a member of the Executive Committee and a Board of Director for the Children’s Burn Foundation and a Board of Trustees for Methodist Hospital foundation.
Dennis began his career serving as a Field Representative for a U.S. Congressman and in 1983 Dennis joined the office of Presidential Advance team where he performed both domestic and international advance coordination for President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. Dennis was a member of the Commission of Presidential Scholars and Delegates to the White House Conference on Small Business.
Dennis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Senior Consultant (China & Hong Kong) Board Member
Mr. Alex Kam is a dynamic global businessman with decades of leadership whether as a public servant aiding members of Congress in global affairs or establishing a running multi-million dollar organization as a founding member.
Mr. Kam has founded banking institutions and currently serves as a member of the board of directors at Pacific Alliance Bank. Mr. Kam also serves as a member of the board of director of Godfrey (China) Limited and has been added as a principal with Allawos & Company.
For over the past six years, Mr. Kam has served as Vice Chairman of China United Industrial Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of consumer electronics in China. From aerospace engineer to an accomplished business man as well as a diplomat, Mr. Kam has shown a wide array of talents. Mr. Kam received a bachelor’s from UCLA and a master’s in science.
Senior Consultant, Water Treatment Specialist (USA)
James Shivers has the ability to analyze needs and to develop the solutions by working with the human resources required to properly handle a turnkey project. With thirty plus years of professional experience servicing large and small organizations around the world in the process design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and construction of total water treatment systems for industrial and potable projects.
Jim’s expertise is in water chemistry, clarification, filtration, ion-exchange, countercurrent regeneration, deaerators, vacuum degasifiers, condensate polishing, membranes: MF, NF and UF; RO-brackish and seawater; electrodeionization (EDI), special processes, waste remediation, waste minimization and recycle.
Applications engineering design, sizing, ratings, process selection, system and related equipment sizing, membrane selection and rating, ion-exchange resin ratings and regeneration schedules are a few areas of specialties.
Project responsibilities include process audits, process analysis and design, specification writing, bid evaluation, review of engineering submittals, final site inspection, system troubleshooting and training.
Jim holds degrees in Engineering as well as in Business Administration. Additional studies have been taken in water treatment, hydraulics, and controls as well as studies from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.
Employee & Customer Relations Specialist (USA)
Stephanie Jones is a seasoned expert in Employee and Client relations as well as contract negotiations and management facilitation with decades of hands on experience. Stephanie has the unique ability to surgically cut through the noise and distractions of any situation to bring clarity and purpose to any circumstances or engagement whether it’s working with start-up companies or with fortune 500’s with high degree of success and mutual satisfaction.
Project responsibilities include employee management assistance, client facilitation, conflict resolution, contract negotiations and training as well as executive counseling.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Additional studies have been taken in the field of business.
