Meet the Team
Delivering Sustainability without Sacrifice
Our team has a proven passion for sustainable design solutions using the Earth’s materials to cleanse and heal our planet.
Headed by a clean-tech veteran & co-founded by a team of renowned scientists and engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder, we are inspired by processes in nature and how we can learn from them to generate clean and efficient results to support the build industry and therefore our planet.
Loren Burnett
President, CEO and Co-founder
Loren Burnett
President, CEO and Co-founder
Loren Burnett is the President and CEO of Prometheus Materials, the company he co-founded in 2021 to help transform the construction industry through scalable, low-carbon building materials.
Under Loren’s leadership, Prometheus Materials has evolved from a university-born innovation into a global leader in low-carbon cement technology. Having guided the company from laboratory breakthrough to full-scale commercial deployment, Loren has established partnerships with leading developers, ready-mix producers, and major data center developers, bringing lower-carbon construction materials into real-world projects across the United States.
Prior to Prometheus Materials, Loren founded six companies and achieved five successful exits, generating more than $375 million in shareholder value. Throughout his career, he has raised over $200 million in capital, led 17 mergers and acquisitions, and guided one company through an IPO filing.
Stephen Bell, PhD
Director of Biotechnology
Stephen Bell, PhD
Director of Biotechnology
Stephen is a passionate, metric-driven scientist with interests and training that intersect biology and chemistry. He earned his PhD at the University of Kentucky where he studied natural product biosynthesis and synthetic biology approaches for producing valuable chemical compounds. Before joining the Prometheus Materials team, Stephen worked in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries which provided him with diverse experiences and a wide range of skills.
Brian Chapman, PhD
Director of Technology
Brian Chapman, PhD
Director of Technology
Brian Chapman is a materials science and R&D leader specializing in novel cement technologies, materials chemistry, and advanced building materials. He has led multidisciplinary teams taking first of its kind biocement technologies from early-stage research through pilot and full-scale production, including 100% cement-replacement systems and hybrid Portland cement/biocement formulations. Brian has also led government-funded biocementation research and developed technologies for the precast concrete market. He holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from North Carolina State University and is an inventor on multiple patents.
Sherri Cook, PhD
Advisor and Co-founder
Jaclyn Gruber
Chief Marketing Officer
Jaclyn Gruber
Chief Marketing Officer
Jaclyn Gruber is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Prometheus driving the company’s branding and positioning toward wide-spread adoption and environmental impact. A seasoned marketing professional, Jaclyn is also the founder and CEO of Ivy, a creative studio & marketing agency known for creating conversion systems and bespoke customer experiences. Ivy’s partnership with Prometheus aims for global impact, accelerating the world’s future to carbon negative.
David Hermida
Sales Executive
David Hermida
Sales Executive
David is a sales executive with over 10 years of experience in bulk cement and construction materials. He has managed annual sales exceeding 400,000 tons and supplied major infrastructure projects, including the largest wind farm in the Western Hemisphere. Previously, he held logistics leadership roles across LTL and OTR trucking operations, developing deep expertise in supply chain coordination and delivery execution. Known for his strength in strategic negotiations and market analysis, David builds strong customer relationships and drives growth.
Sales Territories: Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas
Mija Hubler, PhD
Engineering Advisor and Co-founder
Mija Hubler, PhD
Engineering Advisor and Co-founder
Civil Engineering, Co-Director of the Center for Infrastructure, Energy and Space Testing (CIEST) at CU; Mija is an expert on degradation and damage of construction materials due to aging and its impact on structural performance. She has 40+ published articles in the major mechanics and engineering journals and has authored an international recommendation for predicting concrete creep and shrinkage. Mija is a co-inventor of Prometheus Materials’ core technology.
David Mesko
Sales Executive
David Mesko
Sales Executive
David is a seasoned sales professional with 25+ years in construction, specializing in concrete and commercial projects. He has contributed to major developments across the Denver Metro area and brings a strong background in ready-mix and precast, managing multimillion-dollar accounts. Known for navigating complex deals and building lasting client relationships, David drives revenue and closes high-value opportunities.
Sales Territories: Colorado, Wyoming
Julie Pankow
CFO
Julie Pankow
CFO
Julie Pankow is a strategic finance leader with over 15 years of experience supporting founders, CEOs, and boards of growth-stage companies. She has built and scaled finance teams, supported major fundraises, and guided companies through rapid growth across technology, AI, robotics, and SaaS. Previously, Julie served as CFO of Incrediwear Holdings, Head of Finance at Katalyst, and Business Unit Controller at Uber ATG, Uber’s autonomous vehicle division.
Wil Srubar III, PhD
Technology Advisor and Co-founder
Wil Srubar III, PhD
Technology Advisor and Co-founder
Materials Science & Engineering Program and Architectural Engineering at CU; Wil is an expert in structural engineering and materials science of polymer- and cement-based materials for building and construction applications, with a specific emphasis on novel living cementitious material systems. He has published 100+ peer-reviewed technical journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings and is the holder of two US Patents. Wil is a co-inventor of Prometheus Materials’ core technology.
Colin Tansey
Manager of Manufacturing and Operations
Colin Tansey
Manager of Manufacturing and Operations
Colin Tansey is a concrete industry leader with over 20 years of experience developing innovative concrete technologies. Specializing in integrating advanced methodologies into existing infrastructure, he has led high-performing teams focused on safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Colin has overseen the setup and commissioning of multiple manufacturing facilities and is named on several industry patents.
Dean Zeglin
Quality Engineering Manager
Dean Zeglin
Quality Engineering Manager
Dean Zeglin is a quality engineer with over 5 years of lab and field-testing experience in developing and evaluating the quality of concrete and other innovative materials. Specializing in quality testing, product development, ASTM/ISO specification compliance, and process integration in both lab and field, he has led the testing of developed products, integrating business and industry needs into an innovative and constantly evolving green building materials market.
The Prometheus Materials Mission
Be a leading provider of reduced carbon cement technology to the entire cement & concrete industry and accelerate the world's future to carbon negative.
Board of Directors
Filiberto Ruiz
Chairman of the Board
Filiberto Ruiz
Filiberto Ruiz is a global cement and construction materials executive with decades of leadership experience across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He previously served as President and CEO of Votorantim Cimentos North America, overseeing cement, aggregates, and ready-mix operations with more than 2,500 employees and $1 billion in annual sales. Earlier, he served as President and CEO of Holcim US and Aggregate Industries US, leading multibillion-dollar businesses across cement, aggregates, ready-mix, and asphalt. He has also served as Chairman of the Portland Cement Association and Canadian Cement Association and on the boards of NRMCA and NSSGA.
Joško Bobanović
Joško Bobanović
Joško Bobanović is a Venture Partner at Sofinnova Partners – a leading European venture capital firm – where he focuses on industrial biotech strategy. Joško sits on the boards of Metgen, Comet Bio, DNA Script, Biosyntia, DMC Biotechnologies, Pyrowave and Protera Biosciences. He is a mentor at BIRD Incubator, which helps entrepreneurs in software, data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Prior to joining Sofinnova Partners, he was part of the investment team at iNovia Capital and founded an internet startup and a software company.
Loren Burnett
President, CEO and Co-founder
Loren Burnett
Loren Burnett is the President and CEO of Prometheus Materials, the company he co-founded in 2021 to help transform the construction industry through scalable, low-carbon building materials.
Under Loren’s leadership, Prometheus Materials has evolved from a university-born innovation into a global leader in low-carbon cement technology. Having guided the company from laboratory breakthrough to full-scale commercial deployment, Loren has established partnerships with leading developers, ready-mix producers, and major data center developers, bringing lower-carbon construction materials into real-world projects across the United States.
Prior to Prometheus Materials, Loren founded six companies and achieved five successful exits, generating more than $375 million in shareholder value. Throughout his career, he has raised over $200 million in capital, led 17 mergers and acquisitions, and guided one company through an IPO filing.
Vishaan Chakrabarti, FAIA FRAIC
Vishaan Chakrabarti, FAIA FRAIC
With over thirty years of proven experience authoring and implementing visionary urban architecture, Vishaan Chakrabarti is the Founder and Creative Director of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism | PAU, where he leads the firm’s growing global portfolio of cultural, institutional and public projects. Chakrabarti is the author of the highly acclaimed book, A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America (Metropolis Books, 2013), and the upcoming book for Princeton University Press entitled The Architecture of Urbanity: Designing for Place, Pluralism and Planet.
Alan Wessel
Alan Wessel
Alan Wessel is a senior construction materials executive with more than 35 years of leadership experience across general management, sales and marketing, finance, and operations. He served for more than a decade as President and CEO of Thomas Concrete’s U.S. operations, overseeing 80 plants and more than 1,400 employees. Previously, Alan held senior leadership roles at Vulcan Materials Company, managing more than 100 operations and assets exceeding $1B across the western United States. He has also served on the Executive Committee and Board of NRMCA.
Answers to our most frequently asked questions
Where do you grow the algae?
We have strategic partners that are based in key growing climates to ensure efficiencies and effectiveness of the algae
Do you have EPDs?
Given the timeframe requirement for an EPD, we have a third-party LCA that demonstrates our GWP.
How is the performance of ProZERO™ compared to traditional concrete?
- We can achieve compressive strengths from flowable fill (150 PSI) up to 6000 PSI in both interior and exterior applications.
- As a result of our proprietary blended SCM formulation, we are able to maintain the same long-term performance expected from traditional cement and concrete
What’s the dosage of ProZERO™ needed for a typical mix?
Dosage is based on project goals and mix specifications. For ready-mix producers, this is typically set by targeted cement replacement levels (10–40%). We work with suppliers to determine the appropriate replacement percentage needed to meet targeted GWP and carbon reduction goals within your local market.
Who does the testing prior to a pour?
We recommend that you or your lab conduct testing using your own materials and placement practices. We provide mix guidance and technical support throughout the process.
What do our ready-mix suppliers need to do to integrate your product into our mixes?
ProZERO™ integrates similarly to other OPC replacements (slag, natural pozzolan, fly ash, limestone, etc.). Suppliers can use existing handling and batching practices. We work with suppliers to determine the best delivery method. ProZERO™ has been delivered to partners, job sites, and batch plants via bags, super sacks, and bulker trailers.
Shelf life?
Materials are stable under standard conditions. Store dry and protected from moisture.
Which sealer do we recommend?
We don’t have a specific sealer requirement. Water-and saline-based sealers that have been tested have performed similarly to normal OPC.
Which aggregate do we recommend?
We have not seen adverse interactions with typical aggregates. Your local aggregate of choice will work. If using special or novel aggregates, additional testing may be required.
Lightweight concrete over metal deck
We expect this application to be viable, though it has not yet been formally tested. A trial batch is recommended prior to deployment.
Shipping
Trailer or bulker. Shipping is at the cost of the buyer, FOB Longmont CO.
Short ton or metric ton
Short ton.