Together, we are creating innovative solutions for sustainable and effective agricultural practices that improve crop health and permanently remove atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The Team
Matthew L. Talbert
Chief Executive Officer mtalbert@tephracor.com
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Matthew L. Talbert is a senior corporate executive who has built his reputation by applying his creative management skills to various successful business ventures.
With his expertise, Mr. Talbert has traveled the globe with many U.S. Senators and Congressman on Congressional Delegations to numerous foreign countries to participate in discussions with international Heads of State. He has also been invited to address Congress with expertise on water and its potential for international conflict.
Before his most recent role as CEO of International Offset Corporation and its subsidiary, Procur Global Sourcing, Mr. Talbert founded International Trade Finance Corporation, an international extension of his former U.S.-based corporate barter company, ABS Worldwide, to develop and manage high-level barter and countertrade transactions for international clientele.
Mr. Talbert also founded Flight Environments, a worldwide leader in aviation insulation and acoustics. Additionally, he founded Contract Publishing, a sponsored publishing firm publishing twenty-three titles, including the Beverly Hills Telephone Book, BMW Magazine, PGA Magazine, the Los Angeles Advertising Club Belding Awards program, and several publications for the Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles. Mr. Talbert was also the founder of Associated Outdoor Services, a national billboard media buying service.
Mr. Talbert has been featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal and quoted in such nationally respected publications as Nation’s Business and Entrepreneur magazines. He’s made appearances on many radio programs and both CNBC and CNN television and has been invited to and attended the World Economic Forum in Jordan. He sat on the boards of the Corporate Trade Council (CTC) and the International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA).
In the spirit of philanthropy, he has seen the need and desperation of people in third-world countries and the devastating effects of the lack of clean water. In hopes of helping and leaving a legacy of giving back, he has funded and pursued the development of the Borelite drill, a game-changing inexpensive drill for retrieving water specific for third-world applications for those without access to water.
Mr. Talbert is an avid pilot holding advanced levels of certification of twin-engine and instrument ratings and multiple SCUBA certifications, including deep diving, search and recovery, and rescue diving. Further, Mr. Talbert is a semi-professional race car driver, previously owning race teams and driving in such prestigious racing events as the 24hrs of Daytona. He is also a student of the martial arts for over 20 years.
John Kneisel
Chief Financial Officer jkneisel@tephracor.com
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John Kneisel brings more than thirty-five years of business management experience to Tephracor.
From 2014 through 2020, Mr. Kneisel was the CFO of Simulations Plus, Inc. (SLP), a Small Cap public Company. SLP is the leading simulation software developer for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The Company's software allows pharmaceutical scientists to predict certain key potential endpoints and dynamics in silico, thereby reducing R&D costs and helping clients make better project decisions.
During his tenure, the Company was involved with multiple M&A events, ultimately acquiring three subsidiaries, more than tripling revenues and increasing the stock price from ~ $5.00 to over $60.00 per share. He was named CFO of the Year for Small Public Companies in 2018 by the Los Angeles-based San Fernando Valley Business Journal.
In 2009, he established a consulting firm to provide quality professional fiscal management for small to medium entrepreneurial concerns.
He served as CFO/Controller for several companies, including a software development and professional services company that delivered high-tech solutions and services to the US Military and other agencies and middle-market manufacturing entities.
He was the financial liaison between owners and their accounting departments, focusing on business processes, financial and operation efficiency, and assisting in implementing operational controls.
Before 2009, as Regional Controller for a Fortune 500 company, he provided financial support to operational management while managing the monthly and quarterly close of four business units, as well as coordinating the consolidation of several subsidiaries into a regional accounting center.
John started his career as a CPA in public accounting, providing assurance, tax, and general business consulting services to his clients.
His experience has benefited clients from several industries, including medium to high-technology manufacturing and distribution companies, software developers, professional service providers, automotive agencies, financial institutions, and finance companies.
Mr. Kneisel graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a B.S. in Business Administration. He was the founding President of a professional business fraternity and has served on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations.
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Jessica brings over 10 years of scientific visualization and science communication expertise. Jessica's professional background encompasses expertise in carbon-related fields. She holds a Master's Degree in Geography from West Virginia University, specializing in Geographic Information Science and Spatial Data Analysis, with a research focus on local food systems. She also possesses a B.A. in Environmental Geoscience, a B.A. in Political Science, and a Certificate in International Relations from the University of Florida.
During her tenure at the West Virginia GIS Technical Center, Jessica played a pivotal role in the development of interactive map applications catering to a diverse clientele, ranging from local to national entities like FEMA and USDA. Her contributions were instrumental in projects such as USDA CarbonScapes, a comprehensive exploration of carbon landscapes that serves as a central hub for USDA's terrestrial biosphere carbon inventory, modeling, and mapping. Additionally, she contributed significantly to the National Carbon Sequestration Database and Geographic Information System Atlas IV, a GIS-based tool facilitating the assessment of carbon capture, use, and storage potential across the United States.
Beyond her GIS roles, Jessica has engaged with various organizations, universities, and businesses, including a Forbes's top 25 Small companies, as a marketing assistant, brand advisor, and graphic artist. In these capacities, she has skillfully bridged the gap between strategic brand direction and creative expression.
Since 2018, Jessica has established herself as an award-winning mixed-media artist and woodworker, actively participating in numerous art shows. Her collaborations with local environmental and conservation non-profits and community organizations highlight her commitment to the ecological sphere. Notably, she garnered recognition as the recipient of the 2021 Individual Arts Award from the City of Gainesville and was lauded as the Favorite Local Artist by Our Town Magazine in 2022.
Jessica's creative pursuits beautifully echo her passion for nature and her geological and geographical background. Her artistic expression masterfully captures the essence and experience of a place through the interplay of movement and color, offering a unique perspective rooted in her profound understanding of carbon-related domains.
Dr. David A. Foster
Chief Science Officer dfoster@tephracor.com
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Dr. David Foster is a well-published, award-winning, and distinguished Geologist with expertise in geochemistry, geochronology, and geotectonics. He integrates data from a broad spectrum of field and laboratory methods to define the tectonic, magmatic, and thermal evolution of the Earth’s crust and Earth materials and has designed instrumentation labs to analyze isotopic ratios in rocks and minerals at universities in Australia and the USA. In addition, David has a long history of Fellowships, collegiate Professorships, and Chairships throughout a thirty-plus-year career.
His innovative research uses insights from ancient rocks and structures across the globe to understand the modern dynamic systems of planet Earth. Dr. Foster has completed research field expeditions worldwide from the deserts of Australia and Africa to the rainforests of Papua New Guinea and Panama, and in the mountains of New Zealand and the Rockies. Growing up working on farms and orchards, Dr. Foster saw firsthand the effects of chemical fertilizers. His understanding of Earth resources and the recycling of nutrients led to a deep interest in natural soil enrichment and carbon sequestration.
The results of his research are published in more than two hundred peer-reviewed papers in top-tier Earth science and general science journals and in over thirty books. He and his collaborators have presented more than 350 papers at national and international scientific conferences.
Dr. Foster has held faculty and leadership positions at La Trobe University, Australia, the University of Melbourne, Australia, and at the University of Florida, where he served as Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences from 2013 to 2022. Dr. Foster’s research has been funded by numerous grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, Australian Research Council, and private industry. Dr. Foster is an elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America and was awarded the Stillwell Medal from the Geological Society of Australia for his research accomplishments. His list of other awards includes the Colonel Allan R. and Margaret G. Crow Term Professorship, Exemplary Advisor and Mentor with the National Science Foundation SE Alliance for Graduate Education, and the Research Foundation Professorship at the University of Florida, amongst many others. Dr. Foster has a Ph.D. in Geology from Albany University, State University of New York, an MS in Geology from the University of Montana, and completed his undergraduate work at the State University of New York, Potsdam.
As an educator, Dr. Foster has mentored numerous Ph.D. students who are now in leadership positions in global exploration companies, faculty at major academic institutions, and researchers in government labs. His undergraduate courses focus on real-world examples and the landscapes of National Parks to engage students of all backgrounds. He authored a successful book on the Geology of American National Parks used at universities nationwide.
Our Board of Directors has established an advisory board of distinguished experts to lend their expertise in support of Tephracor’s mission and growth.
The Advisory Board
J. Gresham Barrett
Former Chief of Staff, United Nations World Food Programme
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J. Gresham Barrett is an experienced diplomat and negotiator having served in several high-level government and international appointments. Mr. Barrett’s most recent assignment was as Chief of Staff for Mr. David Beasley, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Rome. Prior to his appointment in Rome, Mr. Barrett served as the Senior Director of the WFP in the Washington D.C. office. During Mr. Barrett’s tenure at the WFP, he interacted with numerous foreign Ambassadors and Heads of State and oversaw the operations of six global regional Directors.
Mr. Barrett is a former U.S. Congressman from the 3rd District of South Carolina, where he served for 4 terms.
Prior to Mr. Barrett’s tenure in the U.S. Congress, Mr. Barrett served as State Representative in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he was instrumental in developing South Carolina’s energy policy.
A graduate of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, Barrett served as an officer in the United States Army Field Artillery and resigned his commission as a Captain in 1987. For outstanding service, Mr. Barrett was awarded the Order of St. Barbara, which is only awarded to individuals who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character, displayed an outstanding degree of professional competence, and served the artillery branch with selflessness, as well as contributed to the promotion of the branch.
Mr. Barrett remains active in many aspects of the humanitarian arena and is a man of great faith as he celebrates his marriage of 39 years with 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Mr. Barret has been asked to join the advisory board based on his knowledge and reach of international affairs and his experience with food and agricultural affairs gained while working at the WFP.
Mark Denne
Co-Founder, Carbon International
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Mr. Denne is a senior executive with a solid track record in successful transformation consultancy roles in the UK, USA and Asia.
Educated at Cambridge University in England, Mr. Denne received his BA, MA and MBA degrees. Before becoming an angel investor, he was a partner with consultancy firm Accenture. He has invested in startup companies in industries as diverse as moviemaking, motor manufacturing and international container shipping.
In co-founding Carbon International, he has been motivated by a desire to provide a way for individuals, corporations, and sovereign wealth funds to realize the true value of environmentally conscious decisions to reduce carbon emissions. Convinced that the voluntary carbon markets are seriously undervaluing deforestation and eco-responsible agriculture, he created Carbon International to provide financial benefits that accurately reflected the value of choices in these areas and to bring together buyers and sellers of the most thorough and professionally accredited carbon offset projects across the world.
He is now engaged in advisory and investment activities with startup companies, successfully delivering engagements with three US banks, two European banks, two UK Government Departments, the International Monetary Fund, eBay, Toyota, Siemens, and BT.
Previously he was the Chief Architect for Citibank Online (voted the world’s best financial portal by Forbes and Yahoo), transformed New York Java Center into Sun’s most profitable consulting practice, managed the Utility/Cloud Computing practice for VERITAS and Symantec, architected secure office technology systems for UK Ministry of Defense and Department of Health in London. He is Co-Author of the book “Software by Numbers” (ranked #1 book on technology risk in 2004). He is the inventor of the Minimum Marketable Feature (MMF) for agile software development, creator of the Goal Oriented Risks and Safeguards model (GORSE) for SAS-70 and Sarbanes Oxley compliance, and writer and reviewer for IEEE Software Magazine and author of a 25th anniversary edition top paper. He has received awards for sales excellence, innovation, delivery excellence, and appreciation of diversity.
Mr. Denne has been asked to join the Advisory Committee based on his extensive business experience and in-depth knowledge of the Carbon trading industry.
Ely Sandler
Financial Advisor
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An expert in sustainable finance and international policy who has served as a senior consultant to the World Bank and worked with Morgan Stanley as a senior advisor on policy and climate finance. Current fellow at Harvard.
Joseph Li
Representative - Asia
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Joseph holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, setting a strong academic foundation before venturing into the business realm.
Joseph commenced his professional journey at Dayao Motor in Beijing, where his astute analytical abilities were complemented by his remarkable interpersonal skills. Leading the sales team and nurturing customer relations, Joseph also proficiently managed documentation and facility operations, all while prioritizing exemplary customer service by personally engaging with each client.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, Joseph pursued further academic enrichment at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he earned his second Master’s degree as a distinguished scholarship recipient. Subsequently, he embarked on a successful tenure in the United States, serving as a Senior Database Developer at eCal Corporation in Philadelphia and later as a Senior Performance Engineer at Centiv in Massachusetts, accumulating invaluable experience over five years. Joseph’s professional trajectory led him back to China, where he joined Clickspring Design as Vice President of Business Development and Operations, China. Here, he immersed himself in the dynamic realm of broadcast scenic and branding environment design, spearheading strategic initiatives and fostering impactful partnerships. His journey intersected with Tephracor, marking the onset of a collaborative endeavor that ensures round-the-clock accessibility and service excellence.
With a diverse background spanning academia and industry, Joseph exemplifies a dynamic professional adept at navigating diverse cultural landscapes and driving business success through innovation and collaboration.
Aaron DeJoia
Certified Professional Soil Scientist
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Expert in soil science who has served on such committees as the National Soils Certification Board and Soil Science Society of America Board of Directors.