Lighting the Way
Over the course of 45 years, Claes has held a variety of position across many industries. In addition to serving our company as the chairman of the board and previously as a senior business advisor, he is the director of the board for EoScene Corporation. He is also the president, CEO and founder of CRH International Inc., providing consulting, advisory, and management; extended knowledge throughout Europe and North America; venture and angel financing; and real estate investments.
Claes was also the president, CEO, founder and chairman of the board for PowerIt Holdings, Inc. Under his leadership, its subsidiary, PowerIt Solutions, completed successful funding rounds of more than $18 million, and grew to include more than 70 employees and contractors across three countries. Notably, in 2010, PowerIt Solutions was ranked No. 71 in the Deloitte Technology Fast™ 500.
From all of his years in building companies, he has learned that open communication is the key to success, believing “If you can’t talk about it, you can’t solve the problem.” He has also found that he particularly enjoys working with young entrepreneurs, giving them advice arising from his years of experience in supporting numerous international companies.
Claes graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1988, from Lunds University, Sweden, with a master of business administration in Finance and Accounting in 1973, and Helsingborg Technical College in Sweden with a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering in 1969.
Barrie is a senior advisor at WR Hambrecht+Co, an investment banking firm in San Francisco. Barrie is also an advisor to several startup companies and a board member of Truett Hurst Winery. Prior to joining WRH+Co, Barrie was the president and chief executive officer of Exchange Bank in Santa Rosa, California, and a senior manager of Wells Fargo in San Francisco.
He is on two for-profit boards and several not-for-profit boards. He serves as the chairman of the Marines Memorial Foundation in San Francisco, as a former marine infantry officer.
Barrie has a master of business administration from Golden Gate University and a degree in Industrial Engineering from Clarkson University. He is also a graduate of the Executive Management Program at Harvard University, and a graduate and past chairman of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
James was the founding president and a board member of Nextel International of XO Communications. He also served in these roles for a joint venture controlling the Unicom cellular franchise for Shanghai, China, and as an alternate director of China Unicom. Prior, he was a member of Eagle River Investments, LLC, a Kirkland-based venture capital fund formed to focus on investment opportunities in communications.
James is a board member of GigOptx, Inc., Port Blakely Tree Farms, Garrett and Ring, Joshua Green Corporation, Welco Lumber, Airbiquity, Sonata Capital, Eden Rock Communications, Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research, and TSK America. He is also on the board of trustees for the Pacific Northwest Ballet Foundation, Yosemite National Institutes (emeritus) and Washington Athletic Club.
James graduated with a bachelor of laws from Stanford Law School in 1969 and cum laude with a bachelor of arts from Stanford University in 1966. At Stanford, he was the executive editor of the Stanford Law Review.
Kent is an investment advisor for mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, joint ventures and new business development across the automotive, battery, life science, intellectual property and alternative energy sectors. He assists automotive companies commercializing highly efficient and environmentally friendly powertrain technologies for light and heavy-duty trucks, buses, vans and SUVs. He also advises battery companies commercializing innovative material science technologies for consumer and industrial applications.
Kent serves as an independent director of Ener-Core and ViZn Energy Systems. He is also an executive advisor to the Sherpa Technology Group, applying his extensive experience in strategic partnerships and licensing. Previously, he was a director for ITUS Corporation and a founder of VIA Motors.
Kent has been a board adviser to ZAF Energy Systems and Efficient Drivetrains since 2015. Additionally, he has served as a managing member of Vista Asset Management since 2002.
Kent received his master of business administration from St. Mary’s College of California in 1977 and bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in 1971.