Since 1968, Neil has been continuously involved in the investment banking industry, either as a principal, officer, or founder of several firms. He has supervised and initiated the publication of numerous investment research reports on the water industry and conducted conferences directed towards top corporate management, the investment community, and venture capitalists. He has been a speaker at conferences on topics ranging from financing, to business and investment opportunities in the water industry. In addition, he has consulted to Fortune 500 companies and participated in negotiations concerning mergers, acquisitions, and venture capital investments. He is quoted frequently in newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Investor's Business Daily, and many others.

Prior to joining Crowell, Weedon & Co. in December 2006, Neil was: 

• First Vice President, Managing Director – The Seidler Companies (2002 to 2006).
• Senior Vice President – Wells Fargo Investments (1999 to 2002).
• First Vice President - Investments with PaineWebber Incorporated (1991 to 1999).
• Founder and Managing Partner of Water Research Associates (1986 to present).
• First Vice President with Cantor, Fitzgerald and Company (1985-1986).
• Co-founder and Senior Vice President of the Amdec portion of Seidler Amdec Securities (1981-1985).
• Institutional salesman with Crowell Weedon and Company (1976-1981)
• Partner, Vice President, and Manager of Institutional Equity Trading with Stern, Frank, Meyer and Fox (1972-1976). Neil sold his interest to Drexel, Burnham, Lambert in their acquisition of the firm.
• Equity trader with Kleiner, Bell and Company, an investment banking firm in Beverly Hills (1968-1972).

Neil received his Bachelor's degree in finance from the California State University in Los Angeles. 

Jacob Golbitz is Director of Research at Soyatech, LLC, a research and consulting firm that is focused on the agribusiness, biofuels and food processing sectors. Mr. Golbitz has managed research projects supporting growth and M&A strategies in a variety of industries for U.S.-based and international clients. He is author of a recently released study Biofuels: Production, Supply and Reality, and leads a team of analysts that closely monitor this growing, challenging and potentially disruptive industry. www.soyatech.com

His professional background includes economic research at a leading international development think tank, industry and company level research as an analyst at an institutionally-focused brokerage firm, and market studies and other research services for a variety of vertically-focused consulting firms, including the world’s leading competitive intelligence firm. Over the course of his career, Mr. Golbitz has developed a strong track record of producing insightful, value-added intelligence in a broad variety of areas, including telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, food processing and retailing and agribusiness.

Mr. Golbitz holds an MA in Political Science from Boston College and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Maine.

As president of All Season Financial Advisors, he is responsible for the management of over $120 Million in client assets and for overseeing operations, marketing, and portfolio design. Sam is also the senior portfolio manager for the Integrity All Season mutual fund. In 2005, the firm opened its first renewable energy investment portfolio for private clients called "New Power". The New Power strategy has posted an average return of 14.5% net of all fees since inception with a fraction of the risk inherent to this speculative sector.

Sam Jones has a BA in Economics/Finance from Colby College in Maine and a Master’s in Information Technology from the University of Denver, Daniels School of Business. Further study included International Finance at the MacQuarie School of Economics in Sydney, Australia.

Sam is on the Advisory Board for FISERV/ DATAlynx and is also a past president of NAAIM (National Association of Active Investment Managers), The Premier Association of Active Money Managers, a 200 member association of Registered Investment Advisors. He is a member of the Market Technicians Association and a candidate for the Chartered Market Technician certification in 2007.

Sam has been interviewed and quoted in Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal, Smart Money, Investment News, Financial Advisor and The Denver Post, as well as participated in local investment panels as an expert in technical analysis.

David H. Kurzman is Managing Partner of Kurzman CleanTech, L.P., a hedge fund investing in clean-technology companies. Prior to that, he worked for nine years as an Analyst, most recently as a Vice President of Equity Research with Needham & Co. where he led the Industrial Technology research effort. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Kurzman was a Vice President of Research at H.C. Wainwright & Co. covering Alternative Energy and Industrial Technology companies. Between 1996 and 1999, Mr. Kurzman was an Analyst at Value Line Inc. and the Weitz Funds, an Omaha-based mutual fund company.

Mr. Kurzman’s work has been recognized by leading news channels, including CNBC, PBS’ Wall Street Week With Fortune, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), Bloomberg News, Reuters, The New York Times, The Watt Street Journal, USA Today, Barron’s Financial Weekly, BusinessWeek, Bloomberg Magazine, and Wall Street Research. Mr. Kurzman was named “Best On The Street” by The Wall Street Journal in 2003 for the area of Electronic Components & Equipment, was rated as a Zack’s All-Star Analyst in 2001 and 2002.

Estelle Lloyd is the CEO of Venture Business Research, a London-based company that tracks investments by private institutions (VCs, Private equity firms, angel investors etc) in private companies operating in dynamic high growth sectors in North America and Europe.

VBR's Clean Energy & Environmental Technologies Deal Monitor, provides detailed statistical data on the private institutional investors active in the sector and the companies that are institutionally financed. VBR's data is packaged as a "Deal Monitor" comprising: a bi-monthly deal tracker & newsletter and an excel-based deal database of investors and companies. It currently tracks 670+ investors, 380+ companies and over 1,600 deals. For additional information please visit www.vbresearch.com

Estelle Lloyd has worked in Venture Capital and Investment Banking for the past 10 years. Before founding VBR, Estelle worked for BNP Paribas USA, in debt financing, leveraged finance and principal investments. Prior to joining BNP Paribas, Estelle worked in the Leveraged Finance Sponsor group of Credit Agricole – Indosuez (now Calyon) where she spent time structuring and executing various financing transactions involving European and U.S companies.

Estelle has worked with numerous start-ups during their fundraising and expansion phases. With her experience in fundraising and investing, she knew the impact it would have to share relevant deal information across all actors of the venture capital and entrepreneurial communities.

She created Venture Business Research in 2005 to offer direct relevant deal information to investors, entrepreneurs and everyone involved in financing companies and technologies operating in dynamic high-growth sectors of the economy.

Estelle is an MBA graduate from the dual international MBA program of Columbia Graduate School of Business in New York and London Business School.

Contact: estelle.lloyd@vbresearch.com

Walter V. Nasdeo-Managing Director-Director of Research Mr. Nasdeo supervises Ardour Capital’s Energy Technology group and is responsible for the equity research effort. Walter joined Ardour Capital from BlueStone Capital where he was a Vice President of research and headed the energy technology team. Prior to BlueStone, Walter was at Credit Lyonnais Securities where he researched consolidating industries. Walter has appeared numerous times on CNBC’s Closing Bell and Power Lunch, Bloomberg Television, BBC, and ROBTv and has presented at various energy technology conferences. He has been quoted in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Businessweek, Fortune, CNNMoney, CNNfn, The Street.Com, Bloomberg News, Small Times, Sustainable Business.com, etc. Has been named a StarMine Award Winning Analyst for earnings accuracy. Walter received his MBA and his BBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of North Texas. He is a member of NYSSA and AIMR, and was named the “Distinguished Student in Entrepreneurship,” by the Chancellor of North Texas University for 1992-93. Walter served in the U.S. Army European Operations, Berlin, Germany, and held a secret security clearance as a member of the Berlin Brigade in the 1980s.