Management Team
Founded in 2009, ViZn Energy is comprised of a dedicated and passionate team of scientists, engineers and business leaders that are revolutionizing energy storage.
Judson R. Linnabary - President and CEO
Rick Lyons - Product Development
Orchideh Azizi - Applied Research Director
Sylvia Lundquist - Director, Finance & Accounting
Board of Advisors
David Green - Former Global Marketing Officer, McDonald’s
Mr. Green is currently a business consultant and is serving on the board of Tuesday Morning Corporation (TUES). Mr. Green was Senior Vice President, Senior Marketing Officer – Global Marketing for McDonald’s Corporation when he retired in 2002. During Mr. Green’s 30-year tenure with McDonald’s Corporation, he directed and supervised all facets of marketing, advertising, marketing strategy, brand positioning and promotion and was ultimately responsible for the direction and overall supervision of McDonald’s marketing activities in the U.S. and around the world. Working closely with world-class advertising agencies and outstanding marketing professionals, he developed advertising and marketing programs, which positioned McDonald’s as the number one retail consumer brand in the world. As a result of his accomplishments, Mr. Green received numerous awards and commendations for advertising campaigns, product promotions, new product introductions and media strategies. He has also served as a member of the board of directors for the Association of National Advertisers, Anti-Defamation League – Chicago and the Aviation Profession Educational Center.
Jigar Shah - Former CEO, Sun Edison
Jigar works closely with some of the world’s leading influencers and guides policy makers around the globe on key issues to implement profitable solutions to climate change. Most recently Shah served as the first CEO of the Carbon War Room, the global organization founded by Richard Branson and Virgin Unite to harness the power of entrepreneurship to unlock the potential of proven climate change solution technologies to be deployed at scale.
Jigar founded SunEdison in 2003; today the world’s leading solar services company. SunEdison, through Shah’s perseverance and vision, simplified solar as a service through the implementation of the power purchase agreement (PPA) business model. That model changed the status quo, allowing organizations to purchase solar energy services under long-term predictably priced contracts and avoid the significant capital costs of ownership and operation of solar energy systems. The SunEdison business model is a recognized catalyst that turned solar PV into a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide.
Prior to that, Shah managed mergers & acquisitions, corporate strategy, and sales efforts for BP Solar, specializing in national commercial accounts. He also worked as a contractor for the Department of Energy on alternative vehicles and fuel cell programs.
Shah holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and an MBA from The University of Maryland. Besides the Carbon War Room, he also sits on the boards of the SolarNexus, KMR Infrastructure, Prometheus Institute and Greenpeace USA.
Jim Risher - Managing Director, Lumina Group
Mr. Risher served as CEO of DGT Holdings (DGT DGTH) Corporation in Chicago from 2006 until 2009, where he holds a position on the board of directors. He also currently acts as managing director at Lumina Group, LLC, a North Carolina firm engaging in advising and investing in mid-tier companies. Mr. Risher is currently a member of the board of directors of SL Industries, a diversified electronics firm with global reach, as well as the advisory board of Current Capital LLC, a New York private equity and investing and management services firm operating in the middle market. He previously held leadership positions at Motorola Computer Systems, Wang Corporation and IBM after earning an M.A. and B.A. in Economics and Statistics at the University of Texas in Austin and Arlington.
Kent Williams - Strategic Advisor, Founder of VIA Motors
Mr. Williams is a strategic advisor to alternative energy companies focused on PHEV drive trains and new battery technologies. He assists automotive companies who are commercializing highly efficient, 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. His experience in the capital markets has included positions with Vista Asset Management, U.S. Trust, Wood Island Associates and Merrill Lynch.