OUR TEAM
CloudBurst Data Centers
OUR TEAM
CloudBurst’s fast-moving, entrepreneurial Team with over 150 years of business experience in Data Center development and operation, real estate, finance, construction, technology, energy, Big Data, sales, marketing, hardware and software, was formed specifically to focus on the business opportunities in the burgeoning AI/HDC Data Center market. The Team has collective experience in the design, master planning and marketing of over 200 Data Centers globally.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Tye A. Johnson
Director & Chief Executive Officer
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For two decades as founder, visionary and CEO, Tye has stood at the helm of Evolve Holdings, a pioneering data center and critical infrastructure firm renowned for its life-cycle solutions. He was responsible for Evolve’s move into flexible modular data centers offering them as a scalable, and efficient alternative to traditional facilities, helping businesses quickly deploy computing resources, support edge computing, provide disaster recovery and business continuity, and meet regulatory and compliance requirements.
For two decades as founder, visionary and CEO, Tye has stood at the helm of Evolve Holdings, a pioneering data center and critical infrastructure firm renowned for its life-cycle solutions. Under his leadership it was transformed into a powerhouse serving clients across the US, Canada, and the UK. He pioneered Evolve’s move into flexible modular data centers offering them as a scalable, and efficient alternative to traditional facilities, helping businesses quickly and easily deploy computing resources, support edge computing, provide disaster recovery and business continuity, and meet regulatory and compliance requirements.
Tye’s visionary strategies and conservative philosophy helped steer Evolve toward sustained growth and ultimately propelled it to the forefront of the industry. His strategic approach emphasized holistic solutions tailored to various market verticals, including many Fortune 500 companies, e.g. CyrusOne, Verizon, Tierpoint, DHL, DOW, CBRE, Charter Spectrum, Foxconn, Holder, Rice and Green Bank.
Under his leadership, Evolve diversified and expanded into complementary lines of business that set it apart. The company excelled across multiple sectors ranging from design-build and energy management to operations, service, modular manufacturing, and site development of critical facilities. In addition, Tye has spearheaded initiatives in several business ventures, demonstrating his multifaceted entrepreneurial spirit, vision and experience, i.e.
- Data Center Start-up: He founded, chaired and laid the foundation for a successful data center start-up, overseeing capital raises, executive team selection, and sales.
- High-Density Compute: He was responsible for developing an impressive 254MW of multiple high-density compute facilities, including sites with capacities ranging from 4MW to 60MW.
- Energy Company: Tye led the rapid expansion of an energy company offering scalable in-situ power generation, micro-grid installations, modular enclosures, and power contract management.
- Green Energy Power: He championed a green energy initiative focused on capturing stranded energy utilizing patented generators. This innovative approach not only contributed to environmental sustainability but also showcased his commitment to cutting-edge solutions.
Tye has agreed to lead CloudBurst Data Centers, as its CEO, towards its goal of becoming a leader of NextGen, Net-Zero, AI-ready data centers, while at the same time helping to shape the future of the data center industry through a period of significant global transition in both technology and power generation. He brings with him his unwavering commitment to excellence, his knowledge of energy, data centers and infrastructure, his demonstrable business acumen and his decades of building successful businesses.
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Cynthia Thompson
Cofounder, Director and Executive Chairperson
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Cynthia Thompson, the Chairperson, has a remarkable career in both public and private sectors, focusing on technology-based growth companies. With a background in Institutional Sales and Investment Banking, she facilitated over US$1 billion in capital formation, led negotiations, strategic planning, and financing for companies like Urban Seed and Nevada Gold and Casinos, showcasing expertise in technology, gaming, mining, real estate development, and agriculture.
Cynthia has had a long and distinguished career in business and finance as a Founder, Senior Executive or financier of both public and private businesses. Her focus was on “growth companies”, particularly technology-based projects. Much of her early career was in Institutional Sales and Investment Banking, with firms such as E.F. Hutton, Shearson Lehman, Oppenheimer & Co., and D.E. Frey.
She has been involved in over US$1 billion of capital formation and was personally responsible for two companies listing on the American Stock Exchange, as well as, numerous private and public financings.
Cynthia is Managing Director of Clay County Holdings, Inc., a Family Office located in Denver, Colorado, and sits on the Board of Jadestone Energy, a mining company, where she is a cofounder and an owner. She was also a cofounder and President of Urban Seed, formed in Nevada to hydroponically grow fruits and vegetables locally for gourmet chefs to use in high-profile restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip.
Cynthia was a cofounder and financial advisor to Nevada Gold and Casinos, Inc. (AMEX:UWN) and was initially invited to assist the company in its reverse merger but culminated with her leading successful negotiations to purchase contiguous properties that was assembled into the largest gaming site in Blackhawk, Colorado, USA. She went on to lead the effort to locate Nevada Gold’s first Joint Venture Partners (Caesar’s and Isle of Capri) for their first Hotel/Casino in Blackhawk.
Cynthia assisted and supported the company in every aspect of Nevada Gold’s growth strategy including the submission of a Bill, passed by the US Congress and signed into law by President Clinton, which resulted in the company completing its land assemblage. She was involved in all ten of Nevada Gold’s gaming/hotel projects, five commercial and five Native American. She was personally responsible for Nevada Gold’s first three successful private placements and assisted with project financing structuring for each Hotel/Casino project. She played a key role in Nevada Gold’s AMEX listing and is extremely proud that it made the Russell 3000 Index and #54 in Fortune’s, “100 fastest Growing Small US Companies”.
Her wide-ranging experience includes Hotels & Casinos, Real Estate, Technology, Manufacturing, Indoor Urban Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Mining and Golf. Cynthia’s wealth of expertise in executive management, team building, financings, structuring transactions, joint ventures, and strategic planning, forms the foundation of her current role as Chairperson of CloudBurst Data Centers, Inc.
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Roy Davis
Cofounder, Director, President and Chief Marketing Officer
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Roy has a mining degree from Imperial College and is an Associate of the Royal School of Mines. After starting his career in mining and then journalism, he successfully transitioned to marketing and communications, specializing in global technology brands. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to cofound ventures like Specialix, MediaPlus, www.Easyodds.com, Jadestone Energy and SecureBlue, showcasing his unique blend of business expertise and creative strategic planning across diverse industries.
Roy was educated at Imperial College and the University of London, as a Selkirk Scholar and received his honours degree in mining engineering and an Associateship of the Royal School of Mines. His mining experience includes NCB, New Jersey Zinc, Noranda and INCO and Directorships of several junior mining companies, i.e. Jadestone Energy, Arrakis Resources, Goldquest, Revolver Resources (TSXV:RZ) and Ximen Mining (TSXV: XIM).
Roy was a successful journalist, becoming Editor-in-Chief of both Ground Engineering and the prestigious, International Construction magazine. He was Head of European Marketing at INCO before switching to mainstream B2B and B2C advertising, PR, and media, specializing in strategic planning, business development and international, multimedia campaigns.
He held senior agency positions with Marsteller International, Burson Marsteller, JWT, Geers Gross and TB Browne, handling technology, finance, and consumer brands, e.g. IBM, RCA, NatSemi, Motorola, Sikorsky, United Technologies, Occidental, Rockwell, BP, De Beers, InterContinental, Control Data, Digital Equipment, Samsung, Oxo, Guinness, Barclays, Citibank, BofA, Mercedes, Jaguar, BMW, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Mizuno.
At Marsteller he won the prestigious DADA award for copywriting and went on to cofound media agency SCC Media before merging it to form MediaPlus International (MPI), one of the foremost independent global media specialists in London. He was MD of MPI for over ten years. Roy founded Central Media Services (CMS), a specialist international media agency and technology incubator. Through CMS, he cofounded and financed hardware developer, Specialix International, and developed their global communication’s strategies. Two years after its launch Specialix was the second largest I/O manufacturer in the world. Roy cofounded www.Easyodds.com and was instrumental in establishing it as the premier betting-odds, comparison site.
Roy masterminded the sale of RedHand Software, a UK network security solution, to a US software developer, Secure Blue Inc., and became CEO after relocating to Las Vegas to oversee its US launch. He designed its UI and functionality, and repositioned it as a SaaS solution for Sarbanes Oxley compliance.
Roy’s unique blend of international business expertise, coupled with operational and management skills enable him to be truly original and creative in his approach to strategic planning. He has planned and implemented successful programs for some of the world’s biggest companies in businesses as diverse as mining, hardware and software, ecommerce and energy through to interactive media, and travel.
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Alex Gerber
Cofounder, Director, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technology Officer
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Alex Gerber, CloudBurst’s COO & CTO, is renowned for his expertise in GIS, managing a large employee construction firm and driving national standards in South Africa. His innovative procurement and production models have enhanced process efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
Alex has over 17 years of experience in Specialized GIS Analysis, Construction, and Project and Procurement Management, and has developed excellent leadership skills. He is a business-driven individual with over ten years’ experience as a main Board Director and founder of a consultancy specializing in the built and GIS environments.
As the head of a large employee construction firm with construction teams working across four Provinces in South Africa, he gained invaluable experience in resource, client and employee management as well as tight budget control.
Alex was the lead GIS specialist designing, creating, implementing, and administrating the largest geohazard database related to sinkhole and subsidence formation. The geodatabase was used for clients such as the National Department of Public Works, Anglo American, Kumba Iron Ore, Johannesburg City Council, West Rand District Council and Ekurhuleni. It helped drive national standards and provided the backbone for all dolomite related decisions for future developments. It was part of the SANS 1936 Final Edit Committee for the 2017 Revision of the National Standard for Dolomite Development.
In his role as project and program manager he collaborated with contractors, architects, engineers, geologist, surveyors and public agencies to complete projects on time and on budget, as well as overseeing production, procurement, delivery staging and overall quality control.
With his knowledge of geohazard disaster event management he was part of a team of specialists that assisted the National Department of Public Works and provincial government that responded, investigated, and determined the appropriate and immediate action required, and the mobilization of emergency and response teams including site/geo event management.
He has developed original models to manage procurement and production that reduce the overall project cost and increase profitability. His implementation of specially designed solutions has helped improve process efficiency and workflow by improving productivity and proactively identifying and resolving problems at an early stage. He uses his knowledge to Identify the necessary plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives, evaluates bids and identifies the most qualified and economical suppliers, negotiating advantageous contracts and improved overall costs.
Alex is Co-Chairman of CloudBurst’s Advisory Board.
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H. Thomas Winn
Cofounder, Director, Chief Power Officer & Treasurer
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Tom Winn, CloudBurst’s CFO, boasts an entrepreneurial career spanning 30 years, creating, leading, and financing over a dozen public and private corporations. His expertise in real estate, mining, alternative energy, and film contributed to over $1 billion in capital formation.
In an entrepreneurial career spanning over 30 years, Tom has created, led, financed and managed over a dozen public and private corporations, and over 100 partnerships. His primary focus has been on structure, development, and capital formation as well executive management to see his projects through to fruition.
He is the Founder and President/CEO of Clay County Holdings, Inc., a Family Office formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado, USA. In this role he negotiated a reverse merger of a property in Blackhawk, Colorado into Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc., a gaming and entertainment company.
Tom started in real estate and held a real estate license for over 20 years. He was cofounder and President of Charter Financial Group, specialists in creating limited partnerships in commercial real estate, movie productions (e.g. “The Buddy Holly Story”), and mining, as well as agribusiness and green energy. In his twenties he turned Gulf Coast Real Estate into the first Real Estate Syndication firm in Houston, Texas and in a three-year period he was responsible for the creation of over 70 real estate syndications.
Tom was Founder, Chairman and CEO of Nevada Gold and Casinos, Inc. (AMEX: UWN) and personally responsible for a creative strategy that brought together the largest gaming parcel ever assembled in Colorado to create what at that time was the largest Hotel/Casino in the State. Nevada Gold developed five commercial and five Native American gaming/hotel properties. He led efforts to submit a Bill, passed by the US Congress and signed into law by President Clinton, authorizing over 8,500 acres of Federal Land in Colorado in the Rock Mountain National Park System bed exchange for 300 or so scattered parcels in Blackhawk, completing an incredibly ambitious land assemblage. Under his leadership, Nevada Gold and Casinos, Inc., was listed on the AMEX.
Tom acquired the mining division of Texas General Petroleum Inc., and merged its engineering and geological staff, to create Consolidated Mining Group Inc. which in turn was merged into Horizon Gold Shares. For over 30 years Tom served as President of Aaminex Capital Corporation, which invested in hotels and casinos, mining, alternative energy, wastewater treatment and the entertainment industries.
Tom has been involved in over $1 billion in capital formation and has garnered immeasurable experience from a vast array of industries such as hotel/casinos, real estate development, mining, agribusiness, renewable energy, solar, restaurants, manufacturing, film and indoor urban agriculture.
Tom is Co-Chairman of CloudBurst’s Advisory Board.
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John Aguirre
Interim CFO
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John Aguirre brings an exceptional wealth of financial acumen and managerial expertise spanning over forty-five years. His multifaceted experience encompasses revenue enhancement, cost containment, operational efficiency, risk management, and strategic planning. Notably, he has exhibited his financial prowess as the Consulting CFO for various non-profit organizations.
John Aguirre brings an exceptional wealth of financial acumen and managerial expertise spanning over forty-five years. His multifaceted experience encompasses revenue enhancement, cost containment, operational efficiency, risk management, and strategic planning. Notably, he has exhibited his financial prowess as the Consulting CFO for various non-profit organizations.
One of his most significant roles was as the CFO of Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to building a philanthropic pool supporting individuals in recovery from substance abuse disorder. His strategic financial stewardship was also evident during his tenure as the CFO of Urban Seed, Inc. from 2015-2018, where he played a pivotal role in steering the startup focused on large-scale hydroponic fruit and vegetable production in Las Vegas, NV.
A seasoned professional, Aguirre has made substantial contributions to numerous corporate boards, serving as both Secretary and Treasurer. He currently operates as the Principal Consultant at Cornerstone MS Inc., his consulting firm specializing in managerial consulting, tax, and accounting services for corporate clients.
A memorable chapter in his career included serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and CFO of the largest talent agency in the southeastern U.S., where he managed major clients from the realms of TV, film, fashion print, and sport sponsorship. Furthermore, he held pivotal roles such as CFO, Controller, and Division Controller at multi-billion-dollar financial institutions and financial intermediaries in the south-eastern United States. His expertise encompassed diverse domains, including private banking and trust, strategic planning, asset-liability management, operational accounting, management reporting, budget, and cost accounting.
John Aguirre’s foundation in finance was laid at Louisiana State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. His extensive professional journey reflects a commitment to financial excellence, strategic vision, and a profound understanding of the intricate landscapes of various sectors, making him a respected figure in the financial world.
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ADVISORY BOARD & CONSULTANTS
John Shultz
Advisory Board Member and Consultant
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John is a leading expert in all aspects of data centers as well as the impact of AI, cloud computing, and edge computing on data center markets. He is an experienced executive with a hugely successful history of hands-on working in the data center, Cloud, edge computing and managed services industry, particularly in the development and implementation of Go-to-Market strategies and team building.
John is a leading expert in all aspects of data centers as well as the impact of Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, and Edge Computing on data center markets. He is an experienced executive with a history of hands-on working in the data center, cloud and edge computing and managed services industry. His primary successes have been in business development and as an expert product management professional, skilled in the development and implementation of Go-to-Market Strategy and Team Building, as well as delivering Professional Services, Data Center, Cloud, Edge Computing and Managed services.
His illustrious career and professional experience include a series of senior positions in some of the largest and most successful data center REITs, e.g. SVP of Global Product Management and Development (2015-2018) for Digital Reality Trust, the world’s largest wholesale data center company; VP of Global Product Management and Development (2009-2015) for Equinix, the world’s largest retail data center company. At both organizations his responsibilities included P&L management, new product development, customer interviewing, competitive intelligence, acquisition evaluation/integration and building a world class product organization. He also has over 10 years of data center experience with Verizon and Qwest.
John has a degree in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M, and prior to becoming a product leader, he held management positions in sales, sales engineering, operations, information technology and engineering. His broad, hands-on, data center experience enabled him to understand every critical organizational discipline and as a result, to become an extremely valued product management expert.
John is a founder and President of Advanced Data Center Consulting Group, leading experts in the data center, cloud and managed services industry, managing high-tech companies, business development and product portfolios at above market growth rates. He is a senior, expert adviser on potential data center investments to hedge funds and investment managers. He also works on strategy development, competitive intel, pricing, inventory management, cloud connectivity/adoption and product marketing, and performs due diligence on data centers globally. John holds monthly webinars on a range of topics, e.g. Trends, Supply/Demand, Edge Computing, Cloud Adoption, etc.
In addition to his role on CloudBurst’s Advisory Board, John will be providing consultancy input to our sales and marketing strategies, advising on optimizing our data center services, and providing general input on design, engineering and technology related to our flagship data center in San Marcos, Texas.
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Paul Hopkins
Advisory Board Member and Consultant
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Gerry has a Master’s from the Strategy Academy UCT Business School, a BLC from UP and a LLB from UNISA. He holds Advanced Banking Law and Project Management Diplomas from UJ. He often works on M&As, structuring BOOT projects, overseeing corporate governance and acting as implementing agent.
Paul Hopkins is the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at ASG-Appleby Strategy Group, a premier strategic advisory firm specializing in hyperscale and edge computing AI data centers. With over 25 years of industry experience and an MBA from UC Berkeley-Haas and Columbia Business School, Paul has a proven track record of helping clients optimize data center performance, secure high-value contracts, and drive business growth.
Throughout his career, Paul has sourced, developed, and executed billions of dollars in leases and contracts with industry giants like Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce.com. Based in downtown Palo Alto, he leverages his deep-rooted connections in Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem to create strategic opportunities for his clients.
Beyond the data center world, Paul is passionate about inspiring curiosity in science and nature. He serves as a board member and corporate sponsor for the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, supporting STEM education for future generations.
With a unique blend of expertise, strategic vision, and an extensive industry network, Paul Hopkins is dedicated to igniting growth and innovation in the data center industry.
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Polly Gifford
Advisory Board Member and Specialist Consultant
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Nico is a proven and successful leader and a consummate businessman with extensive experience of driving change through business processes and enterprise systems. His executive management capabilities cover business, technical, financial, project and human resource management. As both a business owner and project manager, he acquired in-depth experience and expertise in big–ticket project management, supply chain management, manufacturing, operations, finance and information systems.
Polly is a recognized expert in infrastructure design solutions and broadband network implementations, with over 26 years of leadership in the technology consulting sector. She brings deep experience in network design, specializing in data center interconnect and Cloud architectures built on fiber-based networks and advanced data center interconnect. Polly has a proven track record of guiding infrastructure providers and community anchor institutes in designing, migrating, and implementing resilient broadband solutions across urban, suburban, and rural markets. Polly is the founder of Education Partners Solution, Inc., a telecommunications consulting firm for K12 education and communities.
Throughout her distinguished career, Polly has worked extensively with Metropolitan Ethernet networks for large and mega school districts, successfully migrating legacy cable systems to fiber-based Ethernet in mid-tier markets, and spearheaded fiber deployments in rural areas, often leveraging public funding to optimize outcomes for both districts and service providers. Since the inception of the School, Libraries and Health care telecommunications (E-Rate, RHC) programs in 1996, Polly has been at the forefront of aligning network infrastructure strategies with the funding priorities of schools, libraries, and communities, ensuring robust and sustainable connectivity.
In 2019, Polly transitioned to a consulting role at Education Partners Solution, Inc. (EPS), the firm she founded and led as CEO for 26 years, where she expanded her focus toward bringing advanced, resilient broadband solutions to edge and rural communities. She actively collaborates with leading industry companies, e.g. EPS, Inc., Rural Telecommunications of America, Inc., Rural Electric Cooperatives, VCTI, Inc. and Evolve Holdings on topics including broadband expansion planning, funding strategy, wireless and fiber network implementation, regional infrastructure solutions, middle mile and distribution network opportunities, and broadband investment optimization through data-driven analytics.
Polly practices a hands-on approach to strategy development, funding acquisition, infrastructure design, and product marketing. She remains deeply engaged with E-Rate funding strategies, public funding programs including BOOT and BEAD, broadband assessments, and community-focused network planning.
Polly holds the role of Advisory Board Consultant at CloudBurst, where she provides strategic consultancy for sales and marketing initiatives, supports optimization of connectivity services, and offers expert input on connectivity opportunities specific to the Texas market.
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Guy Souheaver
Advisory Board Member
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Gerry has a Master’s from the Strategy Academy UCT Business School, a BLC from UP and a LLB from UNISA. He holds Advanced Banking Law and Project Management Diplomas from UJ. He often works on M&As, structuring BOOT projects, overseeing corporate governance and acting as implementing agent.
Guy is an energy executive with over two decades of leadership in commodity markets, structured energy products, and sustainability strategy. He currently leads Constellation’s Sustainability Management Group, where he works with a wide range of organizations to develop and implement decarbonization strategies aligned with client business objectives.
He specializes in helping commercial, industrial, and institutional clients navigate energy market complexity including long-term procurement planning, carbon reduction strategies, renewable energy sourcing, and integrated sustainability programs. His approach is grounded in market knowledge and operational execution, delivering results through strategies that balance cost, risk, and environmental performance.
Known for his ability to translate market changes into business opportunities, Guy is often engaged to help shape enterprise-wide sustainability initiatives, structure complex energy transactions, and guide clients through regulatory and market transitions. He brings a track record of driving innovation while keeping execution practical and goal-oriented.
He has held senior roles across multiple areas of the energy industry and played a key role in the transition of the ERCOT power market from a zonal to nodal structure, coordinating efforts to ensure minimal disruption to customers and operations. He has led the development of advanced energy management solutions including long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), customized procurement strategies, and distributed energy projects such as behind-the-meter generation and microgrids. These efforts have helped clients improve energy resilience, reduce exposure to market volatility, and meet cost and sustainability targets.
Supporting Fortune 500 companies, municipalities, and large institutions, Guy has developed decarbonization roadmaps, structured sustainability-driven contracts, and overseen the execution and implementation of operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements to extend the performance and lifecycle of critical infrastructure.
His work consistently bridges commercial strategy with technical execution – ensuring that sustainability initiatives are not only ambitious, but also actionable and aligned with operational realities.
Guy is a Member of the CloudBurst Advisory Board where his invaluable experience and advice will play a significant part in the development of CloudBurst’s short and long-term power and energy strategies.
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William C. Hartnett
Advisory Board Member
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For nearly two decades, Bill was Microsoft’s top executive in the financial services industry, affectionately known as Microsoft’s “Godfather of Financial Services”. Under his leadership, Microsoft’s financial services organization grew from a startup to a global business delivering significant revenue from Microsoft’s most strategic and demanding customers.
For nearly two decades, Bill was Microsoft’s top executive in the financial services industry, affectionately known as Microsoft’s “Godfather of Financial Services”.
Bill joined Microsoft in 1994 as their first Worldwide Insurance Industry Manager. In 1997 he assumed leadership of Microsoft’s financial services group. During his time at Microsoft, Bill drove expansion of the company’s efforts in this important global industry, establishing Microsoft as an innovator, thought leader and change agent. Under Bill’s leadership, Microsoft’s financial services organization grew from a startup to a global business delivering significant revenue from Microsoft’s most strategic and demanding customers.
After leaving Microsoft, Bill served as Head of Innovation for ACORD – a Global standards and R&D organization serving the insurance industry. In that role he was responsible for identifying trends and technologies with the potential to disrupt the insurance industry and develop strategies to help ACORD and its members embrace the future. Currently Bill serves as an advisor to several tech startups with a focus on insurance and Distributed Ledger technology.
Bill was cited as the fourth most influential person in Institutional Investor’s eFinance Top 40 for 2003 and 2004, and one of the “People to Watch In the Coming Year” for 1998 by Best’s Review – a leading insurance industry publication. He has also contributed to FOX Business on financial markets and the impact of technology.
A former insurance executive, Bill has served on the boards of directors of ACORD and the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. He has lobbied on state and federal levels on insurance and small business issues and was a candidate for state senate in RI. With a unique combination of expertise in business, politics, and technology, Bill articulates a compelling vision of the future of business. A leading industry activist, he is a nationally recognized author and speaker on technology, change and their impact on business. A graduate of Tufts University, Bill is an avid sailor and Bronze Medalist in Yachting at the 1979 Pan American Games.
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David Cecil
Advisory Board Member
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Gerry has a Master’s from the Strategy Academy UCT Business School, a BLC from UP and a LLB from UNISA. He holds Advanced Banking Law and Project Management Diplomas from UJ. He often works on M&As, structuring BOOT projects, overseeing corporate governance and acting as implementing agent.
David is a former Partner at PJT Partners in the Energy Strategic Advisory Group, where he headed the Houston office from 2020. In this capacity, David advised both the Board of Directors and the Executive Management team on their strategic direction, and M&A and Capital raising transactions.
Prior to joining PJT Partners, between 2017-2020, David was Executive Vice President of Corporate Development for Southwestern Energy (SWN). Prior to joining SWN, David had a twenty-year career in Strategic Advisory, most recently as a Managing Director and Head of Lazard’s North American E&P group, where he served from 2012 to 2017.
Prior to Lazard, from 2007 to 2012, he was Managing Director of Scotia Waterous (USA), then the oil and gas arm of Scotiabank, where he was co-head of the Houston office and led the U.S. energy investment banking practice.
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Bret J. Fossum
Advisory Board Member
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Bret is currently a Principal Research Geoscientist and Engineer at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota, where he leads and works on project teams to improve the development and production of domestic energy through application of subsurface geoscience and engineering principles.
Bret J. Fossum is currently a Principal Research Geoscientist and Engineer at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota, where he leads and works on project teams to improve the development and production of domestic energy through application of subsurface geoscience and engineering principles.
He leads and supports the characterization, design, costing and reporting efforts related to delivering subsurface assessments, risking and uncertainty analysis of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in geologic formations and hydrogen storage in salt formations.
Prior to joining the EERC in 2021, Bret was with ConocoPhillips, Inc. for 39 years, which led to extensive experience in exploration, appraisal, and development of resources in conventional and unconventional oil and gas plays throughout the world. Bret’s most recent roles at ConocoPhillips included leading and managing a group of multi-discipline subject matter experts that supported global assets and leading a research and development program focused on technical challenges of global subsurface assets. Additionally, Bret was an elected Fire and EMS Commissioner in West Houston, Texas for over 200,000 citizens, where he held the positions of president and vice-president for over six years.
Bret holds a B.S. degree in Geological Engineering and Petroleum Engineering from the University of North Dakota and is a Licensed Professional Geologist in the state of Texas and an American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Certified Petroleum Geologist. Bret’s global experience, interest and expertise include project and staff management, petroleum geology, conventional and unconventional oil and gas systems, geographic information systems (ArcGIS), water aquifers, renewable energy, and leadership / mentorship.
Bret is a member of the AAPG, Geological Society of America and the North Dakota Geological Society and is a Certified Hays County, Texas Master Naturalist with a focus on water and aquifers.
Bret brings a wealth of knowledge and global experience across a diverse range of industries and sciences. His position as a Texas Master Naturalist coupled with his project and staff management experience, and his focus on new technologies relating to oil and gas, GIS systems and renewable energy, will be a valuable resource for the management team during CloudBurst’s growth and development phases.
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Billy F. Yancey III
Advisory Board Member
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Gerry has a Master’s from the Strategy Academy UCT Business School, a BLC from UP and a LLB from UNISA. He holds Advanced Banking Law and Project Management Diplomas from UJ. He often works on M&As, structuring BOOT projects, overseeing corporate governance and acting as implementing agent.
Billy is currently Vice President of Technical Services and Compliance at Electric Power Engineers (EPE) where he has been a key leader for over 15 years and where he oversees compliance and technical services, ensuring regulatory adherence and operational excellence across EPE.
His responsibilities include providing strategic insights and technical depth to enable the identification of new services and research areas supporting and inspiring the growth of EPE, while focusing on providing solutions to the industry in support of the energy transition.
Billy holds a B.S. in Engineering from Arkansas State University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
His extensive experience in energy management, particularly in integrating renewable energy sources and advanced grid technologies, aligns seamlessly with CloudBurst’s mission to design, build, and operate Next-Gen, AI-ready data centers with a focus on transition, green and renewable energy sources.
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Gideon P. Bouwer
Advisory Board Member: Governance, risk management, and compliance
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Bret is currently a Principal Research Geoscientist and Engineer at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota, where he leads and works on project teams to improve the development and production of domestic energy through application of subsurface geoscience and engineering principles.
Gideon is an Attorney and Managing Partner of the ICT law firm GP Bouwer Attorneys, and a senior consultant and specialist in ICT and AI law at Steyn IP. He holds an MS in IT law and is considered an authority on the search and seizure of electronic evidence. He is currently completing his LLD (Doctorate in Law) at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.
He is a cofounder and managing director of gidsigned (www.gidsigned.co.za), an electronic signature and regulatory compliance company utilizing private/public key cryptology within a document management system. Founded in 2010, it developed software dataflow management systems for integrated regulatory compliancy solutions based on The UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) guidelines on advanced electronic signatures.
Gideon is also the COO of African Cyberlaw and Forensics solution (ACLFS). ACLFS drives technological innovation through expertise in information technology law and provides companies and individuals with the necessary legal advice and expertise to grow their enterprises in the field of artificial intelligence and communication technology.
Between 2006 and 2016, he consulted in the field of information technology law as an Advocate of the High Court. He was admitted as an Attorney to the High Court of South Africa in 2017. In 2018 he opened his own practice.
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Lynne Humphries
Advisory Board Member
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Lynne practiced “public” law for 40 years before retiring at the end of 2022. She has extensive experience in urban development and special districts, with an emphasis on Texas. As a native Texan, she has negotiated with local, city, and county government officials regarding land development and zoning issues and is extremely well-versed in State and local rules and regulations in those areas.
Lynne practiced “public” law for 40 years before retiring at the end of 2022. She has extensive experience in urban development and special districts, with an emphasis on Texas. As a native of Houston, Midland and Austin, she negotiated with local, city, and county government officials regarding land development and zoning issues and is extremely well-versed in State and local rules and regulations in those areas. Throughout her career she has made it her priority to build communities and develop infrastructure to benefit lasting generations. Her life goal has been, and still is, to make the communities in which she works the very best they could be as places to live, work and raise families.
Prior to entering legal practice, Lynne was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and received her Bachelor of Journalism with Honors from the University of Texas. After graduation, she became a successful tennis journalist before moving to Australia where she became a script writer for the, “This Is Your Life”, TV show. After three years with the show, she returned to the US and started her law career.
She earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University (J.D., cum laude, 1982); Order of the Coif; Editor, Journal of Air Law and Commerce. Following graduation, Lynne began practicing law at Vinson & Elkins (VE), until 2003 when she left to form Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP (ABHR) with three of her fellow VE partners.
Lynne has been married to Rod, an Australian from Sydney, since 1976 and they have three grown sons, Scott, Mark and Justin, and three grandsons, Jackson, Sam and Théo. Although Texas will always be home, now semi-retired, she also loves spending time in the beautiful Sonoran Desert in Stone Canyon, Arizona and in Ketchum/Sun Valley, Idaho. They often take road trips within the US, and she has been fortunate enough to travel to almost all 50 States, as well as 54 countries and all seven continents.
Lynne’s decades of hands-on legal experience in urban development and special districts, her dealings with local, city and county government officials regarding land development and zoning issues, coupled with her knowledge of State and local rules, make her an ideal addition to CloudBurst’s Advisory Board.
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Dr. Nicolaas De Klerk
Cofounder, Advisory Board Member
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Nico is a proven and successful leader and a consummate businessman with extensive experience of driving change through business processes and enterprise systems. His executive management capabilities cover business, technical, financial, project and human resource management. As both a business owner and project manager, he acquired in-depth experience and expertise in big–ticket project management, supply chain management, manufacturing, operations, finance and information systems.
Dr De Klerk received a degree in Business Administration specializing in Human Relations and an MBL, MSc in Business Leading, at UNISA, where he focused on strategic management. He also has a PhD in Project Management and the Management of Technology and Innovation from the esteemed Da Vinci Institute of Technology.
He started as an agricultural farmer and a business owner of brickworks, handling the supply chain within both of these industries before embarking on what has become a long and distinguished career in project management and human resources. He went on to become Chief Executive at Breakthrough Alliances International, a South African based Company specializing in projects within Southern Sahara Africa. In this capacity he led the scientific investigation and feasibility studies of new projects, controlled the development and execution of the entire program and was responsible for business strategy and the execution of the different plans through to project proposals and business operations.
He is a proven and successful leader and a consummate businessman with extensive experience of driving change through business processes and enterprise systems. His executive management capabilities cover business, technical, financial, project and human resource management. As both a business owner and project manager, he acquired in-depth experience and expertise in big–ticket project management, supply chain management, manufacturing, operations, finance and information systems.
As Senior Advisor, Business Performance Management at Eskom, South Africa’s largest power utility, he applied his business acumen and experience in the development of strategic technology and process improvement in projects and systems. At AfriMed Corporation LDA, as Director of Business Development, he oversaw project advisory services for a raft of major infrastructure projects and more recently, he managed the piloting of alternative technologies in a proposed 75MW solar power plant.
With extensive professional experience and significant executive leadership accomplishments, he has consistently combined strong diplomatic skills, and a solid, ethical background with a professional commitment and responsibility. He is adept at creating strategic alliances with leaders of organizations, overall project status reporting and business performance management issues that effectively align with and support, key business initiatives and outcomes.
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Gerry Holtzhausen
Cofounder, Advisory Board Member
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Gerry has a Master’s from the Strategy Academy UCT Business School, a BLC from UP and a LLB from UNISA. He holds Advanced Banking Law and Project Management Diplomas from UJ. He often works on M&As, structuring BOOT projects, overseeing corporate governance and acting as implementing agent.
Gerry has a Master’s from the Strategy Academy UCT Business School, a BLC from UP and a LLB from UNISA. He holds Advanced Banking Law and Project Management Diplomas from UJ. He often works on M&As, structuring BOOT projects, overseeing corporate governance and acting as implementing agent.
Gerry’s career in the finance industry was founded on a solid understanding of product development, legal compliance and bank assurance gained at the Sanlam and Liberty insurance companies. His legal skills in the writing of acts as legislator were honed during his time at the DOJ, and he became a skilled negotiator as a Secretariat Officer at SECOSAF, a private branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs assisting in the structuring of the TBVC-states with the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
As Group MD at Sea Kay Holdings, (listed on the JSE), he managed over 700 employees, 14 subsidiaries and their MDs, and the General Managers of the Risk, Legal and Compliance Departments. He built an effective Corporate Services Division comprising Corporate Governance, Risk, Legal, Compliance and Policy, and HR Divisions. He negotiated and managed multi-million SAR contracts and a book of SAR2.8 billion. Sea Kay was voted “Best JSE Newcomer Company” and “Contractor of the Year”.
He was Executive Programme Manager – PPP Projects for the NHFC, where he managed outcomes of the so-called “Presidential Job-Summit” Social Housing Programme. He actively led, steered and managed the process through and around the agendas of both the private and public sectors, handling negotiations with stakeholders, i.e. the Business Chamber, Banking Council, the banks and private consortia partners.
At the NHFC he was Senior Manager, Project Finance and Structuring, and later Executive Manager, Risk. He developed new housing finance products for low-to-moderate earners, undertook Project Finance structuring for Social Housing Projects, and Bridging Finance and general structuring of loan facilities. He managed contracts, provided advice and instruction related to credit applications, recommendations and financial modelling, as well as acting as Implementing Agent in large projects.
In 14 years of banking, Gerry specialized in asset-and-liability management, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management. His central banking experience was at the South African Reserve Bank, Dept. of Bank Supervision. He also trained in the US with Fannie Mae and the World Bank, and in the private sector, he worked for the BOE Banking Group, and consulted for niche banks in South Africa.
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Pamela Cytron
Advisory Board Member
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Pam is a distinguished Technology Entrepreneur, Strategic Coach and Mentor, recognized with multiple awards for her innovation and leadership. With a proven track record, she has driven businesses from startup phase to operational efficiency, consistently achieving remarkable revenue growth.
Pam is a distinguished Technology Entrepreneur, Strategic Coach and Mentor, recognized with multiple awards for her innovation and leadership. With a proven track record, she has driven businesses from startup phase to operational efficiency, consistently achieving remarkable revenue growth.
Her expertise encompasses a dynamic vision for tracking technologies and the development of innovative strategies to meet industry demands. Pam stands out in the fields of financial services, data intelligence, blockchain, artificial intelligence, privacy, and regulations. Rather than seeing knowledge as a constraint, she uses it as a foundation, breaking boundaries and fostering a unique mindset that connects people, problems, and technology.
Pam possesses an extraordinary ability to see beyond the obvious, transforming even mundane conversations into thought-provoking discussions on data and technology. Her commitment to the ultimate customer experience is evident in her strategic approaches, keeping a keen focus on data transparency and innovation.
As a passionate advocate for restoring trust in financial services, Pam is a sought-after speaker, addressing the importance of data transparency and innovation. Her fresh thinking and innovative ideas leverage the latest technology, driven by a profound purpose of using structured and unstructured data for the greater good through innovation and technology – a true advocate for #data4good.
Beyond her professional achievements, Pam’s leadership extends to non-profits serving communities at local, state, national, and international levels. She currently serves as the President and Chairman of The Founders Arena, a non-profit WealthTech Accelerator dedicated to the growth and business development of wealth management and financial services globally.
In addition to her outstanding career, Pam is a Woman in long-term recovery and a cancer survivor. She brings a unique resilience and perspective to her endeavors. Pam is happily married with two children and resides in Montclair, NJ, embodying the values of leadership, innovation, and community service in all aspects of her life.
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Grant Guthrie
Advisory Board Member
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Grant is a strategic minded, results driven entrepreneur, a team focused leader, and an analytical thinker with over 30 years’ experience in launching and operating successful businesses across a wide range of industries. He provided them with top-level executive management, corporate communications advice, and investment banking services.
Grant is a strategic minded, results driven entrepreneur, a team focused leader, and an analytical thinker with over 30 years’ experience in launching and operating successful businesses across a wide range of industries. He provided them with a top-level executive management, corporate communications advice, and investment banking services.
As President of the Rainmaker Group, he provides executive management and communications advice and investment banking services, including strategic planning and financial structuring. As Rainmaker’s Executive Producer, he has produced twelve internationally distributed feature films and presented at major film festivals. He was Executive Producer of “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” starring Keanu Reeves.
More recently, as Senior Advisor and Chief Communications Officer of a sustainable technology company in commodities banking, he held overall responsibility for strategic planning and corporate communications. He also provided investment banking services to a multi-sensor Al technology (SPAC).
Grant was formerly Managing Director of Amerifund Capital, a boutique investment banking firm providing strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, and private equity sourcing in media, energy, and real estate. Previously he was the Founder/President of Texas Video & Post (TVP), a media communications company, in association with Sony Corporation,. He has received over 100 music, television, and film awards including Cine Gold Eagle and platinum/gold record awards for musical artists the Eagles, Queen, Warren Zevon, and Joe Walsh.
He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA Finance and minor in Real Estate. He was a Founder of Houston Children’s Charity and serves on the Executive Board as Funding Chairman. He has received special recognition for his contributions to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Children’s Assessment Center, Texas Children’s Hospital and United Way.
As a Member of the Advisory Board, Grant brings decades of entrepreneurial skills, and as CloudBurst progresses, his knowledge and experience will undoubtedly enable him to play an invaluable role in advising the Board on investment and finance.
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Brandon Dewan
Advisory Board Member
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Brandon is Co-Founder and CEO of Eagle Group and is responsible for its entrepreneurial vision and strategy, leading the company from a start-up in 2013 into a diversified portfolio of companies generating over $2 Billion in revenue. He was named EY National Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 as well as “40 Under 40” by Oil & Gas Investor Magazine in 2017.
Brandon Dewan is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Group. Mr. Dewan is responsible for the entrepreneurial vision and strategy of Eagle Group, leading the company from a small start-up in 2013 into a diversified portfolio of companies generating over $2 Billion in revenue.
Additionally, Brandon was named EY National Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 as well as “40 Under 40” by Oil & Gas Investor Magazine in 2017. He has been featured in various entrepreneur books and publications along with appearances on global news networks.
He is passionate about community participation and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Houston Children’s Charity, in addition to his active involvement with multiple other charities.
In his personal life, he is a proud father of three and enjoys sports and outdoor activities.
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CONSULTANTS
John H. Shanahan, Jr.
Specialist Consultant
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John is a highly experienced and revered, and supremely qualified, city planner who has a long and successful record of handling big-ticket projects. He is a charter member and past President of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association, a corporate member in the Irish Planning Institute and was the first American planner elected to membership in the European Council of Town Planners (ECTP).
A native of Long Island, and a dual national (USA and Ireland), John enlisted in the Navy following high school, was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, and educated at the University of St. Thomas, Houston (BA, Econ). He served three years during the Vietnam conflict before returning to St. Thomas where he won both the Gibraltar Scholarship and the WSJ Medal for Economics, and was elected to Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international economics honor society. At Texas A&M University he won Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Planning degrees. He is a charter member and past President of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association and a corporate member in the Irish Planning Institute. He was the first American planner elected to membership in the European Council of Town Planners (ECTP).
As Assistant to the Texas Governor, he managed the State’s community development program and oversaw fund allocation and performance management for eight Texas cities participating in the new “Model Cities” program.
John cofounded Shanahan/Wyse Associates, the largest city planning practice in Texas; served as adjunct professor of city planning at the University of Houston and was professor in the graduate program at Texas Southern University. He has vast experience in planning and managing large-scale urban developments.
At HOK Architects and Planners, he was principal town planner for the redevelopment of Chrysler Corporation’s HQ in Michigan and his team prepared the Development Plan adopted and supported by Chrysler. As Assistant Commissioner and Program Manager for New York City’s $1.3 billion corrections capital program, he built 13 new correctional facilities, a hospital, an education center and support facilities. He received citations from the City’s Mayor and Corrections Commissioner, while the George R. Vierno Center was awarded the AIA Gold Medal.
John was senior project manager for the US (DC) Department of Commerce’s $330 million office and laboratory complex project for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He led the integrated NOAA-contractor team for this which earned him the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for superior achievement and a LEED Gold certification for the Center.
He was senior project manager with Lafferty Architects and Project Managers in Dublin where he led the urban development team for the Swords Town Centre project, responsible for highway extensions, a new commuter rail extension, infrastructure development and liaison with the Fingal County Council. He was appointed by Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to lead the feasibility study team for the redevelopment of their flagship Kilternan Hotel and Conference Centre in southwest County Dublin.
