IRIS Engines, Inc. brings together an outstanding group of individuals with extensive experience in business, engineering, energy, and automotive technology.  Together, they are working to develop and commercialize IRIS technology.

The Team

Levi Tillemann-Dick - CEO
Levi is an associate at Cambridge Energy Research Associates where he writes, researches, and consults on global energy trends with a focus on Asia. Levi has managed business development, technology partnerships, legal matters, investor relations and grant applications for IRIS Engines, Inc. He holds a BA in History from Yale, an MA from Johns Hopkins (SAIS) in International Relations and Economics and is a doctoral candidate in International Relations at SAIS. He speaks Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese.

Corban Tillemann-Dick - President and Chief Innovation Officer
Corban has served as a design consultant to numerous startups in the area of mechanical engineering. He was a major contributor to the development of intellectual property that comprises the company's patents and drafted the initial drawings for all IRIS configurations. He is skilled in computer drafting, design, and animation and has overseen IP development for the Company. Corban studied mechanical engineering at the Air Force Academy and graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Economics. He speaks fluent Chinese.

Simon Pitts - Chief Technology Officer
Simon's career began in advanced powertrain development and research with Ford. His initial assignments included a variety of Gasoline Engine, Diesel Engine and Transmission Engineering positions. These were followed by assignments engineering and launching methanol, ethanol and compressed natural gas Alternative Fuel Vehicles prior to his appointment as Chief Engineer Powertrain Systems Engineering. Recent assignments included Worldwide Powertrain Planning (leading the $4 billion + per annum strategy development and approval of all Ford Engines and transmissions, Global Vehicle Line Director of C class vehicles (Focus and Escort model lines), and North American Director of Manufacturing Operations. Mr. Pitts also led Product Development Operations, responsible to the CTO for the Product Development Process for the Ford Motor Company, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo brands. These positions, based in the U.K., Germany, and the U.S. were interspersed with executive education stints in France at INSEAD, the global business school. Prior to joining IRIS Engines, Mr. Pitts served as Executive Director of the Ford-MIT Technology Alliance where he managed the transfer and licensing of technologies from MIT labs to Ford Motor Company. Simon earned a Bachelor of Science and Industrial Studies in Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University in 1976.

Brent Johnson - Vice-President for Operations
Brent specializes in creating and implementing business solutions in the manufacturing and transportation sectors.  A corporate strategy consultant, Brent has more than 12 years of experience managing complex production, personnel and financial systems.  Prior to becoming a consultant, Brent led facilities for Alcoa, Inc. Brent earned a BS in engineering from Utah State University, an MS in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management, where he was honored with a Leaders for Manufacturing Fellowship. 

Tomicah Tillemann, Ph.D - Executive Advisor
Tomicah is a co-founder of IRIS, Inc. and one of four patent holders on the IRIS engine.  Tillemann received his BA magna cum laude from Yale University.  He holds a Ph.D. with distinction from the School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University (SAIS). 

Advisory Team

Eric Ridenour
Eric R. Ridenour served as Chief Operating Officer of Daimler-Chrysler from 2005 until 2007. Prior to that, he served as Director of Advance Vehicle Engineering of Chrysler Group LLC. He joined Chrysler in 1986 in Program Management and from that time until his retirement, he held increasingly responsible positions in Product Development, including Product Strategy and Cycle Planning, and Power Train Planning. Mr. Ridenour also serves as Trustee of The New Detroit Science Center. Mr. Ridenour holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's degree in Business Administration both from the University of Michigan.

Daniel Yergin, Ph.D
Dr. Daniel Yergin has been the Executive Vice President and Strategic Advisor of IHS Inc. since September 26, 2006. He is the Founder and Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), an Advisor of Accelergy Corporation, and a Senior Advisor at Energy Capital Partners. Mr. Yergin is a highly respected authority on international politics, economics, and on energy. He is both a world-recognized author and a business leader. Dr. Yergin is a Pulitzer Prize winner and recipient of the United States Energy Award for "lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding". He previously taught at the Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Dr. Yergin is a Member of the Board of the United States Energy Association and a Member of the National Petroleum Council. He is also a Member of the United States Secretary of Energy's Advisory Board and chaired the United States Department of Energy's Task Force on Strategic Energy Research and Development. Mr. Yergin is a Director of the United States-Russian Business Council, the Atlantic Partnership, and the New America Foundation. He is a Trustee of the Brookings Institution and a Member of the Committee on Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Yergin is CNBC's Global Energy Expert. He received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for his work The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power. Mr. Yergin's latest book is The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy. He authored Russia 2010 and What It Means for the World and The Financial Times. Dr. Yergin received his B.A. from Yale University, and his Ph.D. from Cambridge University, where he was a Marshall Scholar.

Rob Lachenauer
Rob Lachenauer was the Vice President and Director of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) from 1995 to 2004 and the head of its North American Automotive Practice. He has experience with automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, diesel engine manufacturers, lawn mower manufacturers and muffler manufacturers. Rob led BCG's intellectual property strategy effort with GEO2 prior to joining the company. His experience with automotive companies includes helping vehicle makers create and implement strategies relating to their platform architecture, powertrain architecture, aftermarket approach, dealerships, purchasing/supply base and brands. He has worked in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Mr. Lachenauer holds a B.A. fromCornell University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. He co-authored a book published by the Harvard Business School Press entitled "Hardball" which was translated into six languages.

Legal Team

IRIS Engines, Inc. is working with world-class legal teams. The firm of Perkins Coie LLP works with the company to protect the the rapidly growing portfolio of intellectual property related to the IRIS engine.  Wilmer-Hale partner John Chory serves as IRIS Engines, Inc.'s principal legal adviser on business matters

Chief Inventor of the IRIS Engine

Timber Dick is the chief inventor of the IRIS engine.  Prior to his tragic death in an automobile accident in April 2008, he served as President of Tendix Development (now IRIS Engines, Inc.).  He was also a director of the University of Denver's School of Engineering and Computer Science.  Earlier in his career, Timber founded, funded, and managed Safeline Products through six years of 35% compounded growth before he sold the company.  He also worked for Mercedes' subsidiary, MBB Transit.  He was awarded numerous patents in fields including transportation, consumer markets, and the chemical industry.

His research on engine efficiency enhancement began at Yale, where he received his first patent while a college student. At Yale, Timber earned a BA and an MA, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  The IRIS incorporates more than 30 years of his focused research and design efforts.