Overview

At Altris, I played a central role in advancing a broad portfolio of sustainability, clean-energy, materials, and advanced-infrastructure initiatives. My work spanned early-stage research, strategic analysis, project development, and executive coordination across technologies such as PV and solar-thermal power, molten-salt and thermal energy storage, renewable liquid fuels, next-generation fertilizer production, atmospheric water systems, and materials-efficiency platforms. I engaged deeply with emerging technologies—ranging from actinide reclamation and thorium-salt reactors to water recovery systems, bio-based materials, and advanced agricultural inputs—helping to translate complex technical concepts into actionable plans and real-world project paths.

I contributed to feasibility studies, market analyses, and long-horizon planning for large-scale public and private initiatives, including Zambia’s national solar-independence strategy, the Greenport Emerald City smart-city development outside Austin, and the Lake Powell Tapestry Project—an ambitious combined ecosystem of energy, water, data-center, residential, and research assets in southern Utah. My role placed me at the intersection of engineering, operations, policy, and executive leadership, collaborating closely with founders, engineers, public agencies, and outside stakeholders to evaluate multi-domain problems and develop integrated solutions.

Alongside technical and strategic work, I refined corporate materials, coordinated site visits, organized cross-departmental planning efforts, and served as the CEO’s primary liaison—ensuring alignment across active projects and supporting the advancement of Altris’s technology roadmap and business objectives.

ROLe(s), REsponsibility(ies), & Achievement(S)

My work at Altris was multifaceted and evolved as the company grew. I simultaneously served as an Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Research Analyst, Project Analyst, and Strategy Support Lead for the CEO, Mark Polson. Below is a structured breakdown of what I contributed.

Executive Support & Operations

Served as Executive Assistant to the CEO
Managed calendars, scheduled meetings, took detailed notes, and handled follow-ups
Acted as a sounding board for strategy, technical discussions, and operational decisions
Coordinated communication with partners, stakeholders, engineers, and public officials
Built and maintained the internal project-management platform
Provided administrative support: recruiting, IT coordination, office workflows, document management
Edited the CEO’s book and numerous corporate and technical documents

Research & Technical Analysis

Energy Technologies

PV solar systems
Solar-thermal power
Power distribution and grid planning
Power storage (thermal and molten-salt batteries)
Nuclear energy systems—actinide reclamation, thorium-salt reactors
Waste-to-energy systems
Renewable liquid fuels (biodiesel, renewable diesel, renewable gasoline, SAF/jet fuel)

Water Technologies

Atmospheric water capture
Pre-treatment water systems
Wiped Film Rotating Disk (WFRD) wastewater recovery
Liquid CO₂ systems

Materials & Manufacturing

Avoda high-strength hemp-based materials (thermal and structural resilience)
ECM stators and electronics systems
Advanced materials optimization and manufacturing processes

Agricultural & Fertilizer Technologies

Biochar (kalefaction)
Next-generation fertilizer systems
Urea production
Smart ProCell systems

Software & Emerging Technologies

Business resource management systems
MLS tech
Tesla turbine studies
Speculative/emerging concepts: Rainmaker, microscope technologies, electromagnetic satellite launch systems (Austin Space Holdings)

Market Research & Policy Analysis

Solar and renewable-energy tax credit research
Rural development incentives
Policy frameworks for energy, water, and infrastructure projects
Market sizing and competitive analysis across multiple verticals

Project Research & Development

I conducted deep-dive research across dozens of projects, including:

Large-Scale Developments

Zambia Solar Independence Project
Greenport Emerald City (smart city outside Austin, Texas)
Lake Powell Tapestry Project (massive multi-phase development)

Lake Powell Project — Research Scope

This project alone required comprehensive research on:

Land, zoning, federal/state jurisdictions
Lake Powell ecosystem
Glen Canyon NRA and regional planning
County and state political structures
Existing towns, developments, and economic hubs
Roads, traffic, and logistics
Climate, seasonal patterns, and environmental constraints
Water rights, hydrology, and utilities
Internet and telecom infrastructure (including outreach to major providers)
Residential development planning (1,500 homes)
Data-center and Bitcoin mining feasibility
Energy research center / university extension planning
Energy storage and 80MW solar-thermal integration
Phase 1–5 planning (financials, risks, marketing, operational plans)

Additional Research Areas

Water systems
Mines and mineral resources
Real estate parcels and ownership structures
Power systems and energy forecasting
Political landscape and agency coordination

Strategy, Planning, & Engineering Support

Supported corporate strategy for the entire organization
Helped build departmental roadmaps and GTM strategies for each technology vertical
Worked with engineers on:
Energy transmission line modeling
Storage projections and forecasting
System design charettes
Blueprint reviews
Traveled to project sites, including:
Lake Powell region
Austin (Greenport)
Orangeville / San Rafael Energy Research Laboratory

Summary

What I Took Away & What I Bring to Others

My time at Altris gave me an unusually broad and deep exposure to complex, multidisciplinary systems—energy, water, materials, infrastructure, agriculture, software, and large-scale planning. I learned how to quickly understand advanced technologies, translate them into practical strategies, and integrate technical, economic, and policy considerations into coherent plans.

I developed skill in navigating ambiguity, managing executive-level priorities, and coordinating diverse teams across engineering, operations, government agencies, and international stakeholders. I became adept at synthesizing vast amounts of information, identifying core constraints, and developing feasible pathways for high-complexity projects.

Today, I bring forward the ability to:

rapidly understand and evaluate emerging technologies
conduct high-resolution research across domains
build structured strategies for ambiguous or frontier-technology environments
support founders, executives, or organizations tackling complex, multi-layered initiatives
bridge the gap between technical detail and actionable business planning

Altris gave me a foundation in interdisciplinary problem-solving and long-horizon strategic thinking—skills I now apply to all of my ventures, consulting, and future creations.