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Stewards of the Renaissance

This is not a boardroom of passive capital. It’s a command center of action.

And every name here carries a legacy of execution.

Renaissance is led by a rare caliber of operator founders, executives, and strategists with the discipline to execute and the foresight to scale. From multibillion-dollar infrastructure to cutting-edge bio breakthroughs, our circle is forged from lived experience and hands-on mastery.
  • Raised $26B+ for public & private companies
  • Managed combined portfolio AUM $25B+ for 10+ years
  • Oversaw $90B+ of government funding & deployments annually
  • Led IP strategy for 2,000+ patents
  • 100+ years of combined US Intelligence Operations
  • Managed high performance teams in 25+ countries

Executive Leadership

David Luftglass

Chief Executive Officer

Christopher Barber

Chief Investment Officer

Mark Atkins

Chief Technology Officer

Marcello Padula, CFA

Chief Finance Officer

Government, Intelligence & Defense Advisors

Darin Gardner

Joyce Salazar

Jonathan Dilley

Nathan L

Luke McOmie

Lamont Hale

Tim Chrisman

Capital, Legal & Governance Advisors

Thomas Orsak, PhD, JD

Michael Krawzsenek, JD

Andrew Sleeman

Hope Sullivan

Cynthia Marian, JD

Edward Burke

Sector-Specific Advisors

Richard Tree, PhD, MBA

Dylan Graham

Ashley Ferguson

Spencer O'Neal

Jeremy Bergeron

Tammy Scarlett, ALM

Rob Knibbs

Walter Powell

Rodrigo Rey, LLM

Severin Mairinger

Ken Thomas

Charlton Woodyard II

A high-trust circle of doers, advisors, and operators.

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David Luftglass

Chief Executive Officer

David is a multi-time founder and corporate strategist with a decade of experience building ventures across biotech, real estate, AI, and defense-adjacent sectors. He’s a high-trust connector with a rare cross-sector network that spans federal agencies, sovereign governments, global research institutions, and private capital. His superpower lies in surfacing off-market opportunities and aligning the right partners to bring them to life. Renaissance is the result of that ecosystem—and his ability to bridge capital, influence, and execution.

Christopher Barber

Chief Investment Officer

Chris brings over 15 years of experience across hedge funds, global markets, and venture building. At Merrill Lynch, he managed $5B+ in daily FX exposure and at Moore Capital Management, he developed credit derivatives trading strategies, crafting complex long/short positions across a $2B+ global credit portfolio. He later founded and scaled biotech and food-tech ventures, securing 64+ patents and commercializing breakthrough IP. At Renaissance, Chris leads investment strategy, capital structuring, legal and portfolio operations oversight with a sharp focus on execution and downside protection.

Mark Atkins

Chief Technology Officer

Mark recently retired as the senior Safety & Occupational Health authority at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he oversaw $96B annually in mission-critical infrastructure and environmental programs. He brings decades of field-tested operational leadership, guiding safety, engineering, and national development initiatives across hundreds of complex public-sector projects. A trusted advisor to top military and government officials, Mark is a systems thinker with deep expertise in risk mitigation, infrastructure diligence, and execution under pressure. At Renaissance, he supports national-scale project readiness with deep expertise in risk mitigation, compliance, and operational execution.

Marcello Padula, CFA

Chief Finance Officer

Marcello is a strategic and execution-focused finance leader with a track record across investment banking, private equity, and legal advisory. He has successfully been involved in $26B+ of transactions since 2019 across 36+ deals. He holds Series 7, 63, and 79 FINRA licenses. Marcello served as Vice President at Bank of America in the Investment Banking Consumer Retail group, with prior roles at Morgan Stanley and Proskauer Rose LLP. At Renaissance, he drives financial planning, investor reporting, capital structuring, and cross-portfolio analysis. With experience advising multi-billion-dollar clients and managing transaction diligence at scale, Marcello brings institutional discipline to high-growth environments.

Darin Gardner

Government Affairs, Federal Funding & Lobbying

Darin is a Capitol Hill veteran who has sold $2.6 billion in pharmaceuticals to the U.S. government for national stockpiling and emergency preparedness, including his role managing the government’s procurement of Tamiflu while at Roche and Genentech. He has also helped secure $2 billion+ in government grants and funding for R&D and U.S.-based pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion. With 25+ years of experience in federal policy, strategic funding, and lobbying, Darin has served on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and was Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX). He later held federal affairs leadership roles at Roche and Genentech, and now helps lead public sector strategy at The Conafay Group. Darin advises Renaissance on policy alignment, federal partnerships, and long-term capital strategy across government ecosystems.

Joyce Salazar

Grant & Public Funding Strategy

Joyce is a national leader in government funding strategy with over 30 years of experience structuring capital for large-scale development. As founder of Strategic Business Alliance, she has helped unlock public-private capital stacks across sectors including veterans housing, education, infrastructure, and technology commercialization. Her 35-person team has secured complex combinations of federal grants, New Market Tax Credits, Opportunity Zone funding, and private equity—powering multimillion-dollar projects nationwide. At Renaissance, Joyce advises on high-leverage funding strategies that align with government priorities and long-term economic development.

Jonathan Dilley

Cyber Threat Intelligence

Jonathan is a seasoned cybersecurity and intelligence advisor specializing in advanced threat detection and cyber resilience. As Director of Cyber Threat Intelligence at Xcape, he leads global intelligence operations, advising clients across critical infrastructure, finance, and defense sectors. He is the founder of the Illuminati Party, one of the world’s largest ethical hacking collectives, and has advised Fortune 500 companies and public sector agencies on cybersecurity architecture, breach prevention, and offensive strategy. Jonathan advises Renaissance on risk mitigation, cyber threat intelligence, and the protection of sensitive technologies across the portfolio.

Nathan L

National Security & Innovation

Nathan is a national security expert with 20+ years of experience advancing U.S. government missions focused on counter-terrorism, counter-illicit networks, and strategic technology deployment. A U.S. Army veteran and former senior government advisor, Nathan has led high-stakes programs integrating emerging tech into defense and intelligence operations. Today, he advises on frontier innovation with a focus on dual-use capabilities, working across institutions to activate novel solutions at scale. Nathan advises Renaissance on technology diligence and strategy for projects intersecting with national security and global competition.

Luke McOmie

Cybersecurity & Offensive Security

Luke is one of the top offensive security leaders in the country, with nearly three decades of experience guiding Fortune 100s, startups, and federal agencies through advanced cybersecurity strategy. Currently VP of Offensive Security at Blue Bastion, he has built and led red team programs, security architecture, and enterprise response operations across high-risk environments. Luke was previously a senior security consultant at Arrow Electronics and was featured on Tiger Team, the groundbreaking TV series profiling elite ethical hackers. His career also includes leadership and advisory roles at Coalfire Systems, One World Labs, Red Lambda, and British Telecommunications. A frequent speaker, author, and community mentor, Luke advises Renaissance with deep expertise in cyber threat posture, technical diligence, and systems-level risk mitigation across its portfolio.

Lamont Hale

Global Security & Government Contracting

Lamont is a retired U.S. Marine Master Sergeant and veteran operator with 40+ years of experience in global security, leadership, and federal contracting. As President & CEO of LH International Consultancy (LHIC), a veteran- and minority-owned firm, he delivers security, infrastructure, and commodity solutions to clients worldwide. Lamont has led protective operations for heads of state, Fortune 500 executives, and high-risk media teams across Iraq, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Mali, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Japan, the UK, Switzerland, and France. His client roster includes the NSA, FEMA, Ford Motor Company, Associated Press, ABC, and members of the Saudi and UAE royal families. Lamont advises Renaissance on international operations, federal procurement, and complex stakeholder environments.

Tim Chrisman

National Security & Private Capital Strategy

Tim is a former Army Special Operations and CIA intelligence officer who now sits at the nexus of geopolitics, deep tech, and private capital. As VP for Government Growth & Policy at directed-energy pioneer Thor Dynamics and Principal, Research at Thor Ventures—a dual-use fund—he converts battlefield insight into investment strategy, backing technologies that sharpen U.S. power and seed the next commercial boom. Tim’s Converging Frontiers Theory, his 2025 book Private Capital, Public Consequences, and forthcoming book on post-Taiwan-war scenarios make him a sought-after voice for policymakers and Fortune 500 boards navigating an era of great-power competition. Holder of multiple patents and architect of space-sector legislation, he pairs hands-on innovation with rigorous geopolitical forecasting to help investors and national leaders stay ahead of emerging risks and opportunities. Tim advises Renaissance on geopolitical strategy, advanced technologies, and emerging capital markets tied to the space economy and defense sectors.

Thomas Orsak, PhD, JD

Life Sciences Intellectual Property

Thomas is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and a dual-trained PhD scientist and patent attorney. He advises on global IP strategy across genetic engineering, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and medical devices. With a JD from Georgetown and a PhD from the University of Utah, Thomas has built and defended high-value portfolios for some of the most complex technologies in the life sciences. Thomas advises Renaissance on IP prosecution, freedom-to-operate, and regulatory alignment for biotech and therapeutic assets.

Michael Krawzsenek, JD

Corporate Intellectual Property

Michael is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, where he has led the successful issuance of 2,000+ patents over the past two decades. He manages global IP portfolios for Fortune 500 companies and scaling innovators, with deep expertise in U.S. and Asia-Pacific markets. As an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law, he teaches patent prosecution. Michael advises Renaissance on its rigorous, forward-looking IP strategy to support legal and commercialization efforts.

Andrew Sleeman

Fund Management

Andrew is a global markets veteran with 30+ years of experience actively investing in public and private markets. At Franklin Templeton, he oversaw $30B of investments across a number of portfolios and consulted with C-suite executives and Board members on operational strategy and balance sheet structure. Andrew advises Renaissance with a deep command of portfolio management, risk frameworks, and governance best practices.

Hope Sullivan

Capital Strategy & Social Impact

Hope is a DC-based attorney and global advocate for sustainable investment and community development, having helped secure over $300 billion in grants and sovereign debt relief through her leadership in strategic partnerships and fundraising. As President and CEO of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, she advanced her father’s legacy by organizing the influential Sullivan Summits and leading policy initiatives focused on debt relief, anti-corruption, and poverty alleviation across Africa. She also chaired the Global Sullivan Principles of Social Responsibility and previously co-directed government relations and sustainable development efforts through the International Foundation for Education and Self Help. Hope advises Renaissance on capital strategy, global partnerships, and high-impact economic development initiatives.

Cynthia Marian, JD

Legal Private Funds & Family Offices

Cynthia is an equity partner at Greenberg Traurig, where she leads the private funds practice as a strategic and legal adviser to a broad range of private fund sponsors and asset managers. Ranked in Chambers USA for both Private Equity Fund Formation and Hedge Funds, Cynthia is sought after not only for her domain expertise in the funds space, but also for her commercial approach, facility with complex fund and GP structures, and prior in-house experience as a General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. She also represents institutional investors making investments in private funds and investment firms, including in the negotiation of seed deals, GP-stakes transactions, secondaries, and co-investments. Accordingly, Cynthia advises Renaissance on its internal legal architecture, investor-related governance, and portfolio company structuring.

Edward Burke

Multi-Stakeholder Project Execution

Edward is a former Global Managing Partner at Accenture, where he led strategy and execution across $100M+ projects spanning healthcare, transportation, energy, telecommunications, and government. With over 40 years of experience in organizational performance and systems integration, he’s advised global NGOs, federal agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. Ed advises Renaissance on multi-stakeholder infrastructure initiatives, applying executive-level oversight to complex, high-impact deployments.

Richard Tree, PhD, MBA

Operations & Engineering Scale

Rich Tree is a globally recognized operations executive known for leading high-stakes project delivery and scaling complex infrastructure across the biopharma and advanced manufacturing industries. He has scaled more than 25 manufacturing and processing facilities worldwide and is recognized for building high-performance teams, solving complex operational challenges, and driving sustained business growth. A U.S. Navy veteran, Rich holds a Doctorate in Engineering Management from George Washington University, an MBA from Southern Methodist University, and a BS in Computer Information Systems from Columbia College. He also earned executive certifications from Stanford University and Harvard Business School. His expertise spans Lean Six Sigma, organizational design, and business strategy, advising Renaissance on its operational due diligence and expansion efforts.

Dylan Graham

Performance Marketing & Systems Strategy

Dylan is a career entrepreneur with deep expertise across marketing, insurance, and technology. He has overseen more than one million insurance policy enrollments, managed over $300 million in marketing spend, and driven more than $1 billion in annual premium across the companies he leads. With hands-on experience across every layer of the value chain, Dylan brings a rare ability to architect systems that align stakeholder interests while optimizing for scale, efficiency, and measurable performance. At Renaissance, he advises on high-leverage growth infrastructure and commercialization strategy.

Ashley Ferguson

Strategic Messaging & Commercialization

Ashley is a commercialization strategist with a track record of scaling complex innovation across consumer and industrial markets. At Jazwares, she led omni-channel growth for 36 licensed brands (Squishmallows, Fortnite, Roblox) nurturing global retail partnerships. She helped grow a science and tech portfolio from pre-revenue to 64 patents across food, beverage, supplements, and agtech. As a partner at BeyondBrands—the industry’s leading conscious CPG collective—she built the capital division and advises brands on commercialization, capital strategy, and scale execution. At Renaissance, she advises on market activation, GTM architecture, and IP monetization.

Spencer O'Neal

Global Energy Strategy & Commercialization

Spencer is a global energy executive with a proven track record in international sales, business development, and strategic advisory. As Director of Global Sales and Business Development at World Kinect Energy Services, he leads commercial expansion across both renewable and conventional energy markets—driving growth, securing partnerships, and structuring procurement strategies across North America, Europe, and emerging regions. With expertise in sustainability, energy trading, and global market dynamics, Spencer advises Renaissance on energy asset positioning, infrastructure rollout, and strategic stakeholder alignment across the energy value chain.

Jeremy Bergeron

Media & Visibility Strategy

Jeremy is a media strategist and growth architect with deep experience at the intersection of technology, content, and strategic partnerships. As Head of Strategy at Mission.org, a media studio backed by Sequoia and Founders Fund, he has produced leading business podcasts featuring executives from companies like Google, LEGO, and UPS. A former team leader at Google and advisor to early-stage founders, Jeremy advises Renaissance on crafting high-impact narratives and visibility strategies to drive market leadership and strategic growth.

Tammy Scarlett, ALM

Communications & Strategic Systems Alignment

Scarlett is a global systems architect, strategist, and futurist focused on aligning cross-sector efforts in catalyzing evolutionary leaps toward regenerative, impact-driven, and future-fit outcomes. She serves as Executive Director of UNIFY and leads global projects through the White Lotus Global Initiative and the pioneering Impact Portfolio model. After her MBA studies, Scarlett went on to complete a graduate degree from Harvard in Anthropology. She serves on global executive and advisory boards and collaborates with the World Academy of Art and Science on the United Nations’ Human Security campaign. In 2024, Scarlett was inducted into the Evolutionary Leaders Circle. Her work has been featured on WGN and Forbes and is published in the Library of Congress. At Renaissance, she advises on communications, systems design, and stakeholder alignment to position the firm’s narrative at the intersection of innovation, equity, and global relevance.

Rob Knibbs

Indigenous Infrastructure Strategy

Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Rob is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran and senior advisor with 20+ years of experience in Indigenous economic development, infrastructure, and procurement strategy. He serves as Principal Consultant at Morris Interactive, where he supports the development of Indigenous Economic Development Corporations and structures large-scale equity partnerships. Rob has led mining, oil & gas, defence manufacturing, nuclear, real estate and property development projects in collaboration with First Nations communities and has served in leadership roles across defense, business, and government. At Renaissance, Rob advises on architecting sovereign-aligned infrastructure—bringing together Indigenous partners, capital stakeholders, and national-scale execution.

Walter Powell

Energy Projects & Capital Access

Walter is the CEO of Greenflo Energy and a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient recognized for advancing large-scale infrastructure and energy innovation. A former NFL wide receiver turned entrepreneur, he now leads financing and development on $100M+ renewable energy projects across the U.S. and abroad—including data centers, grid tech, and clean power systems. Walter advises Renaissance with unique access to capital partners, energy technology, and institutional deal flow at scale.

Rodrigo Rey, LLM

LatAm Legal & Regulatory Strategy

Rodrigo is a top Uruguayan lawyer and regulatory expert with deep experience advising public and private sector leaders across Latin America. He holds advanced degrees in compliance, corporate law, and economics, and has served as legal counsel to political officials. Rodrigo specializes in regulatory frameworks, cross-border compliance, and government relations, advising on Renaissance’s LatAm expansion with legal diligence, partner alignment, and jurisdiction-specific strategy.

Severin Mairinger

Technology Infrastructure & Systems Design

Severin is a technology operator and systems architect with deep expertise in full-stack engineering, AI infrastructure, and high-availability computing. As Managing Director of a Vienna-based IT firm, he leads the design, development, and deployment of mission-critical software and IoT systems, backed by a proprietary data center powering 100+ servers. Severin has delivered enterprise-grade solutions for clients including Siemens and the Austrian National Bank, with a focus on automation and next-generation tech integration. Beyond technology, he oversees a €200M+ portfolio spanning agriculture, real estate, and energy—including a 550-acre certified organic farm and a team of 150+ cross-sector professionals. Severin advises Renaissance on infrastructure architecture, AI integration, and sovereign-aligned systems design and deployment.

Ken Thomas

Indigenous Economic Development

Ken is a nationally respected Indigenous economic development leader with 40+ years of experience advancing First Nations-led initiatives in agriculture, energy, forestry, and infrastructure. Raised on Pelican Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, and influenced by his father, Chief Leo Thomas, a founding member of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. As CEO of the Saskatchewan Indian Agriculture Program for 25 years, Ken established over 600 farm units and launched enterprises like Grey Owl Marketing, SILCO (a loan company), and Inpro (a venture capital firm). He also chaired Aboriginal Business Canada, helping launch 10,000 Indigenous businesses, and negotiated the FSIN Gaming Agreement, which now generates $100M+ in annual profits across seven casinos. At Renaissance, Ken advises on energy, infrastructure, and Indigenous-led development with deep insight into land stewardship, tribal governance, and cross-sector partnership.

Charlton Woodyard II

Venture & Cultural Capital Strategy

Charlton is a Washington, DC–based early-stage investor and entrepreneur at the intersection of culture, capital markets, and sustainable innovation. As Founder and CEO of Avi8ted Ventures—a mission-driven venture studio—he builds community-centered ecosystems by integrating digital platforms with physical infrastructure to drive inclusive economic development. With 17+ years of operational experience, Charlton’s work spans innovation across real estate, technology, and culture, including ventures in hedge funds, biotech, and PropTech platforms like Create.io and Fundrise. At Renaissance, he advises on venture partnerships, cultural capital strategies, and ecosystem-building that drive long-term sustainable value.