Meet the Team
Michael “Mike’” Milicevic
President/CEO
Mike was the U.S. Feed Stocks Operations Manager of BP Biofuels from June 2011 until September 2016. In this context, he was responsible for managing operations and research facilitation at numerous farms across the southeast U.S., from Florida to Texas. In his past professional life, he was also the general manager of the Lykes Ranch Division of Lykes Bros. Inc., from December 1986 to June 2011; he was responsible for the overall management of the operations for cattle, feedlot, sugarcane, forestry, turf, landscape, and maintenance divisions.
David Disbrow
Chairman & Director
Throughout his 40-year career in multiple businesses (manufacturing and distribution), David has been involved in agronomics of plant sciences and soil biology. David’s research and studies of carbon over the past 10 years have revealed to him an interconnectedness of
carbon in the fields of energy, agriculture, and medical sciences. He is also the founder and current president of Sunshine State Biomass Cooperative, Inc.
David Poparad
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
David is a tax partner at Grennan Fender Hess & Poparad, LLP (Orlando) with over 20 years of experience in public accounting including a significant experience with a national CPA firm. David provides value-added consulting and compliance services to family and closely held mid-size businesses. David primarily services corporations and partnerships within the
agribusiness, real estate, manufacturing, distribution, technology, and professional services industries.
Jason Disbrow
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
As one of the founders of the Sunshine State Biomass Cooperative Jason played an integral role in recruiting over 120 of the largest biomass generating companies in Florida to join into it’s Cooperative membership. Jason has over 10 years of experience in the yard waste industry where he specialized in grinding, screening, trucking logistics, and heavy equipment operations. Jason has managed the pickup and delivery of over 1M Cubic Yards of Florida vegetation and the successful processing of that material into quality compost and hardwood mulch products.
Dr. Brian Lapointe
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Brian is a marine biologist and a research professor at the Marine Ecosystem Health Program of Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. He is a nationally recognized specialist of sargassum biomass and Florida’s toxic algae problem (caused to a large extent by nitrogen leaked by the 2.6 million septic systems in operation in Florida, with Florida representing 12% of the United States’ septic systems). Brian is convinced that the biochar to be produced by our facility (one ton of biochar per septic tank) can solve the problem of septic tanks and, thus, Florida’s toxic algae problem.
Richard (Dick) Squires
Director
Dick represents SSBC on Universal BioCarbon, Inc.’s board. Over 40 years he was owner and CEO of Turf Management of South Florida, Inc., one of the largest commercial lawn and landscape companies in South Florida.
Keith J. Kanouse
Director & Corporate Secretary
Director and Corporate Secretary
Since 1991, Keith has been President of Kanouse & Walker, P.A., a law firm concentrating in business law including franchise law, located in Boca Raton, Florida.
Giuliano Grassi
Special Consultant
Giuliano is acting as Special Consultant to assist the CEO with respect to all strategic and technological issues. He is, among others, the past head of the Biomass R&D Program (CEC/DG XII) at the European Commission, as well as the founder of the European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA) and its past secretary general and vice president.