Building Circular Ag Solutions
Swinergy transforms manure and organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG), creating value for farmers, communities, and the planet.
Our Mission
To engineer innovative renewable energy solutions that transform agricultural and organic waste into valuable clean energy resources while helping farmers increase profitability, reducing harmful emissions, and creating a more sustainable future for rural communities and future generations.
Our Vision
A future where every farm and waste facility becomes a producer of clean, renewable energy through scalable technology that supports energy independence, environmental responsibility, stronger local economies, and a healthier planet.
Team
Eugene Alvey
Amy Crary
Shane Farnell
Eva Adhikari
George Nall
Advisors
Luca Zullo, PhD
Matt Holland
Eric Ihlenfeld
Jon Dencker, M.S.
Mick Doriani, M.S.
Patrick Murphy
Board
Mark Payne
Frederick Breslow
Eugene Alvey
CEO
I envisioned Swinergy after seeing the terrible impacts animal waste has in both developed and developing countries. Working on farms growing up in the Midwest and, later, seeing mothers in Vietnam collect contaminated water for their children has fueled and drives my passion for a better solution. Since studying GIS and Environmental Engineering at West Point, I’ve been hunting for the right solution. As the world demand for food and energy grows unchecked, we cannot continue the unsustainable waste management practices putting our people and our world in jeopardy. At Swinergy, we believe the key to successfully tackling this problem is to combine an innovative solution with a deep understanding of all our stakeholders to ensure everyone in the value chain is better off. This starts with our farmers in their barns and ends with families getting water from their tap. We’re thrilled to be building the state-of-the-art solution to help our communities turn waste into wealth.
Amy Crary
Head of Engineering
Amy grew up in Minnesota racing sailboats. She earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont, where she competed in intercollegiate sailing and captained the team. After graduation, she founded a recreational equipment company, focused on manufacturing processes. She later joined an aerospace startup based in Austin, Texas, where she led the design and implementation of primary vehicle assembly work cells.
Shane Farnell
Lab Director
Shane is a Minnesota native and has had a deep passion for the environment since his childhood. Shane earned his B.S. in environmental science from UW River Falls where he focused on analyzing water and soil contamination. Following graduation, Shane spent three years in Australia working in various agricultural roles and on an environmental analysis team. Shane leads Swinergy’s laboratory efforts and oversees prototype testing.
Eva Adhikari
Engineering Technician
Eva graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Physics and Astrophysics. She spent her senior year analyzing solar flare data for her thesis, and working on an experimental physics project. Her interest in engineering stems from her years spent working in the student machine shop and participating in the university's rocketry team, eventually leading the team as president. Eva brings both her aptitude and experience in mechanical assembly and fabrication to the team and is implementing the software package for Swinergy’s commercial systems.
George Nall
Head of Origination
George brings his experience as both an entrepreneur and an energy broker to the Swinergy team. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, he initially served as a US Army Field Artillery Officer. He has since spent over 25 years in the renewable energy sector focusing on both developing and selling energy projects and their respective commodities. Along the way, George has also participated in several successful startups in leadership roles. George leads the commercial efforts at Swinergy encompassing offtake, sales, and capitalization.
Luca Zullo, PhD
Advisor
Luca is currently the Senior Director of Science and Technology at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI). Luca’s career spans decades of research focused on anaerobic digestion. He’s lead the development of novel chemical processes around the world in startups all the way to Fortune 100 companies. His specialization is taking technology from a prototype in the lab to commercialization.
Matt Holland
Partner Farmer
Matt advises Swinergy on project execution, scaling opportunities, and operational planning initiatives.
Eric Ihlenfeld
Agricultural Operations
Eric found his passion for agriculture growing up and working on his family hog and cash crop farm in southern Minnesota. He earned his degree in Ag Studies and Agricultural Engineering at UWRF. Upon graduation, Eric went on to manage grain elevators, fertilizer, and chemical operations. This culminated in him serving as the head of operations for one of Minnesota’s largest anaerobic digesters. Eric now assists many major food companies in making the transition to sustainability and environmentally conscious practices for their business.
Jon Dencker
I&C Engineer
Following his graduation from West Point, Jon initially served as an Airborne Infantry Officer before pivoting to his role pioneering the data modernization effort in the Army. This journey led him to Carnegie Mellon University, where he immersed himself in cutting-edge AI concepts, earning dual Master's degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Driven by a passion for blending technical acumen with strategic vision, Jon champions innovation and efficiency in complex environments.
Mick Doriani
Scientific Advisor
Michael (Mick) is a chemist and chemical engineer at Koch Industries with over 10 years of experience in the energy sector with both traditional fossil fuels and renewable biofuels. Prior to earning his M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Mick and a partner operated a part-time business creating diesel fuel from left-over fry oil. . His interests lie in the eclectic mixture of resources required to power our future.
Patrick Murphy
Regulatory Advisor
The Honorable Patrick Murphy was America's first Iraq War Veteran elected to congress. He served as the Representative for the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania and the 32nd Undersecretary of the Army. Mr. Murphy served on the Appropriations Committee including service on the energy and water development subcommittee.
Mark Payne
DIRECTOR & CFO
Mark is a seasoned executive with over 35 years of experience, focusing on finance and operations. Mark has been the Chief Financial Officer for 3 companies which he has taken public. His background and experience is tailored towards emerging businesses with revenues from $0 to $50 million. Mark has made an immediate impact to Swinergy’s financial efforts including fundraising strategy, capital formation, and budgeting.
Frederick Breslow
Board Member
Freddy is currently serving as an Air and Missile Defense Officer in the U.S. Army. He has over 12 years experience in the development of scalable technology companies as an investor and advisor. His interest is on the application of new technologies which enable decentralized solutions to systemic problems. When not assisting his portfolio companies or protecting our skies, he can be found at his local fencing club.