Innovation Distinguishes Between A Leader & A Follower.
-Steve Jobs
Meet Our Leadership Team
The Indian River Industrial Eco-District leadership team comprised of accomplished business executives with extensive experience in the development, financing, construction and operations of industrial infrastructure and real estate projects. All of the individuals on this team are committed to making the Indian River Eco-District a success story in Vero Beach.
Alain Castro
Mr. Castro is Project Director of the Indian River Eco-District, and has twenty-five years experience in the energy infrastructure industry, spanning several regions including the United States, South America, Europe and Middle East.
Craig Gontkovic
Mr. Gontlkovic has over 20 years of trading, project finance, and structured products experience in the electric power markets. He has owned and managed his own energy hedge fund and has worked at Credit Suisse in the Proprietary Commodity Trading Group.
Jim Hissam
Mr. Hissam is a Vice President of Land Acquisition & Development of BHK Capital, a leading Southeastern U.S. real estate investment & advisory firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Alain Castro
Mr. Castro is Project Director of the Indian River Eco-District, & has twenty-five years experience in the energy infrastructure industry, spanning several regions including the US, South America, Europe & Middle East.
Steve Moore
Mr. Moore is a leading international biofuel industry executive, with extensive experience in founding and managing the commercial, sales & branding activities of successful companies in energy as well as in agri-tech industries.
Craig Gontkovic
Mr. Gontlkovic has over 20 years of trading, project finance, and structured products experience in the electric power markets. He has owned and managed his own energy hedge fund and has worked at Credit Suisse in the Proprietary Commodity Trading Group.
Jim Hissam
Mr. Hissam is a Vice President of Land Acquisition and Development of BHK Capital, a leading Southeastern U.S. real estate investment and advisory firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Alain Castro
PROJECT DIRECTOR
Mr. Castro is Project Director of the Indian River Eco-District, and has 25 years experience in the energy infrastructure industry, spanning several regions including the US, South America, Europe and Middle East. Mr. Castro has previously held a range of executive roles, including CEO of a publicly listed energy infrastructure technology company and President of Akuo Energy Americas, a leading global developer, owner and operator of renewable power generation plants. Mr. Castro has held executive roles in the development and financing of over $1 Billion of renewable power-projects; as a hand’s on executive, Mr. Castro has had direct leadership over all detailed aspects of project development efforts, contractual negotiations with equipment suppliers and construction service providers, and the detailed structuring of all elements of the capital structures with equity investors and banks. Prior to his years in renewable power, Mr. Castro was a Partner at Ernst & Young Consulting, where he held overall responsibility for the firm’s oil & gas industry consulting practice across the entire South America region. Mr. Castro earned his Master’s Degree in Business Management from the Sloan Fellowship program at the London Business School, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Texas, and is fluent in four languages.
Steve Moore
Mr. Moore is a leading international biofuel industry executive, with extensive experience in founding and managing the commercial, sales and branding activities of successful companies in energy (both fossil and renewables) and agri-tech industries. For the last 10 years, he was the co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Pannonia Bio, the largest ethanol production business in Europe. Mr. Moore originated the company from concept to construction completion, and subsequently led the commercial team on to tremendous commercial success with $250 million Euros in annual revenue and 175 employees. The company has had a significant and positive impact on the local economy, where it is credited with 1000 indirect jobs. Mr. Moore has driven businesses at the highest level globally, in multiple languages and cultures. Previous to his years working in the energy and biofuels sectors, Mr. Moore also acquired immense experience in pharmaceuticals, branded spirits, FMCG, animal feed/protein and agricultural commodities. He has worked and lived primarily in Europe and South America for the last two decades, and is in the process of relocating back to the US with his wife and son. He holds a Masters degree in Business from the international Program at the University of South Carolina and a BA cum laude from San Francisco State University.
Craig Gontkovic
Mr. Gontlkovic has over 20 years of trading, project finance, and structured products experience in the electric power markets. He has owned and managed his own energy hedge fund and has worked at Credit Suisse in the Proprietary Commodity Trading Group, Allegheny Power as the Managing Director of Utility Assets, Merrill Lynch as Project Finance and Trading Manager, and Goldman Sachs/Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) as an engineer, project manager and energy trader. Mr. Gontkovic brings the team deep insight into energy markets, energy regulation(s), energy operations, project finance, physical risk assessment capabilities, derivative deal structuring and physical spread trading. Craig holds a Degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Jim Hissam
Mr. Hissam is a Vice President of Land Acquisition and Development of BHK Capital, a leading Southeastern U.S. real estate investment and advisory firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. BHK Capital specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of various property types including land, business parks, commercial, and residential properties in Jacksonville and the surrounding region. BHK Capital has developed over 25,000 single-family lots and four million feet of industrial space in Jacksonville. Mr. Hissam is a graduate of The Citadel and the US Army Command and General Staff College. Prior to joining BHK Capital, Jim served as an active duty officer in the Army for five years. Currently, he is a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard. Upon leaving active duty, Jim joined KB Home where he successfully went from managing a scattered lot acquisition program to managing full-scale land acquisition and development. After leaving KB Home, Jim formed his own company to acquire and cultivate residential properties. When Jim joined BHK Capital he had already developed 20 subdivisions in northeast Florida.