LEADERSHIP TEAM
Proven Leaders in Energy and Infrastructure
The Avnos leadership team brings decades of experience building, financing, manufacturing, and deploying complex energy and infrastructure technologies. Their expertise spans the full path from innovation and commercialization to large-scale project execution, helping transform waste heat into cooling, water production, and new infrastructure opportunities.

Will Kain
Founder & CEO
Will leads Avnos’ strategy and growth as the company brings HDAC™ technology to commercial scale. His focus is on helping infrastructure operators unlock greater value from waste heat through cooling, water production, and integrated carbon removal.
With nearly two decades of experience across climate technology, corporate strategy, and capital markets, Will brings deep expertise in scaling industrial, energy, and infrastructure technologies from early innovation through commercial deployment.
Prior to founding Avnos, he helped launch Rusheen Capital Management, a private equity firm focused on growth-stage investments in energy, water, and industrial sustainability. He also served as Vice President of Corporate Development at NanoH2O, a membrane desalination company later acquired by LG Chem.
Will began his career in the Investment Banking Division at UBS. He holds a BA in Economics and Government from the University of Virginia.

Paul McGinty
SVP, Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Paul is a product-to-production executive who specializes in manufacturing and supply chain strategy, scaling HDAC from breakthrough innovation into repeatable commercial deployment. He specializes in bridging scientific advancement and industrial execution – building the systems, operations, and supply chains that transform first-of-a-kind technologies into factory-built, scalable products.
With more than two decades of experience across advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and industrial technology, Paul has led complex hardware through high-growth commercialization at companies including Tesla, BlackSky (LeoStella), and First Mode. At Tesla, he was instrumental in the launches of the Model S and Model X, helping drive manufacturing and supply chain transformation and scale production from launch to more than 100,000 units per year.

Srikanth Ramakrishnan
SVP, Project Delivery
Sri leads project delivery at Avnos, overseeing the execution of HDAC deployments as the company scales from innovation into real-world commercial infrastructure. He brings deep expertise in delivering complex power, renewable energy, and industrial projects through strategic EPC partnerships, large-scale execution, and operational leadership.
With senior leadership experience spanning AMEC Foster Wheeler, General Electric, Bloom Energy, and Verdagy, Sri has built and led global teams across project delivery, services, and operations in the power, cleantech, and energy sectors. His background combines commercial, operational, and technical expertise with a strong track record of scaling emerging technologies into deployable industrial systems.

Benjamin Stone
VP, Corporate Development
Ben leads Avnos’ corporate development strategy, driving commercial growth through engagement with investors, customers, and strategic partners as the company scales HDAC into commercial deployment. He brings deep expertise across clean energy finance, project investment, and business development within the energy transition.
Prior to Avnos, Ben served as VP of Finance at 1PointFive, where he supported the commercial scaling of carbon capture infrastructure. Before that, he was a Principal at Rusheen Capital Management, focused on early-stage investments and operations in resource efficiency and clean technology. Earlier in his career, Ben spent more than five years at US Renewables Group, helping drive investment across renewable energy and clean technology infrastructure.
Ben began his career in HSBC’s Leveraged & Acquisition Finance Group in London, focused on structured debt across energy, mining, and infrastructure. His background positions him at the intersection of capital, commercialization, and strategic growth.

JR Johnson
VP, Research and Development
JR leads Avnos’ research and development strategy, advancing HDAC through integrated materials, process, and system innovation designed to improve performance, manufacturability, and commercial scalability. His work spans the full innovation pathway – from materials design and characterization through pilot-scale validation – with a focus on reducing cost, improving energy efficiency, and accelerating deployment readiness.
A chemical engineer and technology leader, JR brings deep expertise at the intersection of industrial systems, advanced materials, and clean technology.
Prior to Avnos, he held leadership roles at ExxonMobil and SABIC, where he directed research strategy and led advanced technology programs focused on separations, industrial performance, and energy efficiency.
JR holds degrees in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (BSc) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (MSc and PhD).