Gary Herman is the CEO of Advent Technologies. He is a seasoned investor with many years of investment and business experience. From 2005 to 2020 he co-managed the Strategic Turnaround Equity Partners, LP (Cayman) fund and its affiliates. From January 2011 to August 2013, he was a managing member of Abacoa Capital Management, LLC, which managed Abacoa Capital Master Fund, Ltd., focused on a Global-Macro investment strategy. From 2005 to 2020, Mr. Herman was affiliated with Arcadia Securities LLC, a New York-based broker-dealer. From 1997 to 2002, he was an investment banker with Burnham Securities, Inc. From 1993 to 1997, he was a managing partner of Kingshill Group, Inc., a merchant banking and financial firm with offices in New York and Tokyo. Mr. Herman has a B.S. from the University at Albany with a major in Political Science and minors in Business and Music. Mr. Herman has many years of experience serving on the boards of public and private companies. He presently sits on the boards of Siyata Mobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYTA), SRM Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRM), and SusGlobal Energy Corp. (OTCQB: SNRG).

Emory De Castro has been Advent’s Chief Technology Officer since 2013. Dr. De Castro is responsible for the overall technical, manufacturing and product development for Advent Technologies. Prior to joining Advent, Dr. De Castro was a Vice President, Business Management and the site manager for BASF Fuel Cell Inc. in Somerset NJ. At BASF Dr. De Castro led marketing and sales, business development, quality and R&D direction all cumulating in nearly a four-fold increase in revenues. As the Executive Vice President at the E-TEK Division, De Nora North America he managed operations, created a global brand, and expanded the organization’s fuel cell component business in Asia and Europe. Dr. De Castro has over 20 patent applications spanning fuel cell materials and catalysts, electrochemical technology, sensors, and a beer bottle cap that extends shelf life. He is the recipient of the 2013 Department of Energy Award for Manufacturing R&D in lowering the cost of gas diffusion electrodes and the 2005 ECS New Technology Award given to E-TEK Division, for introducing and commercializing a new electrolysis technology. Emory De Castro received his Ph.D. from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati and a B.S. in Chemistry from Duke University. 

Seth Lukash, is a seasoned corporate director, officer, and investor. For 30 years he was a CEO for several technology and manufacturing companies. He was CEO and President of Tridex, Inc. (n/k/a TransAct Technologies (NASDAQ: TACT) a manufacturer of printers and peripherals to the banking, lottery/gaming, and retail sales markets. Mr. Lukash was Chairman and CEO of Progressive Software, a large provider of application software to the restaurant and hospitality industry. After the sale and divestiture of these companies he advised several technology companies. He has served as an advisor to OEM Capital a boutique investment banking firm and Strategic Turnaround Equity Partners, LP, a fund focused on investments in undervalued public companies. He currently advises an AI start-up with their organization and structuring for additional financing. He started his finance career as a research analyst for Carter Berlind & Weil. Mr. Lukash has a BA in Finance from the University of Miami.

Marc Seelenfreund has over 20 years experience in the telecom arena and is founder and CEO of Siyata Mobile Inc (Nasdaq: SYTA), a leader in the Push to Talk Over cellular market. Previously, Marc was CEO and founder of Accel Telecom Ltd. (TASE: ACCL) a leading distributor of innovative telecom equipment. Marc was an officer in the IDF, has a law degree from Bar Ilan University and is chairman of Israel’s largest private college.

Joseph P. Celia is a distinguished technology industry leader with over 30 years of experience driving growth, building strategic partnerships, and spearheading innovative business initiatives. With a career spanning executive and senior-level sales leadership roles at globally recognized organizations—including Hewlett Packard, Motorola, 3Com, Symbol Technologies, Bradford Networks, Accton Technology, and FIS Global—Joseph has consistently delivered measurable results in highly competitive markets.
A results-oriented strategist, Joseph brings deep expertise in market expansion, revenue growth, and organizational leadership. His ability to navigate the complexities of the rapidly evolving tech sector has made him a trusted advisor and a catalyst for transformative change. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology from Northeastern University. As a board member, he leverages his extensive industry knowledge, strategic vision, and commitment to governance to drive organizational success and long-term value creation.

Robert W. Schwartz, Chairman & Founder, founded the firm in 1985. Mr. Schwartz specializes in strategy, finance and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to starting the firm, he was a founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Winsource, Inc., a venture-funded high-tech telecommunications company. In addition, he was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Coradian Corporation, an American Stock Exchange-listed company that he took public in 1979. He was also the Chief Financial Officer of Garden Way Manufacturing Corporation, a major manufacturer of outdoor power equipment. His earlier experience was with KPMG as a management consultant and with IBM. Since starting SHG, he has worked with over 800 businesses utilizing his experience in finance and general management to help achieve their objectives. Mr. Schwartz holds a BS from Cornell University and has done graduate work at The University at Albany. He has served as a director of a number of public, private and non-profit organizations; he currently serves on the boards of several corporations. He chaired The University at Albany Foundation’s Council on Economic Outreach, is past non-executive chairman of the Statewide Zone Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of Pursuit, Inc., was chair of the New York State Industries for the Disabled and is a director of Dais Analytic Corporation and Northeast Grocery, Inc. In addition, he is a long-serving member of the University at Albany Foundation Board and a Trustee at the Museum of Innovation and Science. He has been a frequent guest lecturer at universities and professional organizations and taught a graduate course in entrepreneurship at The University at Albany for 20 years.