LEADERSHIP
TEAM

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Kyle R. Shen

President & CEO / Managing Partner

Kyle R. Shen is a proven leader with the ability to transform businesses, develop high-performing teams, and dramatically increase revenue. Mr. Shen has successfully led four businesses with revenues ranging from $10 to $200 million in the food, industrial manufacturing, and industrial services industries. He received a Master of Business Administration from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Management Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Randall M. Stacy

Chief Commercial Officer / Managing Partner
Randall M. Stacy is a strategic business leader with extensive experience in leading global commercial initiatives in the industrial packaging business. Mr. Stacy has led a global sales team with customers in over 120 countries. In addition to his vast commercial success, Mr. Stacy started a very successful global brokerage firm and a packaging components company. Both ventures resulted in successful exits with large global companies. Mr. Stacy is a graduate of Fairmont State University with degrees in business and political science. Mr. Stacy builds lasting relationships with customers, partners, and suppliers.

Scott L. Swartz, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer
Scott L. Swartz, Ph.D. is the Chief Technology Officer and a co-founder of Nexceris. Dr. Swartz led Nexceris’ early technology development activities, resulting in Nexceris’ emergence as one of premier technology providers in the areas of solid oxide fuel cells, sensors and related technologies. He currently is focused on government business development, managing the growth of Nexceris’ intellectual property portfolio, and providing technical leadership and vision to the company. Dr. Swartz holds a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University and a Ph.D. in Solid State Science from The Pennsylvania State University. His previous affiliations include Battelle Memorial Institute and Mission Research Corporation. He has authored more than 60 papers in the technical literature and has received 20 U.S. patents.

Matthew M. Seabaugh, Ph.D.

Chief Product Officer

Matthew M. Seabaugh, Ph.D. is responsible for leading Nexceris’ Product Accelerator Team, which is a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers and technicians who apply structured product development methods to fast-tracked technologies. Dr. Seabaugh joined Nexceris in 1998, after completing his B.S. in Ceramic Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Seabaugh has led a broad range of materials development efforts at Nexceris including advanced ceramic composite materials for SOFCs, design and production of electrochemical sensors, and oxide protective coatings for metals. This work has led to ten issued patents and six pending applications.

Nathan D. Cooley

Sr. Director, Finance

Nathan D. Cooley is the Senior Director of Finance at Nexceris. In 2006, he joined the sales and marketing department with a focus on increasing sales, building lasting relationships, and brand recognition within the solid oxide fuel cell market for Nexceris’ fuelcellmaterials (FCM) division. During Nathan’s time with FCM and as Director of the Materials Business Unit, the business expanded its reach to over 700 customers in 70 countries and sales increased beyond $2.5 million. Mr. Cooley uses his business experience in technical fields to form partnerships with industry leaders to create mutual benefit. In 2020, Mr. Cooley became Senior Director of Finance at Nexceris, leading the Finance department and providing action-driven information to aid in Nexceris’ growth strategies. Mr. Cooley graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Human Ecology.

Cody J. Lockhart

VP Strategic Execution

Cody Lockhart is dedicated to Nexceris’ expansion and growth with critical customers, markets, and product lines. He is responsible for driving the successful execution of Nexceris’ strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, and a high standard of operational excellence. Most recently, Cody has been the Director of Nexceris’ Material Business Unit overseeing the growth of advance ceramic materials production and development services for electrochemical devices in addition to overseeing the business development for two of Nexceris’ Brands, Fuel Cell Materials (FCM) and HeatPath Solutions. Cody has degrees in Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering from Ohio State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has over 10 years of experience developing novel ceramic materials, catalyst and coating solutions for emerging and existing energy markets. He is actively engaged with key stakeholders, customers, and partners including, Fortune 500 companies, OEMs, universities, and national labs to develop tailored materials and component solutions to resolve core technological risks.

Stephen R. Cummings

Director, Sensor Business Unit

Mr. Cummings joined Nexceris in 2004 after completing his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at The Ohio State University. He was promoted in 2008 to Sensor Development Group Leader, and again in 2015 to Senior Applications Engineer. Mr. Cummings has extensive technical expertise related to gas sensor product development, including materials science, data acquisition programming, validation test planning and analysis, and sensor fabrication and testing. Mr. Cummings has led Nexceris’ sensor development efforts, with primary responsibilities in sensor design and validation testing. Mr. Cummings is a co-inventor on several of Nexceris’ issued patents and pending applications on gas sensors.

Neil J. Kidner, Ph.D.

President, Adena Power

Dr. Kidner leads the technical team developing new technologies for a range of advanced energy and environmental applications. Dr. Kidner has more than ten years’ experience in process development and manufacturing scale-up. Dr. Kidner holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University and a M.Sc. in Materials Science and Metallurgy from the University of Cambridge.

Geoff Merchant

Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Merchant has more than 30 years of industrial manufacturing experience in a variety of roles including product design and development, facilities management, operational excellence, commercial excellence, sales, and change management . He received a Master of Business Administration from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Lisa K. Stoker

Chief People Officer
Mrs. Stoker graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2004 with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science for Health and Human Services. In 2006, she moved to Columbus and joined Nexceris as an Administrative Assistant. Over the years, she demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership, earning multiple promotions and ultimately stepping into the role of Chief People Officer in 2025. With a deep understanding of company values, culture, and operational excellence, Mrs. Stoker plays a key role in driving people-focused initiatives, fostering talent development, and shaping the organization’s strategic growth.

ADVISORY BOARD

William Dawson

William Dawson is a board member of Nexceris. He was a co-founder of Nexceris and its CEO for 23 years. Mr. Dawson led the growth of the company from two founders in 1994 to a team of over 40 engineers, scientists, business professionals and manufacturing personnel. Mr. Dawson served 10 years on the Advisory Board for the OSU College of Engineering and on the Board of the Advanced Energy Economy Ohio. He has served on numerous other volunteer boards in the community including Edison Materials Technology Center and Case Western Engineering Advisory Board. Mr. Dawson received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and his M.B.A. from the University of Dayton. Prior to founding Nexceris in 1994, Mr. Dawson was a Project Manager at Battelle Memorial Institute for 11 years.

Mike Stoner

Mike Stoner is a board member of Nexceris. Mr. Stoner was trained in public accounting and progressed to executive leadership roles and currently provides financial planning and investment management services to clients using over 35 years of broad-based business knowledge. His direct business experiences include investment management, taxes, estate planning, personal financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, capital structure, leadership, operational efficiency, human resource issues, financial analysis, profitability improvement and information technology. Mr. Stoner began his career in public accounting at Price Waterhouse. He was the CFO of Abbott Foods that eventually sold to Sysco. Mr. Stoner is currently the President and owner of True North Financial Advisors. He graduated from The Ohio State University. Mr. Stoner is active in the community serving on the boards of Options for Supported Housing, VOICECorps, Mid-Ohio Region Porche Club and Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church.

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