Joel Balbien is an accomplished and visionary executive with a proven success in managing the commercialization of Clean Technologies in both Fortune 500 and Hi-Tech startup companies. His investment and management background spans 25 years including service as an Operations Research Analyst at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, and financial and strategic planning positions of increasing responsibility at Unocal Corporation (NYSE:CVX), Southern California Gas Company, and Pacific Enterprises, (now Sempra Energy NYSE:SRE). Dr. Balbien was a managing member at the Los Angeles based venture capital fund, STV, and from 2005 - 2007 served as CEO of Kreido Biofuels (KRBF:OB). Joel has served on the board of directors of Kreido Biofuels, Clean Energy Systems (CES), Sonics, Viaspace (VSPC.PK), Transilica, and Availigent, and was a Board Advisor for Continuous Computing Corporation.

Dr. Balbien is currently an advisor to Sempra Utilities, and several startups including Topanga Technologies, FlexEnergy, and Zubican. Joel has been a frequent speaker within the venture capital community including presentations at Larta Institute conferences, and Wireless and Nano-technology forums at UCLA and MIT/ Caltech. Dr. Balbien also served as a mentor for the Southern California Venture Capital Forum, a screener for CalTip and SBIR grant programs, and is currently a Distinguished Lecturer at the Marshall School of Business at USC.