Stephen Smoot has been in International Business Development since 1982. He negotiated over USD 900,000,000 in international contracts, including a USD 490,000,000 manufacturing agreement with the China Great Wall Industry Corporation, the commercial arm of the Ministry of Aerospace and Astronautics of China.
He managed numerous international technology development and transfer agreements with the Chinese governmental companies.
He was a Marketing consultant for Golden West Artemia, primarily targeting the Southeast Asia market.
Stephen directed the formation of numerous Joint Venture companies in USA, Mexico, Afghanistan, Middle East, China and former Soviet republics. He is a specialist in offshore corporate asset protection and trust management for non-US Persons and directed international corporate mergers and acquisitions for US public companies.
He started out with his own business in Real Estate; opened the Denver, Colorado office of Marcus & Millichap, a national commercial brokerage firm specializing in the sale and acquisition of income-producing properties; developed 1,200 acres of sub-divisions in central Utah; owned and operated apartment complexes, mobile home park and ranch properties.
He also worked in Oil & gas leasing, exploration and production of oil & gas wells in Montana & Texas.
Stephen is currently President & CEO of TORtec Group Corporation (a publicly traded company), TORtec Group, TORtec Nanosynthesis Corp, Techgrand Company Limited and Eagle Feather Minerals.
He is married and has six children and 14 grandchildren. He is active in charitable, religious and social endeavors and is a Religious Instructor (Christianity).
Albert Niekerk was the managing partner of Global Science GmbH (2000-2016) in Germany. Albert’s capabilities relate to the strategic management of technology and innovation, specializing in knowledge transfer between industry and academia in applied sciences and technology. It includes intellectual property, business development, and the marketing of exceptional know-how, skills, and expertise in international markets.
Albert developed several proven methodologies for the advancement, enrichment, deployment and commercialization of new technologies and high-end innovation from the research environment to the business environment (research to industrialization). State of the Art information and communication technologies embedded in assessment and business planning tools support the methodologies, which significantly advance technologies’ screening, sourcing, and commercializing processes. International Universities and commercial banks endorsed these methodologies.
Albert’s ability to convert applied research results to need-satisfaction solutions for key industry players has resulted in cutting-edge inventions in the past, for which he was honored with an innovative science award in 1996 and 2004 in Germany. He also was awarded an internationally distinguished research award in 2000 at the ‘Allied Academies International Symposium in Myrtle Beach, USA. His way of converting academic knowledge into practical business value activities across functional value chains creates extreme value for companies. It advances the competitiveness of these companies through differentiation through the innovative use of new technologies in products, processes, and services. Albert developed the business concept of designing, developing, and implementing technology strategies like other business management functions, such as financial and marketing strategies. Albert is an Academic Peer Reviewer for the African Journal for Marketing Management. He was an accredited strategic business coach for the NUK (Neues Unternehmertum Rheinland e.V.) and the KFW-Bank (Kredit für Wiederaufbau), both situated in Germany.
Albert published thirty-five (23) publications in peer-reviewed journals, compiled five (7) white papers, and developed eight (8) scientific concepts (https://independent.academia.edu/vanNiekerkAlbert). Albert devoted 30 years to applied research in Germany
Alfred S. Minors graduated Linfield College McMinnville, Oregon U.S.A with double Bachelor degrees in Accounting and Economics with minor in computer programming. He has forty plus years of business experience designing, installing and maintaining Management Information Systems. He earned a Cum Laude Masters Business Administration from Webster University. He is a Certified Public Accountant for USA, Canada and Bermuda, retired.
Philip Neilson is an attorney and serves as Veritas Group Limited’s Corporate Compliance Officer. He began his career working at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation for 23 years as a Special Agent and Legal Counsel. Upon his retirement in January 2012, he opened Neilson Law Office with a focus on the general practice of law and helping those in need.
Philip is licensed to practice in the State of Mississippi, The Supreme Court of Mississippi, the United States District Court for Northern and Southern Mississippi, and the United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit. He is a Member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Lafayette County Mississippi Bar, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association, the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Inc., and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Philip enjoys the outdoors and is a keen hunter.
Michael Markham is a member of the Veritas Group Limited’s Board of Directors and is based in Bermuda. His main focus is on establishing Equitas Global the captive insurance company for the Veritas Group offering state of the art re-insurance for all the Veritas Projects with Financial insurance and guarantee as key focus. He is semi-retired, Chairman of Bermuda Security Solutions Ltd. He is a Founding Member of World Council Spiritual Diplomacy, World Holiness Church (Florida) and a Director of Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning
Mr Markham graduated with BSBA Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He is a member of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and has been actively involved in the world of Reinsurance
For the last 25 years he has been involved with many Bermuda Community Development programs and aiding individuals to take part in the democratic process and has interfaced over the last 2 decades with various Bermuda Ministers and Permanent Secretaries.
As an advisor to Veritas Group Limited, Rob DeSantis supports the CEO and management team in various capacities. He has 30 years of corporate experience and earned a BSME URI degree prior to joining a start-up company called Rasna Corporation. Rob spent time working in Europe prior to relocating to California’s Silicon Valley where he consults in the venture capital industry.
Rob co-founded Ariba, Inc. and led its field sales and operations team, helping the company expand from zero to $250 million in four years with positive cash flow after eight months of operation. Eventually, Ariba became the fastest growing software company in the history of the software industry. In 1999, while Rob lived in Holland setting up international operations and customers, Ariba went public and was cited as one of the top 10 IPO’s of all time reaching a $42 billion market cap nine months after the IPO. Rob retired from Ariba as the EVP and CMO in late 2000 where he architected key relationships with companies like Dell, Microsoft, Bank of America and American Express.
Since 2001, he has developed a portfolio of companies primarily in the world of technology and has helped several to achieve billion-dollar outcomes. In 2003, Rob invested alongside Sequoia Capital in LinkedIn and was an early board member. In 2007 he became one of the largest personal investors in Bloom Energy and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the CEO and his team. Additional companies he has participated in include Sugar Publishing, Hiq Labs, Aeye Inc. and Agiloft Software where he is also a Senior Advisor to the CEO and management team.
Rob obtained a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Rhode Island.
The little free time he has, he enjoys spending with his family and he is also a very keen golfer.
