Our Team

Andre Zeitoun is the Founder and CEO of Ionic Mineral Technologies, a U.S.-based innovation leader in advanced, next generation battery materials. Andre is highly regarded for his leadership in the commercialization of halloysite clay nanotubes. Andre has dedicated over a decade of his career to this unique mineral and established himself as a pioneer in the commercialization of Halloysite for specialty applications. A seasoned leader formerly working on Wall St. and as an executive of a public company, Andre is well positioned to grow his company and accelerate the path to an electrified future.

Dr. Sunho Kang is the Chief Technology Officer at Ionic Mineral Technologies and a seasoned leader in lithium-ion battery innovation, with over 25 years of experience in R&D and the industrialization of battery materials and cells. His career spans top-tier research institutions, cell manufacturers, and OEMs, including Argonne National Laboratory, Samsung SDI, Apple, and Volkswagen. Dr. Kang’s work in developing advanced NCM cathode materials, silicon-carbon nanocomposites, and nanoporous silicon has led to their widespread commercial adoption in lithium-ion cells for electric vehicles and power tools. A former protégé of Nobel Laureate Dr. John B. Goodenough, a pioneer in lithium-ion technology, Dr. Kang holds more than 80 scientific publications and over 30 U.S. patents in battery materials. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Seoul National University. 

Keith Brooks is the Vice President and COO of Ionic Mineral Technologies. Keith is a results-driven professional chemist with 40 years of experience in minerals extraction and manufacturing environments. Prior to joining Ionic Mineral Technologies, Keith was the Site Director at BASF. At BASF, Keith managed a $275M annual operating budget and oversaw 600-square-mile mining operation, four manufacturing plants, production of 1.3M short tons/year of processed kaolin, shipments out to three markets globally, 600 BASF employees, and 300 contractors.

Over the span of 17 years and multiple times for each, Keith has served as President and Executive Board Member of the Georgia Mining Association (GMA), Georgia Mining Foundation, and China Clay Producers of Georgia. Keith was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by GMA for his exceptional contributions to the growth and prosperity of the mining industry in 2013.

Max Yan PhD. is a Chemical Engineer at Ionic MT and part of the Battery Materials team. Max is an expert in metallothermic reduction and brings a wealth of materials skills to the company. Previously, Max worked at the prestigious Dalhousie University where he specialized in researching nano-silicon production processes for energy storage and conversion applications. Max completed his PhD on silicon anode material for lithium-ion batteries with a focus on techno-economic analysis at the University of Sheffield. Prior to this, Max gained his Masters in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sheffield which included a research project in materials science and electrochemical energy at the State University of New York.

Betty Lankry brings extensive international experience in events, marketing, media, and business development to Ionic Mineral Technologies. For decades, Betty has led events and supported media productions across Europe, North America (primarily NYC, Miami and LA), as well as South America. Betty co-founded Prisma Artists, a global booking agency, and has worked for brands including MTV, Royal Elastics, Prospect Park production company. Betty studied the Business of Entertainment at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Preston Colledge is the Director of Mining Operations at Ionic Mineral Technologies. Preston holds an extensive background in excavation, geology, and scaling-up mining operations. Previously, Preston was a Researcher at Utah Valley State University where he developed various research proposals including one for using magnetic anomalies in Earth’s total magnetic field to locate placer gold deposits. Preston received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Earth Science from Utah Valley University.

Chad is the Production Manager and Environmental Health and Safety Supervisor at Ionic MT. He ensures that all mining and processing operations meet the highest standards for health, safety, and environmental protection and he also supports our ongoing expansion of Ionisil™ production. Chad previously served as Minerals Manager and EHS Coordinator at one of the nation’s largest muscovite mica suppliers, Colors & Effects USA. Chad brings a strong background in mining, mineral processing, construction and forestry to Ionic MT. Chad obtained his degree from Georgia Military College and is a U.S. Army veteran where he was an infantryman and team leader, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Edmund recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Chemical Engineering. During his time at Brigham Young University, he made impressive strides in silicon-anode research and developed a novel LNO synthesis method.  Edmund brings hands-on experience in electrode fabrication, characterization, and electrochemical testing from his work at Rivian, Xerion Advanced Battery Corp, and Storagenergy Technologies. His expertise in lithium-ion battery technology, especially with silicon anodes, fits perfectly with our mission to develop sustainable, high-performance battery materials.

Shane is a head excavator for Ionic Mineral Technologies. Previously with Goldstar Excavation, Shane brings over five years of experience in surface mining and extensive knowledge of the local terrain at Ionic Mineral Technologies’ site in Utah. He performs a hands-on role for the company, ensuring quality work and environmental responsibility throughout the excavation, mineral transit, and final processing steps of transforming halloysite to nano-silicon.