We are a unique team of individuals with the same aspirations – to improve our environment by developing an efficient emissions friendly engine. Being "green" is not something you do for the moment, it's a way of life as well as our responsibility.
Matthew Riley
(CEO / Chief Research Scientist)
Mr. Riley has over 20 years experience heading up research teams on several ground breaking experimental engine technological projects (multiple rotor four stroke technology, piston single overhead valve four stroke engine technology) specializing in unique flow characteristics, combustion analysis and combustion technologies; i.e. Homogeneous Charged Compression Ignition (HCCI), Semi-Homogeneous Charged Compression Ignition (S-HCCI), and his new technology of Forced Semi-Homogeneous Charged Compression Ignition (FS-HCCI). He is also the creator of the Grail Pneumatic Two-Stroke Engine & founder of Grail Engine Technologies.
Nicholas Bennington
(President / Research Engineer)
Mr. Bennington holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from San Diego State University and an MS degree in Management Information Systems from Friends University Wichita, KS. He has over 20 years experience in the aerospace and aviation industry (General Dynamics, Douglas Aircraft, BF Goodrich - formally Rohr Inc., Bombardier/Learjet) specializing in CAD design and training, implementation of enterprise PDM applications, managing multiple continuous improvement initiatives via Six Sigma and Lean Engineering. Nicholas has consulted on several ground breaking experimental engine technological projects with Matthew Riley.
Doug Thompson
(Corporate Attorney / Treasurer)
Mr. Thompson is city attorney for the city of Chapman, Kansas, Dickinson County Counselor, Administrative Hearing Officer for the Eighth Judicial District (Geary, Dickinson, Morris, and Marion counties), and municipal judge for the city of Abilene, Kansas.
Mr. Thompson is President of the Kansas Auto Racing Museum and Kansas Racing Products. Kansas Racing Products manufactures the “Super Duty Block” utilizing the General Motors high performance in-line 4-cylinder block, the Ford SVO Racing Block and the Mopar high performance block. Kansas Racing Products also manufactures crankshafts and intake manifolds.
Kansas Racing Products engine blocks have been successfully used in NASCAR, ARCA, Power Boat Racing, Off-Road Racing and currently is a world record holder in the NHRA Series.
Vince Stephens
Vince Stephens was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 17, at age 24 he entered a wheel chair. Four years later through his own determination and perseverance he was able to leave the wheel chair behind him. Vince is the author of “Multiple Sclerosis: One Victims Story”; A book describing his driving force to overcome the debilitating conditions brought on by MS, and is now fully functional.
He served as Chairman of the Loveland Handicap Advisory Board and was President of the Loveland Handicap Commission, who were instrumental in creating many of the first ADA requirements in Colorado, and was the inaugural President of People First in Hutchinson, Kansas. Vince spent over 10 years lecturing throughout the US and Canada on the subject of good health and degenerative illness and continues to assist anyone requesting help from his experiences.
As a youth in Kansas, Vince was an Eagle Scout. He belonged to High Country Mustang Club in Colorado and Shelby Owners of America, Inc. He is presently a member of the Mid States Street Rods and Salt City Cruisers car clubs, in Kansas, which are non-profit organizations that raise money for various charities in his hometown. Vince belongs to the Ford GT Forum.
He owned and operated an auto parts business and machine shop in Colorado. In Kansas he built racing engines which have powered cars to track records and championships in dirt track racing.
Mr. Stephens is President of Stephens Rental Properties, Rampart, LLC, and HTP, LLC, all in Kansas. He is co-owner of Legacy II, LLC, in Colorado, Native Properties III, LLC, and the Split-T Center, in Oklahoma and Split-T Charcoal Broiler, Inc., California. He presently sits on the board of directors of Grail Engine Technologies.
Dr. M. Maureen Toll
Dr. Maureen Toll has been the Director of Workforce Program Development at the Salina, Kansas Area Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. Her responsibilities include custom-designed workforce training, assessments, and other human resource services for regional businesses and industries; labor market research, policy and analysis; coordination of workforce and education task forces; and representation on several national, state, and local boards related to workforce and educational issues, legislation and funding. Dr. Toll is also a member of the Board for Grail Engine Technologies.
Dr. Toll has experience -- from both corporate and academic perspectives -- in the design, implementation and assessment of corporate training, secondary and post-secondary technical programs, Tech Prep, School to Career, Welfare to Work, the Workforce Investment Act, the US. Chamber’s Workforce 2020, and the Synchronist economic development research and analysis system. Before coming to the Salina Chamber, she was an Assistant Dean for continuing education, allied health, and business and industry training at a community college. Throughout her career, Dr. Toll and her husband, Doug, have also managed their own farming operation.
Dr. Toll holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS as well as a bachelor’s degree in Art and Education from North Park University in Chicago, Illinois.
Howard S. Hedlund
B.A.
Business Administration from Michigan State University.
Lou Camilli
President Enerpulse Corporation
The Enerpulse Corporation is collaborating with Grail Engine Technologies on advanced emerging technological breakthroughs.
Dr. Denis Brownridge
PH.D.
Past Appointments
• State of Michigan, Department of Management and Budget, Bureau of Office of Health and Medical Affairs
• Workers’ Compensation Health Care Cost Advisory Committee
• Physicians Health Plan [H.M.O.] Credentials Committee
Dr. Michael A. V. Ward
Ph.D. Physics
He has over
30 years of experience addressing fuel efficiency, emissions and power of internal combustion engines including homogeneous technology.
We would like to thank Dr. Ward for his intellectual support to Grail Engine Technologies. We wish him the very best in his new project. We hope he is on the right track. We are sorry to hear that this will occupy most of his time.
It has been a pleasure and an honor having Dr. Ward's expert advice and friendship.
Dr. Fred R. Kern
Ph.D. Senior Consultant, Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Kern, INCE.Bd.Cert., (Institute of Noise Control Engineering) contributes over forty five years of professional experience in the field of applied mechanics in applications ranging from automotive vehicle design to aircraft engines and submarines to projects at Acentech, Inc.
His professional practice has included design, development, research, and failure analysis. In the field of manufacturing, Dr. Kern contributed to the design and development of patents for ignition systems, burner improvements and Naval Launch and recovery systems for unmanned surface and underwater vehicles.
In his role of Senior Consultant Mechanical Engineer, Dr. Kern works extensively with other Acentech staff involved in acoustics, materials, sensor development and deployments and investigates structural failures to assist in cause identification including design and material issues.
Dr. Kern was a director of Combustion Electromagnetics Incorporated for thirteen years from its incorporation in 1977, and is currently for the last 15 years. He has contributed to the theoretical development and mechanical design of electromagnetically stimulated combustion in engines and holds a joint patent in “Burner Improvements,” No. 4,230,448 and on ignition systems.
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