Leadership
Built Different – Grounded in Purpose, Powered by Experience
At CarbonCore, we’re not just building clean energy infrastructure – we’re building a company that reflects the values of the community we’ve joined. Our leadership brings together decades of experience across energy, technology, policy, and impact, united by a shared mission:
To create lasting value for the United States, and the world beyond.
Main Board
Michael A. McKenzie
President & Chief Executive
Founder of CarbonCore, Michael brings decades of leadership across energy infrastructure, project finance, and international development. He is the architect of CarbonCore’s multi-phase strategy and is committed to building America’s new energy backbone - advancing sustainable fuels, clean materials, and long-term industrial renewal.
John P. Cornett
Chief Compliance Officer
A founding member of CarbonCore, John leads compliance, governance, and stakeholder strategy. His background spans commercial law, partnerships, and infrastructure. He builds the frameworks that keep CarbonCore investor-ready and regulator-ready, focusing on risk, disclosure, and accountability.
Raymond A. Farrier
Chief Operations Officer
Ray brings experience from global oil, gas, and engineering firms, combined with military leadership. He shapes CarbonCore’s operating model and global rollout, overseeing EPC interfaces, safety systems, and commissioning. His focus is reliable operations, disciplined scale-up, and long-term resilience.
Dr. Zahra F. Sepasi
Chief AI & Process Officer (Designate)
Zahra is a chemist and AI specialist focused on advanced materials, process automation, and sustainable fuels. She bridges science and engineering to drive CarbonCore’s graphene and AI-enabled operations, helping shape new pathways for intelligent, data-driven production.
Dr.
Chief Science & Sustainability Officer
A globally respected figure in carbon conversion science and sustainability, Dr. has pioneered clean fuel technologies and helped scale early SAF ventures. At CarbonCore, he oversees our GHG compliance, lifecycle metrics, and ESG alignment. Formal announcement pending.
Christie Addington
Community & Economic Development
Christie is an experienced real estate and community leader with a strong background in economic development and public engagement. She brings valuable insight, trusted relationships, and a grounded perspective to CarbonCore’s mission.
CarbonCore is Built to Scale with Integrity
Our founding leadership brings deep experience and operational discipline, united by a shared vision to rebuild America’s industrial foundation. We’re laying the groundwork for a world-class organization – where systems, people, and partners align to deliver lasting impact and long-term success.