OUR TEAM

Aztec's team has extensive experience with small business formation, technology, commercialization, development, and intellectual property. Working closely with an Advisory Council of top executives, Aztec invests in and helps small businesses to scale. We partner with public and private institutions to build value for our portfolio companies, our managers and our partners.

Ali Akansu, Ph.D, Managing Director

Dr. Akansu has over 25 years of experience as a technologist and serves as a professor with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He was a Founding Director of the multi-university research centers as New Jersey Center for Multimedia Research (NJCMR) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Digital Video. Dr. Akansu has spearheaded the National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education at NJIT. Dr. Akansu was also the founding President & CEO of PixWave, a subsidiary of IDT Corporation where he worked as VP for R&D. He managed a number of research programs and product development projects in academia and private sector, funded by the Government agencies, and industry. He continues to serve as a technology advisor to both industry and the legal sector. Dr. Akansu has published numerous articles and five books, and has lectured internationally on various technology issues.

Alex Garcia, RA, AICP, Managing Director

Mr. Garcia is a recognized business leader in the fields of architecture, government procurement, and “green” building and design. He most recently served on the transition team for New Jersey Governor John Corzine on the subject of “green” energy and construction. Mr. Garcia is LEED Version 2.0 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professional as established by USGBC (US Green Building Council). Mr. Garcia has over 30 years of experience in the fields of architecture and engineering. He holds two Master of Science degrees in the fields of urban design, urban planning and transportation engineering. He is the founding member of El Taller Colaborativo, PC (“ETC”), a prominent engineering and architectural firm in Newark, New Jersey with substantial experience in urban “green” design, urban planning and mass transit related projects, as well as education facilities. Significant projects led by Mr. Garcia include: Hudson Bergen Light Rail, Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Station, New York City Transit Corona Maintenance Shop & Car Washer Facility, and Newark Public School System – Various Facility Designs.

Graciela Diaz, MS, Chief Technology Officer

Ms. Diaz is a seasoned technology manager and entrepreneurial professional with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. Ms. Diaz has a Master of Science in Technology Management from NJIT with a specialty in E-Commerce. She also obtained a graduate certificate in Leadership. Ms. Diaz was recently selected to participate in the exclusive TCAT program on technology commercialization. Prior to joining Aztec, Ms. Diaz was a Technical Project Manager with Prudential Financial, where she managed and oversaw software development of mission critical underwriting systems. Before joining Prudential, Ms. Diaz was a principal with Omni Solutions International, a leading software provider, where she designed and developed a highly successful and proprietary quality management and service delivery system (“OmniViews”) licensed to leading life insurance clients in the United States. Ms. Diaz is a successful entrepreneur and has been a principal in various technology and real estate investment companies.

Alex Luis Pupo, Chief Financial Officer

Alex Pupo serves Aztec as Chief Financial Officer, leading the company's finance, human resources and administrative operations. As a seasoned financial and operations executive, Mr. Pupo has 14 years of leadership experience with early-stage and emerging growth businesses. He has substantial experience the fields of construction and real estate development. Prior to joining Aztec, Mr. Pupo was Controller and Chief Financial Officer for two major construction and management companies in the New York Metropolitan Area, including multiple subsidiaries in real estate and development. Previously, Mr. Pupo was in private practice as an accountant representing hundreds of early-stage and mid-size businesses. Mr. Pupo holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Kean University.

Luis J. Diaz, Esq., Advisory Board

Mr. Diaz has 20 years of experience in the fields of technology, intellectual property, technology licensing and commercialization. Before joining Aztec, he was an Executive Vice President with IDT Corporation. Mr. Diaz founded IDT’s intellectual property licensing business, leading the company’s merger and acquisition activities involving high technology and intellectual property. Mr. Diaz also managed and oversaw the company’s worldwide legal practice in areas of intellectual property, including patent prosecution and litigation, trademarks, trade dress, and copyright. He served on the Technology Committee to the Board of Directors of IDT. He is an inventor with patents pending in the fields of telecommunications, media distribution and technology licensing.

T. Nejat Veziroglu, Ph.D, Advisory Board

Dr. Veziroglu has been a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the President of Clean Energy Research Institute at the University of Miami . Dr. Veziroglu organized the first major conference on Hydrogen Energy in 1974. He is the Founding President of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Dr. Veziroglu has been the Founding President of The United Nations International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (UNIDO-ICHET) since 2003. Dr. Veziroglu has been elected to the Grade of Fellow in the British Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Veziroglu has been the recipient of several international awards, and he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2000 for both envisioning the Hydrogen Economy, and striving towards its realization.

Frank V. Giordano, Advisory Board

Mr. Giordano has 18 years experience in the construction industry. For the past 12 years, he has been working for one of the largest cement companies in the world that manufactures cement and other related products. His duties have included managing sales activities, including a direct, multiple distribution network, and implementing strategies for achieving company sales and marketing goals within the Great Lakes region. He has developed new business initiatives that promote the use of recyclable, sustainable, environmental-friendly products in a highly competitive market within the construction industry. He currently holds the title of District Sales Manager for the Great Lakes region, a large division of the company's North American arm.

Our Board of Advisors also includes other individuals that have a demonstrated record of success in renewal energy, green building materials and construction.