Heartland Adds Energy Innovator Zeina El-Azzi to its Board of Directors
Murfreesboro, TN – Heartland, an industry-recognized, end-to-end waste solutions provider that has delivered waste reduction and waste conversion solutions since 2008, has added to its Board of Directors energy innovator and strategic leader Zeina El-Azzi, who brings to her role 25 years of leadership experience across the waste and clean energy sectors.
El-Azzi has successfully deployed billions of dollars in capital to develop infrastructure for technologies on the cusp of large-scale commercialization; acquired and constructed some of the largest wind and solar energy projects in the U.S.; overseen utility-scale developments internationally encompassing over a gigawatt of wind energy capacity across the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Poland and Turkey; and led high-performing teams across large scale electric vehicle charging, wind, solar, and battery storage markets. She is most recently the founder and CEO of the startup Gage Zero, which provides affordable and scalable solutions for the electrification of commercial fleets across the country and previously served as Global President of RNG (renewable natural gas) at the circular innovations company Brightmark. She’s also held leadership positions at SunEdison, The Wind Coalition and Clipper Windpower Development Company, among others. She holds BA and MA degrees from The University of Texas at Austin.
“I’ve spent my career focused on bringing breakthrough technologies to market and scaling the businesses built around them,” said El-Azzi. “Heartland has all the foundational elements for significant growth, and I’m excited about partnering with this team as we advance along what I believe will be a transformative path in energy upcycling.”
El-Azzi joins Heartland as the company makes great leaps forward in deploying its HelioStorm™ ultra-high temperature plasma synthesis reactor that converts biosolids and other feedstocks into clean energy and eliminates the “forever chemical” PFAS in biosolids. Demand for these solutions continues to grow as a result of environmental concerns, litigation and state-led actions.
“The addition of Zeina is strategically important to Heartland as the company embarks on a significant expansion of its waste conversion and energy upcycling capabilities,” said Mauricio “Mo” Vargas, President and CEO of Heartland. “Her experience scaling clean technologies and insights into the markets for renewable fuels will be particularly valuable at this pivotal and exciting moment in the company’s evolution.”
“Zeina brings a depth and breadth of highly relevant experience to the Heartland Board,” said Rob Cawthorn, Chairman of Heartland’s Board of Directors. “With her voice, leadership and expertise, we are better positioned for substantial growth and poised to make significant contributions to environmental sustainability and the circular economy.”
About Heartland
With its proven, reliable, cost-effective, and end-to-end solutions, Heartland mitigates many of the most challenging environmental issues of our time. It converts waste into clean energy through upcycling and eliminates difficult to treat contaminants including “forever chemicals” (PFAS), biosolids, power plant wastewater and landfill leachate. Its solutions are currently in use across the country, with numerous new projects set to begin operations by the end of 2026. Visit https://www.oneheartland.com.
Media Contact
Casey Cammann, Chief Marketing Officer
ccammann@heartlandtech.com.
