Strategic Partners

The sustainable energy, water and infrastructure sectors are large and complex. There is no one company or organization, no matter how large or expert, that can go it alone in developing, managing, financing and measuring sustainable projects. Therefore, in order to succeed, it is critical to establish, maintain, nurture and grow strategic partnerships in diverse skill sets.

Project Partners

In executing projects, it is critical to have a “go to” team that is experienced and can handle a variety of tasks. ThinkBox has established long-term relationships, with a wide range of partners in key skill sets including;
  • project finance and investment banking
  • engineering, energy marketing
  • academia
  • policy outreach
  • industrial development
  • oil and gas
  • utilities

Research Partners

ThinkBox partners with various types of organizations to identify and provide solutions for critical energy, water and environmental challenges. ThinkBox has addressed issues such as identifying profitable business practices for producing biofuels and biochemicals in grain deficit areas and watersheds; second generation biofuels; and other areas. ThinkBox teams with various organizations to provide key research services:
  • Target Organizations
  • Federal / State / Local governments and quasi-government agencies
  • Federal research laboratories
  • Universities
  • Non-government organizations
  • Services
  • Market assessments
  • Market surveys
  • Technology Assessments
  • Venture Assessmentss
  • Financial modeling
  • Regulatory assessments

Business 2 Business Partners – “Collaborative Innovation Program”

When tackling major initiatives such as penetrating new markets, mining existing clients for additional opportunities, or developing underutilized assets, companies rely on diverse teams of specialists to accomplish complex tasks. ThinkBox partners with businesses at the executive management level to augment in-house resources to more quickly and profitable achieve organizational goals. Increasingly, in-house managers are not the only source of business ideas and solutions. Outside expertise facilitates knowledge sharing, provides senior management with flexibility to break up unexpected bottlenecks, and supports the company in meeting deadlines, among many important benefits.
ThinkBox principals have worked together for almost 15 years. We have successful experiences ranging from corporate management, to federal research. Together we have developed over $100M in energy projects.

Daron F. Coates

Mr. Coates is a co-founder of ThinkBox Group, LLC., and serves as the Principal for Development. He is also a founding principal for LiquidMaize, LLC., a Denver, CO., based bio-fuels company (www.liquidmaize.com). Mr. Coates has over twenty years experience in various segments of the energy industry including energy efficiency and retrofit projects, energy technologies, bio-energy and fuels, start-up company development and finance, identifying and recruiting executive management talent, and corporate strategic business unit management and turnaround. Mr. Coates has participated in projects with a total value of over $100M. Mr. Coates earned a BA in Business Administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. and an MBA from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Coates is married and has a daughter.


R. Paul Orentas

Mr. Orentas is a co-founder of ThinkBox Group, LLC., and serves as the managing member. He is also a founding principal and the managing member for LiquidMaize, LLC. , a Denver, CO., based bio-fuels company (www.liquidmaize.com). Orentas served as principal investigator on four federal and state cooperative research and biofuel development initiatives. He also wrote a paper for the U.S. Department of Energy entitled, “Technology Roadmap for Marketing U.S. Biopower -- The Role of BioPower in the New Energy Business Model.” Orentas has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University.


Grant M. Hall

Mr. Hall is a co-founder of ThinkBox Group, LLC., and serves as the Principal for Project Development. He is also a founding principal for LiquidMaize, LLC., a Denver, CO., based bio-fuels company (www.liquidmaize.com). Mr. Hall has over 16 years experience in a wide range of industries including cattle ranching, energy efficiency projects, bio-fuels, and mining inspection on oil and gas projects. Mr. Hall has a BBA in International Business and Spanish from The George Washington University in Washington, DC and Universidad de Nebrisensis in Madrid, Spain.