About Critical Technologies Consulting
Critical Technologies Consulting (CTC) is a multi-services professional consulting firm that focuses primarily on the Power Industry and technically complex projects. CTC is registered as a small business. It is comprised of a core team of highly experienced professionals that covers the spectrum of project required capabilities, and average over 42 years of hands on experience in all phases of project planning, execution and facility operations.
All personnel utilized by CTC have at least 30 years of experience and have worked together in both planning and executing projects, and in bringing their individual expertise together in independently reviewing, advising, and reporting on the performance of various client projects.
About the CTC leadership team
Ben Hill
President and CEO
As an Executive Project Director in the Power market, he provides all project related activities as well as Owner Engineering, Independent Engineering, and Project Management services. He provides consulting and management services in the power (coal, nuclear, gas, IGCC, renewables), construction, water, and wastewater industries as well as Government sectors.
Typical activities include overall project management, pre-construction studies such as labor analysis, cost studies and analysis, economic impacts, development of project plans and procedures, nuclear plant outage coordination, project layout and reviews of conceptual designs, constructability reviews, preparation of bid documents, evaluation of bids, contracts, and other related project documents, and provides all required Engineering and Construction Management and Owner Engineering Services.
Don Grace
VP - Engineering (P.E., MBA)
Over 50 years of hands on technical, management and executive experience with all Life Cycle Phases of major facility project (i.e., due diligence economic evaluation, design, licensing, construction, start-up and testing, commissioning, operations, and decommissioning). Graduated Cum Laude from US Naval Academy and served as a nuclear qualified submarine officer. Awarded fellowship to attend Harvard Graduate School of Business and from there earned an MBA degree. Registered Professional Engineer. Is highly experienced in all phases of electric power plant development and operations. More recent assignments have included testifying as an expert witness for various state Public Utility Commissions
Dinos Nicolaou
Exec. Vice-President: Project Controls
Has over 40 years of experience in all areas of project controls, Financials, Earned Value Management System, Cost, Planning and Scheduling, Scope Control and Risk Management for all phases of a project, at home and field offices. His background encompasses several industries with most in power generation including Nuclear, and transportation projects. He has reported to all levels of Management including Presidents of major Companies and Deputy Secretaries (DOE) He has been an Executive Consultant representing the Public Service Commission of Mississippi, Arizona, Georgia, and Attorney General for the State of Arkansas as an Independent Monitor on a multi-billion-dollar projects. He has been part of and lead External Independent Reviews and Independent Cost estimates for DOE for 15 years throughout the USA.
Ray Bryant
VP - Construction
Over 36 years of experience in project and construction management, engineering design, and administration of major construction projects and facility maintenance programs. He has strong expertise in all phases of engineering and construction projects including planning, scheduling, cost control, design, construction inspection, quality assurance, environmental control, and project financing. Mr. Bryant has utilized his exceptional skills to promote and enhance the profit margin for companies in engineering and construction fostering a cooperative atmosphere resulting in improved productivity.
Al Ferrer
Executive Vice-President
As executive vice president, he manages all aspects of the Consulting business. With over 40 years of professional experience in the US and international power and water industry, he provides Owner’s Engineering, Independent Engineering, Due Diligence, Acquisition Services, Industry Plant Performance improvement, Operational Risk Management, Upgrades and Life Cycle Extensions, and numerous other services. He has directed and executed Projects in the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Peru, Chile, and Guatemala. He has experience implementing desalination, nuclear, gas and combined cycle, biomass and biogas, geothermal, IGCC, circulating fluid bed, renewables such as solar, wind both offshore and onshore, and other industrial plant renewable generation technologies such as biodiesel, biogas, and algae-based fuels.
Chris Hill
Chief Information Officer
Business and Information Technology Executive with 26 years of experience in multiple industries. Areas of specialty are system configuration, resource utilization, process design, waste identification and elimination, and security and identity management. Highly effective in roles requiring project planning, scope analysis, communications, and deployment. CIO for independent construction monitoring service and consulting firm. Experience in Information Technology Management in various industries: Industrial Construction, Aviation, Mill/Manufacturing, and big-box retail. Bilingual: English and Spanish and Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Change Acceleration Process (CAP) Certification, Facilitation certified.