our team

  • Managing Partner

    Hamza Wardere moved to the United States at 12 years old from Somalia, East Africa. He moved to PG County / Landover and has been in the D.C. - Maryland - Virginia (DMV) metropolitan area since. After building a successful real-estate business, Hamza entered the private equity world and has been managing investments in a multitude of asset categories ranging from real estate, to technology, and infrastructure development.

    Hamza began his real estate journey in 2010 working with some of the region's most successful developers and builders growing teams and revitalizing communities. By partnering with local and foreign investors he began to realize that the amount of waste and inefficiencies in the development cycle stemmed from the lack of American manufacturing, the inability of large construction companies to change their methods and practices, coupled with the dependency on foreign materials was a model that would have to come to an end. After partnering with a fellow local developer who also lived overseas and worked closely on ports, the Cleanport idea was conceived.

  • Managing Partner

    Charles Paret is a real estate professional with over fourteen years of experience in real estate development hospitality, and construction. His passion and focus is on rural revitalization. Charles founded Coloma River Capital (www.colomariver.com) and it’s subsidiaries (by.Meraki) as a platform to harness the energy of talented real estate professionals, innovators in hospitality, and design specialists to change the future of the way we live life and travel. He credits his accomplishments and experience to working as a partner with renowned designer Brook Rose for over 9 years who has developed some of the highest dollar per sqft properties in Washington DC. The portfolio during his career with Brook can be found at www.brookrose.com.

    Charles began his career with a specialty in historic preservation and construction. During his operation of this business, his company achieved a number of awards for it’s accomplishments in historic preservation in collaboration with the city of Washington DC and it’s office of Historic Preservation.

    As a partner in Brook Rose Development and other JV roles, Charles has participated in more than 50 multi family and commercial real estate projects as a partner tasked with managing

    debt/equity relationships for projects, as well as responsibility for acquisitions, contracts, and sales totaling over 400M in the Washington DC region. He has recently helped oversee pre-development and construction of the EATON Hotel in Washington DC, a 200 Room Boutique Hotel for Katherine Lo and Langham Hotel Group. Among other current projects, he is a partner in developing a 173 key boutique hotel in the Union Market area of Washington, DC, a 200 wellness hotel in Whitefish, MT, and a 110 room boutique hotel in Shenandoah Valley, VA. Other large projects include, leading the master plan of a 2M square foot water front development in San Juan Puerto Rico, 500K square foot revitalization of urban street scape in Washington DC, and a 400K sqft repurpose and adaptive reuse of light-industrial and historic buildings in Shenandoah Valley.

    Charles graduated from Beijing University with degrees in Manufacturing and Production. Charles also attended George Mason University with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing.

    He is actively involved in non profit and social impact organizations in the Washington Metro area, particularly those focused on the arts and social impact filmmaking. He sits on the Mayor’s Housing & Development Commission for Ward 4.

  • Senior Advisor: Global Public Policy

    Adam Falkoff has over 20 years of experience in public policy, international relations, and business development. He has advised CEOs of the Fortune 100, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and Ambassadors.

    Mr. Falkoff is the President of CapitalKeys, a bipartisan global public policy and strategic consulting firm based in Washington D.C. with offices in London and Singapore and a Senior Advisor at Cleanport Ventures LLC. While leading the firm, he successfully helps clientele understand, anticipate, and navigate the complex domestic and international public policy environment as well as develop strategies and relationships for partnerships and business development driving client revenues.

    He has worked on a variety of domestic and international issues involving technology, transportation, defense, education, mining, traditional and alternative energy, charitable foundations, financial services, healthcare, and insurance for clients including several Fortune 100 companies.

    Mr. Falkoff is frequently asked to be an adviser on the strategy and execution for private and public companies and private equity funds seeking to expand their business. both nationally and globally through entrepreneurship, customer acquisitions, partnerships, and joint ventures. He is an advisor to SoHo Capital, a private investment firm and merchant bank.

    Prior to CapitalKeys, Mr. Falkoff was a Director and the Co-founder of the Quinn Gillespie & Associates (QGA) International Practice, a public policy firm in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining QGA, Mr. Falkoff worked with Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, Congressman Ben Gilman on trade issues and then at the Gilman Group as Vice President of Government Affairs. Before assisting Congressman Gilman, Mr. Falkoff served as the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), working with the Congress and the Administration on behalf of over 2,000 technology corporations. Prior to CTA, he served in the United States Senate for Senator Alfonse D'Amato as professional staff.

    Mr. Falkoff is a 2018 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of our nation’s highest honors, for service to the United States. He was named to the Washington, D.C. Power 100, a list of the 100 most influential non-elected people in Washington, D.C. by Washington Life Magazine.

    He currently serves on the Board of Directors for several publicly listed companies and the Creative Coalition. He is an Atlantic Council Councilor, a member of the Wilson Center Global Advisory Council, a Bretton Woods Committee member, and a member of The Trilateral Commission.

    In the media, Mr. Falkoff has been called, “One to know and the one to call in Washington”, “A Powerhouse of K Street” and “A PR Guru”. He has been an invited guest speaker, panelist, and moderator on a wide range of public policy related topics in several industries. He has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Palm Beach Post, Politico, Roll Call, The Hill, The Washington Diplomat, Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter, Capitol File, Washington Life, and National Journal.

    Mr. Falkoff received a B.A. from Duke University and both an M.B.A. and M.I.M. (Master of International Management) from the Thunderbird School of Global Management on an academic scholarship. During his graduate studies, he was asked, and served, as the assistant to former Vice President Dan Quayle. Additionally, Mr. Falkoff holds a Certificate in International Law from the University of Salzburg, Institute on International Legal Studies. The coursework was instructed by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

    Mr. Falkoff is also known for producing five theatrically released, award-winning, full-length motion pictures. He is a lifetime member of the Producers Council of the Producers Guild of America (p.g.a.) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). Mr. Falkoff is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). His film ‘Walt Before Mickey’, whose central theme is achieving the American Dream, was screened at The White House for President Obama.

  • President

    In 2021, Ms. Yoshino co-founded the "Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association" to build an inclusive crypto community and created "CryptoCurious" a free weekly Spanish education program designed to teach local Puerto Ricans about crypto, NFTs, metaverse and Web 3.0. She hosted the first annual Puerto Rico Blockchain Week in San Juan and introduced a blockchain bill in the PR House of Representatives.

    She is the founder of the, "The Yoshino Group" a consulting firm that focuses on local government affairs and crisis management.

    Previously, Ms. Yoshino served as Senior Legislative Strategist for the DC Housing Authority. She built relationships with Council on behalf of the Agency and for the first time in Agency history, got a capital budget line added in the amount of $50M.

    Ms. Yoshino served as Deputy Political Director for the Democratic Attorneys General Association. Tasked with leading recruitment, in three months she revived a stagnant women's initiative and developed a sustainable recruitment strategy for 2020-2022.

    Ms. Yoshino served as Legislative Director to Councilmember Brandon Todd (Ward 4) for three years handling all issues before the D.C. Council related to economic development, education, transportation, environmental, housing, animals, and health. For three fiscal cycles, she oversaw hearings and tracked changes to the City's $15.5 billion dollar budget.

    Ms. Yoshino served as Legislative Director to the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. In the fall of 2015, she successfully orchestrated the introduction and passage of 10 bills and resolutions, including the acquisition disposition of Walter Reed Redevelopment (Ward 4) and the surplus and disposition of St. Elizabeths East Campus (Ward 8) in six months. Additionally, she took the lead on strategic outreach for high profile contracts, specifically, the D.C. United Soccer Stadium and the Wizards Practice Facility.

    Graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Valparaiso Law School, Ms. Yoshino has years of public policy experience. Ms. Yoshino is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Illinois.

  • Senior Advisor: Oil & Gas - Offshore Division

    Tommy Laurendine, P.E., is a distinguished offshore structural engineering advisor with over thirty years of experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in offshore drilling and structural design. As the President of Hawk Technical Support, LLC, based in Slidell, Louisiana, he has earned a reputation for delivering innovative engineering solutions for complex offshore projects, ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with rigorous regulatory standards. His career, marked by pivotal roles at leading energy companies and government organizations, reflects a commitment to advancing offshore drilling technologies and structural integrity.

    Tommy’s journey began at the University of New Orleans, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, equipping him with a strong foundation in structural analysis and engineering design. Licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.), he combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving, a hallmark of his professional ethos. Early in his career, he worked at Shell Oil Company and Chevron, where he developed his skills in offshore structural design and project management. At Shell, he contributed to the design and maintenance of Gulf of Mexico platforms, ensuring their resilience against hurricanes and deepwater pressures. His role at Chevron expanded to include oversight of subsea systems and coordination of multidisciplinary teams, delivering projects with precision.

    A significant phase of Tommy’s career unfolded at McDermott International, a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, and installation services. As a senior structural engineer, he led the design of jacket structures and topsides for offshore platforms, navigating complex regulatory frameworks set by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). His leadership in high-stakes projects solidified his expertise in offshore drilling. More recently, through Hawk Technical Support, LLC, Tommy has provided specialized consulting services, including structural assessments, risk analysis, and compliance audits for clients in the Gulf of Mexico and emerging offshore wind projects. His deep knowledge of American Petroleum Institute (API) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards has made him a trusted advisor in both traditional and renewable energy sectors.

    Embracing the global shift toward renewables, Tommy has applied his expertise to offshore wind projects, notably as an engineering advisor for Commonwealth Wind’s Offshore Substation. His work ensured the structural integrity of the substation in harsh marine environments, supporting efficient power transmission. Additionally, his collaboration with the U.S. Department of the Interior and BSEE has shaped regulatory frameworks for offshore renewable energy, balancing innovation with environmental safety. These contributions highlight his ability to bridge conventional oil and gas engineering with the demands of the energy transition.

    Tommy’s impact extends beyond project execution. He has authored technical papers on fatigue analysis and corrosion management, sharing insights through industry publications and conferences. As a mentor, he has guided younger engineers, fostering talent in offshore engineering. At Hawk Technical Support, LLC, he drives innovation through advanced finite element analysis and digital twin technologies for real-time monitoring of offshore assets, keeping clients at the forefront of technological and regulatory advancements.

    Based in Slidell, Louisiana, Tommy remains deeply connected to the Gulf Coast’s offshore energy community. He is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), advocating for industry best practices. Beyond his professional endeavors, he supports STEM education initiatives, inspiring future engineers. With 277 LinkedIn connections and a legacy of impactful projects, Tommy Laurendine continues to shape the future of offshore engineering. Through his leadership, Hawk Technical Support, LLC delivers solutions that are safe, sustainable, and forward-thinking, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the global energy landscape.

  • Advisor

    Mike Indursky, the founder and CEO of HEAR ME RAW, has spent the the last 30 years in the beauty and wellness business. He last served as President of Bliss, the leading global spa brand and helped in the December 2015 sale of its parent company Steiner Leisure for $920 million. Previously, Mike was CMO of Burt’s Bees, the leading global natural personal care company, where he helped lead the growth of the brand, resulting in a sale to Clorox for $950 million – a $775 million increase in enterprise value in 4 years.

    Prior to that Mike had leadership positions at L’Oreal where he was VP of Marketing for Maybelline and Garnier and before that over 11 years at Unilever where he was last SVP of Strategic Planning and Marketing for all of the fragrance and cosmetics brands including Calvin Klein, Vera Wang and others. Mike is a two-time winner of Advertising Age’s Top Marketers of the Year, WWD’s Most Innovative Marketer, Beyond Beauty’s Honoree of the year and is a frequent public speaker.

    Mike was born in the Bronx, NY and holds an MBA in Marketing from New York University and a BBA Degree in Marketing from Baruch College. He currently lives in SOHO, New York.

  • Senior Advisor: Fin-Tech | Crypto Advisory

    Brock Pierce is a blockchain pioneer, impact investor and philanthropist with an extensive track record of founding, advising and investing in disruptive businesses. He's been credited with pioneering the market for digital currency and has raised more than $5B for companies he has founded. Pierce is the Chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation and co-founder of EOS Alliance, Block.one, Blockchain Capital, Tether, Mastercoin (first ICO), and Lighthouse NFT, the first ground-up physical NFT smart gallery. In 2020, Pierce ran for President of the United States as an Independent, receiving the first-ever US presidential vote cast on the blockchain.

    Block.one was co-founded by Pierce in 2017. Block.one has sold over $4B tokens in the EOS crowd sale making it the largest ever. Blockchain Capital was founded in 2013 and is the first sector-focused venture fund that invests solely in Blockchain technology companies. Pierce led the firm through the first ICO of a venture fund, which created the first security token, BCAP. Blockchain Capital has made more than 100 investments in the sector across its four funds. The firm was named the most active FinTech Venture Fund by Pitchbook. Tether, the first stable coin and asset-backed token, is the most traded cryptocurrency by volume.

    Pierce is an early investor in Bitcoin and one of the largest investors in the Ethereum crowd sale. He is the founder of IMI Exchange, the world's leading digital currency marketplace for games, with annual sales exceeding $1B and investors such as Goldman Sachs (sold in 2016 for more than $100M). Pierce founded ZAM, one of the world's largest media properties for gamers, which was acquired by Tencent in 2012. He founded IGE, the pioneer of digital currency and virtual assets in online games, achieving revenues exceeding $100 million in 2006 and sold in 2007.

     

    Pierce is also a co-founder of D10e, GoCoin, the first cryptocurrency platform ot fund a political campaign, Blade Payments, Five Delta (sold NASDAQ: SRAX), Xfire 2.0, Playsino, Evertune, and GamesTV. He serves as an advisor to a number of companies, including Airswap, Bancor, BitGo, BitGuild, Bloq, DNA, Element Group, Metronome, Shyft, tZERO, ODX and BlockV, the first NFT platform in the world. He is a General Partner in Space Fund and sits on the Board of Directors for Bitdigital, one of the largest cryptocurrency mining companies in the US.

    Pierce is an active supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, the Center for Individual Rights, and the Brennan Center for Human Rights. Pierce is Chairman of the Integro Foundation, a Puerto Rico-based non-profit focused on helping Puerto Ricans and supporting environmental and humanitarian efforts throughout the Caribbean region. Pierce is also Vice Chair of the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Foundation of New York, Long Island and Puerto Rico. In 2021, Pierce sponsored the NYPD Gaming Trucks Initiative, building inroads between police and the communities they serve. As co-founder of the United Council of Rising Nations, Pierce advises political and industry leaders around the world on the future of finance, technology, and sustainable development.

    Pierce is a frequent lecturer at Singularity University and has spoken at the Milken Global Conference, Mobile World Congress, Wired, INK, Stanford University, USC, and UCLA. He has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg, Wired, Rolling Stone, Politico, New York Magazine, L’Officiel, VTDigger and the Vermont Business Magazine.