Joseph Brewer, Ph.D.
Founder & Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Brewer received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Minot State University and both Masters of Science (Physical Chemistry) and Ph.D. (Inorganic Chemistry) degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dr. Brewer worked under the mentorship of Dr. Chin Li “Barry” Cheung. He has 13 peer-reviewed publications and holds five patents based on rare earth technologies.

Dr. Brewer started his first company, Rare Earth Solar, based on his patent for a high efficiency photovoltaic materials utilizing rare earth elements. The lack of a domestic supply of rare earth elements necessitated the development of the technology behind Rare Earth Salts.

Dr. Brewer oversees all research and development within Rare Earth Salts and is responsible for the effective scaling and execution of the technology. He is an active member of the community in Beatrice, Nebraska with senior roles at a multitude of community service organizations.

Aaron T. Dowd
Chief Executive Officer​

Aaron T. Dowd is Chief Executive Officer of Rare Earth Salts. He previously served as Managing Partner of Mellontikos, an international, diversified venture development holding company. From 2003–2013, Mr. Dowd served as a Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to The Honorable Chuck Hagel, former Secretary of Defense and U.S. Senator. He has advised the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Mr. Dowd also previously served as Special Advisor to the Chairman of Poongsan Corporation, an industrial metals conglomerate. He holds a Global Executive Master of Business Administration from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Marquette University.

Paul Garnett, AAMS

Mr. Paul D. Garnett, AAMS, CPFA, is a successful businessman and entrepreneur with over 40 years’ experience as a Financial Advisor, investment strategist, small business owner, and farmer.

During his 38 years as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, Mr. Garnett built his branch office to become one of the top producing offices in Nebraska and was consistently a top producer out of over 12,000 US advisors company wide. He also qualified for the Managing Partners conference 24 years (awarded to the top 2% of all Advisors), was named to the Senior Management Committee for 5 years, and was previously responsible for all hiring of new Financial Advisors in a six-state area of the Midwest.

Garnett founded Garnett Investment Strategies, LLC (GIS) in 2013, along with his daughter, Traci Garnett-Froscheiser, also a Financial Advisor. GIS offers first-class service with a personalized approach to reach and exceed client goals and expectations by continually analyzing, educating, and advising. He works with individuals, small businesses, farmers, professional athletes, coaches, agents, 401(k)s, endowments, trusts, and foundations.

Mr. Garnett served as Chairman of Gage County Economic Development Corporation for 24 years and was awarded “Admiral in the Great Navy of Nebraska” by Governor Bob Kerry in 1986 for efforts in leading the Region and State in Economic Development.

Mr. Garnett has been involved in over 20 private equity companies, including agriculture, technology companies, medical emergency evacuation, and health and dietary startups, and has over 30 years of successful agricultural involvement in grain, egg, poultry, and swine production. He was a Co-Founder in the mid-90s of an egg production company where now, it and its affiliated sister companies, are collectively the 2nd largest egg producer in the US with aggregate revenues approaching $800 million.

Mr. Garnett was born in Madison, Missouri and raised on a family farm. He graduated from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1973, where he played varsity basketball and baseball. He also pursued graduate studies in Finance and Economics.

Tom Arne Nordvik

Mr. Nordvik represents the largest outside shareholder in RES, Tomoharu AS. He serves as the Managing Director and co-founder of BirdieBreeze AS, a family office based in Norway and majority owned by the Moe and the Nordvik families.

Mr. Nordvik has a background in investment banking and was the Founder and CEO of Sigma Fondsforvaltning in 2006, which specialised in the Energy and Life Sciences sectors. Sigma was sold in 2012, and Mr. Nordvik has had an active role in several investments done through Tomoharu since that time.​

Mr. Nordvik has been a member of the executive management team of the Company and its affiliates since 2011.

Frank S. Schieldrop

Mr. Schieldrop has served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Rare Earth Salts from January 2019 until June 2023. He has more than 25 years managerial experience at C-level from the Energy & Oil & Gas sectors, primarily in the oil service segment, in the capacities of operations, sales, business development, management and leadership roles. This comprises companies with origins and head offices in Norway, Europe, Japan and the United States.

Mr. Schieldrop was part of Weatherford International for 15 years, including 9 years as CEO & Country Manager for all Norwegian-based activity as well as Chairman for all entities in Norway. Further, he served for 3 years as the Global Account Manager for Weatherford’s business with Statoil worldwide.

Since 2015, Mr. Schieldrop has served as an executive with a focus area on disruptive Innovation from a Blue Ocean Strategy perspective and implementation, both for start-ups and within established companies. Since 2019, he has served as a partner in BirdieBreeze AS, a Norwegian family office, and he has been full-time engaged to support the investment and development of Rare Earth Salts.

Mr. Schieldrop holds a Market Economist degree from Norwegian Business School and Executive Management degree in Innovation, Strategy and Leadership from INSEAD in France.

He has also served as member of OLF/NOROG’s (The Norwegian Oil & Gas Association) top management forum for the supply industry for 5 years.

​Tim Thietje, J.D.

Mr. Thietje received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Business Administration and his J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law. After completing his degrees, Mr. Thietje engaged in the private practice of law, followed by positions at First National Bank and Trust, Lincoln, NE and the University of Nebraska Foundation, where he served as Sr. Vice President, Counsel and Corporate Secretary of a rapidly growing, institutionally-related foundation, the assets of which increased from $75 million to in excess of $1 billion during his tenure.

While at the Foundation, Mr. Thietje led a five-year cooperative effort involving the City of Lincoln, the State, and the University to establish a 130 acre Technology Park, business incubator, multi-tenant building, and electronics center in Lincoln, serving on the Park’s Board of Directors. This experience whetted his interest in the entrepreneurial sector, and he has since held positions of leadership in several start-up companies, including Nebraska National Corporation, Springbok, Inc., and The Original Foods Company, where he was a co-founder. He also has served on the Boards of Directors of Nationwide Bankshares and Charter West Bank, a five-branch community banking organization, since its founding.

Mr. Thietje served as General Counsel of Rare Earth Salts from its inception until his retirement in October 2018 and currently serves as Counsel for Rare Earth Holding Company, LLC. He has also served as a member of the executive management team of the Company and its affiliates since 2011.