Evolution Markets was founded in 2000 by seasoned energy and environmental commodity brokers, who also have backgrounds in trading. The principals still run the firm – and broker on the phones – backed by an experienced executive team. Overtime, Evolution Markets has grown into a leader in global commodity markets poised for continued growth.
Mr. Ertel is President and Chief Executive of Evolution Markets Inc. An innovator and pioneer in the industry, Mr. Ertel founded the company in 2000 and has since grown it into one of the world’s premier brokerages dedicated energy and environmental markets. He orchestrated an expansion that now serves clients on six continents from offices in New York, London, Singapore, Houston, and San Francisco. Mr. Ertel began his career in the crude and natural gas trading pits of the New York Mercantile Exchange. In addition to managing the existing operations and continued growth of Evolution Markets, he continues to broker for clients on the company’s renewable energy desk.
Mr. Zaborowsky is a Managing Director and co-founder of Evolution Markets. A pioneer of environmental markets with experience as both a trader and a broker, he has grown Evolution Markets’ Environmental Markets group into the world’s largest. In addition to managing brokerage groups serving U.S. environmental markets, Mr. Zaborowsky focuses on structuring renewable energy certificate, emission reduction credit, and green power transactions for customers in utility, industrial, power generation, and financial sectors. Prior to founding Evolution Markets, Mr. Zaborowsky spent 15 years in the energy industry, including brokering many of the milestone trades in environmental markets as a broker at Natsource LLC.
Stephen Nesis is a Managing Director and co-founder of Evolution Markets. Mr. Nesis leads the company’s energy commodity brokerage operations, including its natural gas, crude, coal, biofuels, and nuclear fuels desks. He has grown Evolution Markets’ into one of the leading brokerage groups in energy commodity trading markets, but he also sits on Evolution Markets Coal Markets desk, which is one of the largest OTC coal brokerages in the world. Mr. Nesis previously managed the OTC Coal Desk of Natsource LLC. He was also a founding partner and manager of London based Intercontinental Energy Brokers LTD. (IEB), where he concentrated on the emerging natural gas and power markets in Europe.
Stephen Semenza is the Chief Financial Officer of Evolution Markets. Mr. Semenza is responsible for all financial matters at the company, as well as directing the corporation’s accounting, financial reporting, budget, and risk management systems. In addition, he leads Evolution Markets compliance in all global regulated commodity markets and oversees the company’s global operations. Prior to joining Evolution Markets, Mr. Semenza was a Senior Vice President at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Semenza has also held senior corporate finance roles at Ryan Beck and Hoenig & Co., Inc. Mr. Semenza is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a Series 27 License.
Benjamin Zeliger is General Counsel at Evolution Markets. Mr. Zeliger is responsible for all legal matters of Evolution Markets and its subsidiaries. He is also a member of Evolution Markets’ Executive Management Team. Mr. Zeliger provides strategic guidance to the management of Evolution Markets on issues relating to business strategy, corporate organization, regulatory compliance, and market transaction structures. Prior to joining Evolution Markets, Mr. Zeliger was an attorney at the New York offices of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. He has a Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School.
Evan Ard is a Managing Director for Evolution Markets. Mr. Ard is responsible for corporate business development, including identification of new markets, strategic partnerships, new business acquisitions, new product and service introductions, and organic business growth. In addition, he leads Evolution’s external affairs with key stakeholders, including industry counterparts, futures exchanges, and clearing firms, as well as directing the company’s regulatory and public policy outreach and marketing and communications. Previously, Mr. Ard worked at the New York-based public relations agency Southard Communications and Northern States Power Company and its subsidiary NRG Energy.