our team

David brings over 20 years of capital markets experience to RAS Technologies, over which time he has worked on mandates across a range of disciplines, with particular focus on equity origination and structuring, mergers & acquisitions and strategic advisory. As a senior investment banker at a leading Canadian Chartered bank, David worked on multiple Initial Public Offerings of promising small companies which have since undergone substantial growth and created significant value for shareholders.

Over the course of his career, David acted as a lead investment banker for $3 billion of equity and fixed-income mandates, advising some of Canada’s most recognizable blue-chip management teams, and completed M&A deals with an aggregate value of over $10 billion. David’s interests lie across many industries and accordingly his deal experience ranges among various sectors, including Consumer Products, Technology, Logistics, Healthcare and Real Estate.

David graduated from the Asper School of Business (University of Manitoba) with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) where he was awarded the Gold Medal in Finance. 

Sheldon Garfinkle is the CEO & CFO at RAS Technologies.  Since May 2015, Sheldon has been extensively involved with establishing an innovative start-up indoor shrimp farm business located in Aylmer, Ontario, including the formulation of the business plan, the raising of funds for the project and establishing business practices and organizational design while working closely with stakeholders.

In the previous year, Sheldon had provided advisory services to companies in various industries seeking funding for their respective businesses and assisting with their existing banking relationships. 

From 1996 to 2014, Sheldon was the CFO and Executive Vice-President of the largest hog processor in Ontario, and third largest in Canada. Prior to his career in industry, Sheldon worked at a large firm of Chartered Accountants after graduation until 1990, when he decided to specialize his practice in business valuations and joined a firm that restricted its practice to such engagements, where he became a partner in 1992.

Since co-founding RAS Technologies in 2013, Marvyn continues to lead an integrated team of aquaculture specialists, engineers, architects and technologists in the planning, design, build and operation of the largest indoor commercial-scale shrimp farm in the world.

As President & CEO of a NASDAQ-listed company for 18 years, Marvyn's experience was integral in securing seed and second-stage financing for this industry-leading, innovative venture. 

Dr. Doug Ernst is the CTO for RAS Technologies Corp (RTC). Doug joined RTC in 2014 and provides leadership in the science, engineering, and commercial development of recirculating aquaculture systems and production of marine shrimp in land-based systems. Key areas of innovation and contribution to date include shrimp culture technologies for maximizing shrimp health and yield in indoor systems, water treatment system engineering for shrimp product purity and long-term water reuse, development and training for operational procedures, and aquaculture system automation and integration with RTC’s proprietary management software.

Doug’s work is well supported by his 40+ year career in the aquaculture industry and 16+ years of applied experience with intensive indoor production of marine shrimp. Doug’s university degrees include a BS in biology and an MAg and PhD in aquacultural engineering (Oregon State University). Doug’s past positions in aquaculture research, development, and commercialization include founder of AquaFarm.com (aquaculture simulation software), VP Science and technology for NaturalShrimp Corp. (marine shrimp production), Director Research and Development for Söliv International (marine macroalgae production), Assistant Professor at Oregon State University (Dept. Biological and Ecological Engr), and Associate Scientist at the Caribbean Marine Research Center (marine aquaculture).

Sean Pressey is VP of Operations at RAS Technologies Corp “RTC” overseeing the day-to-day production and facilities management duties for the growout platform. Upon joining the team in December of 2015 Sean was intimately involved in the construction and start-up of the super intensive recirculating facility in Aylmer Ontario. Aiding in the development and integration of proprietary technology has been his focus since joining the team.

Prior to joining the team Sean was General Manager of Sand Plains Aquaculture from 2010-2015. During his time there Sean was an integral part of the construction, start-up, and management of the 400-tonne tilapia farm.

Sean began his career in aquaculture after graduating from the University of Guelph with a double major in fisheries and wildlife management in 1990. Starting as an aquaculture technician at a rainbow trout hatchery, he quickly moved into the management and later part owner of one of Ontario’s most well-respected rainbow trout hatcheries supplying ova, fry and fingerlings locally and internationally  

Alfonso DiCapo is CIO at RAS Technologies Corp “RTC” overseeing the server & network infrastructure and the development efforts of SeaTrust – 2nd generation Shrimp Management Software Platform. Prior to joining RTC, he held senior positions at Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch and Citigroup in roles within Advanced Execution Services, Distributed Asset Optimization and UNIX Systems Engineering. He also held positions in Program Management, Distributed Data Centers and Platform Architecture.  

Mr. DiCapo is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he earned a BSc in Computer Science. He holds credentials in Operating System & Database Design, Systems Management, Programming & Scripting Platforms as well as in  Risk Management, Financial Markets Options Strategies from NYU's School of Professional Studies and in Algorithmic Trading from Baruch College/CUNY.