About
The Penncara and PennCarbonX Teams have the scientific knowledge, technical understanding, strategic vision, and relevant work experience to successfully build and deliver on their Synthetic Pitch business plan. The company has assembled a unique group of people with the product knowledge and recent work history to successfully build and operate the initial plant and ultimately plan for the construction of numerous plants strategically located around the country. Our product development has been tested and challenged, and it keeps outperforming expectations.
Our Mission: to fortify domestic supply chains and reduce U.S dependence on foreign raw materials through sustainable, high performance pitch manufacturing.
-
PennCarbonX Corporation is committed to developing Critical Materials by leveraging domestic coal resources and advancing downstream carbon and graphite technologies, which are essential components in numerous critical supply chains in the United States.
Our focus includes:
Nuclear Grade Graphite
Graphite Electrode Manufacturing
Carbon Fiber Production
These materials are essential to national infrastructure, energy independence, and advanced manufacturing.
-
Through a newly secured licensing agreement with PennCara Energy, PennCarbonX now holds exclusive U.S. rights to a suite of patented technologies for producing synthetic carbon pitch, the foundational input for multiple critical carbon and graphite products.
This breakthrough enables:
Direct conversion of coal into high performance carbon pitch
A scalable platform for producing strategic materials domestically
Collaboration with leading academic institutions to accelerate R&D and commercialization
-
PennCarbonX’s ability to produce carbon pitch directly from coal, a capability protected by PennCara’s patents, is a game changing innovation.
Today, over 65% of the global carbon pitch supply originates from China, creating a significant vulnerability in the U.S. supply chain.
Our technology directly addresses this national security concern by:
Localizing production of a strategic material
Reducing dependence on foreign supply
Supporting U.S. manufacturing and defense sectors
PennCarbonX is uniquely positioned to restore domestic control over a critical industrial input and catalyze a new era of carbon based innovation.
Our Leadership Team
-

James Swistock
CHAIRMAN
Launched PennCara in 1999. Led major synthetic fuel projects in PA and OH, including six-plants.
-

J. Gregory Pilewicz
CEO & HEAD OF OPERATIONS
Brings two decades of executive leadership in renewable fuels, energy, steel, and finance. Former President/COO at JSCE Global and Esmark, Inc
-

A.H. Stiller
PHD & SENIOR SCIENTIST
Coal and Carbon Expert with 47+ years of research, 46 U.S. patents, and 75+ publications. Professor Emeritus at WVU
-

Michael J. Corless
TREASURER & CFO
CPA with 40+ years in energy-sector tax strategy. Formerly with Coopers & Lybrand; founded Corless & Associates.
-

Louis Prosperi
GENERAL COUNSEL
Tax and Corporate Law Specialist with 40+ years of experience. Former partner at Reed Smith LLP.
-

Jennifer Swistock
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
A Diverse background in business development across energy tech, finance, and nutrition. Co-founder of nonprofit Community Bite