Our Team

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead

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Great Purpose

At Lightning Water, our team brings together a rare combination of scientific expertise, agricultural insight, and forward-thinking innovation. From plasma physicists and research partners to experienced growers and business leaders, every member plays a role in turning advanced science into real-world agricultural solutions.

We believe meaningful breakthroughs happen when disciplines intersect. By working closely with leading institutions and industry experts, our team bridges the gap between laboratory research and practical farming applications—delivering results that are both proven and scalable.

Driven by a shared commitment to sustainability, innovation, and food security, the Lightning Water team is focused on one goal: helping growers produce stronger, cleaner, and more resilient crops without relying on harmful chemicals.

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John Russo

Co-Founder

Innovative professional with a distinguished and proven track record encompassing over 25 years of progressive management, marketing and sales expertise in the broadcast production and digital media industries. Committed to the development, implementation and exploitation of new cutting edge technologies. Special interest in new concepts that foster consumer adoption and provide new interpretations upon existing traditional platforms. Outstanding history of strategic vision and problem solving. Created from inception three successful entities; all as Founding Principal and acting as President.

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Ryan Robinson PhD

Dir of Plasma Sciences

Ryan’s PhD is in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics researching in the area of non-equilibrium plasmas. His primary research is focused on non-equilibrium-atmospheric plasma and the application to production of plasma activated water (PAW).

At PLA he is Leading a team of engineers and researchers implementing plasma activated water for agricultural applications, including augmented crop growth and sterilization. Developing commercially viable apparatuses and providing technical expertise to clients adopting innovative plasma agricultural techniques.

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Sid Joshi MBA

Head of Product Management

Sid is a Biomedical Engineer with a background in antibacterial plasma and wound care research at Drexel University. In order to expand on his experience in drug delivery and biomedical solutions, he pursued his Master’s in Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University, followed by an MBA at Cornell University’s SC Johnson School of Management, focusing on Entrepreneurship and General Management. Advocating for plasma technology and its applications in new business fields is his passion, which he aims to fulfill through his work at Lightning Water.

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Dr. Simon Mills

Co-Founder

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Suresh Joshi, MD, PHD, MSC.

Research

Dr. Joshi is an adjunct professor at the A.J. Drexel Plasma Institute, as well as Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering. He has a special interest in emerging bacterial infections, disinfection and sterilization, and biodefense. Dr. Joshi’s research areas are related to bacterial pathogenesis and biofilms and wound infection and healing. He has extensive experience in the areas of antimicrobial resistance, nosocomial infection control strategies, and molecular and clinical epidemiology, drug development and animal infection models.

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Michael Zaytsev

Michael Zaytsev is a Cannabis Business Coach who serves an extensive network of high performing entrepreneurs, including Silicon Valley’s elite and pioneers in all verticals of the Cannabis industry. As the organizer of High NY, New York’s largest community of Cannabis activists and entrepreneurs, Mike has produced dozens of education and networking events for a community of 4,000 New Yorkers and growing.

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Francesco Di Gioia

Associate Professor of Vegetable Crop Science in the Department of Plant Science at The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Di Gioia is a vegetable specialist at Penn State. The primary goal of his integrated research and extension program is to improve the sustainability of vegetable production systems and improve vegetable nutritional quality. Working across different crops and growing systems (open field, protected, and controlled environment) and methods (conventional, organic, soil-based, and soilless systems), his research focuses on developing and optimizing solutions aimed at improving crop resource use efficiency (irrigation, fertilization, energy), reducing the use of synthetic inputs (synthetic fertilizer and agrochemicals), and

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Dr. Alexander Fridman

As Nyheim Chair Professor and Director of the C. & J. Nyheim Plasma Institute of Drexel University, Dr. Alexander Fridman is a recognized world leader in research relating to plasma science and engineering. Dr. Fridman is renowned for his developments in novel plasma approaches to material treatment, fuel conversion, hydrogen production, aerospace engineering, biology, environmental control, agriculture and food processing.