Our Experienced Team
PhD (Civ. Eng.) – Founder / Managing Director
Dmitriy Shtikel, PhD immigrated to the USA from the Soviet Union in 1991. After obtaining his PhD in Civil Engineering (with a specialty in Highway Construction), he worked for several years as Deputy Director for Science of one of the largest and most renowned Civil Engineering Scientific Research Institutes in the Soviet Union. He is one of the youngest persons ever to hold such a high position there.
After immigrating to the USA with his family, Dmitriy worked briefly for a major engineering firm in the Seattle area, before establishing his first business developing trade and various projects with the newly independent Russia and other former Soviet Union member-countries. Later he founded a company that was the first independent supplier of potash fertilizer from Belarus to India where Dmitriy has good working relations with several major agricultural companies.
Since establishing Auberron Group in 2008, Dmitriy has worked diligently to develop new lines of business such as export of fine food & beverage products to the US market, and has been instrumental in the development of the first organic fertilizer plant project in Belarus.
Dmitriy’s interests outside of work include domestic and international politics and major league sports, especially basketball and football.
JD – Founder / Tax and Legal Counsel
John Sullivan earned his JD from Columbia University School of Law in 1984, with a Certificate from its Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law, after graduating from University of Maryland University College in West Germany with a BA in Soviet Area Studies Magna Cum Laude while serving in U.S. Army Intelligence & Security Command intercepting Soviet and Czech radio and phone communications for the NSA. He has practiced in the areas of federal, state and multinational tax planning, estate planning, probate, trust and estate administration, and business and nonprofit planning throughout his thirty plus years in law practice. He began his career at the Seattle and Bellevue offices of Stoel Rives and its predecessor firm in 1984. From 1992 to 1998 he served as Vice President & Tax Counsel to Bank of America for the Northwest. He returned to private practice in 1998 and is a shareholder of the Lyons | Sullivan law firm in Bellevue, Washington.
John brings a wealth of understanding regarding legal and tax issues for businesses and individuals. He combines an ability to explain the complex in plain English with a creative and practical approach to solving problems and resolving disputes. John is proficient in Russian, which he first studied at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, completing its Intensive Russian Language Course, graduating second in his class, recipient of the Pushkin Book Award.
Director of Business Development
Charles “Chuck” Dennis is a marketing and business development executive from the telecom industry with 35 years experience including 20 years in the wireless industry in both Fortune 500 and start-up work environments. Chuck thrives on innovation and entrepreneurship, a strategic, creative business and investment planner with experience inventing, designing, implementing, and promoting new business concepts, companies, and products.
Chuck is credited with several issued US patents in the mobile technology area including mobile payments and location-based authentication. Chuck’s interest in Auberron’s foreign investment projects in the construction of large organic fertilizer plants was piqued based on its use of unique patented advanced technology.
Chuck has a Business Administration Degree from Eastern Washington University. Chuck’s personal interests include fitness, helping a friend’s local wine business, golf, following favorite college and pro sports teams, and following favorite local bands.