📝 Episode Summary:
Today on Off Road with Frank Ferraro, we sit down with David Bernard, a visionary leader who’s spent decades at the crossroads of finance and innovation. As the former CEO of Equities.com, David transformed how small and micro-cap companies connect with capital markets. Now, as President of Next Gen Bioplastics, he's on a mission to disrupt a different space: the global plastics industry.
In this powerful episode, David opens up about his pivot from capital markets to climate action, the founding of a 375,000-square-foot bioplastics manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, and how hemp-based products could help eliminate harmful microplastics from our food systems and oceans.
Joining Frank is frequent co-host Andrea Cataneo, a securities attorney and partner at Callagy Law, who brings deep insights and personal connection to David’s journey.
If you’ve ever wondered how high finance and sustainable manufacturing can collide to make real impact, this one’s for you.
🔍 Topics Covered:
- The origin story of Equities Magazine and its historic spotlight on companies like Home Depot
- How David built one of the most dynamic digital platforms for small and micro-cap issuers
- The staggering impact of plastics on our health and ecosystems
- How hemp-based bioplastics could revolutionize food packaging and supply chains
- Behind the scenes of launching a $45M+ manufacturing venture with 40+ product SKUs
- Real purchase orders and market demand from global distributors
- Why this is David Bernard’s "final and most meaningful act" in business
🧠 Key Takeaways:
- The future of sustainability is now — and it's being shaped by business leaders with real Wall Street experience.
- Bioplastics are scalable — and with the right infrastructure, they can compete with petroleum-based plastics in cost and quality.
- Environmental responsibility can drive revenue — Next Gen Bioplastics already has $45M+ in committed purchase orders.
🔗 Resources & Mentions:
- Next Gen Bioplastics - david@nextgenbioplastics.com
- Andrea Cataneo andrea.cataneo@unblindedmastery.com
- The Plastic Island
👤 Guest Bio:
David Bernard is a longtime financial innovator, former CEO of Equities.com, and current President of Next Gen Bioplastics. With a background in capital markets, David has shifted his energy toward sustainable manufacturing—building one of the largest bioplastics factories in the U.S. to combat the growing threat of plastic waste and microplastic ingestion.
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