Alexander (Lex) Henkels - GSEL
Alexander (Lex) Henkels is president of the American firm Providence Trade and Development, LLC. Mr. Henkels is working with Adebayo Adeyosoye as part of GSEL to bring sustainable solutions to Nigeria.
Lex first developed his appreciation for the power of a worldwide network while working for the Associated Press in New York, controlling the flow of news photos around the world.
Later he became a photo editor and manager for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Mr. Henkels also served as volunteer president and a member of the investment committee for a mental health foundation.
Lex left the Inquirer in 1995 to explore the possibilities of the Internet and online marketing and advertising. While helping one company create an international footprint, he developed contacts that would lead to the formation of Providence Trade and Development.
Mr. Henkels formed partnerships with Mark Snyder and other pioneers in waste-to-energy technology, solar power, solar pump design, ultra-efficient irrigation techniques, wastewater remediation and water filtration, and other innovations that can greatly improve quality of life. He worked with U.S. companies and government agencies (USDA, Treasury’s OFAC, State Department) to gain export approval to Sudan and other new markets.
In 2012, Mr. Henkels joined with Adebayo Adeyosoye and Mark to introduce the Thermolyzer, a system for producing energy from waste to Nigeria. In 2020, Lex is working closely with Mark, Mr. Adeyosoye and GSEL to bring this and other clean technologies to Nigeria.