Renée Hornbaker

Renée Hornbaker brings more than four decades of corporate leadership experience to Deep Isolation Nuclear, Inc., a leading innovator in nuclear waste disposal technology. Appointed to the board effective October 17, 2025, she is a CPA, Audit Committee Financial Expert, and Director Certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Hornbaker is recognized for her expertise in financial management, business transformation, and board governance across industries ranging from energy to advanced manufacturing.

Hornbaker received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Indiana University. She joined the audit practice of Deloitte in 1977, where she became a senior manager in the firm's Chicago office, establishing her foundation in financial controls and compliance.

Career History

• CEO, Storey & Gates LLC (2018–present) — a consulting firm providing business advisory services including executive coaching and board governance training
• Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Stream Energy (2011–December 2017) — a retail energy, wireless, and protective services provider
• Chief Financial Officer, Shared Technologies, Inc. (2006–May 2011) — a provider of converged voice and data networking solutions
• Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Flowserve Corporation (1997–2004) — a global provider of industrial flow management products and services
• Senior Manager, Audit Practice, Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (1977 onward) — Chicago office

Hornbaker currently serves on the boards of Eastman Chemical Company, Freeman Company, and Berry Corporation, where she serves as Board Chair since March 2024. She was named an honoree of the prestigious NACD 2023 Directorship 100 Director of the Year – Private Company. She has been recognized by DCEO as one of "The 500 Most Powerful Dallas Business Leaders 2016", "2015 Excellence in Corporate Governance" and "2014 CFO of the Year".

What Renée Hornbaker could bring to her role at Deep Isolation Nuclear: Hornbaker's appointment is strategically valuable given her deep expertise in high-growth, regulated industries and her track record overseeing complex financial transformations. Her background in companies ranging from retail energy to advanced industrial equipment, combined with her governance credentials and experience with audit and financial reporting oversight, positions her to guide Deep Isolation's path toward commercialization and regulatory approval of its innovative nuclear waste disposal technology. Her board leadership experience across public companies like Eastman Chemical suggests she can help Deep Isolation scale operations and engage with stakeholders in the nuclear energy sector as demand for waste management solutions grows globally.