MARK SMITH
CEO and Co-Founder
Mark Smith is a seasoned policy and business strategist with over 20 years of experience advancing sustainability, trade, and energy innovation on a global scale. Prior to co-founding Carbon Country, he led international government affairs for Clorox brands and co-founded a clean energy startup developing biomass projects in Brazil. He’s known for building impactful partnerships across business, government, and NGOs to drive systemic change. Mark holds an MBA from Georgetown and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.
JOSH PHELPS
VP and Co-Founder
Josh Phelps has amassed over 25 years of experience in logistics, research, and project execution across various industries, including biotech, global aid, and blockchain/crypto. He led research efforts for a decade and a half on Phase 1 cancer trials, was the head of global food relief efforts at World Central Kitchen, and more recently dived into blockchain technology as it relates to international money transfer and aid projects. At Carbon Country, he resides on-site at Project 1, focusing on the development of climate-resilient systems that integrate agrivoltaics, carbon removal, and decentralized infrastructure. Josh holds a degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia and brings a creative, systems-based approach to sustainable development.
Our Strategic Partners
Carbon Country is working with Grain to help design our biochar projects, prepare project documents necessary for pre-selling and offtake of carbon removal credits, as well as helping secure equity and debt.
Range Renewable Advisors is providing critical fractional project finance and project development support to ensure necessary financing is secured and project development deadlines are met.
ARTi is providing our pyrolysis machines and helping us design our biochar/combined heat and power system.
Advanced Solar is providing us with wrapped EPC services for our agrivoltaics projects.
Meet The Team
At Carbon Country, our leadership blends expertise in sustainability, policy, technology, and community development to drive innovative climate solutions. With decades of experience across clean energy, regenerative agriculture, and global aid, our team is united by a shared commitment to building a more resilient future. Meet the co-founders behind the mission.
How It All Started
The idea for Carbon Country began when Co-Founder Mark Smith, after leaving a long career at Clorox, was inspired by the Inflation Reduction Act to pursue a renewable energy venture. Initially exploring solar development on abandoned mine sites in West Virginia, he shifted focus to small ranches that could support 5 MW of solar while also enabling livestock grazing. This led him to agrivoltaics, regenerative agriculture, and the soil-enhancing potential of biochar. Inspired by pioneers like Silicon Ranch and White Oak Pastures, Mark envisioned a model that stacked synergistic carbon removal businesses on working farms. Realizing he needed a partner with expertise in operations, community building, and Web3, he teamed up with Josh Phelps whom he met during COVID while bonding over crypto projects. Josh later moved from Mexico City to Maryland to help launch their first farm, and Carbon Country officially formed in February 2024.