Agenda

Gabe Klein

Executive Director, U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

Gabe Klein is the executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. Previously, he served as the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation and director of the Washington, D.C., District Department of Transportation, where he revamped technology platforms and government processes while focusing on putting people (versus cars) first on city streets. This included launching two of the first and largest solar-powered bikeshare systems in the country and building protected bike lanes and better pedestrian infrastructure for vulnerable citizens citywide, as well as facilitating private services like carshares and rideshares to support city mobility goals.

He honed his creativity and leadership skills working in business as vice president at Zipcar and national director of stores at Bikes USA. He also co-founded CityFi, a consulting firm to help city leaders, chief executive officers, and others understand the complexities of 21st century challenges, facilitate people-centric solutions, and use new models and technology-based tools to deliver optimized results. Clients ranged from foreign governments to cities, states, start-ups, and publicly traded companies.

In 2015, he published Start-Up City: Inspiring Private and Public Entrepreneurship, Getting Projects Done, and Having Fun. The book focuses on revamping how we innovate in cities and rethinking public-private partnerships as technology shapes a dramatically different future. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business and an executive certificate in transportation/mobility management from The Wharton School. He also served on the 2020 Biden-Harris Agency Review Team for the U.S. Department of Transportation with a focus on innovation, including transportation electrification and program delivery.

David Terry

President, National Association of State Energy Officials

David Terry is the President of the National Association of State Energy Officials and has worked with NASEO in a variety of capacities since 1996. Mr. Terry leads NASEO's policy actions and programs in support of the 56 governor-designated state and territory energy directors and their offices. NASEO communicates the states' views on virtually all national energy issues. Mr. Terry has participated in governor-led policy meetings, testified before U.S. Congressional Committees and presented at White House and international energy forums.  Mr. Terry has 25 years of experience working on a range of energy issues for such organizations as the Governors’ Wind and Solar Energy and Coalition and Energy Services Coalition. Prior to working in the energy area, Mr. Terry was researcher at the National Academy of Sciences and a statistical analyst for a consumer products market research firm. He received a BA degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and he has completed graduate coursework in statistics and marketing at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Jim Tymon

Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Jim Tymon is the Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), a non-profit, non-partisan association that supports and represents the interests and missions of state departments of transportation, providing improved quality of life through leadership in transportation. His experience includes service in key Congressional and federal agency roles, as well as non-profit association management.

As AASHTO Executive Director, Tymon oversees a staff of 130 professionals who support their members in connecting America with the transportation system of today and tomorrow. AASHTO is now in its second century of service to state departments of transportation and their highly skilled employees.

Prior to his appointment, Tymon was AASHTO’s Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Policy and Management from 2013 to 2018, working closely with state DOTs in the development of AASHTO’s transportation policy positions and overseeing the monitoring of legislative, administrative, and regulatory activities relating to transportation.  As AASHTO’s COO, Jim also oversaw the management of the Association’s internal operations.

Tymon previously served as the staff director of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As staff director, Tymon managed the subcommittee responsible for writing legislation for the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Jim was the Committee’s lead staffer for the development of MAP-21 — the surface transportation bill signed into law in 2012 and SAFETEA LU – the surface transportation bill signed into law in 2005. And, Tymon served in the Office of Management and Budget, where he worked as the program examiner responsible for overseeing the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Tymon graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science, along with a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy. A native of New Jersey, Tymon and his family reside in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Alex Schroeder

Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

Alex leads the newly formed Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, which was established in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to align resources and expertise across the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Energy (DOE). The Joint Office seeks to accelerate an electrified transportation system that is affordable, convenient, equitable, reliable, and safe. Initial work by the Joint Office is geared towards providing technical and analytical assistance to states on EV charging plans and will quickly expand to support additional transportation electrification opportunities.

Alex is serving in the interim role on assignment from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) where he leads a research group that focuses on vehicle charging, electric grid integration, and the decarbonization of commercial vehicles. Alex has served in a variety of leadership roles at NREL ranging from transportation technology deployment to institutional planning and strategy. In that time, he helped to conceptualize the Energy Efficiency Mobility Systems program at U.S. DOE and aligned efforts between DOE and DOT to accelerate transportation systems research. Alex also served as a senior advisor on innovation to DOT and was part of the team that supported the initial designation of alternative fuel corridors.

Prior to NREL, Alex spent the better part of a decade in state government in the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office and Western Governors’ Association where he led programs related to transportation fuels and clean energy working with a variety of private and public sector stakeholders. An engineer and pilot by training, Alex has spent his career supporting research, policies, and programs that push past traditional boundaries in pursuit of outcomes that transcend organizations and magnify benefits. Outside of the office, Alex is a proud father, avid traveler, and consummate tinkerer.

Kim Okafor

General Manager of Zero Emission Solutions, Love’s Travel Stops and Trillium Energy Solutions

Kim Okafor is the General Manager of Zero Emission Solutions for Love’s Travel Stops and Trillium Energy Solutions. This includes the development and management of the EV charging, hydrogen fueling and solar businesses. She has been with the organization since Love’s Travel Stops acquired Trillium in 2016. She actively serves on the Board of Directors for the California Hydrogen Business Council and has a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston. Kim’s goal as the General Manager of Zero Emission Solutions is to develop sustainable business opportunities that provide economic advantages for our customers.

Matt Nelson

Director of Energy Policy, Walmart

Matthew Nelson is the Director of Energy Policy for Walmart. He previously served as Director of Government Affairs for Electrify America, where he was the 5th employee. During the Obama Administration, Matt was appointed Chief of Staff in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Earlier in his career, Matt served as U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Senior Policy Advisor for Energy, Transportation, and Climate Change; and as lead Energy and Environment staff to Congressman Tom Allen (D-ME), a member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. Matt lives in Northern Virginia.

Chris Yunker

Managing Director, Resiliency, Clean Transportation and Analytics, Hawaii State Energy Office

Chris Yunker is the Managing Director for Resiliency, Clean Transportation, and Analytics for the Hawaii State Energy Office.  Mr. Yunker is an energy industry professional with a broad range of experience in a variety of functions and roles including start-ups, venture capital, and central station power plant development. Most recently Chris was the Rates and Analysis Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric where he oversaw rate design, forecasting and load analysis. Prior to that he held positions at SDG&E in Strategic Planning, Finance, RD&D, and Resource Planning. In these roles he oversaw the development of applications and served as an expert witness in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission covering topics ranging from rate policy, rate design, procurement and finance.  In addition Mr. Yunker has worked for Sempra Connections which installed micro-turbines in combined heat and power applications on the customer side of the meter as well as for GEA Power Cooling Systems, Inc. which developed condensing systems for steam turbines in utility scale central station power plants.  He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of California – San Diego and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.  He is also a professional engineer (PE) in mechanical engineering and a certified energy manager (CEM) through the association of energy engineers.

Britta Gross

Director of Transportation, Electric Power Research Institute

Britta Gross leads the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) transportation program and is responsible for defining the market strategies needed to accelerate the electrification of the transportation system, with an urgent focus on identifying the critical gaps that need to be addressed to achieve 2030 climate-aligned goals.

Britta was formerly the Director of Advanced Vehicle Commercialization at General Motors, responsible for the energy and infrastructure strategies required to enable the commercialization of battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. Britta is also currently the President of the Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando’s electric and water utility.

She has an Electrical Engineering degree from LSU and studied language arts at the University of Wurzburg in Germany.  She has held numerous board seats, including the Alliance for Transportation Electrification, NACFE, MobilityData, Plug in America, the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), Rhombus, and served as a Governor appointee on both the Massachusetts and Maryland EV Commissions. Ms. Gross has received numerous industry awards including the Forth Roadmap Career Achievement Award, Automotive News’ “Electrifying 100”, the GreenBiz “Verge 25” award, and has testified at the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on transportation electrification.

Peg Hanna

Director, Climate Change Mitigation and Monitoring, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Peg Hanna is Director of the newly formed Division of Climate Change Mitigation and Monitoring at NJDEP.  She develops and oversees economy wide decarbonization initiatives; advances clean and renewable energy strategies; and oversees operation of the State’s ambient air monitoring network. She has been with the NJDEP for 31 years, focusing most recently on transforming the transportation sector to a zero carbon footprint.  The first 15 years of her DEP tenure were spent in NJDEP’s Compliance and Enforcement program developing policies and regulations for stationary sources.

She received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Scranton.

The Honorable Katherine Peretick

Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission

Katherine L Peretick was appointed to the Michigan Public Service Commission by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on January 4, 2021, and reappointed on July 3, 2021. Her term ends July 2, 2027.

Commissioner Peretick is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and serves on NARUC's Committee on Electricity. She also serves on the DOE-NARUC Nuclear Energy Partnership. In August 2022 she became chair of the NARUC Electric Vehicles State Working Group, leading the conversation on regulatory topics for electric vehicles and EV charging, and serves on the board for the World Resources Institute Electric School bus Initiative Advisory Council. She was also appointed to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Advisory Council, and serves on the Executive Committee, which advises the organization on trends in political, economic, and social issues that affect electric utilities and prioritizes research to serve the public interest.

Commissioner Peretick serves on the board of directors of the Organization of PJM States and represents the Commission on the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Peretick worked in the public and private sectors with a focus on energy storage and technology development. She served as Director of Engineering at NRStor Inc., an international energy storage project developer, where she was recognized by the Energy News Network as a national leader and innovator in the energy transition on the "40 under 40" award list. Her past experience also includes leading project engineering for long-duration energy storage technology company General Compression, international rotations in India and Denmark as a mechanical engineer as part of wind turbine manufacturer Vestas global Leadership Development Program, and a fellowship with the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She also worked on the Juno and Curiosity spacecraft missions with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Ms. Peretick also served as Vice President of Advancing Women in Energy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging and empowering women in the energy industry and energy-related fields for 3 years.

Ms. Peretick holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Energy Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Brittney Kohler

Legislative Director, Transportation and Infrastructure Services, National League of Cities

Brittney Kohler is the Legislative Director of Transportation and Infrastructure for the National League of Cities, advocating to Congress and the Administration on behalf of the transportation needs of the nation’s cities, towns and villages. Her portfolio includes traditional transportation and emerging technology including electric and autonomous vehicles, drones, and micromobility. Ms. Kohler previously served as Deputy Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation as well as held positions with the American Society of Civil Engineers, Amtrak, and in infrastructure investment and management firms. After more than a decade of promoting infrastructure needs and policy, the delivery of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will bring real solutions to local projects like those she supported early in her career in transit, water, ferries, aviation and high-speed rail development.

Neal Ullman

Energy Resource Professional, Energy Office, Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Neal Ullman works on clean transportation funding opportunities including school bus replacements, electric vehicle charging stations, and more at Montana Department of Environmental Quality. He previously worked on clean energy issues at the state legislature, as an energy policy advisor to a member of Congress, and for the national Clean Cities program at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Sara Canabarro

Administrator of Clean Transportation Programs, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

Sara Canabarro is the administrator of clean transportation programs at the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER). She manages initiatives promoting clean and sustainable transportation options. Sara oversees EV charging station installations and leads successful rebate programs for electric vehicles and e-bikes. She is also the programmatic manager for the State Energy Program (SEP) and spearheads the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program in Rhode Island. Sara holds an MBA in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University.

Kameale Terry

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ChargerHelp!

Kameale Terry, CEO of ChargerHelp, is an accomplished leader focusing on environmental sustainability and community engagement. With a decade of experience in CleanTech, she co-founded ChargerHelp! to create reliable Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure using data-driven maintenance and repair services.

Previously, as Director of Programs at EV Connect, Kameale led infrastructure projects globally and established the Customer Experience Department, emphasizing equitable workforce development. She is an advisor for Edge Energy, co-creator of Culture and Climate, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. Kameale's expertise extends to board positions in entrepreneurial and environmental industries."

Alex Beaton

Senior Manager of Market Development and Public Policy, EVgo

Alex Beaton is EVgo’s Senior Manager of Market Development and Public Policy. In this capacity, he leads EVgo’s federal engagement to promote transportation electrification. Alex works with federal, state and local policymakers to support the deployment of charging infrastructure, including implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. Prior to joining EVgo, Alex was Policy Advisor for the Senate Budget Committee and Chairman Bernard Sanders. Alex holds an M.A. in Public Management from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in Political Science from American University.

Asaf Nagler

Vice President External Affairs, ABB E-Mobility North America

Asaf Nagler works at the intersection of government, technology, energy, and entrepreneurship and is currently Vice President of External Affairs at ABB E-mobility North America, the leading global manufacturer of electric vehicle charging technology. At ABB E-mobility, Asaf leads policy and market development efforts along with industry relations, working closely with policy makers, industry stakeholders, and thought-leaders. Additionally, Asaf focuses on business development efforts for key transportation segments. Previously, Asaf served as Senior Director for Government Relations at ABB, where he led federal and state policy and market development activities across a range of issues and technologies, from transportation electrification, smart grid, and cybersecurity, to energy efficiency and methane leak detection.

Prior to ABB, Asaf founded two start-ups. The first received two Dept. of Energy SunShot Awards to crowd-source and analyze generation data from distributed solar PV to help utilities integrate solar onto their grids. The second, assisted renewable generation asset owners obtain over $100 million in federal funds for capital investments made in new or incremental renewable generation.

Asaf was Chief of Staff to the U.S. Under Secretary of Energy where he helped oversee $37 billion in Recovery Act investments in clean energy and manage $8 billion in annual energy programs including energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric grid, nuclear and fossil energy, and nuclear clean-up.

Asaf served as an attorney and researcher in the White House and on the 2008 Obama Campaign. Asaf was a civil litigation attorney and graduated from Colgate University and the George Washington University Law School.

Margaret Smith

Technology Manager, Technology Integration Program, Vehicle Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Margaret Smith is a Technology Manager in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). In this role, she provides oversight for a portfolio of projects to ensure consistency with Technology Integration (TI) Program goals including Electric Vehicle (EV) Community Partner projects. She also provides programmatic direction for the Clean Cities Coalition Network and oversees work performed by DOE National Laboratories. Smith leads energy and environmental justice initiatives at the Vehicle Technologies Office including the Justice40 pilot.

Before joining DOE in 2020, she provided VTO programmatic and technical support as a contractor for over ten years. Smith supported various TI activities, such as organizing Clean Cities coordinator trainings and peer sharing discussions, developing resources for Clean Cities coalitions, and assisting with program management responsibilities. Additionally, Smith worked with Clean Cities coalitions on developing and implementing projects addressing barriers to electric vehicle (EV) deployment including Vehicle Charging Innovations for Multi-Unit Dwellings (VCI-MUD) and Electric Vehicle Widescale Analysis for Tomorrow's Transportation Solutions (EV WATTS).

Prior to working with VTO, Smith worked for Sustainable Energy Strategies, Inc. In this role, she supported biodiesel and ethanol projects that improve infrastructure, develop feedstocks, educate stakeholders, and promote the use of biodiesel. She has two years of experience with the design, manufacturing, and sales of underground stormwater treatment systems that remove pollution from stormwater runoff. Smith holds a B.S. in computer engineering with a concentration in cognitive science from the University of Virginia.

Rachel Patterson

Deputy Policy Director, Evergreen Action

Rachel Patterson is deputy policy director at Evergreen and has worked on policy in the areas of climate, energy, clean transportation, and environmental justice. Prior to joining Evergreen, she was at Environmental Advocates NY, where she supported policy development, analysis, and research and engaged with state legislators and coalitions. Rachel also served as an Excelsior fellow for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and briefly as the senior briefer for the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Rachel holds an MPA from Columbia University, and B.A.s in Public Policy and Environmental Science from Mills College. Rachel is currently pursuing a J.D. at Albany Law School. She is also active in her community, currently serving on the Albany Community Policing Advisory Committee, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Rachel has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia, SIPA.

The Honorable Shailen Bhatt

Administrator, Federal Highway Administration

On January 13, 2023, Shailen Bhatt was sworn in by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as the 21st Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Bhatt was confirmed unanimously by voice vote in the U.S. Senate on December 8, 2022. He is the first person of Indian descent to lead FHWA.

In this role he oversees over 2,700 FHWA employees in all 50 States, U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia, and provides executive leadership on strategic initiatives and policy, including administering more than $350 billion as part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its formula and competitive grant programs that are available to State departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, Tribes, territories, federal land management agencies, and other organizations. As Administrator, Bhatt brings a record of successful project and program delivery needed in this once-in-a-generation level of infrastructure investment in which the impacts of FHWA policy and funding choices will last for generations, and will make people safer, reduce the emissions in our air while implementing resilient transportation systems for our changing climate, create a fairer transportation system, and strengthen our economy.

Bhatt brings to this role a passion for improving safety and protecting all road users on America's roads, bridges, highways, and other surface transportation infrastructure, including people using them for walking and biking. He is also committed to transforming our nation's infrastructure systems to address transportation's impacts on our global climate, while making them more equitable and fair for all.

His distinguished career includes serving in leadership positions in the public and private sectors, including the Kentucky, Delaware, and Colorado Departments of Transportation, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, AECOM, and as FHWA's Associate Administrator for Highway Policy and External Affairs in the Obama Administration.

Bhatt graduated summa cum laude from Western Kentucky University with a degree in Economics. He considers being a good father and husband to be the most important priority in the world, and he and his wife Neelam are the proud parents of two daughters, Saanvi and Nandini. While Bhatt is focused on his day job, he keeps his skates sharpened, his stick freshly taped, and stands ready to answer the call for any NHL team ready to take a chance on him.

Hari Kalla

Associate Administrator for Infrastructure, Federal Highway Administration

In July 2019, Hari Kalla was selected for SES position of Associate Administrator for Infrastructure with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  As the Associate Administrator for Infrastructure, Hari serves as a member of FHWA's leadership team and participates in developing strategic initiatives that have broad national impact upon the Agency and the Nation's transportation system.

Prior to this position, Hari served as the Associate Administrator for Research, Development, and Technology where he provided executive oversight to FHWA's national highway research and technology programs.  Prior to his most recent appointment, Hari served in the SES position of Director, Office of Preconstruction, Construction, and Pavements within the Office of Infrastructure.  In this role, Hari provided national leadership in pavement technology and construction engineering to FHWA Headquarters and field offices, state and local governments, industry, and academia.

Hari joined FHWA in 2001 as a Transportation Specialist within the Office of Safety and has held a variety of progressively responsible roles, including Team Leader in the Office of Safety, Team Leader in the Office of Operations, and Director of the Center for Accelerating Innovation.  Hari holds a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering from the State University of New York and a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Jodhpur.

Brian Hogge

Acting Director, Office of Preconstruction, Construction, and Pavements, Federal Highway Administration

Michael Culp

Team Leader, Sustainable Transportation and Resilience, Federal Highway Administration

Jim DeSanto

Contract Administration Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration

Tonia Buell

Alternative Fuels Program Manager, Washington State Department of Transportation

Tonia Buell specializes in E-Mobility – and currently champions efforts to connect state transportation corridors with electric vehicle charging and refueling. She developed Washington’s zero emission vehicle infrastructure partnership (ZEVIP) program, expanding statewide access to fast charging through public-private partnerships. Tonia leads Washington’s deployment of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. Tonia co-created the West Coast Electric Highway, the nation’s first multi-state highway corridor, which provides EV fast charging every 50 miles along the 1,350-mile corridor from Canada to Mexico. Tonia manages the Washington segment of the network and collaborates with her peers in neighboring states and British Columbia to provide a seamless passenger EV driving experience along interstate corridors. She is now exploring EV charging and hydrogen fuel cell refueling for medium- and heavy-duty freight trucks. Tonia brings more than 20 years of work experience in clean transportation to her role as co-chair of the state’s Interagency EV Coordinating Council where she is helping to guide the state’s Transportation Electrification Strategy. Tonia also serves as a board director for Plug In America and holds an MBA from Golden Gate University.

Alexa Voytek

Deputy Director, Programs, Innovation and Transportation, Communications, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Alexa serves as the Principal Investigator for the U.S. DOE State Energy Program (SEP) in Tennessee, oversees TDEC OEP’s energy in transportation programming, and administers the State’s initial allocation under the VW Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust. Alexa also serves as the Coordinator for U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, through which she acts as a technical resource for fleets and individuals evaluating alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Alexa serves on the leadership team for the National Association of State Energy Officials' Transportation Committee and is an Advisory Group member for the National Association of State Energy Officials' Energy Technology Innovation Project. She serves as the Governor’s designee to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Regional Energy Resource Council, which provides guidance on how TVA manages its energy resources against competing objectives and values. Prior to joining TDEC, Alexa interned with the UN Division for Sustainable Development and the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia. Most recently, Alexa served as Asst. Account Executive for the public relations firm Ketchum, Inc., where she was assigned to energy and technology related projects. Alexa holds an M.A. from Columbia University in Russian, Eastern European, Balkan, and Eurasian Studies and graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, with a B.A. in History and Russian Language / Area Studies.

Christian Williss

Managing Director, Transportation Fuels and Technology, Colorado Energy Office

Christian Williss is Managing Director, Transportation Fuels and Technology at the Colorado Energy Office. Christian leads office efforts to accelerate adoption of zero emission vehicles through policy, planning, and research, management of statewide infrastructure and e-mobility grant programs, and education and outreach. He previously served as Director of Programs and Initiatives where he oversaw a team of program managers and engineers responsible for managing existing programs and launching new initiatives in the energy efficiency and alternative fuels markets.  Prior to coming to the Energy Office he worked as Sustainability Program Administrator at the City and County of Denver where he led a number of citywide sustainability initiatives including the City’s energy efficiency program. Christian holds a BA in Political Science and an MS in Construction Management.

Natasha Fackler

Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Natasha Fackler serves as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator.  In coordination with the Governor’s Office and PennDOT, she advises and develops best practices on the use of, and receipt of, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program funds.   She is also designated as the state’s lead point of contact on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program to guide investments in electrification across the Commonwealth.  Prior to taking on this role, she served as PennDOT’s Policy Director and has over 25-years of experience in the Commonwealth. Natasha earned both her undergraduate degree and Master's in Public Administration from Shippensburg University.

Jason Willey

Policy Manager, Energy Office, Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment

Jason Willey is a Co-Director of Arkansas Clean Cities which is housed inside the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment. He joined Arkansas Clean Cities in 2021 and has since been focused on managing the state’s Volkswagen Mitigation EV Charger programs, serving on the Arkansas NEVI Project Management Team and stakeholder development for Arkansas Clean Cities. Outside of his Clean Cities responsibilities, he serves as Policy Manager assisting in project management in the Arkansas Energy Office. Prior to Arkansas Clean Cities he was employed for several years in commercial retail real estate.
He is a graduate of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts and Rhodes College.

Justin Harrod

Electric Vehicle Project Manager, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Justin Harrod began his career with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in 2010. He currently works for the Modal Branch in Division of Planning. His primary responsibilities center on the planning, deployment, and implementation of Kentucky’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, the Carbon Reduction Strategy, and assisting with Air Quality requests. Justin is a 2009 graduate of Murray State University. A native of Frankfort, he resides there with his wife Shelly, and their three children.

Jared Schwennesen

Multi-Modal Division Manager, Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Jared Schwennesen, P.E., was named the Rail Division Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in June. In 2009, Schwennesen began his tenure with ODOT as an Engineer in Training. Since then, he held roles in Bridge Division; Traffic Division; Maintenance in ITS and Fiber Optics and Environmental Programs Division. His most recent position was serving as the assistant to the Director of Capital Programs.

In 2007, Schwennesen earned his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. In 2008, He went on to earn his Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from OU and joined ODOT soon after. Additionally, he gained his professional engineering license in 2012. Having worked as a manager and designer in a diverse group of ODOT divisions, Schwennesen is prepared to lead Rail Division as it seeks to improve Oklahoma’s passenger and freight rail systems.

In Schwennesen’s time at the department, he has contributed to special initiatives such as the update of ODOT’s Strategic Plan, the rollout of OKroads.org, installation of electric vehicle charging stations, grant applications and bundling projects. He has also served as the Oklahoma Director of the Board for ITS Heartland.

Paula Hemmer

Statewide Initiatives Senior Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation

Ms. Hemmer has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a M.S. in Environmental Engineering.  She began her environmental engineering career as a soil and groundwater consultant to private industry.  She then switched to air quality, working as a consultant to EPA, state, and local agencies where she focused on cost-benefit analysis for air pollution controls and air emissions inventories.  Ms. Hemmer began working for the North Carolina Department of Environment Quality (NCDEQ) in 2005 and functioned as the technical lead for clean energy, electricity, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas issues, supporting a wide variety of projects.  Ms. Hemmer was a significant contributor to the NC Clean Energy Plan, the NC Energy Reform Process, and the NC Climate Change Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan. She recently moved to the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) where she is supporting clean and resilient transportation as well as other issues. She is North Carolina’s project manager for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) grant program.

Deborah Reynolds

Clean Transportation Managing Director, Washington Department of Commerce

Deborah Reynolds is the Clean Transportation Managing Director in the Energy Office at the Washington State Department of Commerce. She oversees electric vehicle and charging infrastructure program development and cochairs the Washington State Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council. She has 23 years of utility regulatory experience from her previous work at the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). While there, she was a key contributor to the UTC policy statement on electric vehicle supply equipment, and oversaw the development of rules for conservation programs, renewable portfolio standards, integrated resource planning, and clean energy implementation plans.

Cathleen Lewis

E-mobility Program Manager, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Cathleen Lewis is currently the E-Mobility Program Manager at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Her work in transportation has focused on looking at traffic safety and infrastructure as a key piece in the state’s economic development and sustainability movements. She previously worked as the Outreach Coordinator for the Division of Clean Energy at NJBPU to encourage participation in New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program. As a transportation advocate she has spent much of her career advocating for complete streets and multi-modal transportation options all with an eye towards increasing safety, sustainability and economic growth. She graduated from Rutgers University in 2001 with her BA in Political Science.

Heather Hickerson

Assistant Deputy Director of Zero Emission Vehicle Market Development, Office of Business and Economic Development, California Executive Office of the Governor

Rafael Aguilera

Senior High Road Field Specialist, California Workforce Development Board

Rafael is a policy practitioner working with the CWDB’s High Road initiatives and is often in the field, presenting these initiatives to workforce partners throughout the state. As a former Capitol staffer, Rafael has had the opportunity to perform policy analysis and political strategy work with three Majority Leaders and two Speakers on issues ranging from workforce, climate, energy and parliamentary procedure. At the CWDB, Rafael enjoys the challenge of crafting simple solutions to complex problems. Whether it’s implementing state level climate policy, facilitating community engagement, or improving labor outcomes for populations with employment barriers, he enjoys having meaningful work and making a lasting impact in communities around the state. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, gardening, and consuming local craft food and beverages.

Julie Staveland

Assistant Division Director, Materials Management Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Julie is the Manager of the Sustainability Section within the Materials Management Division of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and currently the Acting Director of the Michigan State Energy Program. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the Energy Services, Recycling, and Pollution Prevention units and the various grant programs and technical assistance they offer. Programs range from energy efficiency and renewable energy, recycling infrastructure, the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, to installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the state. Julie is also the current Infrastructure Coordinator for EGLE, as well as overseeing the Catalyst Communities Initiative. Julie has over 10 years of federal and state grant management experience, and prior to her current position she was the State Energy Program Specialist.

Born and raised in Michigan, Julie lived in Alaska for 18 years where she received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast. She and her husband have 4 children, they love to spend time with outdoors and working on their garden. Julie is passionate about working with communities and businesses to meet them where they are on their decarbonization journey and to help them prepare for a clean energy future.

Ray Minjares

Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program Director and San Francisco Managing Director, International Council on Clean Transportation

As Director of the Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program at the International Council on Clean Transportation, Ray Minjares leads a global research team shaping the direction of zero-emission truck and bus policy across the world’s largest vehicle markets. His U.S. research team published this past May a study of where, when and how much charging infrastructure needs to be deployed to meet the energy needs of the coming 1.1 million zero-emission trucks and buses estimated to hit the roads by 2030. The ICCT is bringing similar charging needs assessments to Europe, China and India. He brings to this work more than twenty years of experience addressing diesel exhaust emissions across high income and developing countries and cares passionately about delivering public health benefits through zero-emission vehicle technologies.

Charlotte Fagan

Principal Analyst, National Grid

Charlotte is a Principal Analyst in Clean Energy Development at National Grid where she works on transmission infrastructure development needed to meet New York State's ambitious transportation electrification and renewables mandates. One of the authors of the recent Electric Highways Study released by National Grid in partnership with RMI and CALSTART, her recent work is focused on proactive investment to meet future charging demand on highways and preparing the grid to meet fleet electrification needs in Upstate New York.

Timothy von Stetten

Manager, Electric Vehicle Charging Programs, Parking Authority of Baltimore City

Tim von Stetten is the Manager of Electric Vehicle Charging Programs with the Parking Authority of Baltimore City. In this role, he oversees all aspects of public-facing EV charging in Baltimore City, including short- and long-term strategic planning, developing EV charging legislation and regulations, and managing grants and contracts. Before moving into this position, Tim was a Senior Planner with the Parking Authority. Tim holds a Master’s of Community Planning from the University of Maryland.

Stan Cross

Electric Transportation Policy Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Stan joined the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in 2019. Stan leads electric transportation policy and utility reform efforts across the Southeast. Previously, Stan led and co-founded Brightfield Transportation Solutions—a start-up that designs and deploys solar-integrated electric vehicle charging stations. Stan also served as a transportation electrification consultant for the Cities of Raleigh and Charlotte, NC, and the Energy Foundation.

Stan’s decade of experience in the electric transportation trenches demonstrates that developing innovative and supportive state, municipal, and utility policies is central to unlocking the electric transportation market. Stan’s leadership has been recognized by the US D.O.E. Clean Cities Partner Award and the NC Sustainable Energy Association Clean Energy Business Community Initiative Award. Stan currently serves in a leadership capacity to the Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative, Georgia’s Electric Mobility Innovation Alliance, Drive Electric Florida, Plug In North Carolina, South Carolina’s Electric Vehicle Stakeholder Initiative, and Drive Electric Tennessee.

Prior to his work with transportation electrification, Stan led Warren Wilson College’s Environmental Leadership Center and was recognized as NC’s 2007 Environmental Educator of the Year. Stan received a BA in Psychology from Skidmore College and his Masters of Arts and Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with concentrations in climate change and creative writing.

Chris Irwin

Program Manager for Transactive Energy, Communications and Interoperability in Smart Grid, Office of Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy

At the Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, I’ve had the opportunity to manage and oversee just over $1.5B in grid modernization projects. I’ve seen some of the top utilities in the country, from very large to very small, tackle technology, integration and business challenges necessary to bring about the Smart Grid.

I lead DOE’s Smart Grid standards and interoperability efforts, working alongside NIST, FERC and other federal agencies in the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel and other forums. I founded DOE’s participation in the Federal Government’s Green Button Data Access Initiative to empower customers with improved access to their own energy data, and I also stay involved in State and Federal regulatory developments, and policy aspects of consumer level issues.

Prior to joining the DOE, I served as Director of Products at Eka Systems, also participating in Marketing and Business Development. In that role, I gained a full market perspective on the electric energy sector, as well as natural gas and water infrastructure. This experience, combined with my semiconductor and satellite communications background, gives me a unique and valuable perspective on the US energy business under transformation.

Sarah Hipel

Standards and Reliability Program Manager, U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

Sarah Hipel is the standards and reliability program manager within the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. The Standards and Reliability program covers reliability metrics, charging protocols and standards, cyber security standards and guidance to the states, standard practices, data collection and sharing, and new tools for collaboration and product development.

Sarah is an experienced engineer with a passion for e-mobility and a specialization in interoperable mobility infrastructure. With years of experience in the battery electric vehicle field, she has strong technical proficiency in high voltage charging, electric vehicle supply equipment development, commercial vehicle design, and advanced charging control strategies.

Sarah is known for her skills in mobility industry expertise, program planning and development, establishing and implementing planning and control systems, performance management and evaluation, resource allocation and management, and technical system design. She is also proficient in various protocols, including OCPI, OCPP, OpenADR2.0b, J1772, CCS, DIN, ISO15118-2, ISO15118-20, SEP2, CAN, and MODBUS. Sarah is an expert in regression, acceptance, unit, contract, and interoperability testing.

Sarah has a B.S. in analytic philosophy from Eastern Michigan University.

Michael Chamberlain

Director of Data Management, Texas Department of Transportation

Michael Chamberlain is the Director of Data Management within TxDOT’s Transportation Planning and Programming Division and has been with TxDOT for 22 years. His experience includes the creation of numerous GIS productivity tools, statewide datasets, and applications including the Statewide Planning Map, Project Tracker, and the Geospatial Roadway Inventory Database (GRID). Michael served as a Cavalry Scout for the Texas Army National Guard and graduated from UT Austin with a BA in Geography.

Andrew Dick

Business Development Manager, Incentives, Electrify America

Kandee Bahr Worley

Division Chief, Sustainability and Emerging Transportation Planning, Nevada Department of Transportation

Kandee Bahr Worley is the Division Chief, Sustainability and Emerging Transportation with the Nevada Department of Transportation. In this role, she is driving the implementation of emerging and sustainable transportation programs, focusing on expanding alternative fuels, including electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, that will accelerate EV adoption.  Her collaboration with the Nevada Governor's Office of Energy focused on expanding EV charging on Nevada's Alternative Fuel Corridors, using funds from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. Through this opportunity, partnerships were developed between emerging transportation services and sustainable transportation to create the necessary infrastructure for the State of Nevada. Results include the Federal Highway Association's designation of the first completed corridor in the west, the I-15.  She is also a Co-Chair of the RevWest Committee, which assists eight western states - Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in their electrification roadway efforts. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the governors of these states to provide a framework for EV corridors.   The goal is to provide the states with support by implementing activities such as enhancing EV adoption and coordinating EV charging stations throughout the western states.  Bahr Worley has been appointed with implementing the necessary state plan for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  This plan will address the earmark of $38 million in funds allocated to Nevada to develop an electric vehicle charging infrastructure statewide over the next five years.

Tami Alexander

Transportation Electrification Manager, Kansas Department of Transportation

Tami joined KDOT as the Transportation Electrification Manager in May of 2022, to work on state planning for EV charging and electric transportation. Prior to KDOT, she worked for Metropolitan Energy Center as a Senior Program Coordinator and the Central Kansas Clean Cities Coordinator where she led the Kansas EV Corridor Planning Group. Since 2017, she has worked in the electric and alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure space on equipment deployments and education for alternative fuels, EVs, and EV charging equipment. Tami earned her undergraduate degrees and a master’s in environmental science from Wichita State University.

Lyle McMillan

Strategic Investments Director, Utah Department of Transportation

From 1999 until 2018, Lyle served as the Director of Right of Way and Property Development for the Utah Department of Transportation.

In 2018, the Utah Legislature passed enabling legislation for Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZ), Public Private Partnerships (P3), Unsolicited Proposals, and the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB), as well as the development and implementation of Utah’s Statewide Electric Vehicle Charging Network Plan. Lyle’s responsibility is to implement and administer these programs as UDOT’s Director of Strategic Investments.

Lyle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Utah, and received his Master of Business Administration from Brigham Young University.

Casey Judge

Deputy Zoning Administrator, Fairfax County, Virginia

Casey has been an urban planner with Fairfax County for over nine years, specializing in zoning interpretation and amendment work. She recently served as a co-lead on the County’s Zoning Ordinance modernization project, which included codifying standards related to electric vehicle charging. Casey has a masters degree from Virginia Tech in Urban Regional Planning. When not at work, she enjoys being outside, whether that’s hiking with her family or visiting local wineries and breweries.

Nina Staggers

Assistant Executive Director, Workforce Development, South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce

Nina Staggers is the Assistant Executive Director for Workforce Development at the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). Ms. Staggers is a collaborative leader, who engages and often leads a broad network of partners to identify solutions that will improve the state’s workforce system and the employment outcomes of South Carolinians. During her 11-year career in higher education and workforce development, Ms. Staggers has led small and large projects involving the development of new programs, improved processes, grant implementation, and system-wide strategic planning. She is driven by her desire for thriving South Carolina communities with residents who have access to high-quality employment and training resources and employment opportunities that provide family-sustaining wages. Ms. Staggers earned her Bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and her Juris Doctorate from Widener University. She is resident of Columbia, SC.

Dawn Fenton

Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Volvo Group

Dawn Fenton is the Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs at Volvo Group North America.  She has been with the Volvo Group for 12 years and has broad responsibility for environmental and regulatory affairs as well as Canadian policy issues.  Prior to joining the Volvo Group, Dawn worked for the Diesel Technology Forum and ABB, Inc.    Dawn has worked in the government relations field for over 30 years across a range of energy, environment, sustainability, foreign policy and trade-related issues in the public, private and non-profit sectors.  She received her Master of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and her B.A. from Tufts University.

Hossein (Hoss) Hassani

Vice President, Charging and Energy, General Motors

Hoss leads GM’s Charging & Energy organization, which exists to accelerate EV adoption through education, engagement, charging solutions, and charging infrastructure. Hoss has held assignments around the world in sales, service, marketing, strategy, urban mobility, & innovation for GM in Canada, the Middle East, Europe, and now the mothership itself. Prior to his current role, Hoss was Managing Director for Cadillac in Canada.

Hoss graduated from the University of Toronto, completed the Second City Conservatory, and is a licensed real estate broker & property developer.

Trey Gowdy

Research Lead, Energy Data Analytics Lab, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Duke University

Trey supports the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability work through research, project management, and educational programs. This includes work on open energy data, transportation electrification in the Southeast, interdisciplinary energy and climate student programs, and more. Trey holds a M.A. in public administration and a B.A. in political science from the University of North Florida. Trey has worked in state government clean energy and higher education sustainability programs at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and Florida State University Sustainable Campus.

James Di Filippo

Senior Policy Analyst, Atlas Public Policy

James Di Filippo is a Senior Policy Analyst at Atlas Public Policy where he leads policy research projects and advises clients on transportation electrification in both light- and heavy-duty sectors. James specializes in data-driven policy analysis and economic, emissions and technological modeling. His recent work at Atlas includes prospective analyses of pilot programs in Los Angeles, research on the effect of direct sales policy reform on EV sales in the United States, strategy for the deployment of EV chargers for a large multifamily real estate investment trust, and development of tools to estimate how utility rates impact the cost of charging for commercial electricity customers.

In addition to his policy research and advising role, James is an expert on the analysis of EV charging usage data for reporting, evaluation and to inform incentive program design. He is a lead author of the open-source EV Charging Use Data Specification, an Atlas-led effort to standardize charging use data collection and reporting across industry and public programs.

Prior to Atlas, James was a researcher at UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation where he conducted applied research on clean vehicle incentive design, electric vehicle charging infrastructure planning, climate policy, and the air quality impacts of decarbonization. His work there included analysis and modeling to inform incentive design for heavy duty vehicles, planning for EV infrastructure in workplaces and multi-family housing, and evaluating an EV fast charging pilot program.

James Holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a Bachelors of Government from California State University, Sacramento.

Jim McDonnell

Director of Engineering, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Cassie Powers

Chief of Staff, NASEO

Cassie Powers is the Chief of Staff at the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), where she leads NASEO’s transportation and state energy planning programs. In this role, Cassie provides research, analysis, and facilitation support for state energy offices on transportation and clean energy issues, and also acts as a resource on federal transportation policy for the states. Prior to joining NASEO, Cassie was an Electric Vehicle Program Coordinator with Georgetown Climate Center, where she worked with state governments to support the development of EV policies and programs. She holds a Master's Degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary.

Josh Rodriguez

Program Director for Environment, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Molly Cripps

Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Molly oversees the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Office of Energy Programs (OEP).  OEP promotes the efficient, effective use of energy to enhance the environmental and economic health of the state.  Efforts and activities include education, outreach, technical assistance, and/or funding and financing opportunities that focus on energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, utility data management, energy security planning and preparedness, and energy in transportation

Molly is the Administrative Lead for Tennessee’s Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT) allocation and a member of the Executive Committee for the Drive Electric TN Consortium.  She serves as Governor Lee’s designee to the State Energy Policy Council and represents TDEC on the Energy Efficient Schools Council and various TVA information exchanges and working groups.  She has served on the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Board of Directors since 2014 and is currently serving as the Treasurer of the Executive Committee.

In addition to Molly’s energy-related work, she serves as the Director of Operations for the Bureau of Environment, including emergency response efforts.  Prior to joining the State in 2010, Molly spent several years practicing law in Tennessee, with a focus on compliance and municipal liability defense.  She holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Tennessee and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.

Rhiannon (Rhia) Davis

Director, Government Affairs, Electrify America

The Honorable Jennifer Granholm

Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

Jennifer M. Granholm was sworn in as the 16th Secretary of Energy on February 25, 2021.

Secretary Granholm is leading DOE's work to advance the cutting-edge clean energy technologies that will help America achieve President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while creating millions of good-paying union clean energy jobs and building an equitable economy. Secretary Granholm is also overseeing DOE’s core missions of promoting American leadership in scientific discovery, maintaining the nuclear deterrent and reducing nuclear danger, and remediating the environmental harms caused by legacy defense programs.

Prior to her nomination as Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm was elected Governor of Michigan, serving two terms from 2003 to 2011.

As Governor, Jennifer Granholm faced economic downturns caused by the Great Recession and meltdown in the automotive and manufacturing sectors. She successfully led efforts to diversify the state’s economy, strengthen its auto industry, preserve the manufacturing sector, and add emerging sectors — such as clean energy — to Michigan’s economic portfolio. Today, one-third of all North American electric vehicle battery production takes place in Michigan, the state is one of the top five states for clean energy patents, and 126,000 Michiganders were employed in the clean energy sector prior to COVID-19.

Secretary Granholm was also elected Attorney General of Michigan and served as the state’s top law enforcement officer from 1998 to 2002.

After two terms as governor, Jennifer Granholm joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley as a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the Goldman School of Public Policy, focusing on the intersection of law, clean energy, manufacturing, policy, and industry. She also served as an advisor to the Clean Energy Program of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Jennifer Granholm began her career in public service as a judicial clerk for Michigan's 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. She became a federal prosecutor in Detroit in 1990, and in 1994, she was appointed Wayne County Corporation Counsel.

Secretary Granholm, an immigrant from Canada, is an honors graduate of both the University of California, Berkeley and Harvard Law School. She and her husband, Daniel G. Mulhern, have three children.

Mark Dowd

Director for Zero Emission Vehicle Fleets, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Mark Dowd has extensive policy experience in transportation, technology, climate, and environmental matters. He currently serves as the Director of Zero Emission Vehicles and a senior member of the President Biden’s Sustainability Team at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Mark is leading the effort to transition the largest fleet in the world to 100% zero emission vehicle acquisitions by 2027 (light-duty) and 2035 (medium- and heavy-duty). He recently led an effort to transition the Postal Service to 100% electric delivery vehicles by 2026. Prior to joining the President’s climate team, he was the first Chief Innovation Officer at New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) where he drove data initiatives and cutting-edge technologies across six MTA agencies. Mark left the Obama Administration January 2017 to start the Smart Cities Lab, a nonprofit focused on carrying forward the work he did at USDOT where he was the architect of the Smart City Challenge. Both the Lab and the Challenge were committed to helping cities and communities use mobility as a solution to some of their most stubborn urban problems. Before joining USDOT, Mark was a senior member of President Obama’s Auto Task Force where he worked at the Treasury Department on the historic restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler. Mark also worked in the Obama White House at both the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Budget. Mark received numerous awards for his work in the first and second terms of the Administration, including the USEPA’s Gold Medal (EPA’s highest award), awards from both DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Southern District) for his work on the General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcies, and USDOT’s second highest award for the Smart City Challenge.

Monta Baskerville

Energy Program Manager, National Park Service

Kellen Schefter

Senior Director of Electric Transportation, Edison Electric Institute

Kellen Schefter is Senior Director of Electric Transportation at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the association for U.S. investor-owned electric companies. At EEI, Kellen leads cross-industry coordination to advance transportation electrification, including policy advocacy, business model development, and stakeholder engagement. He previously worked on regulatory and compliance issues at plug-in electric vehicle manufacturer Fisker Automotive. Prior to that, Kellen managed R&D projects in the Vehicle Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome

Senior Director for Environmental Justice, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome joined the Biden-Harris Administration in June 2022 as the Senior Director for Environmental Justice at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Under her leadership, the Environmental Justice Team is working to deliver on President Biden’s ambitious environmental justice agenda, including implementing the recently signed Environmental Justice Executive Order, releasing the first-ever Environmental Justice Scorecard, advancing the Justice40 Initiative, and launching the White House Campaign for Environmental Justice.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Dr. White-Newsome has tackled environmental challenges from a wide range of positions and perspectives, including in the grassroots environmental justice movement, environmental philanthropy, state government, private industry, and academia. Before joining the White House, Dr. White-Newsome founded and led Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC (EGE2), a strategic consulting firm that focused on transforming communities by using people-centered solutions to combat climate change, improve public health, pursue environmental justice, and advance racial equity. She also served as the first Director of Federal Policy for WE ACT for Environmental Justice, managing their federal policy office in Washington, D.C. Dr. White-Newsome’s early environmental justice advocacy and research has focused on air pollution, climate-driven extreme heat and flooding, and improving the health of low-income, communities of color.

Dr. White-Newsome earned a Ph.D. in environmental health sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Southern Methodist University, a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University, and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is a proud wife and mother of her daughters.

Jeff Marootian

Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy

Jeff Marootian is President Biden’s nominee to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the United States Department of Energy. He is currently a Senior Advisor to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. He previously served as a Special Assistant to the President in the White House and was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Jeff was the Director of the District Department of Transportation, where he piloted sustainable transportation technologies and led the city’s early adoption of the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Marootian oversaw the modernization of hundreds of miles of roads and sidewalks and advanced critical infrastructure projects, such as the reconstruction of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, the DC Powerline Undergrounding Project and the expansion of dedicated bus and bike lanes.

Marootian previously served in the Obama-Biden Administration as the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief Sustainability Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He is an alumnus of The George Washington University where he has also taught as an adjunct faculty member in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Administration.