Agenda
Note: Subject to change
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Session Details
Speaker Biographies
James Mater
Director of Strategy, Smart Grid
Quality Logic
James co-founded QualityLogic and is currently the director of strategy for QualityLogic’s Smart Energy business. From 2001 to 2008, James oversaw QualityLogic as President and CEO. From 1994 to 1999, he founded and built Revision Labs, which merged with Genoa Technology to become QualityLogic. Prior to Revision Labs, James held product management roles at Tektronix, Floating Point Systems, Sidereal and Solar Division of International Harvester. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Reed College, Portland, OR and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Tim Zgonena
Principal Engineer
Energy and Industrial Automation
UL
Tim Zgonena is a grid interconnectivity expert whose work helps advance grid efficiency, resiliency and safety through UL Solutions’ standards development and conformity assessment services.
Tim has worked at UL Solutions since 1990, and in renewable energy resources, equipment and systems since 1996. Now serving as a principal engineer for Energy and Industrial Automation, Tim is a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff (DMTS) in the William Henry Merrill Society — a designation that recognizes staff members who make significant technical contributions to the safety missions of UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement and UL Solutions. He also earned an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 1906 Award for exceptional contributions to the IEC’s work in developing global electrical safety standards.
Zach Woogen
Executive Director
Vehicle-Grid Integration Council (VGIC)
Zach is the Executive Director for VGIC, where he leads regulatory, policy, and market development efforts, covering utility rate and program design, interconnection rules and regulations, and managed charging and V2X technology in the leading VGI markets. Previously, Zach was a Senior Manager at Strategen, supporting go-to-market strategy for clients in the V2X and smart charging space.
Prior to joining Strategen, Zach was a Project Manager with Bay-Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network (BEACN) in energy strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics and Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
John Holmes
Sr. Principal Energy Advisor
American Honda Motor Company
John Holmes is a Senior Principal Energy Advisor at American Honda Motor Company with over three decades of expertise in electric and hybrid vehicle research, design, diagnostics, and manufacturing, as well as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) technologies. A seasoned leader in sustainability, energy optimization, and program management, he has driven innovations in energy storage IP, product development across consumer, commercial, and industrial markets, and strategic cleantech ventures. John's career spans senior roles at UC San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric, and multiple clean energy startups, combining technical depth with business acumen to advance transportation electrification, energy systems integration, and policy-driven market solutions.
Blake Heidenreich
Strategic Advisor
Customer Solutions Program Design & Development
Southern California Edison
At Southern California Edison (SCE), Blake has spent the past four and a half years working in the Electrification Department on the Strategy & Program Development team focused on Transportation Electrification. Blake currently contributes to SCE's VGI strategy and the coordination between teams that are impacted by the projected growth of EV and VGI adoption. He leads three initiatives aimed at the integration of EVs into current pilots or the development of new programs / rates that will support customer participation in both V1G and V2G. Collaboration externally with aggregators, EVSEs, and OEMs has helped inform internal efforts that builds upon industry capabilities to enable and incentivize VGI for SCE's customers.
Prior to VGI, Blake lead the development at SCE of a program that had funding approved for over $50M to support the installation of charging stations at New Construction Multi-family sites through SCE's Charge Ready Light Duty program. Projects while on the strategy team have also included the initial development phases of additional charging station programs, research on TE, and the exploration of electrification opportunities outside of TE.
Prior to joining SCE, Blake gained experiences at Deloitte Consulting, Google, and entrepreneurial endeavors in both finance and the non-profit sectors. Blake's first professional experience in the EV industry was during an internship at Tesla. As a loyal Wolverine, his alma mater from undergrad and grad school at the University of Michigan has lead to his joy of college football. Originally from Southeastern Michigan, Blake now lives in Southern California and pursues his greatest hobby of traveling when appreciating life outside of work.
Andrew Cifala
Strategic Planner for Grid Modernization
Keysight Technologies
Andrew Cifala is the Strategic Planner for Grid Modernization at Keysight Technologies, where he shapes strategies and technologies to accelerate the transformation of the modern power grid. With expertise spanning distributed energy resources, renewables, microgrids, energy storage, grid interconnection, EV charging infrastructure, and vehicle-to-grid integration, he bridges the gap between business strategy and technical innovation. Andrew has led complex R&D initiatives, contributed to key industry standards, and guided new technologies from concept to market adoption. An active member of IEEE, UL, and EPRI working groups, he plays a leading role in advancing interoperability, reliability, and value creation for the evolving energy ecosystem. He holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Montana State University–Bozeman and a B.A. in Mathematics with an engineering concentration from Carroll College.
Rudi Halbright
Expert Product Manager, Vehicle-Grid Integration
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Rudi Halbright is an Expert Product Manager and a lead subject matter expert on Vehicle-Grid Integration at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. At PG&E, Rudi leads the efforts to establish large-scale pilot programs that demonstrate the value of VGI for various stakeholders, including customers, utilities, regulators, and policymakers. He also manages the VGI emerging technology program, support the VGI regulatory activities, and develop analytical tools to help decision-making regarding the adoption of EVs and EV charging equipment. In addition, he leverages his skills and knowledge in information systems, process improvement, and new business development to create innovative and effective solutions for the VGI market. His mission is to build a path to programs that support V2X (vehicle-to-everything) and help increase the resiliency of the electric grid and decrease the dependence on fossil fuels.
Thomas Carroll
Cyber Security Researcher Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Thomas Carroll received the B.Sc. degree in chemistry and in computer science and the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA, in 2001, 2007, and 2009, respectively. He is currently a Senior Cybersecurity Researcher with the Computational Science Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). As a Ph.D. Student, he received a NSF Graduate Research Program Fellowship award to study the incentive-centered design of distributed computer scheduling. He is responsible for more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter, and two patents on topics of game theory, situation awareness, cyber security, smart grid, and vehicle systems. His research interests include the development and application of resiliency and zero-trust strategies to enterprise, cyber-physical, and cyber-vehicle systems. He is also the principle investigator of a project examining the cyber security and resiliency of high-powered electric vehicle charging infrastructure and another project designing, developing, and demonstrating zero-trust network access mechanisms to better defend cyber-physical systems in the electric power domain.
Maddy Strutner
Vehicle Grid Integration & Business Development Manager
Toyota North America
Maddy Strutner is the Grid Services Manager at Toyota North America, where she leads initiatives at the intersection of clean energy, mobility, and grid innovation. Based in San Diego, she brings over five years of experience from San Diego Gas & Electric, where she advanced through roles in regulatory strategy, clean transportation business development, and infrastructure oversight. With a Master of Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School and a B.A. in International Relations and Global Studies from The University of Texas at Austin, Maddy has a strong foundation in energy, climate, and corporate sustainability.
Kristin Landry
Expert Product Manager
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Kristin Landry is an Expert Product Manager for Vehicle-Grid Integration at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, where they lead large-scale pilot programs demonstrating the value of bidirectional EV charging for grid reliability, resiliency, and sustainability. Their career spans consulting, regulatory, nonprofit, and utility roles—including at the California Public Utilities Commission, Guidehouse/Navigant, and the Clean Energy Leadership Institute—where they’ve advanced emerging technologies, shaped policy, and built programs that expand opportunity and impact. Holding engineering degrees from Stanford (MS, Environmental Engineering) and Northwestern (BS, Mechanical Engineering)
Rodney McGee
Chief Engineer, University of Delaware
Task Force Chair, NACS/J3400 and J3068, SAE International
Rodney McGee is a Research Engineer at the Transportation Electrification Center at the University of Delaware. In his role, Dr. McGee leads a team of engineers in designing, testing, and productizing advanced bidirectional EVSE (EV Supply Equipment) and EV systems while working closely with OEMs and suppliers to foster cutting-edge technology development. In addition to his work at the University of Delaware, Dr. McGee chairs SAE's Medium and Heavy Duty Conductive Power Transfer Task Force and the newly formed NACS Coupler Task Force. Through these leadership roles, he actively contributes to advancing industry standards in the electric vehicle sector.
Antony Martin
Group Product Manager - EV Charging
Lucid Motors
Driving the future of electric mobility, one innovation at a time. Antony Martin is a seasoned technology and product leader with a passion for blending cutting-edge technology with user-centric design. At Lucid Motors, he heads the development of sustainable and advanced charging and energy solutions that empower EV drivers and accelerate the transition to a cleaner grid.
Previously at Ford Motor Company, Antony led Public Charging and Energy Services products, delivering innovative solutions that improved public charging accessibility and introduced grid-integrated technologies like V1G and V2X. His work focused on reducing carbon emissions and lowering the total cost of EV ownership through intelligent, grid-friendly charge management.
His expertise spans data-driven product development, intuitive UX design, and strategic partnerships—making him a key voice in the commercialization of AC V2G technologies. He is committed to shaping a future where electric vehicles are not just modes of transport, but active participants in a smarter, more resilient energy ecosystem.
Ben Burns
Director of Energy Transition
Eaton
Speaking in:
Opening Plenary Session: State of the V2G Union
Ben Burns is a business development leader, general manager and enterprise strategist with deep expertise in electric vehicles, clean mobility and energy transition. Currently serving as Director of Energy Transition at Eaton, he leads the company’s bidirectional charging solutions portfolio, enabling EVs to serve as backup power, optimize energy costs, and support grid reliability. At DTE Energy, Ben rose to national prominence in transportation electrification, leading teams of 250+, managing P&Ls exceeding $80M, and driving statewide adoption of EVs and clean energy solutions. Recognized with honors such as Crain’s Notable Leaders in EV (2022) and the Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award, he is a former Marine Corps Captain and Management Consultant at Booz & Company. Ben holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in English and Political Science from the University of Michigan.
Jared Carson
Director of Sales
Synop
Jared Carson is Director of Sales at Synop, where he helps fleet operators optimize EV charging, integrate with utilities, and unlock the value of advanced services such as demand response, time-of-use optimization, and V2G programs. His work focuses on bridging the gap between fleet operations and energy infrastructure, enabling fleets to electrify at scale without compromising reliability or uptime. Prior to joining Synop, Jared held roles at Enel X, Bloom Energy, Sunrun, and Ecology Action, where he was recognized for driving high-value clean energy and electrification projects across Fortune 500 clients and innovative energy markets.
Leah Brams
Market Development Manager
Highland Electric Fleets
Leah Brams is a dedicated advocate for sustainable transportation and energy solutions, currently serving as a Market Development Manager at Highland Electric Fleets. With a strong background in environmental studies, public policy, and chemistry from Dartmouth College, Leah has developed expertise in market research, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Her work focuses on accelerating the transition to electrified transportation by navigating regulatory landscapes, managing consulting engagements, and identifying market opportunities.
Tim Farquer
Superintendent at Mercer County Schools
Founder, Bus2Grid
Tim is the founder and administrative lead of Bus2Grid, helping schools electrify their fleets while turning school buses into energy assets. He serves as superintendent for Mercer County Schools. He previously served as superintendent for Williamsfield Schools where he led their fleet electrification efforts. A lifelong educator, from a family of educators, Tim is passionate about electrifying in a way that puts money back into classrooms.
Greggory Kresge
Senior Manager, Utility Engagement and Transportation Electrification
World Resources Institute
Greggory ("Gregg") Kresge is Senior Manager, Utility Engagement and Transportation Electrification at WRI focusing on school bus electrification and vehicle-to-grid integration.
Prior to joining WRI, Gregg was the Electrification of Transportation-Project Delivery Manager for Hawaiian Electric servicing the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Moloka`i and Oahu. In various capacities over a span of 12 years, he worked in two separate island utilities. Gregg was also the Co-chair of the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) EV Working Group. He is an EV owner since 2013 and lives in a condominium with no access to dedicated charging and is looking forward to increased public charging options.
Gregg holds several degrees including Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainability and Green Building, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Science in Environmental Management, and Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Communications. Gregg is also a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction (AP BD&C) and a Home Energy Survey Professional (HESP).
Adam Wilkinson
Lead Solution Architect
Irdeto
Adam Wilkinson is a Senior Solutions Architect at Irdeto, specializing in cybersecurity and digital trust for the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. With over five years of experience in applied cybersecurity, he leads the design and implementation of secure, scalable systems that integrate public key infrastructure (PKI) and trusted ecosystems. Adam played a pivotal role in delivering North America's first live Plug & Charge demonstration at the CharIN Testival in San Bernardino, California, showcasing secure authentication, real-time data exchange, and automated billing in EV charging. He is also a co-chair of international working groups and has led technical demonstrations at major industry test events, bridging business strategy with technical implementation to help organizations navigate evolving standards, regulatory requirements, and complex threat landscapes. He continues to help shape a more seamless, reliable EV charging experience by fostering collaboration across the industry and making charging more intuitive for all users.
Tom Tansy
CEO
DER Security Corp,
Tom Tansy is CEO of DER Security Corp, a company that implements power-informed intrusion detection systems as a critical defense from attacks on Distributed Energy Resources by nation state actors and other sophisticated adversaries. Tom is also Chairman of the SunSpec Alliance where he leads the distributed energy industry's effort to establish data communication and cybersecurity standards that enable seamless integration of distributed energy systems into the Smart Grid. The approved SunSpec V2G AC standard, implemented by Southern California Edison, will be released to the public in October 2025.
David N. Patterson, P.E.
Executive Director
CHAdeMo Association North America
Speaking in:
V2X in Japan: From Concept to Consumer Product
David N. Patterson, PE, is a seasoned automotive engineer and regulatory compliance expert with over 25 years of experience in vehicle emissions, fuel economy, certification, and electrification. As Executive Director of the CHAdeMO Association in North America and President of El Camino Real Consulting Corp., he helps shape the future of clean transportation through technical leadership and strategic advisory services. Previously, he served as Chief Engineer at Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, where he spearheaded emissions certification efforts and championed the launch of the i-MiEV electric vehicle program and DC fast-charging network. With a BSME from California State University, Fresno, David combines deep technical expertise with a passion for sustainable mobility.
Toshiya Yamamoto
Vice President
Nichicon America
Speaking in:
V2X in Japan: From Concept to Consumer Product
Toshiya Yamamoto is a specialist in new business development in the electronics field for over 30 years. He is Vice President of Nichicon America, Nichicon's US base, where he is developing new businesses in North America. He has led many successful new businesses. In particular, he played a central role in the V2H (Vehicle to Home System) project, which Nichicon introduced in Japan in 2012 as the world's first commercial product. His contributions laid the foundation for subsequently achieving shipments of 35,000 units of the V2H system.
Willett Kempton
Professor
University of Delaware
Willett Kempton is Professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Biden Policy School at the University of Delaware. He is co-founder and Associate Director of the Center for Research in Wind.
Prof. Kempton lectures and publishes scientific and technical articles on offshore wind power, electric transportation, and energy analysis. He created the concept of using electric vehicles to provide grid services, holds four patents for technologies integrating electric vehicles with the power grid, and has advanced multiple policies to enable this integration.
Chanel Parson
Director, Clean Energy and Demand Response
Southern California Edison
Chanel Parson is Director of Clean Energy and Demand Response at Southern California Edison, where she leads the utility’s demand flexibility strategy and advances adoption of clean energy solutions including electric vehicles, vehicle-grid integration, customer solar and storage, virtual power plants, and demand response. With more than 20 years at SCE, she has held senior leadership roles across electrification, advanced energy solutions, and portfolio management, consistently building high-performing teams and launching new programs that improve grid reliability, performance metrics, and customer outcomes. Chanel brings deep expertise in strategic planning, execution, and change management, paired with a passion for equity, sustainability, and community impact. She holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and an MA in Organizational Behavior and Program Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University.
Anna Bella Korbatov
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Fermata Energy
Anna Bella Korbatov is Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Fermata Energy, where she leads strategic regulatory engagement to accelerate commercialization of vehicle-to-grid and transportation electrification solutions. A solutions-driven climate-tech professional with more than seven years of startup experience, she brings deep expertise across policy advocacy, utility coordination, grant management, business development, and organizational growth. At Fermata Energy, Anna Bella has been instrumental in advancing innovative pilots—such as electric school bus V2G programs—working closely with utilities, regulators, and community partners to deliver grid resilience, emissions reductions, and customer value. She holds a master’s degree in International Economics with a focus on Energy, Resources, and Environment from Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, summa cum laude, from the University of California, Berkeley.
Alex Pawlowski
Regulatory Strategy Manager
Kia America
Alex Pawlowski is a Regulatory Strategy Manager at Kia America, where he focuses on GHG, CAFE, and EV regulatory strategy at the intersection of mobility, data analytics, and sustainability. A mechanical engineer and data scientist by training, Alex supports long-range vehicle planning through detailed scenario modeling, regulatory analysis, and infrastructure tracking, and has played a key role in advancing vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid pilots for Kia’s EV portfolio. His background spans automotive R&D, additive manufacturing, fuels and emissions research, and policy-driven analytics, including work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Toyota Motor North America. Alex holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Vincent Weyl
Vehicle-Grid Integration Principal
California Energy Commission
Vincent Weyl is a Vehicle-Grid Integration Specialist at the California Energy Commission, where he focuses on advancing policies, programs, and market frameworks that enable electric vehicles to function as grid resources. With more than 25 years of experience spanning telecommunications, distributed energy resources, EV charging, and smart infrastructure, he brings deep technical expertise and strategic insight to the electrification transition. Prior to joining the public sector, Vincent held senior leadership roles in cleantech, including Senior VP of Growth at IoTecha and VP of Marketing and General Manager of EV Business at Kitu Systems, and served as Vice Chair of CharIN’s North America Policy Committee.
Brittany Blair
Manager, Research & Industry Strategy
Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA)
Brittany Blair joined SEPA in June 2021 as a Research and Industry Strategy Analyst after having worked on a collaborative Microgrid Tariff whitepaper with SEPA. In her role, Brittany supports SEPA's research projects on topics including distribution resource planning and managed electric vehicle charging. Prior to joining SEPA, she interned for Newport Consulting on projects pertaining to microgrid business models, net-metering tariff revisions, and transmission & distribution surveys. Brittany holds a MS in Energy Systems Management from the University of San Francisco and a BS/MS in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Erika Myers
Executive Director
CharIN North America
Erika Myers is the Executive Director of CharIN North America, where she leads regional efforts to accelerate the electric vehicle transition through the adoption of open, interoperable charging standards. With nearly two decades of experience across government, nonprofit, and private-sector roles, she is a recognized expert in transportation electrification, vehicle-grid integration, and clean energy policy. Erika previously held senior leadership positions at the World Resources Institute and the Smart Electric Power Alliance, and has advised utilities, policymakers, and global institutions on EV infrastructure deployment and grid integration. She serves as a Research Fellow with WRI, an EV advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy, and a board member of Forth, and is widely recognized for her advocacy on gender equity in e-mobility. A frequent speaker and published thought leader, she also founded EV Love, a platform dedicated to advancing women’s participation in the electric vehicle ecosystem.
Roger Salas
Principal Manager
Distribution System Analysis
Southern California Edison
Roger Salas is a seasoned electrical engineering leader with over 26 years at Southern California Edison, currently serving as Principal Manager of Distribution System Analysis. He specializes in utility distribution engineering, regulatory and generation interconnection requirements, and grid modernization, with a focus on integrating emerging technologies such as microgrids, distributed energy resources, and vehicle-to-home systems. Roger holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, with a power engineering background from Cal Poly Pomona.
Peter Evans
President and Founder
New Power Technologies
Peter Evans is the CEO of New Power Technologies, where he has spent more than two decades pioneering tools that bring high-definition visibility to electric grids and unlock the value of distributed energy resources. He is the creator of the Energynet® platform, which repurposes legacy utility data to enable advanced transmission and distribution modeling, DER integration, EV charging optimization, and grid performance improvement. Peter has held senior technical and leadership roles across the energy sector, including Senior Power Systems Engineer at X (Google’s Moonshot Factory) working on what is now Tapestry, and board and advisory positions with Silicon Valley Clean Energy and the Purissima Hills Water District.
Peter served the NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Panel and has served on several working groups of IEEE Standard 1547 (DER Interconnection and Interoperability). He has been elevated to Senior Member of IEEE. Peter holds BS degrees in Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. He holds U.S. Patents in distributed energy resources and power system analysis and has several additional patents pending. He is a Professional Mechanical Engineer in California and a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Kurt Johnson
Director, Community Energy Resiliency
The Climate Center
Kurt began working at the Center in 2019. He previously founded and directed a renewable energy project development consulting firm, bringing new projects online ranging from 8 kW to 8 MW. Kurt also founded a small hydropower trade association where he lobbied successfully for regulatory reform before Congress and the Colorado legislature. Kurt also worked in the solar industry for Recurrent Energy and also for the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco. Kurt worked at the U.S. EPA for eleven years where he founded the EPA renewable energy program, the Green Power Partnership. Kurt started his career in 1991 working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Rep. Richard Swett (D-NH). Kurt holds an MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and an MA and BA from Stanford University.
Boryann Liaw, PhD
Founder
High Power Research Laboratory
Boryann (Bor Yann) Liaw, PhD is a battery scientist and electrochemical energy systems expert with more than three decades of experience bridging fundamental research and real-world industrial applications. He is the Founder of the High Power Research Laboratory and a Guest Professor at Forschungszentrum Jülich, and previously served as a Directorate Fellow and Department Manager at Idaho National Laboratory, where he led national-scale programs in energy storage, electric vehicles, fast charging, and battery diagnostics. Dr. Liaw spent 27 years on the faculty at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. His work spans high-energy lithium batteries, degradation and failure mechanisms, battery modeling, state-of-health diagnostics and prognostics, and data-driven/physics-based frameworks, with a consistent focus on translating industrial challenges into fundamental scientific advances.
Brad Beauchamp
EV Product Segment Leader
Blue Bird Corporation
Brad Beauchamp is an electric vehicle and commercial transportation leader with extensive experience spanning product strategy, sales, and operations across the automotive and zero-emission vehicle sectors. He currently serves as EV Product Segment Leader at Blue Bird Corporation, where he supports the development and market success of electric school bus platforms and alternative fuel solutions. Brad brings a strong background from roles at General Motors, BrightDrop, and ZEVX, where he led medium-duty truck marketing, client solutions, and product management initiatives focused on fleet electrification and commercial EV adoption. He holds an MBA in Global Management (International Business) from the University of Phoenix and a BS in Industrial Engineering and Technology Supervision from Central Michigan University.
Haukur (Hawk) Asgeirsson
Hawk Utility Consulting
Affiliated with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Haukur (Hawk) Asgeirsson is active in IEEE and SAE standards development work that is focused on resources that interconnect to the electric power system. He was a working group lead that developed IEEE 1547.9 Guide on interconnecting energy storage to the electric power system and an annex on electric vehicle V2G. Hawk also participates in Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards work updating SAE standards for V2G functionality and is a member of the IEEE SCC21 Standards Coordinating Committee. Hawk is currently affiliated with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Hawk retired after a 37-year career at DTE Energy as the Manager of Power Systems Technologies. In that position, he was responsible for deploying Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into the T&D planning and operating process, managing all DER interconnections and grants related to energy storage, smart inverters and plug-in electric vehicles where he worked closely with the Detroit automobile industry. Hawk was also instrumental in demonstrating and implementing low-cost smart grid sensor into the distribution system using a Distributed Energy Distribution Management system (DERMS) to supplement traditional SCADA system. Upon his retirement, his group had deployed enough sensors to provide 100% monitoring coverage of the electric distribution system. Hawk is a graduate of The University of Michigan with a Master’s in Engineering with a focus in Electric Power Engineering.
George Liu
Field Applications Engineering Manager
Pacific Power Source
George Liu is a Field Applications Engineering Manager at Pacific Power Source, Inc., with over a decade of experience in electrical engineering focused on testing and validation of wireless and power electronic systems. His background spans batteries, electric vehicles, grid-connected products, and energy storage, with deep expertise in applications engineering, high-power test systems, and program execution. Prior to Pacific Power Source, George held senior engineering roles at National Instruments and Bureau Veritas (7layers), where he led complex validation projects, supported industry certification efforts, and contributed to global standards organizations. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Jaime Kolln
Senior Power System Engineer
Pacific Northwest National Lab
Jaime Kolln is a Senior Power System Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) leading the Applied Grid Architecture Program. With deep expertise in system integration and grid edge interoperability, he is responsible for research in the areas of distributed energy technology, power system communications, protection, controls, energy storage, transportation electrification, and distributed control solutions. Jaime is the administrator of the GridWise Architecture Council, which is a team of industry leaders who are shaping the architectural principles of an intelligent and interactive electric system.
Prior to joining PNNL, Jaime was the owner and lead system designer of a building automation and controls business for more than 15 years. He is active in several standards development organizations, alliances, and committees, including IEEE and Modular Energy Storage Architecture (MESA) Alliance.
Robin Milshtein
Senior Director, Business Development
New Sun Road
Robin is an engineer-turned-cleantech commercial leader with a passion for scaling tough tech. As Senior Director of Business Development at New Sun Road, she drives the deployment of AI-managed microgrids and distributed energy resources, accelerating access to renewable energy. Before that, Robin was Head of Business Development and Sales at WindBorne Systems, where she spearheaded the commercialization of a high-altitude atmospheric sensing platform to improve weather forecasting and climate science. She kicked off her career with a decade at Saint-Gobain, a Fortune 500 multinational, working across R&D, business development, strategic marketing, and corporate venture capital—ultimately leading investments in startups tackling the industrial energy transition. Robin holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Union College and an MS in Materials Science & Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Van Wilkins
Senior Vice President, Operations
InCharge Energy
Van was integral in the startup of the operations for InCharge Energy with over 35 years of experience in construction, fleet fueling, facilities management, data center reliability, EV charging infrastructure development and EV solutions for OEM auto makers across the US, Canada, Latin America and Europe.
Previously, Van was the Director of Business Development and had P&L responsibility for ABM’s national accounts team as it built out a large portion of early adopter EV infrastructure. Prior to that Van operated several TEGG service franchises in Arizona and Virginia for Electrical Maintenance and Testing.
Nick Fiore
Clean Transportation Innovation Manager
SDG&E
Nick Fiore is Clean Transportation Innovation Manager at San Diego Gas & Electric. An experienced partnership and outreach leader with a demonstrated history of building and leveraging high-impact relationship, Nick has previously held key roles at EV Match, Unstoppable Domains, and the British Consulate General. With experience managing outreach for political campaigns, directing nonprofit initiatives, and serving as an adjunct professor, Nick brings a multidisciplinary approach to innovation and policy. He holds a Master of Science in Public Policy from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Florida State University.
Parth Vaishnav
Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability
University of Michigan
Parth Vaishnav is a researcher and educator specializing in sustainable systems, energy policy, and the societal impacts of emerging technologies. He serves as an Assistant Professor of Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, where his work focuses on how technology can address complex social and environmental challenges. His research examines the environmental and human health consequences of energy production and use, strategies for decarbonizing the economy, and the equitable deployment of innovations such as electrification and automation. Drawing on quantitative decision analysis and policy insights, Vaishnav’s work explores the economic, political, and operational factors shaping the adoption of climate and energy technologies, with the goal of advancing sustainable and equitable solutions for the future.
Scott Picco
Principal Engineer - Distributed Energy Resources, EV Power Export, and Power Control Systems (PCS)
UL Solutions
Scott Picco is a Principal Engineer at UL Solutions specializing in distributed energy resources (DERs), grid interconnectivity, and bidirectional electric vehicle charging technologies. With more than two decades of experience in energy systems and safety certification, he provides global technical oversight for standards and compliance across emerging energy technologies, including inverters, energy storage, microgrids, and EV charging systems. Picco has led numerous international certifications and contributed to the development and revision of key UL and IEC standards supporting the safe deployment of renewable and electrification technologies. His work focuses on enabling safer, more reliable integration of clean energy innovations into the electric grid while advancing industry standards that support the global energy transition.
Neetu Garcha
Project Lead - Grid Innovation
Alectra Utilities
Neetu Garcha is the Project Lead of Grid Innovation at Alectra’s Green Energy & Technology Centre. She holds a Master’s of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto, is a Certified Project Management Professional, and was nominated for the 2025 Clean50 Emerging Leader award. In the past 6 years, she has been dedicated to developing strategy and leading groundbreaking innovation pilot projects that bring new distributed energy technologies and concepts into practice, with a focus on e-mobility initiatives such as AlectraDrive @Home, AlectraDrive @Work, and Ontario’s first V2G Pilot involving electric school buses. These innovative projects have touched thousands of customers and have been recognized from various leading industry associations such as the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA), and Electricity Canada.
Frances Bell
CEO and Founder
Bidirectional Energy
Frances is co-founder and CPO of Bidirectional Energy. Her career has been focused on the integration of distributed energy resources (DER) to grid through the development of communications protocols, technical standards development, project deployment, and product development. Her most recent roles have been leading grid innovation at Kevala modeling the impact of EV charging on the grid; heading-up applications engineering at AMS (now Fluence) deploying stationary storage and developing a VPP to bid resources into energy programs; and power systems engineering at Tesla (previously SolarCity) in the grid engineering group piloting innovative methods to integrate solar into the grid. Prior to those roles, Frances was in the transmission planning department at PG&E. Frances has a M.S. in power systems, electrical engineering from Tufts University and a B.S. in electrical engineering, engineering science from Smith College.
Julie Mitchell
Director of OEM Operations
ChargeScape
Julie Mitchell is Director of OEM Operations at ChargeScape, where she leads strategic partnerships and operational execution across automakers and utilities to scale vehicle-grid integration and smart charging solutions. With more than a decade of experience spanning EV grid services, charging ecosystems, and automotive innovation, she previously held leadership roles at Stellantis and Ford Motor Company, driving product strategy, energy and charging initiatives, and EV grid services programs. Mitchell began her career in engineering at Lexmark and Ford, building a strong technical foundation that informs her work at the intersection of mobility, energy, and electrification. She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Central Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Kentucky.
Orville Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
Cal EPIC
Orville Thomas is a Sacramento-based clean transportation and energy policy leader and CEO of Cal EPIC, recognized for advancing zero-emission mobility, new energy technologies, and equitable workforce development across California and the Western U.S. With more than a decade of experience at the intersection of clean transportation, public health, and economic opportunity, he has helped shape major state and federal policy initiatives, including contributions to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, and has played key roles in securing billions in transportation funding and accelerating high-speed rail and electrification efforts. Previously serving in senior policy and government relations roles across the mobility and nonprofit sectors—and earlier as a Northern California TV news reporter—Orville brings a strategic blend of communications, legislative advocacy, and coalition leadership to efforts that expand access to clean technology, strengthen communities, and build a more sustainable transportation future.
Russell Vare
Vice President, Vehicle Grid Integration
The Mobility House
Russell Vare is Vice President of Vehicle Grid Integration at the Mobility House. He has 20 years of experience in clean tech with a focus on EVs, energy storage and EV charging. At Nissan and Mercedes-Benz he lead early developments of Vehicle to Grid and battery second-life projects. At Nuvve and Kaluza he held partnership and business development roles to enable aggregation and energy management of V2G for school bus deployments and passenger cars. He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from UCLA.
Randy Robinson Jr.
Senior Product Manager
Southern California Edison
Randy Robinson Jr. is a Senior Product Manager at Southern California Edison with over a decade of experience driving data-informed growth, product strategy, and customer-centric innovation across the energy sector. Randy has progressed from marketing and analytics roles into senior product leadership, leveraging advanced modeling techniques, customer segmentation, and valuation expertise to identify and develop new opportunities that align the interests of customers, investors, and policymakers. He previously built a 360-degree SAP HANA customer data warehouse to power go-to-market strategy and marketing optimization efforts. Earlier in his career, he served as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley and completed an MBA internship at Amgen. Randy holds an MBA in Corporate Strategy & New Product Development from USC Marshall School of Business and a B.S. in Business Administration (Finance) from University of California, Berkeley - Walter A. Haas School of Business.
Kipling Haviland-Hack
Senior Manager, Partner Solutions
EnergyHub
Kipling Haviland-Hack is a clean energy and electrification partnerships leader currently serving as Senior Manager of Partner Solutions at EnergyHub, where he leads strategic collaborations with EV manufacturers and utilities to scale managed charging and grid-edge solutions. Based in Greater Boston, he focuses on integrating EV charging directly into automaker platforms to help utilities manage grid demand while improving the driver experience. Prior to EnergyHub, Kipling held roles at Enel X supporting demand response and energy market operations across thousands of commercial and industrial sites in North America. He holds a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Cornell University.
Morgan Casella
Managing Partner
Dynamic Organics LLC
Morgan Casella is the Managing Partner of Dynamic Organics LLC with over a decade of experience in sustainable energy and agricultural systems design and construction. He has led complex renewable energy and infrastructure projects, including project managing a $3 million, two-year agricultural buildout integrated into an existing landfill gas-to-energy system in Brattleboro, successfully overseeing the SPEED interconnection of a 315kW Guascor biogas genset and combined heat and power (CHP) systems to enhance methane capture and biogas generation. Morgan has also designed and constructed residential and commercial photovoltaic and solar hot water systems throughout New England, with a focus on energy-efficient technologies for agricultural operations, including the development of more than 30 commercial greenhouses to expand seasonal access to local foods. In addition to technical execution, he provides business development and advisory services for alternative energy and agriculture investments, supporting clients ranging from large corporations such as Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to small, family-owned solar firms seeking improved operational processes and data-driven production modeling.
Nancy Ryan
Partner
eMobility Advisors
Nancy Ryan is a partner at eMobility Advisors and an economist with more than 25 years of experience in the electricity and energy sectors. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she focuses on the transition to a low-carbon economy, with particular expertise in transportation electrification and renewable energy policy. Ryan advises public and private sector clients on developing data-driven strategies and actionable policies to support energy system transformation. She previously served as a Commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission and was a partner and director of policy and strategy at Energy and Environmental Economics. Earlier in her career, she taught economics at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.
Kor Meelker
Senior Director, Global Standards
ChargePoint
Kor Meelker, a seasoned professional in the Emobility industry, serves as Senior Director, Global Standards at ChargePoint. With his extensive experience since 2014, he leads the ChargePoint Standards Team, a pivotal force in shaping all relevant hardware and software standards in the electric vehicle domain.
As an engineer, he is very active in shaping the global EV market by participating in numerous working groups to develop EV standards, protocols, and governance frameworks. He is co-chair of the EU STF project “Smart & Bidirectional Charging”, board member and co-writer of OCPP at the Open Charge Alliance, board member and co-writer of OCPI at the EVRoaming Foundation, Vice-Chair of the SAE EVPKI Consortium, Steering Committee member at CharIN, and an EV expert at IEC, SAE, ChargeUp Europe, NAL, and the EU Sustainable Transport Forum (STF) subgroups “Governance, Standards & Data” and “EU PKI Management”.
Gordon Lum
Independent Consultant
Former CTO, Kitu Systems
Gordon holds a BSEE from MIT and a MSEE from UCSD. He spent his first five years, after obtaining his degrees, working in defense communications at Linkabit. Later, Gordon’s career was dedicated to the early stages of digital satellite TV communications. In the mid-90s, he founded and acted as Vice President of Engineering at Correlent Communications (FKA TurboNet) which developed the first certified DOCSIS cable modem, and he remained at the company for 15 years. Following that, Gordon became the Vice President of Engineering at Kitu in 2011 and then served as the CTO. Highlights of Gordon's industry contributions include: • Chair of the IEEE 2030.5.1 (CSIP) Working Group • Vice-Chair of the IEEE 2030.5 Standard Workgroup • Chair of the SunSpec V2G-AC Profile Working Group, and Vice-Chair of the SunSpec Test Procedures Working Group.
Hannah Ahn
Senior Engineer
DNV Energy Insights USA
Hannah Ahn is a Senior Engineer at DNV specializing in the technologies and systems that drive transportation electrification, from utility planning through vehicle-to-grid integration. She leads technical evaluations and due diligence efforts that support utilities, fleet operators, and organizations in deploying reliable, scalable, and equitable electrification solutions.
Simitrio Arellano
Engineer -- Smart Grid Emerging Technologies
ComEd
Simitrio Arellano is a General Engineer on ComEd’s Smart Grid – Emerging Technology team supporting Beneficial Electrification pilots including the Electric School Bus Vehicle-to-Grid pilot and the Backup Power Capabilities pilot. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics with an emphasis on power systems from Santa Clara University. Simitrio brings a multidisciplinary background spanning power systems, failure analysis, and software development, with prior experience at Microsanj LLC, Fermilab, and the Department of Energy. His work has included developing thermal imaging tools, optimizing testing processes, automating system analyses, and conducting advanced research on materials used in energy infrastructure.
John Taggart
John Taggart is the President & Co-founder of WeaveGrid. John is a leading expert in the arena of electric vehicles and their emissions and grid impacts, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the NERC Electric Vehicle Task Force. John previously worked at Tesla in the Office of the CTO and Special Projects, at Nissan Motors in their Futures Lab, and with the Science & Technology Policy Institute, an R&D Center that supports the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), on building energy efficiency and smart grid topics. John holds a PhD in Management Science and Engineering and an MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and he received his bachelor's degree in Public & International Affairs from Princeton University.
Andrew Higgins
Drew Higgins is a seasoned leader in the electric vehicle and energy sectors, bringing over 20 years of strategic innovation and product development experience. His career includes senior roles at USAA, General Motors, and CPS Energy, where he played a pivotal role in launching over 30 products and holds multiple patents.
Currently, Drew serves as the Board Chair for the Texas Electric Transportation Resource Alliance (TxETRA) and as a Senior Advisor at KPMG, where he works with key players in the automotive, utility, and AI sectors. His expertise spans EV charging infrastructure—from siting and construction to energization—as well as helping utilities and hyperscalers adapt to evolving load demands driven by AI infrastructure and the rapid expansion of data centers.
Drew's work focuses on advancing grid modernization and electric transportation through strategic leadership, ensuring the industry remains resilient and sustainable in the face of accelerating technological change.