STF&E 2018

Kendra Abkowitz, Ph.D., Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Sustainable Practices, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Kendra Abkowitz currently serves as Assistant Commissioner for Policy & Sustainable Practices for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Kendra leads the department’s efforts to conduct short and long term environmental policy research and analysis; provide technical guidance to business, industry, and other public entities to promote environmental stewardship; implement departmental strategic planning initiatives; administer voluntary sustainability programs; and perform Title VI and Environmental Justice functions in an effort to better conserve Tennessee’s natural resources. She regularly engages with federal agencies on new initiatives, proposed rulemakings and other environmental policies that may impact TDEC’s programs and collaborates with state and local leaders, non-governmental organizations and the academic and business community to exchange views on matters relevant to environmental policy and sustainability. Kendra was significantly involved in the development of TDEC’s comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the proposed Clean Power Plan, worked on development of Tennessee’s strategy for improving the energy efficiency of state-owned facilities, and facilitated the process for developing an approach to permitting voluntary wastewater reclamation and reuse within the state. Previously, she served as Policy Analyst, Senior Policy Analyst and Director for the Office of Policy & Planning.

Prior to working at TDEC, Kendra served as a Sustainability Professional at Vanderbilt University, where she designed, implemented, and managed numerous sustainability programs designed to reduce environmental impacts resulting from operations within the University and Medical Center and at campus special events. Kendra holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Management and Policy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Sociology from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Chicago. She is currently pursuing an M.B.A. at Middle Tennessee State University.

Eliott Barnett, Engineer/Project Manager, Strata-G, LLC

Elliott Barnett is a graduate of the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has worked as an Engineer/Project Manager in the East Tennessee area for the past 27 years. His experience has included a number of years working as an Environmental and Process Engineer at the Y-12 National SecurityComplex in Oak Ridge, TN. His responsibilities there included a variety of activities ranging from Clean Water Act permitting, operating wastewater treatment and solid waste management facilities, to developing processes for the dismantlement of nuclear weapons secondaries. For the past 11 years, Elliott has worked for Strata-G, LLC which is headquartered out of Knoxville, TN. This work has been associated with a number of renewable energy projects including serving as the Project Director for the University of Tennessee’s 5 Megawatt West Tennessee Solar Farm in Haywood Co., Tennessee, and the construction of a biomass gasification steam plant at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Most recently, Elliott has been assisting the Sevier County Utility District in Sevierville, TN and other local utilities with the development and implementation of their compressed natural gas fueling programs for their service areas.

Brianna Benson, Planning Specialist, Long Range Planning Division, Tennessee Department of Transportation

Brianna Benson, Planning Specialist for the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) Long Range Planning Division, is responsible for the coordination of the statewide transportation demand management (TDM) program, which identifies alternative commute options and strategies for Tennesseans. She works with TDM programs across the state funded with Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funding by overseeing program progress, performance measures, and invoice reimbursements. She has also been involved with CMAQ proposal review and funding recommendations.

Ms. Benson graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Organizational Communication. Upon graduation, she studied at Tennessee State University and received a graduate degree in Public Administration. Her graduate study research on “Innovative Strategies for Public Involvement,” was a TDOT sponsored collaborative project with professors from the University of Memphis and Tennessee State University. Ms. Benson is on the board of the Nashville Chapter of Young Professionals in Transportation. A Nashville native and novice Latin dancer, she enjoys anything in the arts.

John Brown, Senior Landscape Architect, Barge Design Solutions

John Brown is a Senior Landscape Architect at Barge Design Solutions with over twenty-one years of experience in a wide variety of projects including residential, commercial, institutional, and government projects. John obtained a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia in 1996 and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He has designed several parks & multi-purpose greenways in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama, including the recently completed extension of the Tennessee Riverpark in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As Project Manager and Lead Designer of this multi-phase project, he was responsible for coordination of all aspects of the 3-mile extension to create an unbroken greenway along the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga.

Andres Carlos, National Account Manager, Clean Energy Fuels

Andres Carlos brings a valuable perspective to the alternative fuels discussion, with an insider’s background on both sides of the equation--beginning with his time at the Waste Management, the largest operator of alternative-fueled vehicles and currently with Clean Energy Fuels, the nation’s leader in natural gas fueling infrastructure. In 2012, Andres joined Clean Energy Fuels, the nation’s largest provider of natural gas fuel, fueling over 35,000 vehicles each day at approximately 500 fueling stations. In his current role, Andres is tasked with increasing natural gas adoption within the transportation industry, focusing on supply chain, renewable natural gas and corporate sustainability.

Mark Cleveland, Co-Founder and CEO, Hytch,  LLC

In early 2018, Mark Cleveland and team launched the Hytch Rewards platform to improve traffic conditions by inspiring and rewarding socially impactful choices in ridesharing for single occupancy vehicles and mass transit options. With nearly 20 years of experience in executive leadership with SeaBridge Freight and Truckload Management, he’s built a strong understanding of mobility by land and sea. Now at the helm of Hytch, with its team of hungry, humble, and smart folks, Mark has introduced a refreshingly simple solution for traffic congestion. How does Hytch work? For every mile Hytch users log using the app, they rack up "Trees Saved" from their total number of carbon neutral miles and cash rewards from sponsors of time- and geo-defined reward zones. Hytch’s results are measurable in lower carbon emissions. Using Hytch is the single simplest and most cost-effective action people can take to build interconnected, transit-behavior-savvy communities with less traffic and cleaner air.

In recognition of its pioneering platform, Nashville-based Hytch received a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Hytch also earned the Nashville Technology Council’s Emerging Company of the Year, the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award and most recently, the Sustainable Transportation Award presented by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. To learn more about Hytch, visit www.HytchRewards.com.

Molly R. Cripps,  Assistant Commissioner for the 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), which is comprised of two sections: the Governor-designated State Energy Office (SEO) and the State Facility Utility Management Section (SFUM). OEP’s 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 assurance and resiliency, sustainable transportation, and alternative fuels.

Molly has been named the Administrative Lead for the State’s Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust allocation. She serves as the TDEC representative to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Distributed Generation Information Exchange, Energy Efficiency Information Exchange, and Electric Vehicle Consortium and is an active member of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). Molly has served on the NASEO Board of Directors since 2014 and is presently serving as the Secretary of Executive Committee.

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.

Chris Cunningham, Exercise Manager, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

Chris Cunningham is the Exercise Manager for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Prior to working for TEMA, Chris worked disaster recovery operations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency including the 2010 floods in Tennessee, the 2011 tornadoes in Alabama, and Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. Chris is a Certified Floodplain Manager and a 2009 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. Originally from north Alabama, Chris and his wife now live in Nashville and enjoy songwriting, kayaking, and hiking.

Scott Curan, Research and Development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Scott Curran is a research and development staff member in the Fuels Engines and Emissions Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Scott is a principal investigator for a DOE Vehicle Technologies Office sponsored light-duty advanced combustion research and fuel effects on advanced combustion projects within the DOE Co-Optima program. He is also involved in natural gas research, vehicle systems research projects, well-to-wheels analysis for mobile and stationary power sources, and is an active collaborator with DOE Clean Cities for alternative fuels outreach and education and serves on the board of directors for the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition. He received his BS and MS in mechanical engineering and his Ph.D. in energy science and engineering all from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.

Dr. Rich Davies, Director of Strategic Planning for Energy and Environmental Sciences and Deputy Director for the Sustainable Transportation Program, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Dr. Rich Davies is the Director of Strategic Planning for Energy and Environmental Sciences and Deputy Director for the Sustainable Transportation Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has over 25-years of research and development experience in manufacturing for light and heavy-duty ground vehicles and aerospace components. His experience includes 20-years in the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory system developing and directing federally-funded and privately-funded research programs under collaborative agreements with automotive and heavy vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. Dr. Davies holds a Ph.D. in Mechanics of Materials from the University of Strasbourg in France, an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland, as well as a Bachelor and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. 

Jordan Davis, Director, Columbus Partnership

Jordan Davis is the Director of Smart Cities at the Columbus Partnership. Instrumental in the City of Columbus’ winning U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart Cities Challenge Grant, Jordan serves on the leadership team spearheading the strategy and collaboration for the joint venture of Smart Columbus. During her time at the Partnership she has led the member and community affairs portfolio, curating educational leadership programs for the Region’s top business leaders. Additionally, she helped to reinvent the town-gown relationship with The Ohio State University, incepting Columbus’ Student Engagement Strategy, a first of its kind initiative focused on retaining students post-graduation. Outside of the Partnership, Jordan is three-term Chair of the Create Columbus Commission; Co-founder and Director of the Central Ohio Leadership Academy; and member of the board for the Columbus Crew SC Foundation and Columbus School for Girls.

Matt Essex, Director of Sales, ADOMANI, Inc.

Matt Essex, with thirteen years of experience in the school bus industry in California and Hawaii, has served as Director of Sales for ADOMANI, Inc. since February 2017. Prior to working for ADOMANI, Mr. Essex served in various sales and sales management capacities for A-Z Bus Sales, Inc., Blue Bird Dealer of the Year in 2013,  from August 2005 through January 2017, becoming Director of New School Bus Sales in January 2014. Mr. Essex also served on the Board of Directors of the California Association of School Transportation Officials for four years. Mr. Essex holds a B.A. in Economics and Government from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sharon Feigon, Executive Director, Shared Use Mobility Center

Sharon is a founder and the executive director of the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), a non-profit public-interest organization working to foster collaboration in shared mobility and help connect the growing industry with transit agencies, cities and communities across the nation. As executive director, Sharon leads SUMC’s work, which includes conducting innovative research around the impacts of shared mobility, developing pilot projects to test shared mobility strategies, and providing advice and technical assistance to cities and regions in order to help extend the benefits of shared mobility for all. SUMC was also recently awarded a contract to develop the Innovation Knowledge Accelerator in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration to assist cities undertaking Mobility on Demand projects.

Sharon was previously the CEO of IGO Carsharing, the nonprofit organization that started carsharing in the Chicago region. Under Sharon’s leadership, IGO grew from a small pilot project into a successful operating company with 15,000 members in 45 neighborhoods. Sharon worked with the Chicago Transit Authority to create the only combined car-share/transit fare card in North America, which continues to serve as a model for the possibilities between shared-use companies and public transit. She led IGO’s expansion into underserved communities and also developed solar canopies and charging stations that helped introduce renewable charging and mobility hubs to the region.

Prior to taking the helm at IGO, Sharon was the Director of Research & Development at the Center for Neighborhood Technology for more than a decade. She was the Principal Investigator for Combating Global Warming Through Sustainable Surface Transportation and was the lead author of TCRP Report 93: Travel Matters: Mitigating Climate Change with Sustainable Surface Transportation. Before that, Sharon coordinated CNT’s Transit-Oriented Development Program and was one of the authors of The New Transit Town. Sharon was also a founder of the national Carsharing Association and has served as Co-Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s Shared Vehicle Committee and as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-ND Committee, which created LEED standards for neighborhood developments. She holds an M.B.A. from DePaul University and a B.A. in Economics from Antioch College.

David M. Frank, Ph.D., Department of Philosophy, University of Tennessee

David M. Frank is a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Originally from Maine, David received a B.A. in Philosophy from Yale in 2007 and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Texas, Austin in 2012. Since then David has been teaching courses on environmental ethics, philosophy of biology, research ethics, and other topics, at NYU, UNC Chapel Hill, and UT-Knoxville. David is an active researcher and collaborates with ecologists studying invasive species. 

Dr. David L. Greene, Senior Fellow of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy and a Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee

David Greene is a Senior Fellow of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy and a Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The University of Tennessee.  In 2013 he retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a Corporate Fellow after a 36 year career researching transportation and energy policy issues.  He has served on more than a dozen special committees of the National Academies and is currently a member of the Committee for the Assessment of Technologies for Improving Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles. A member emeritus of the Transportation Research Board’s standing committees on Energy and Alternative Fuels, Dr. Greene is also a Lifetime National Associate of the National Academies and recipient of the Transportation Research Board’s 2012 Roy W. Crum Award.  He was recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for contributing to the award of the 2007 Noble Peace Prize to the IPCC.  He holds a Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University as well as degrees in Geography from the University of Oregon (M.A.) and Columbia University (B.A.).

Gregory Haye, General Manager, Local Motor Industries, Inc.

Greg is charged with overseeing the Local Motors Knoxville microfactory and acts as a materials and process development expert for the company. Before his employment with Local Motors, he worked as an entrepreneur and market innovator in the field of motorsports composites. Greg has experience as a marketing director for an arms manufacturer, and project manager/designer for one of Chicago’s top design houses. In these roles, Greg successfully launched new brands, product lines, e-commerce platforms, and distribution programs in highly competitive markets.

Greg currently serves on the Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation’s Technical Advisory Board and is also engaged in collaborative design programs at the University of Tennessee and Southern Illinois University. With the support of the whole Local Motors team, he has now taken on the challenge of changing the way vehicle manufacturing is done. Greg has his bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Industrial Design.

Steve Hightower, Fleet Manager, City of Kingsport

Steve Hightower is Fleet Manager for Kingsport, Tennessee, with 850+ pieces of equipment and vehicles valued at over $29 Million.  Steve has been with the City of Kingsport Fleet Department for over 38 years.  Steve was an Automotive Service Excellence Certified Master Mechanic for 25 years with degrees in Heavy Truck Repair and Business Management.  He is a member of the Northeast State Community College Technical Advisory Council for their automotive program and a volunteer Board Member of Goodwill Industries of Tenneva.  Kingsport has won three awards for use of alternative fuels, including the State of Tennessee Governor’s Award, and has the largest propane powered governmental fleet in the state of Tennessee.  Kingsport has the first fully electric marked police cruiser in the United States, which set a new course record during Kingsport’s Emergency Vehicle Operator Course training.  Having worked up through the ranks from mechanic to Manager, Steve understands all aspects of Fleet operations and has a reputation in the region as an avid promoter and resource for innovative ideas on the use of alternative fuels in government vehicles.

Shari L. Meghreblian, Ph.D., Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Dr. Shari Meghreblian was appointed Commissioner of Environment and Conservation by Governor Haslam effective May 1, 2018. She joined TDEC as Deputy Commissioner on May 2, 2011 to oversee the department’s environmental regulatory programs for the protection of Tennessee’s air, land and water. During her first year as Deputy Commissioner, Shari was selected as TDEC’s representative on Governor Haslam’s Top to Bottom Review Committee and also served as TDEC’s liaison for the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Fast Track Infrastructure Development Program. She was a primary sponsor of TDEC’s LEAN process improvement initiative and the governor’s Customer Focused Government initiative.

Recognized for her ability to provide strategic insight and analyze processes and procedures to streamline business practices, Shari has been appointed to several boards and councils supporting three different departments of state government.  In 2012, she was appointed by TDOT’s Commissioner John Schroer to the Department of Transportation’s Environmental Advisory Council which focuses on enhancing TDOT’s commitment to protecting Tennessee’s natural resources while building, operating and maintaining the state’s transportation system.  Additionally, she was chosen by former TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau to serve on the Board of Directors for the West Tennessee River Basin Authority and the Department of Agriculture’s Interagency Task Force on Rural Economic Development. She was also appointed by Gov. Haslam in Aug. 2015 to serve on his Rural Development Task Force, which brought together a wide range of organizations to advance rural communities and economic development throughout Tennessee.

In 2013 Shari was selected as the Co-Chair for Tennessee Regions’ Roundtable State Advisors Committee for Cumberland Region Tomorrow.  Her work with multiple state agencies was recognized in July 2013 by the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) when she was appointed to serve as the new Chair of the ECOS Federal Facilities Forum and was also selected as Co-Chair for Tennessee Region’s Roundtable State Advisors Committee.  This Federal Facilities Forum provides ECOS leadership for a host of matters including cleanup and oversight of nuclear waste sites and military installations.  Shari was most recently recognized as a “Woman of Influence in Public Policy” for 2016 by the Nashville Business Journal.  

Shari has more than twenty years of combined experience in private sector manufacturing and environmental management systems. She joined TDEC from General Motors’ plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, where she served as the environmental operations manager since 2005.  Prior to that, she worked in various roles at the Spring Hill facility under the Saturn Corporation, including manager of environmental affairs, production operations supervisor and environmental engineer. Recognized in Tennessee and nationally as a successful steward of natural resources through industrial conservation and pollution prevention, Shari’s achievements include leading the General Motors’ Spring Hill plant to become the first industry in the state to achieve Performer Level status, the highest achievement available in the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership program.

A Kentucky native with roots in family farming, Shari has been active in environmental and business advocacy across Tennessee for more than two decades, holding membership in numerous organizations such the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Air and Waste Management Association; Tennessee Environmental Council; The Nature Conservancy; and the Harpeth River Watershed Association. Shari holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Management and a master’s degree in Engineering from Vanderbilt University, and a bachelor of science in Marketing/Economics from Western Kentucky University.

Patrick Mendenhall, Fleet Sales/C10 Co-Developer, Cumberland International Trucks, Inc.

Patrick Mendenhall has been a part of the transportation industry since graduating from Indiana State University in 2010. In 2013, he joined Cumberland International Trucks, Inc., where he has spent the last 5 years co-developing and branding one of the most fuel-efficient semi tractors available in the market, The C10. Alongside fleet director, Matt Smart, Mendenhall has helped deliver over 2,500 fuel-efficient C10’s the road with over 20+ Tennessee fleets running a variation of the C10. Mendenhall is also a member of the Tennessee Trucking Association, where he is currently in the process of creating a Young Professional’s Council (YPC) to help further professional development in the TTA through education, mentorship and leadership opportunities.

Since joining Cumberland International Trucks, Inc., Mendenhall has been nationally recognized multiple times, including being named the 2017 International’s LT Walkaround People’s Champion as voted on by his peers in the International dealer network. Mendenhall was also awarded the 2017 International’s Top Champion for best sales in North America and the 2017 International’s LT Walkaround Grand Champion. Mendenhall has been recognized by Cummins, Inc. as a top sales representative in 2016 and 2017 as well. 

Mendenhall played an integral part in Cumberland International Trucks, Inc., winning International Dealer of the Year in 2017, the highest honor given by International. He states, ‘It is truly an honor and privilege working for the Terry Minor family, Arthur Garcia, Matt Smart and the entire Cumberland organization. These men create a winning culture that motivates me to accomplish goals that I never would have put on my radar.’ 

Dan E. Pallme, Assistant Chief of Freight and Logistics, Tennessee Department of Transportation

Dan Pallme is the Assistant Chief of Freight and Logistics at the Tennessee Department of Transportation. In his role, he provides leadership on issues of rail, water and highway freight. The division serves as a liaison between TDOT and freight stakeholders in an effort to find opportunities to improve access for existing freight and appropriately prepare for the projected increases in freight as it moves in and out of the state. The primary focus areas for the division include water, short-line railroads, Section 130 rail program, rail inspection, highway freight and technology, freight advisory committees and the freight and state rail plan updates.

He spent his entire career focused in the transportation sector.  During his undergraduate years, he worked at Federal Express (Air) working a variety of positions while he focused on graduating.  Upon graduating from Memphis, he went to work for Yellow Freight System (LTL) in their management trainee program.  He worked for Yellow Freight System in various capacities and moved to several locations in their network.  In 1990, he started in the intermodal industry at Union Pacific (rail) as a general supervisor.  He finished his career with the Union Pacific Railroad in several management positions at a few locations.  From 2004 to June 2011, he was Director of Business Development at Comtrak Logistics.  He was responsible for all the revenue associated with the company.  During that timeframe, Comtrak Logistics grew from 15 to 25 terminals.  Comtrak Logistics (now Hub Group Trucking) developed into one of the largest nationally drayage providers specializing in intermodal in the country.

After his private sector experience, he spent 5 years at the Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute at the University of Memphis on various projects including the Freight Transportation Leadership Academy among other programs.  He has served as principal investigator for The University of Memphis’ participation in several major intermodal freight transportation studies which address issues related to analyzing system capacities and needs and developing recommendations for enhancing freight movement and supporting economic development. Additionally, he is on many projects to better the community, industry or the impact of technology on the industry. His national contacts have been used in several of these projects and frequently asked to participate in projects sharing in the real world experience between the various modes. He received his Bachelors from the University of Memphis in transportation and a Masters from the University of Denver in Intermodal Transportation Management.  

Cassie Powers, Senior Program Director, National Association of State Energy Officials

Cassie Powers is a Senior Program Director 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.

Jeff Price, Chief Technology Officer, GRIDSMART Technologies, Inc.

Jeff Price is the Chief Technology Officer at GRIDSMART Technologies, Inc. and leads all product development and R&D efforts at the company. He joined GRIDSMART in February of 2008, and is the co-creator of the computer vision engine that powers the GRIDSMART system. Jeff worked previously at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Kodak Research Laboratories. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Philip Pugliese, Transportation System Planner, Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA)

Philip Pugliese is a Transportation System Planner with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and a Principal of Prova Group, a transportation consulting firm focused on active and shared mobility solutions. With his prior career in air freight and logistics, Pugliese brings a broad perspective to transportation issues. A graduate of Georgia State University, Pugliese also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee.

Jonathan Overly, Executive Director, East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition

Jonathan Overly has been in the advanced fuels and vehicles industry since 1997, spending his first few years performing Life Cycle Assessments on advanced vehicles and alternatives fuels working with partners like General Motors at the Saturn Manufacturing Plant in Spring Hill, TN.  In 2001, he founded the nonprofit East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, a designated partner in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities program.  Working alongside the Middle-West Tennessee coalition, he and the many coalition partners across the entire state have taken alternative fuels use and idle reduction initiatives in Tennessee from near zero in 2002 to a reduction of over 16 million gallons of petroleum used in 2016 alone. In 2015, he was recognized by DOE as a substantial contributor the “Clean Cities” program and was inducted into the DOE Clean Cities Hall of Fame. Jonathan says that while Clean Cities work has its challenges, the great people and partners that he works with are what make his job so much fun.

Madeline Rogero, Mayor of the City of Knoxville

Madeline Rogero was elected the 68th Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee and took office in December 2011. She is the first woman to hold the office.  She was re-elected with 98.8% of the vote and began her second term in December 2015.

Her career includes serving as the city’s community development director, Knox County commissioner, non-profit executive, urban and regional planner, community volunteer and neighborhood champion.  She is a former consultant to Capital One and America’s Promise, and former executive director of Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation and Knoxville’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth.  She has a B.A. in Political Science from Furman University and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. 

Mayor Rogero was elected to the Advisory Board for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and is Chair of the Advisory Board of the Smart Growth America Local Leaders Council.  She previously served on President Obama’s State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience and also on Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s Task Force on Aging.

Mayor Rogero is dedicated to promoting a vibrant local economy, strong neighborhoods, a high quality of life, a thriving downtown and a greener Knoxville.  She believes Knoxville’s strength comes from the diversity of its people and the beauty of its natural resources.  

Mark Smith, Technology Integration Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office

Mark Smith is the Technology Integration Program Manager within the Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office. In this role, he oversees a broad technology portfolio, which is focused on accelerating the development and widespread use of advanced vehicle technologies to help reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and to provide reliable, and affordable, transportation choices. The Technology Integration Program portfolio includes, Alternative Fuels, Fuel Economy, Electrification, Energy Efficient Mobility Systems, and the Alternative Fuels Regulatory Program.

Before joining DOE in 2010, Mark was an alternative fuel vehicle consultant to American Honda. In this position, he promoted the use of Honda's advanced technology vehicles to public and private fleet managers and implemented programs to increase adoption of these vehicles. Mark also understands that alternative fuel vehicle use hinges upon the development of refueling/re-charging infrastructure. From his previous positions with FuelMaker and Clean Energy, he has provided alternative refueling solutions ranging from home refueling of a single vehicle to some of the largest commercial, airport, and transit fueling stations in the United States.

Ted Walker, Managing Director, Navigant

Ted Walker is a Managing Director in Navigant’s Energy practice, where he leads the Business and Technology Strategy service line.  Walker has over 20 years of experience working with and for premier companies across the energy value chain, delivering strategic and transformative results to his clients. Walker is focused on innovation and growth opportunities and the changing role of the utility in the evolving energy ecosystem. Walker has spent considerable time working with utilities, governments, and corporations to develop electrified transportation and mobility solutions. He is a highly involved leader who is comfortable at every level of an engagement, from the operations floor to the C-Suite. Walker’s ability to see the way to the future and to develop and deliver the strategy necessary to bring it to life imbues his teams and clients with the confidence necessary to deliver complex management and financial transformations. He has authored and contributed to several thought leadership pieces analyzing various aspects of the utilities industry.

Anne Wallace, AICP, Associate ASLA, Deputy Director, City of Knoxville's Office of Development

Anne Wallace is an East Tennessee native. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and Master of Landscape Architecture both from Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction. She is currently serving as Deputy Director for the Office of Redevelopment at the City of Knoxville, Tennessee with a focus on corridor projects, downtown design projects, brownfield redevelopment and grant management. Her recent projects include management of the Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project (delivered on time and under budget); Central Street Streetscape Project; form base code development, adoption and implementation; neighborhood revitalization plans; land conservation programs; the development, adoption, and implementation of Downtown Knoxville Design Guidelines; the Downtown Wayfinding program; two area-wide Assessment Grants from the Environmental Protection Agency; a Targeted Brownfield Assessment Grant, and two Cleanup Grants.