Reimagining Electric Vehicle Industry in Illinois
A Thought Leadership Series presented by the College of Business, GovState School of Extended Learning, and Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator at Governors State University.
Date: Friday, May 26, 2023
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: GovState Hall of Governors
Click on the brochure cover below to view the brochure online:
Event Overview
Batteries, electric charging stations, electric grids, electric school Buses, electric delivery vans and trucks, fleet management, drones, workforce training, and more!
In 2021, Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly passed the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act (REV Illinois Act) into law. This groundbreaking program is designed to bolster Illinois manufacturing – already a top destination for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in the United States – and to grow the ecosystem to create new capacity for EV vehicle and component parts production. Since then, a lot of progresses have been made in moving towards the bold goal, including research conducted by GovState and UIC faculty on EV supply chain.
This event will bring policy makers, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders to share progresses, discuss opportunities and challenges they are still facing in galvanizing towards this bold vision.
Event Schedule
9 - 9:30 a.m.
Check-In and Networking
9:30 - 9:35 a.m.
Opening Remarks by President Green
9:35 - 10:05 a.m.
Building Illinois as the Silicon Valley of EV: Federal, State, and Regional Policies
10:05 - 10:35 a.m.
Manufacturing in the EV Industry: A Panel Discussion
10:35 - 11:05 a.m.
Workforce Development for the EV Industry
11:05 - 11:30 a.m.
Advanced Air Mobility: The Future is Now
11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Networking
Register Now
Speakers
9:30 - 9:35 a.m.
Opening Remarks: Dr. Cheryl Green, President, Governors State University
Dr. Cheryl Green, President, Governors State University
Dr. Cheryl Green brings more than 30 years of professional experience in higher education to her role as the sixth President of Governors State University, and the leader of the Jaguar family. A passionate educator and administrator, Green believes fiercely in the power of education to change lives. Throughout her career, she has pioneered the innovation of academic enrichment opportunities and student success initiatives that promote increased retention and graduation rates for first generation and non-traditional college students.
Most recently, Green served as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, as Interim Chancellor for the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, and as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Tennessee State University.
Before her time at Tennessee State University, Dr. Green served at Chicago State University in a variety of administrative and academic roles, including director/chair of the counseling department, inaugural dean of first-year students, acting associate director of career placement, and as a tenured associate professor of counseling. In addition, Green served as the statewide representative for 2,700 faculty and staff in her role as the Grievance Officer for the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Local 4100 for seven public universities.
Her fiscal experience includes the budget management of more than $300 million dollars at three universities. Throughout her career she has served as the primary or contributing author for multiple grants which yielded more than $5million dollars in revenue. Most of her scholarly research has been focused on increasing student achievement and delivering community-based health initiatives for diverse student populations.
Green’s commitment to making a difference is evidenced by her service to the community, which spans the United States and has included serving on ten different advisory boards or boards of directors. Currently, she serves on the Manchester University Board of Trustees, the Association of Governing Boards (ABG) Council of Presidents, the Will County Center for Economic Development Board of Directors, and the Southland Development Authority Board of Directors. In the recent past, she has been active on the Howard Hughes Medical Institute STEM Grant Advisory Board of UW Madison, the Forward 50 Advisory Board for the National Association of Student and Financial Aid Administrators, and the Milwaukee based Gift of Adoption Wisconsin Board of Directors.
Dr. Green is the proud recipient of Chicago Crain’s 2021 Notable Black Leaders and Executives, and the Illinois Black Hall of Fame has honored her as a Woman of First Distinction. In March 2022, Dr. Green was awarded the Excellence in Education award by the Central Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.
Additionally, Newsweek recently featured Dr. Green in a profile that discussed the university’s 2022 ranking in U.S. News & World Report for one of the top 25 best Midwest schools for social mobility.
Green has a Ph.D. and master’s degree in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Indiana. She also holds several National Incident Management System certificates from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Institute and serves as a recognized leader in grievance mediation and conflict resolution.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Green is also the loving mother of two adult children who constantly keep her inspired to believe in the worth and potential of all human beings and to make a difference in the world.
9:35 - 10:05 a.m.
Keynote Session: Building Illinois as the Silicon Valley of EV: Federal, State, and Regional Policies
Congresswoman Robin Kelly
Congresswoman Robin Kelly has dedicated her career to public service as an advocate for Illinois families. Since being elected to serve the 2nd Congressional District in 2013, she has worked to expand economic opportunity, community wellness, and public safety across the state, championing numerous initiatives to generate job growth, reduce health disparities, and end gun violence.
Congresswoman Kelly is member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee (the main policy-writing body of the House) and serves on the Health, Communications and Technology, and Innovation, Data, and Commerce subcommittees. Her Energy and Commerce work is focused on expanding access to healthcare, consumer protection for American families, and economic development.
She is also a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction of the Democratic Caucus.
A staunch champion of common sense gun reforms and responsible community policing, Representative Kelly is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce and is the author of The 2014 Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America, the first-ever Congressional analysis of the nation's gun violence epidemic that offers a blueprint for ending the crisis.
Committed to improving the health and wellness of vulnerable communities across the country, the Congresswoman serves as the Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, and Co-Chairs the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls. She also Co-Chairs the House Democratic Policy Group and House Tech Accountability Caucus.
Prior to her election to Congress, Kelly was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, served as Chief Administrative Officer of Cook County (the second largest county in the United States) and was Chief of Staff to Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias - becoming the first African American woman to serve as Chief of Staff to an elected constitutional statewide officeholder.
The daughter of a small business owner and postal worker, Congresswoman Kelly moved to Illinois to attend Bradley University in Peoria, where she earned her B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in counseling. She later received a Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University. She lives in Matteson with her husband, Dr. Nathaniel Horn, and has two adult children, Kelly and Ryan.
Ms. Lisa Clemmons Stott, Electric Mobility and Innovation Director, Illinois DCEO
Lisa Clemmons Stott is the Electric Mobility and Innovation Director in the Director’s Office at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. She works to grow Illinois’ share of advanced manufacturing in the electric vehicle sector by highlighting the state’s many assets, including one of the most aggressive incentives programs in the nation, the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles Act. She has worked at the critical intersection of community and economic development for nearly fifteen years, including as a founder of her own consulting firm and the executive director of the state capital’s downtown business district. Her career started in the Illinois legislature as a staff person and she has held numerous leadership, communications and change management roles over her career.
10:05 - 10:35 a.m.
Manufacturing EV: A Panel Discussion
Ryan Walsh, Founder and CEO, Valqari
Ryan started his career as an Army Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment, having served multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also a trusted voice in the drone industry, serving as the North American Chapter Director for the Drone Logistics Ecosystem. Ryan is also an External Expert on the CanaDAC advisory board assisting Canadian regulators, such as Transport Canada and NavCan, in determining the next round of drone regulations for the industry.
Ryan has founded and run several multi-million dollar companies from inception to exit. He is a Strategic Advisor to several technology companies including Soteria Battery Innovation Group, and Havenshine, providing insight and expertise for a number of related adjacent technology industries.
He has led teams with limited resources to overcome large obstacles and complete the mission, a skill which developed as a Ranger, that was sharpened as a successful serial entrepreneur. He has a BA in Economics and his MBA, and also is the lead inventor on all of Valqari's granted patents to date. He has been featured in many major news outlets such as Fox Business, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, FreightWaves, and many others.
Joe Day, Commercial Manager, Midwest and Northeast Region, Li-Cycle
Joining Li-Cycle in early 2022, Joe has over 20 years of experience in the universal waste recycling industry with various business development and leadership roles. Today his primary focus is on scaling Li-Cycle’s already impressive and rapid growth by establishing and cultivating relationships with various accounts and strategic partners across several vertical markets. Joe holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Valparaiso University and a professional certification from the University of Wisconsin.
Brian Robb, Government Relations Director, Lion Electric
A lifelong resident of the Chicago area and graduate of DePaul University, Brian comes to Lion Electric having spent the last 8+ years involved in public service and governmental outreach. Most recently, Brian served as Congressman Bill Foster's Senior Advisor working out of the 11th District of Illinois in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. In this role, Brian worked as the lead liaison on issue areas ranging from National Labs outreach, education, environment, business/manufacturing, organized labor, and more.
Currently, Brian is working to actively engage key government stakeholders on the electrification of the transportation industry as Lion Electric’s Director of Government Relations. Since joining Lion, he has assisted in the navigation of key federal and state legislative efforts to push for stronger clean energy initiatives, and to promote market support for greater EV adoption. Brian is leading the Government Relations team in strategic policy efforts in target states across the country, advocating policy makers for greater funding of the rapidly growing EV industry, and helping Lion continue to be a national leader in the medium and heavy-duty electric vehicle space.
Patrick Heraty, Director of International Sales, Mi-Jack
Patrick has 40 plus years with Mi-Jack focused on International Equipment Sales and Infrastructure Development around both inland and ocean ports as well as Railroad privatizations.
MODERATOR:
John Greuling, Founder, JEG 360 Consulting
John E. Greuling has over 40 years of experience as a professional economic developer. He was the President and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED) and Will County Economic Development Foundation—a position he has held since 2001. Among his priorities are business recruitment and retention/expansion, managing the development of the largest Inland Port in North America and the development of the Illiana Expressway and the South Suburban Airport.
Prior to joining the CED he was Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Business & Economic Development for InterMountain/RKH, a corporate affairs firm based in Denver specializing in government relations, strategic communications and business and economic development. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Economic Development for the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce in Greensboro, North Carolina; Executive Director for the Southeast Denver/Douglas County Economic Development Council; Director of the Colorado Office of Business Development; and Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development of the Bloomington-Normal Area.
Greuling, a native of Oak Park, Illinois is a graduate of Illinois State University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy in 1974, he received his Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1976. In 2016 he was conferred a Doctor of Humanities Honorary Degree from Lewis University.
10:35 - 11:05 a.m.
Workforce Development for the EV Industry
Mark Denzler, President and CEO, Illinois Manufacturing Association
Mark Denzler is president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Secretary/Treasurer of the IMA Education Foundation. Founded in 1893, the IMA is the oldest and one of the largest state manufacturing trade associations in the United States. Mark is the leading advocate for the state’s manufacturing companies and the 580,000 women and men who make things in Illinois. He is an effective and bipartisan advocate with a strong record of success.
Prior to his appointment as IMA president & CEO, Mark served as the Vice President & COO of the organization where he oversaw government affairs, membership, and human resources. Mark’s previous experience including leading government affairs efforts in Illinois for State Farm Insurance, a Fortune 50 company headquartered in Bloomington. For more than six years, Mark worked as a legislative analyst for the House Republican Leader including serving as a caucus liaison to Governor Edgar’s Ikenberry Commission on education funding. In addition, Mark managed several campaigns across Illinois and also spent a brief time on the Washington D.C. staff of Congressman Tom Ewing. He’s been appointed to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board by three Governors, is also an appointee to the Illinois Department of Employment Security Advisory Board, and was an initial appointee to Secretary of State Jesse White’s Ethics Board.
Mary Hallock, Vice President of Operations, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center Illinois (IMEC)
As Vice President of Operations at IMEC, Mary Hallock brings the experience of working with manufacturing leaders to find workforce solutions through training and planning. She has been a lead in developing IMECs apprenticeship offerings including the development of the programs to support electric vehicle transition.
Curt Ward, Professor, Joliet Junior College
Curt Ward brings over 40 years of talent, experience, and automotive knowledge to his work. Curt is an automotive professor at Joliet Junior College. He has co-authored four textbooks with James Halderman for Pearson Education and has presented at numerous conferences across North America.
Curt has an Associates of Applied Science in Automotive Service Technology from Southern Illinois University. He has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Organizational Communications from North Central College. He earned his Master’s degree in Adult Education at the University of Phoenix.
MODERATOR:
Craig Schmidt, Executive Director, School of Extended Learning, GovState
Craig Schmidt began his career at Prairie State College (PSC) in 1997 as manager of the Community Instructional Center and then senior director of workforce training and services before leaving PSC in 2005 to lead education and training programs for Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. He returned to PSC in 2014 to serve as vice president of community and economic development.
Currently, Mr. Schmidt is leading workforce development efforts with local businesses, community organizations, state funding agencies, and higher education institutions to increase the talent pipeline of skilled workers in the manufacturing, transportation, supply chain and IT sectors.
Mr. Schmidt serves in leadership positions with numerous organizations in the Chicago Southland area, including Chairman of the Board for The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors for the Homewood Area Chamber of Commerce. He also is a member of the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation and the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Mr. Schmidt received an associate degree in business administration from Lake Land College. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Eastern Illinois University and his MBA from Governors State University.
11:05 - 11:30 a.m.
Advanced Air Mobility: The Future is Now
Chip Snowden, Senior VP, Aviation Market Principal, Hanson Professional Services, Inc.
Chip is a Senior Vice President and is the principal for Hanson’s aviation market unit. He has more than 38 years of experience in the aviation industry, serving on both the airport management and consulting sides of the business. In addition to Chip’s direct airport management experience, he has extensive experience in business development, strategic planning, and project delivery for the following aviation program emerging practices: public/private partnership transactional services, airport cities economic development programs, airport operational staffing services, airport asset management programs, and airport program management. He has worked directly with international airport operator/ developers, infrastructure funds and governmental entities in helping them win and execute major airport P3 privatization programs. Chip’s consulting experience also includes working with domestic and international airport owners in developing airport strategic business plans, the development of airport management best practices, safety and security programs and “airport cities” property development programs.
Chip has held several high-level airport positions during his 23 years of direct airport management experience. Most recently, he served as the chief operating officer for the Jacksonville Florida Aviation Authority, and also served as the director of planning and development for the Palm Beach County Department of Airports in West Palm Beach, Fl. In his recent 15 year consulting career, Chip has served as the aviation P3 director and manager of emerging practices for a large international A/E consulting organization, and he has had his current role with Hanson for 8 years. Chip holds a Bachelor of Science degree as well as an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Clifford Cruz, CEO, Skyway
Clifford Cruz is a gifted innovator with extensive executive experience, specializing in enterprise product engineering. Growing up in an aviation family, Clifford first learned to fly at the ripe age of thirteen. What began as an inherited hobby soon translated into an insatiable love for avionics. His experience in the space has widely ranged from tackling government contracts to commercial product development; providing computational critical thinking and project management expertise to ensure scalable manufacturing efficiencies.
Some of his earlier creative accomplishments include ballistic cryptography using photonic quantum capturing devices, stereographic capturing protocols for auto interocular depth analysis, node protocols on Boeing 737 aircraft antennas used for high-speed communication, auto multiband software-defined radio transmission recording devices with dynamic switching antennas, and apples self-destructing communication software for use in standard short message services.
He is a founder of multiple startups - notably, 802 Secure, and has CTO experience for a number of companies in a variety of sectors.
Katy Glynn, Account Executive, Siemens Smart Infrastructure Energy & Performance
Katy is an Account Executive for the Energy & Performance Services division of Siemens Smart Infrastructure. She works closely with airports in helping them plan, implement and manage energy optimization projects such as decarbonization, solar, battery storage, distributed energy and electric vehicle charging for cars, buses, fleets and aircraft (eVTOL). Katy served as President of the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA) and has over 16 years of aircraft sales and management experience. She currently oversees multiple renewable energy projects in the U.S.
MODERATOR:
Dr. P.S. Sriraj, Urban Transportation Center, University of Illinois Chicago
Director, Urban Transportation Center; Adjunct Lecturer, Urban Planning and Policy; Director of Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative (METSI) and Research Programs
Urban Transportation. He is also Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology
9:30 - 9:35 a.m.
Closing Remarks: Reggie Greenwood, Director, Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator, GovState
Reggie Greenwood, Director, Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator, GovState
Reggie Greenwood’s career emphasizes building partnerships with education and public and private organizations that deliver sustainable economic & community development. He is a serial entrepreneur starting public and private organizations that engage the synergies of healthy manufacturing/logistics companies and commercial development and educational institutions.
He is the Director of the Supply Innovation Center and Business Incubator where he is developing:
business connections with manufacturing and TDL companies in order to provide training and other services to improve their effectiveness in supply chain operations.
a variety of services to support the development of new products and services that apply technology to improve the operations of supply chains; and
innovative projects with companies in blockchain, electric vehicle mobility, air cargo operations, 3D printing, E-Commerce, global business, and autonomous tractor terminals around intermodal operations.
He has achieved certifications in SCPro, Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution, Green Six Sigma, and Certified Global Business Management Profession.
He also works with regional partners as the Director of the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation to develop an Integrated Education, Workforce and Economic Development Strategy for the Chicago Southland. This work has been part of the resurgence of the Chicago Southland as a Manufacturing and Logistics Supercluster with over a billion dollars of recent investment. Reggie has provided services in industrial land redevelopment, planning for logistics infrastructure, education and workforce, financial incentives, marketing, supply chain training, and export/import support.
He was educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from which he holds a M.S. Degree in City and Regional Planning-Concentration in Economic Development and a B.S. Degree in Business Administration.
Co-Sponsors
• GovState Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator (SCICBI)
• GovState School of Extended Learning (SXL)
• Urban Transportation Center, University of Illinois Chicago
• Illinois Innovation Network
Partnering Organizations
Reimagining Electric Vehicle Industry in Illinois
A Thought Leadership Series presented by the College of Business and Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator at Governors State University.
Date: Friday, April 22, 2022 (Earth Day)
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: GovState Hall of Governors
Click on the brochure cover below to view the brochure online:
If you're interested in attending, please e-mail Director of Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator at GovState, Reggie Greenwood, at rgreenwood2@govst.edu.
Register today
Overview
In November 2021, Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly passed the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act (REV Illinois Act) into law. This groundbreaking program is designed to bolster Illinois manufacturing, and to create new capacity for EV vehicle and component parts production.
Join us at this Thought Leadership Series, and meet policy makers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders as we discuss opportunities and challenges in this sector. Learn how this act will create jobs, enhance the competitiveness of the state, while supporting the state's bold climate change agenda.
Event Schedule
Registration 9 - 9:30 a.m.
Program 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Networking and Sculpture Park Tour 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. (comfortable shoes recommended)
Speakers
Dan Seals, Chief Executive Officer of Intersect Illinois
"Vision for the Electric Vehicle Industry"
[View Presentation Slides]
Dan Seals is the Chief Executive Officer of Intersect Illinois, a public private partnership focused on global business development for the State of Illinois. He oversees all aspects of the organization, including marketing, sales, financing, and personnel.
Dan has spent his career in both the public and private sector. He previously served as a Director at the American Medical Association, where he led both domestic and international marketing for a large portfolio of business services. He has also led business marketing for a division of GE Capital, where he helped achieve double digit growth in the specialized real estate sector. Prior to that Dan led a marketing team at T-Mobile, where he marketed telecommunications products nationwide.
Dan also served as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, where he oversaw programs for business attraction, small business support, workforce development, tourism, and international trade. During that time he led the development of the first Illinois Economic Development Plan in years. Dan has previously served as an adjunct professor of public policy at Northwestern University. He also won the Presidential Management Fellowship—serving as an aide to the Assistant Secretary of U.S. Department of Commerce and as an economic aide in the U.S. Senate.
Dan holds an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and a MIPP in International Economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University. He was born and raised in Illinois where he resides with his wife and three daughters.
Sylvia I. Garcia, Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
"The Public Policy Perspective: Jobs, Taxes, Competitiveness, Environmental Impact"
[View Presentation Slides]
Sylvia I. Garcia is the Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), where she leads a team comprised of eleven core bureaus and several administrative offices that are focused on deploying capital investments, modernizing workforce development, supporting growth of small and large businesses, assisting communities with development and infrastructure, and attracting equitable investment throughout Illinois. Director Garcia brings 17 years of experience from the public and private sectors to her role as leader of the state's economic development arm. Originally from the Detroit metro area, Garcia was inspired at a young age to join the work of helping cities and communities prosper. Garcia previously served as a Principal Consultant at WSP USA, and prior to that she served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), managing the day-to-day operations of the nation’s second largest transit agency. With extensive service in government - including roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, and as an Obama appointee at the U.S. Department of Transportation - Garcia has committed her career to developing public policy and capital programs that expand inclusive economic growth.
Rick Bryant, Senior Adviser to Congresswoman Robin Kelly
“The EV Industry: The Federal Government Perspective”
Rick Bryant is senior adviser to Congresswoman Robin Kelly, assisting her on issues including infrastructure, transportation, social justice, the environment, economic development and national parks. A former journalist, he volunteers on boards of the Historic Pullman Foundation, Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, and Respond Now. He drives an electric car.
Industry Roundtable
An Industry Roundtable featuring representatives from several EV manufacturers and suppliers will
follow the presentations.
Moderator
Reggie Greenwood, Director, Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator, GovState
Reggie Greenwood is the Director of the Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator at Governors State University. In this role, he continually works with manufacturing and logistics companies to understand the types of skills required by their existing and entry workforce and develops training programs that respond to these requirements. He collaborates with a variety of regional workforce and business organization to create robust programs based on these collaborations. Reggie Greenwood is particularly involved in working with companies to support their ability to connect with opportunities to incorporate sustainability into their business strategies. He teaches a course in the College of Business titled Sustainable Business Practices and he led the application to IIN to create a program Reimagining the Electric Vehicle Industry.
Prior to this position, Mr. Greenwood was a partner in a small manufacturing company and subsequently a manager for a division in a larger firm. He was educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from which he holds a M.S. Degree in City and Regional Planning-Concentration in Economic Development and a B.S. Degree in Business A.
Presenters
Larry Brasfield, National Account Sales Manager, Lion Electric
Larry’s role with Lion Electric Co leverages his customer-focused approach and 30 years of experience in the trucking industry. For Lion Electric, the emerging leader in pure electric medium and heavy-duty trucks, Larry specs and sells fleet specific, right sized solutions that meet customers’ needs with zero-emission battery electric solutions. Larry grew up with trucking in the family as the third generation in the business and has worked in many different roles in the industry including full-service leasing, vocational truck sales and natural gas prior to the last 3½ years in EV trucks. The Brasfield legacy is now 4 generations strong as two of his three children are in the industry and he has been blessed with 5 grandchildren.
Panos Prezas, Vice President, Business Development
Panos Prezas is a battery industry executive with 20 years of experience in Battery Sciences, Product and Business Development, and Manufacturing. Prior to joining Beam Global and AllCell, Prezas was a Researcher and Business Development leader at Argonne National Laboratory with preceding experience in energy product development and commercialization. Prezas has co-authored publications and patents, as well as been an invited keynote speaker at international technical conferences and organized industry events. He earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).
Mike Menyhart, President, Americas & Chief Strategy Officer, SEA Electric
Mike Menyhart is President – Americas and Chief Strategy Officer at SEA Electric. As President – Americas, Mike leads sales, marketing, business development, and after-sales in North, Central, and South America. Globally he is responsible for IT, sourcing, and supply chain.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Mike leads the development and execution of SEA Electric’s corporate strategy, including the company’s focus on fleet electrification, advanced mobility and the alignment of its product and technology portfolio. He also leads SEA Electric’s partnership and merger & acquisition activities.
During his career, Mike has developed deep expertise in strategy, corporate development, P&L management, and change management. He has worked with start-ups, a strategy consulting firm, and Fortune 500 environments to create, build and drive strategies to grow revenue, enhance shareholder value, and drive market leadership.
Networking and Tour of Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park
Networking opportunities before and after the formal program available.
Interested guests can take a guided tour of the nationally ranked Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park after the formal program. See details of theregistration link above.