Event Speakers

SAE 2012 School Bus Powertrain Innovation Symposium - Reducing Fuel and Maintenance Costs Using Propane, Compressed Natural Gas and Hybrid Electric Technology

Keynote Speaker
Mark S. Smith
Vehicle Technologies Deployment Manager
DOE, Clean Cities

Mark Smith is the Vehicle Technologies Deployment Manager for the Department of Energy's (DOE) national Clean Cities program. His responsibilities include developing outreach strategies for implementing new national partnerships between industry and the DOE Clean Cities program to successfully deploy new vehicle technologies.

In addition, he develops and maintains relationships with key stakeholders from vehicle manufacturers, fuel suppliers, educational institutions, environmental groups, nonprofit associations, government agencies and other related organizations to expand the use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.

Clean Cities - No Longer the Best Kept Secret
Abstract: Learn how the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program can help with the deployment of alternative fuel and advanced technology school buses.

OEM/Supplier Speakers

Brian Carney
Director of Marketing
ROUSH CleanTech

Brian Carney has been with ROUSH since 2005. He joined the company as a marketing research intern at ROUSH Performance Products, and moved up in the organization to become Brand Marketing Manager in 2009. In 2010, he helped launch the ROUSH CleanTech business and is currently the Director of Marketing, managing the brand, website, advertising, and sales materials that are used by the rest of the organization.

Brian received his bachelor's degree in Marketing with an International Business Specialization from Michigan State University. He currently resides in Royal Oak, Michigan with his wife Jana.

Blue Bird Propane Powered Vision School Bus
Abstract: Propane autogas, the world's third most-used engine fuel, powers vehicles, transit buses, and now school buses. Blue Bird has recently launched the Next Generation Vision type C school bus, powered by a ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system and a Ford 6.8L V10 engine. The bus reduces operating costs by up to 40%, greenhouse gas emissions by up to 24%, and maintains the factory horsepower, torque, and towing capacity ratings. Learn about how school districts are saving over $.30 / mile using this clean, domestically-produced fuel.

Brian S. Barrington
Sales Manager
Trans Tech Bus

Mr. Barrington lives in Waynesfield, OH (just outside of Lima). In 1994 he was a Graduate of Ohio Northern University. He has been involved or around school buses his entire life with heavy family involvement in school bus manufacturing. His Father was an engineer at Superior Coach, Carpenter Body Works and one of the founders of Mid Bus, Inc.

Mr. Barrington worked at Mid Bus through school, as well as when he got out. He spent 2.5 years at Weldon, school bus lighting manufacturer. He is Sales Manager at Trans Tech Bus since Jan. 2011.

Mr. Barrington's Brother is also involved in School Bus manufacturer; worked at Mid Bus, spent 11 years at Thomas Built Bus and is now the VP Sales and Compliance for Lion Bus out of Canada.

All-Electric School Bus for Total Zero Emission
Abstract: Trans Tech recently debuted the all-electric eTrans school bus providing a total zero emission school bus. The presentation will demonstrate Smith Electric Vehicles and their history with electric vehicles. The presentation will help ensure that everybody has an idea of what the electric school bus will do and to dispel any rumors about the vehicle.

Ewan Pritchard, PhD, P.E.
Director of Industry and Innovation
Future Renewable Electric Energy Deliver and Management Systems Center

Director of Industry and Innovation, Future Renewable Electric Energy Deliver and Management Systems Center Program Manager, Advanced Transportation Energy Center North Carolina State University

Ewan is the Director of Industry and Innovation for the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center as well as Program Manager for the Advanced Transportation Energy Center (ATEC), at NC State University.

As Director of Industry and Innovation for the FREEDM Systems Center, he works to knit the needs of industry with the mission and goals of the center. As Program Manager of ATEC, he works with the automotive industry to learn the hurdles to the adoption of vehicle electrification and how NC State can overcome those hurdles.

Ewan is best known for his work to bring plug-in hybrid school buses to the market. Ewan has been involved with the energy and transportation industry since 1997 with his work on industrial energy efficiency and electric vehicles at Advanced Energy Corporation. He left Advanced Energy for a short time to work with GKN Automotive on driveline solutions before returning to Advanced Energy Corporation to tackle plug-in hybrids. He began the program to transform the school bus industry to plug-in hybrids in 2002. And completed his masters thesis on the subject in 2003. Since then he has worked with numerous vehicle companies and organizations to develop innovative electric and plug-in platforms to reduce environmental emissions and fuel consumption.

Ewan holds PhD, MS and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from NC State University.

Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid, and Electric School Buses. Where and when?
Abstract: This talk will describe the nuances of a number of different types of driveline and how these will perform in the school bus marketplace. We will cover the results of the Plug-In School Bus program and some of the successes and challenges seen in those buses. Finally, we will discuss a vision for where the market is likely to go on the next 5-10-and 20 years.

Nathan Ediger
Director of National Accounts & Autogas Ferrellgas

Nathan Ediger is Director of National Accounts & Autogas for Ferrellgas, a nationwide propane retailer with headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. Ediger joined Ferrellgas in 2005 as an Account Manager for the company's Kansas City, Missouri, Service Center. In that role, he primarily sold propane to industrial accounts in and around the Kansas City metropolitan area. He transitioned to the company's corporate office in 2008 when he became Manager of National Accounts. In that capacity, Ediger sold to businesses with multiple propane-consuming locations. In his current role as Director of National Accounts and Autogas, he has oversight of sales to national accounts and autogas accounts that are headquartered in the eastern United States.

Nathan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from McPherson College, in McPherson, Kansas. He currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri, with his wife, Angela, and their two kids.

Propane Autogas: The Only Financially Viable, Clean, Alternative Fuel with a Business Case to Use It
Abstract: The basics of propane gas used as an automotive fuel. Topics include what propane is, how it is priced, how fleet obtain it and the basics on propane fueling infrastructure and employee training.

Peer-to-Peer Speakers

Rich Cregar
Instructor, Automotive Systems Technologies and Sustainable Transportation Technologies
Wake Technical Community College

Rich Cregar is an Instructor in Automotive Systems Technologies and Sustainable Transportation Technologies at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, N.C. and a GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University.

Currently he is serving as co-director of the state-wide curriculum improvement project (CIP) for sustainable transportation conducted by the North Carolina Community College System

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor Mr. Cregar is developing a one semester continuing education course in hybrid and electric drive technology for technicians which will be available in 2012. Mr. Cregar has also written dozens of articles about renewable fuels, advanced drive systems and workforce development for Sustainable Transportation.

In November. 2011 Mr. Cregar was selected by the White House as a "Champion of Change" in recognition of his work.

He is an active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) and the Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC). He has completed both the Diesel Engine Technology Engineering Academy and The Hybrid/EV Engineering Academy of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He sits on the President's Advisory Committee on Renewable Fuels and also consults on Biofuel production issues at Shaw University. Mr. Cregar also is a Consultant and Technical Trainer for Miles Electric Vehicles, LLC. of Santa Monica, CA.

He served for eight years as a City Council Member in the cities of Lisbon and Mt. Vernon, Iowa and has many years of experience in planning, zoning and economic development issues. Prior to joining the Faculty at Wake Tech in 2006 Mr. Cregar served as the National Instructor and Research Associate at the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium at West Virginia University. He also serves on the Johnston County Board of Adjustment and the Upper Coastal Plain Regional Planning Commission (NCDOT).

Adam W. Duran
Fleet Testing and Evaluation Engineer
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Adam Duran is a research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory located in Golden, Colorado. Since joining NREL, Adam's research has focused primarily on the large scale evaluation of advanced vehicle technologies, specifically in the areas of medium/heavy duty vehicle fleets. As part of his research, Mr. Duran focuses on developing and implementing novel computational analysis tools for assessing the real world operational behavior of advanced vehicles. These tools enable advanced technology OEMs, fleets, and researchers to better acquire, filter, analyze, and compress large amounts of performance data collected as part of in-use vehicle studies.

Vehicle Duty Cycles and Their Role in the Design and Evaluation of Advanced Vehicle Technologies

Abstract: Abstract:
Understanding in-use fleet operating behavior is of paramount importance when evaluating the potential of advanced/alternative vehicle technologies. Accurately characterizing real world vehicle operation assists in properly allocating advanced technologies, playing a role in determining initial payback period and return on investment. In addition, this information contributes to the design and deployment of future technologies as the result of increased awareness regarding tractive power requirements associated with typical operating behavior. In this presentation, the concept of vehicle duty cycles and their relation to advanced technologies will be presented and explored. Additionally, current research attempts to characterize school bus operation will be examined, and existing computational analysis and evaluation tools associated with these efforts discussed.

Melissa M. Howell
Executive Director
Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC)

Melissa Howell has served as the executive director of the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) since 1993. The KCFC, a nonprofit organization, houses the Commonwealth Clean Cities Partnership. The Clean Cities program in Kentucky is one of the original 20 coalitions designated in 1994.

The 1999 Clean Cities National Conference was hosted in Louisville, and the first Clean Cities Leadership Retreat took place in 2007 at Mammoth Cave National Park in South Central Kentucky.

Howell was recognized as the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year in 2008 and the Southeast Region Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year in 2005. She has been awarded the Governor's Environmental Excellence Award, the Distinguished Service Award by the Kentucky Soybean Association, and the Environmental Leadership Award by Mammoth Cave National Park. She has also been recognized for outstanding leadership by the Kentucky Propane Education and Research Council.

Charles Stone
Director of Transportation
Mansfield Independent School District

Charles Stone is a logistics, transportation, and operations professional experienced in running the business of public school transportation and successful in managing logistics operations utilizing multi-modal freight movements and planning operations on a worldwide scale.

Currently Director of Transportation at Mansfield Independent School District, he provides school bus services for the 33,000 enrolled students. He is a leader of the effort to modernize the bus fleet while orchestrating the adoption of alternative fuel programs to lessen our dependency on foreign oil. Mansfield in 2010 was the largest Texas user of Compressed Natural Gas to power school buses and is continuing to expand CNG use. Charles is the spearhead of the operation, the financial point, and design coordinator of the new facilities. Based upon visits to Mansfield ISD and discussions with him, other districts have proceeded into the CNG school bus arena.

Charles had a first career providing logistics leadership within the military. He has hands-on experience with break-bulk freight by ship, barge, air, rail and highway modes and has extensive experience with petroleum products by tanker truck, barge, and pipeline. Major Stone was a key logistics planner for military deployment exercises and Operation Desert Storm, often being the senior officer on duty. As a transportation planning officer for US Forces - Germany, he developed transportation guidelines for the port clearance movement of new equipment arriving in Germany.

Charles is often called upon to formally share information with many levels of decision-makers and has provided training and consultation to other school bus fleet operators and investors. He represents the school district at the many Clean Cities Coalition events and meetings.

Charles earned an MBA from LeTourneau University of Longview, Texas. He has a Bachelor of Science - Business Management degree from Christopher Newport College. He is a past President of the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation, a professional's organization, and continues to be active at the local, state, and national levels of the pupil transportation industry.

Grant Writing Workshop Speakers

Tiffany Hollon
Project Manager
Emisstar

Tiffany Hollon expands Emisstar's unique breadth of expertise through combined knowledge of energy issues associated with the built environment and environmental regulation. In her current role at Emisstar, Ms. Hollon works closely with clients to identify funding opportunities and provide technical guidance needed to successfully apply for grant programs. She also manages sustainability initiatives for nationally-known fleets. Prior to joining Emisstar, she worked as a researcher with a sustainability consulting firm assisting with project management for buildings pursuing US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. She has researched technical data for use in webinars and written articles to provide information to the general public. She is proficient in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), statistical analysis and field studies. Ms. Hollon holds a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Grants 101: How to Prepare a Winning Application
Abstract: The grant application process can be overwhelming. With several years of incentive program guidance, sustainable transportation services and strategic market assessment expertise, Emisstar LLC has the grant process down to a science. During this presentation, Tiffany Hollon will share her experience as an Emisstar staff member to guide you through the primary steps, preparation and follow-up for a typical grant application. Real-life examples and an application walk-through will demystify the most complicated parts of the process. Throughout the discussion, helpful tips persuasion strategies will be shared to help make your application stand apart from the crowd.

Lori P. Clark

Senior Transportation Planner, Air Quality Management and Operations North Central Texas Council of Governments Lori P. Clark joined the Transportation Department staff of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, in July 2005. She currently serves the agency as a Senior Transportation Planner in the Air Quality Management & Operations team. Her responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of various clean vehicle programs in an effort to reduce transportation-related emissions and improve air quality in North Central Texas, with a focus on non-road, freight, and alternative fuel initiatives. She has also helped manage implementation of approximately $27 million in grant funding to fleets in and around DFW since 2006.

Lori is originally from Pearland, Texas. In 2002, she received a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Baylor University.

Funding Opportunities for Clean Vehicle Initiatives
Abstract: Understanding the different types of alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies that are available, and deciding which would be the best fit for your fleet, is only half the battle. Limited budgets, now more than ever, create a need to find funding assistance to pursue these new technologies. This presentation will provide insight into making sure you know what assistance is available by providing information not only on the funding programs themselves, but also who to know and where to go to make sure you always have access to the best available information.

Laura Palombi
Project Manager
Clean Energy Coalition

Laura Palombi works as a project manager at Clean Energy Coalition to advance alternative fuel infrastructure and advanced vehicle technologies. Ms. Palombi developed and now manages Fuel Forward, a portfolio of services offered by Clean Energy Coalition to reduce fuel consumption, improve fleet performance, and deploy alternative fuels and advanced vehicles. She works directly with fleet managers to create a baseline assessment of fuel consumption patterns and present customized strategies to reduce costs, lower emissions, and lower petroleum consumption. Ms. Palombi earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science and a master's degree in entomology (with high honors) from Michigan State University. As a dual-degree student at the University of Michigan's Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, Ms. Palombi earned a master of business administration from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a master of science from the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Preparing for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technologies: Guidance for School Bus Fleet Managers
Abstract: With so many options for alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, and emission reduction technologies, how can fleet managers make the best decisions for their fleet's performance, compliance, and sustainability goals? Even more important, where is the funding that is often critical for implementing these decisions? This presentation will provide guidance on how to assess the options, how to prepare for writing grants and where to find funding opportunities.

Richard Battersby
Director of Fleet Services
University of California, Davis

Richard is the Director of Fleet Services at the University of California, Davis and is also the Chairman of the East Bay Clean Cities Coalition. He has over 25 years in the fleet industry operating government and private industry fleets and is a Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) and Certified Public Fleet Professional (CPFP). Richard has written and participated in many previous grant funded projects through the California Energy Commission, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and federal Department of Energy and in the past two years has participated in the successful award of $13 million in clean air vehicle project funding. Richard has a BS degree from the California State University, Sacramento and is an active member of the Public Fleet Supervisor's Association (PFSA), American Public Works Association (APWA), California County Fleet Managers Association (CCFMA), and is a past Chairman and officer of the San Francisco Chapter of the NAFA Fleet Management Association.

Clean Air Vehicle Funding
Abstract: This presentation will define the most common types of alternative fuel and clean air vehicle grants available, identify potential grant funding sources at federal, state and local levels, demonstrate how to locate potential grant funding opportunities, and illustrate how to remain up to date on grant funding opportunities.

Thomas E. Perkins, Jr. ("Tucker")
President
CleanFUEL USA

Thomas E. Perkins, Jr. ("Tucker") currently serves as President for CleanFUEL USA, a leading supplier of propane engine systems and infrastructure equipment. CleanFUEL USA is a privately-held company which prides itself on quality employees who are dedicated to exceptional product and the advancement of alternative fuels not only in Texas, but across the world; they currently have offices in Georgetown, Texas and Detroit, Michigan, as well as Argentina and India.

Tucker has worked for a variety of propane companies in his career. He was Director of Business Development for Inergy Propane with primary emphasis on acquisitions in the Southeast. Prior to that, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Propane, LLC in Richmond, Virginia. Premier Propane was a retail and wholesale marketer of propane in Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, acquired by Inergy Propane, LP in 2004.

Tucker also served in a variety of positions with Columbia Gas over a period of twenty years, including Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Columbia Propane Corporation where he oversaw 186 district operations in 31 states, lead 1600 employees and operated a fleet of nearly one thousand vehicles, the majority fueled by propane.

Tucker is a member of the Engine Fuel Advisory Committee for the Propane Research and Education Council (PERC) and has served on the Research and Development Committee for PERC. He is a member of the Technical Standards and Safety Committee and the Government Affairs Committee of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). He is also on the Board of the Virginia Propane Gas Association.

Tucker graduated from Virginia Tech in 1979 with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering and is a registered engineer in Virginia. He received an MBA from University of Richmond in 1988. He has been married for nearly 30 years and has three children.