Folashade Alao, PhD
Principal Program Analyst, Transportation Planning Department, Atlanta Regional Commission
Folashade began her career in higher education, where she taught courses in American Studies. She transitioned into higher education administration managing undergraduate research programs at Emory University. After years in academia, Folashade moved into government working in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Leadership Programs Group and Community Development Department. Folashade, currently, works in the Transportation Planning Department at the ARC, where she focuses on EVs and alternative fuels and she manages the Regional Transportation Electrification Plan (RTEP).
Justin Brightharp
Senior Program Manager, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Justin Brightharp is a Senior Program Manager managing SEEA’s transportation initiatives through policy, research, and stakeholder engagement. He has facilitated the development of transportation equity tools and data input for state cost analysis. Justin’s prior experience includes grant management for clean transportation projects, deploying zero-emission transportation projects in the southeastern and western United States, and coordinating the City of Atlanta’s fleet transition to electric vehicles through policy and training. Justin has a BS in Geosciences from Georgia State University.
Andrew Capezzuto
Director, Corporate Affairs, Rivian
Serving on Rivian’s Legal and Public Policy Team, Andrew manages Rivian’s incentives and grants efforts. Andrew previously served as both the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) where he oversaw strategic planning and legal matters, including negotiating incentive contracts with companies locating or expanding in Georgia. Prior to his work at GDEcD, he was an attorney in the commercial litigation division of Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Andrew received law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law, with honors, and his undergraduate degree in business from the University of Georgia.
Bruce Edelston
Senior Advisor, Alliance for Transportation Electrification (ATE)
Bruce is Senior Advisor to ATE, a national association promoting the development of electric vehicle markets in the US. Bruce is retired from Southern Company where his last position was Vice President, Energy Policy. He was responsible for helping the Company develop and coordinate a response to policy issues across the various operating companies and subsidiaries and for supporting state and federal policy efforts. He previously held several positions at the Edison Electric Institute – the investor-owned electric utility industry’s trade association - where he was involved in legislative and regulatory initiatives involving federal and state regulatory policy. He also has experience with Charles River Associates (CRA) and the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering/Engineering and Public Policy and an M.S. degree in Urban and Public Affairs, both from Carnegie Mellon University.
Robert Elliott
Dean, Berkeley Campus and Manufacturing and Maintenance Division, Trident Technical College
Robert manages 11 technical programs and is the Principal Investigator for the Revolutionizing Electric Vehicle Education (REVVED) collaborative National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education Grant. The collaboration includes Clemson University, Greenville Technical College, and Spartanburg Community College. The grant’s scope is to design, develop, and implement a new innovative approach to providing instruction that is motivating and engaging to students in EV technician and manufacturing industry. Robert has an Associate in Applied Science degree in Industrial Electrician and Automated Controls from Trident Technical College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education Development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and a Master of Science degree in Instructional System Design and Performance Improvement from The Citadel.
Sunday Gotvald
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
Trey Gowdy
Research Lead, Duke University Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
Trey supports the Nicholas Institute’s research, project management, and educational programs. This includes work on transportation electrification in the Southeast – including as a co-facilitator of the Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI), electric vehicle workforce development research, open energy data, and coordinating interdisciplinary student programs. Trey holds a M.A. in public administration and a B.A. in political science from the University of North Florida. Trey has worked in state government clean energy and higher education sustainability programs at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and Florida State University Sustainable Campus.
Celia Kosinski
Policy Manager, Electrification Coalition
Celia Kosinski is a Policy Manager for the Electrification Coalition Policy Program. Her focus is on policy research and analysis to help policy makers create ambitious policy opportunities and strengthen the case for transportation electrification. Celia holds a Master’s in Energy and Environmental Management and Geographic Information Systems from the University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont.
Dory Larsen
Senior Electric Transportation Program Manager, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Dory joined the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in 2017 and was named Senior Electric Transportation Program Manager in 2023. She is working to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles by promoting the growth of electric vehicle adoption and supporting EV friendly policy and programs. Central to her work is educating and engaging stakeholders, identifying strategic policy to propel EV usage, and advocating for comprehensive EV infrastructure. She serves on the Board of Drive Electric Florida and the Tarpon Springs Sustainability Advisory Committee. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a Master of Public Health degree and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Florida Southern College. She is passionate about helping people see the strength in working collectively to solve problems.
Shiela Medina
Assistant Director for Policy & Engagement, University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER)
Ms. Medina is responsible for policy analysis as it relates to the research program and regional outreach for CAER which assists local energy project developers and communities with program development. In addition she manages the CAER K-12 energy education efforts which includes the Gen-EV Racing effort. Shiela was employed by East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) for 20 years. Early in her career with EKPC she served as Senior Engineer in the Power Production Division where she was responsible for the performance of the pollution control equipment at each of the G&T’s four power plants. Subsequently, she was manager of the Corporate Strategy and Research & Development Process. These responsibilities also included the implementation of new generation, transmission, distribution and end use technologies throughout the EKPC system. In her Corporate Strategy role, Shiela was responsible for the development, implementation, and tracking of the Corporate Strategic plan. Prior to working at EKPC, she worked for the State of KY in energy research. Her responsibilities included assisting in the development of synthetic fuel facilities for the State of Kentucky.
Sonja Meintsma
Deployment Manager, Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
Sonja Meintsma is a Deployment Manager on the Technical Assistance team within the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. She acts as team lead for Southeast Region deployment of the NEVI program (including AL, GA, FL, PR, & SC). She also manages projects funded through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program as well as the Joint Office’s Ride & Drive Electric program. These efforts focus on expanding electric transportation infrastructure and community e-mobility resources. Sonja has a master’s in public affairs from Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Previously, Sonja spent several years with Drive Clean Colorado, a Clean Cities Coalition, where her work focused on expanding EV infrastructure and standing up Drive Electric Colorado.
Sumner Pomeroy
Program Manager, Clean Cities Georgia & Southface Institute
Sumner Pomeroy serves as Program Manager for Clean Cities Georgia, hosted at Southface, to advance clean transportation adoption for all communities throughout the state. She serves as a connector for grant opportunities, provides education related to electric vehicles and other alternative fuels, and strives towards equitable outcomes that promote clean air for all. Through her past roles, she has almost ten years of experience with nonprofit project and program management. Sumner is a native to Atlanta and has a Master of Environmental Planning and Design from University of Georgia.
Evan Renshaw
Partnerships & Engagement Manager, Conservation Voters of South Carolina
Evan serves as the Partnerships & Engagement Manager for Conservation Voters of South Carolina, connecting communities with conservation and managing the SC Electric Transportation Network and SC Conservation Coalition. Previously, he worked with the SC Energy Office and Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition to promote sustainable transportation solutions statewide and as a Project Coordinator for USC’s Office of Sustainability. Evan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies & Geography from the University of South Carolina.
Richard Simmons, PhD
Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute
Richard Simmons, PhD is a Principal Research Engineer at Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) where he directs cross-cutting energy projects with an emphasis on clean electric power, vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels. Simmons co-facilitates the Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI). Simmons is also Director of Research and Studies for the Energy Policy and Innovation Center (EPICenter) whose objective is to perform research and outreach in energy policy and innovation with a distinctively regional perspective. He has appointments in Georgia Tech's School of Mechanical Engineering and School of Public Policy. Simmons received his BS from Georgia Tech, and MS and Ph.D. from Purdue, all in Mechanical Engineering.
Mayson Smith
Director - Program Management Office, Cobb Electric Membership Coop
Mayson directs Cobb EMC’s program management office and is responsible for establishing and managing project approval and delivery processes across the company. This includes planning and delivering solutions that align with overall corporate strategies and coordinate resource availability across projects and divisions. Mayson currently manages Cobb’s “EV Working Group” and “Clean Energy Group”, established by Cobb Leadership to develop, coordinate and implement Cobb’s enterprise strategies to prepare for the expected growth of EV adoption and Clean Energy technologies in the coming years and decades. Prior to joining Cobb, Mayson worked for EY in their utility consulting practice. Mayson holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State University.
Antoine Thompson
CEO/Executive Director, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition
Antoine M. Thompson is a nationally recognized leader for environmental justice, green business, housing, diversity and urban policy. Antoine is the Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC), a public-private partnership that promotes the use of clean, American transportation fuels for homeland security, improved air quality, environment justice, diversity and inclusion. Antoine is a former New York state senator and former Executive Director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. He is a graduate of SUNY Brockport with a dual bachelors’ degree in History and African and Afro-American Studies, Thompson also studied at the University of Ghana.
Jessica Wang
Manager, Electric School Bus Initiative, World Resources Institute
Jessica Wang is part of WRI's Electric School Bus Initiative, which aims to electrify the entire fleet of school buses across the US by 2030. She provides school districts with technical assistance and support to help reduce the barriers in transitioning to electric fleets. Prior to joining WRI, Jessica was the Interim Assistant Director of Transportation at Emory University. Jessica holds a dual B.A. in environmental studies and political science from Emory University as well as a M.Sc. in global environment, politics, and society from the University of Edinburgh.
