Speaker Bios

Friday, May 11

Seminar Room 1

noon - Keynote Address by John Davis of MotorWeek - Electric Vehicles: A Status Report

As the Emmy® Award-winning host, executive producer and creator of MotorWeek, television's longest running automotive series, John Davis is seen by millions of viewers on PBS, Velocity and V-me Spanish-language network. One of the most trusted and recognized automotive journalists in the nation, Davis has been featured on CNN, Weekend Today, Live with Regis and Kelly, PARADE magazine and The Baltimore Sun, as well as local media throughout the country. He has also written regularly on automotive industry topics for The Washington Post and is a frequent radio guest on WBAL-AM and 98Rock in Baltimore. More than three decades after its debut on public television in 1981, MotorWeek remains the leading source of unbiased information on automotive safety, fuel efficiency and in-depth car and truck reviews. Davis oversees all editorial content, and steers the series’ increasingly high profile efforts in covering green motoring technologies and the use of alternative fuels.

Keynote address followed by a Rountable Discussion on Alternative Energy Transportation

Panelists

Charles Garlow, President, Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington, D.C. - a non profit (501 [c]3) organization of electric vehicle owners, hobbyists, educators and enthusiasts dedicated to promoting the use of electric vehicles (EV's) as an environmental and energy alternative. EVA/DC was formed in 1980 as a chapter of the nationwide Electric Auto Association (EAA), and holds regular monthly meetings, public displays, car shows and "tech" sessions to exchange information.

Frederick H. Hoover, Jr., Clean Energy Director, Maryland Energy Administration - With more than 30 years of experience in energy and environmental field, Fred works to promote development and deployment of renewable energy within the state of Maryland and develop all sources of clean energy for domestic, household and business use. Prior to his current tenure at MEA, Fred was in private practice in Washington, D.C. with a firm focused on energy issues. From 1995 to 2003, Fred was Director of the Maryland Energy Administration under Governor Parris Glendening. Fred began his career as an Assistant People’s Council before the Public Service Commission. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore.

Mary Beth L. McGowan, Government Policy Advisor, Dykema - As a Government Policy Advisor, Ms. McGowan assists clients in navigating federal policy issues in the energy and environmental fields, including climate change. Prior to joining Dykema, Ms. McGowan worked as a legislative assistant to United States Senator Arlen Specter. She has significant policy experience relating to electric generation and transmission, including United States Department of Energy implementation of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors and potential passage of a federal renewable portfolio standard.

Jill A. Tarzian Sorensen - Director, Baltimore-Washington Electric Vehicle Initiative (BEVI) - A senior innovation manager with over 25 years of experience in emerging technology, intellectual asset, business and economic development management, she is the Executive Director of BEVI, the Baltimore-Washington Electric Vehicle Initiative, a division of the non-profit International Center for Sustainable Development. As a clean energy advocate, Jill also serves as Vice Chair of the Maryland Clean Energy Center, and member of the Maryland Electric Vehicle Council, both by appointment of Governor Martin O’Malley. In addition to her clean energy work, Jill directs a private consulting firm which she founded, Bilyan, LLC, focused on intellectual property and business development advisory services. Since establishing Bilyan in 2006, Jill has co-founded two health innovation companies, launched BEVI, co-founded Earth Home International to support off-grid housing for developing communities internationally, facilitated raising of $6.5 million in capital for technology and economic development, and advised on sustainability strategies for multiple jurisdictions within Maryland, across the U.S. and globally. Jill served as professional faculty at the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, sits on the American Friends advisory board of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Renewal Center for U.S. military health, and the Board of Syan Biosciences. Jill earned her J.D. from DePaul University, her B.A. from Northwestern University, pursued graduate studies in chemistry at the University of Illinois, and was a visiting scholar to the University of Oxford in 2004 and 2007. Throughout her 20+ year career in technology and intellectual property management, Jill has provided course instruction, served as guest lecturer and presenter on intellectual property, technology transfer, patent practice, conflict of interest, university-industry relations, intellectual asset management and translational research. She is an innovation enthusiast working to get new ideas into use.

Saturday, May 12

Seminar Room 1

11 a.m. - Your Energy Efficiency Checklist - Presented by BGE Home. Speaker to be announced.

noon - Home Solar the Way You Want It

Sandy Roskes, Vice President of Sales, Astrum Solar -- Sandy Roskes joined the company in 2009. Prior to Astrum Solar, Sandy was vice president of business development and marketing at FiberZone Network, a telecom hardware vendor start-up, where he built and led the North American sales and business development team. He was also an investment manager and general manager of U.S. operations for Portview Communication Partners, an international venture capital firm with $72 million under management. Other professional experience includes various roles in consulting firms including Senior Associate at HK Strategy and Finance, Co-founder at ImageFX, and Senior Engineer at Ecology and Environment. Sandy earned a B.S. in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University and received a M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. He is also a NABCEP-Certified PV Installer™.

01:00 pm - The Nuts & Bolts of your Solar System

Matt Griffiths, one of the original members of Standard Solar, Inc., starting with the team in 2004 and working on the company’s first solar PV installation. As a NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer and Journeyman Electrician, Matt has personally participated in hundreds of residential and commercial solar installations across the Mid-Atlantic region. His onsite expertise ranges from the electrical aspects of solar, through installation and interconnection with the grid. Matt’s current role is Standard Solar’s Construction Supervisor. As a native Marylander, he is passionate about the environmental benefits solar provides to our community.

2 p.m. - Power Purchase Agreement or PPA

Tim Grahl,  Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager, SolarCity -- Tim Grahl has help spearhead much of the explosive growth of the residential solar market in the Mid-Atlantic; from the early adaptor days of environmentally-minded and long-term payback propositions, to today’s sophisticated Solar Leases and Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) that often require no money out of pocket. Tim’s solar career began as the first solar consultant hired by Chesapeake Wind & Solar. He later became Director of Solar Development with Clean Currents Solar. Through SolarCity’s acquisition of Clean Currents (2011), Tim now serves as SolarCity’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager. Tim obtained his degree in Environmental Science from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania., and his MBA from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. He has been active in the local solar industry for over eight years.

3 p.m. - Geothermal

Ted Evans, Sales Manager, Ground Loop -- After 20 years of extensive field work in the HVAC industry, Ted has moved into a sales and project management position at Ground Loop. It is his knowledge and understanding of all heating and cooling methods that allow him to truly understand and explain the benefits of geothermal systems. His main responsibilities are to meet with perspective customers to inform them of the benefits of Geothermal heating and cooling, evaluate their specific situation and what system will work best for them. Ted is extremely knowledgeable and has a very practical and laid back approach to the sales process.

4 p.m. - Financing Your Renewable Energy Project - Presented by  Mariner Finance. Speaker to be announced.

Seminar Room 2

11 a.m. - How to Make Solar Power YOUR Investment

Larry Beiler joined Paradise Energy Solutions in July 2010 and is the General Manager for the Gap branch. Larry is a mover and shaker and is able to pull the team together and serve our customers well. Larry earned the NABCEP designation of Certified Installer of Solar Electric Systems, the gold standard for renewable energy installation. Before serving in the General Manager role, Larry was the Gap, PA Branch’s Office Manager and was a former Crew Member. Larry understands the ins-and-outs of solar investment and how it can work for any business or home owner.              

12 Noon - Electric Vehicles Explained

Doron Shalvi is the Education Chairperson of the Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington, D.C.  He conducts outreach and educational activities to describe and advocate for electric vehicles from the consumer's perspective.  Doron holds degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

1 p.m. - Passive House Energy Performance Standards

Michael Hindle, INDRAlogic Architecture -- Michael Hindle, CPHC, of Chesapeake Passive House, INDRAlogic Architecture, is the Acting Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Passive House Alliance. He will be presenting an overview of the Passive House energy performance standard and methodology.

2 p.m. - The Benefits of Weatherization and Energy Audits

Dan Biser, President, Harbor Energy Consulting -- Upon graduating Villanova University, Dan built Energy Star homes as a project manager for a local builder and from there he went to work for Chesapeake Contracting Group as a PM, over seeing multi-million dollar projects. Most recently, Dan started Harbor Energy Consulting where he and his team focus on providing their clients with a 'Whole-House Energy Assessment' by performing various tests and taking thermal images to find deficiencies throughout the house. 

3 p.m. - Solar Water Heating - Presented by Solar Energy World 

4 p.m. - Wind Energy

Stefan Ioana, President of CDS Solutions, an engineering consulting company involved in design and R&D for industries including energy, railroad, defense, semiconductors and aviation since 1999. Mr. Ioana is currently supporting University of Maryland and Ballard Power Systems work in Advanced Fuel Cell Research related to multiple commercial and military applications. Ballard is the exclusive manufacturer of automotive fuel cells for Daimler and Ford Motor Company. He has provided engineering consulting services to projects including: Acela (first high-speed train in North America) and the Disney/Las Vegas monorail train. His clients include Rolls Royce Canada, Pratt and Whitney, Bombardier Aerospace, and McDonnell Douglas. He has a Master's degree from “Transylvania” University in Brasov, Romania, in Automation Systems, and became a PhD candidate at “École Politechnique” de Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1992. Mr. Ioana received an undergraduate business degree from Province of Quebec business school in Montréal, Canada, in 1995. He is fluent in English, Romanian, German and French.

Kevin McTigue, President and Chief Operations Officer of Renewable Energy Solutions, LLC (RES). Kevin is leading business development and operations functions for RES. He has been providing tactical and strategic business development support to start-up, small, medium and large companies for more than 15 years. His expertise supporting the establishment and growth of numerous defense and aerospace industry companies is now applied to the renewable energy arena in his role as President of RES. A current Vice President with Global Technical Systems (GTS) and previous Vice President for WorldTech International (WTI), Kevin’s views and aggressive approach to business development have been formed by his previous experiences as a US Navy Unit Commanding Officer and Special Operations rotary-wing pilot, retired after 22 years of service. Business at GTS is expected to grow by more than 200% this year; his efforts at WTI contributed to a doubling of revenues for 2008. Prior to that, as the business development manager for Raytheon Virtual Technology Corporation, he contributed to exceptional 30% average annual revenue growth sustained for seven years resulting in the successful acquisition of the company by Raytheon. Kevin is the proud father of two and a Maryland Terp.

Sunday, May 13

Seminar Room 1

11 a.m. - Your Energy Efficiency Checklist - Presented by BGE Home. Speaker to be announced.

noon - Home Solar the Way You Want It

Toby Noyes, Astrum Solar -- Toby Noyes joined Astrum Solar in 2009 and currently manages sales for the Mid-Atlantic region. An entrepreneur at heart, Toby been involved with a number of startups in the technology, construction and service sectors. Prior to Astrum Toby was co-founder and COO of CEOmeetings, a web portal that facilitated one-to-one meetings between management teams of publically traded companies and interested institutional investors. Toby was previously on the management team of Sonum Technologies, a startup in the artificial intelligence space. He ran the sales and business development efforts for Sonum as it developed its patented natural language processing software for the intelligence community, both in the public and private sectors. Before Sonum Toby was a director of Business Development for Aether Systems, a software development and delivery company for the handheld wireless device market. Toby earned his B.A. degree from Kenyon College.

1 p.m. - Financing Your Renewable Project by Mariner Finance

02:00 pm - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Seminar Room 2

Noon - Protecting Your Solar Investment: Thermographic Scans

Ken Donithan, Owner & Chief Power Engineer, Earth & Air Technologies, Inc. - Ken Donithan served in the US Navy and has a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He is a Certified Chief Power Engineer (NIULPE) and a Certified Level III Infrared Thermographer. Ken has worked as a Certified Installer with various wind and solar manufacturers and has years of experience in the construction industry. He has worked as a Maryland Licensed Contractor and as a Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor and  PV Solar Contractor.

01:00 pm - Heating Hot Water with the Sun-It's Many Uses and How to Best Finance it

Bob Elwell, Solar Thermal/HVAC Project Developer - With 20 plus years in the HVAC business, Bob is one of our key assets for the design of our Solar Thermal installations and all aspects of our HVAC business.  He takes his experience from having been both a contractor and a factory representative in both businesses. He is a Radiant Panel Certified Designer and Installer, an International Ground Source Heat Pump Association Installer and designer and has both the NABCEP and IREC Solar training certificates. he considers himself a constant student of his craft.  Bob and his wife live on a small farm in rural Berks county, PA.