Green Drives Conference and Expo
The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation is excited to once again present the annual Green Drives Conference & Expo on Thursday, May 8, 2025, hosted by Powering Chicago at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute in Alsip, Illinois.
Green Drives – one of the largest clean-transportation conferences held in the Midwest – is an annual must-attend event for government officials, commercial and municipal fleet managers, corporate sustainability officers, and clean-tech and clean-energy professionals who want to learn how to use cleaner, lower emissions fuels and technologies, while saving money.
Advanced vehicle technologies, electric vehicles, and alternative fuels will be showcased, including dozens of green vehicles and exhibitors. Attendees will not only have a chance to network with experts from throughout the nation and the region, but they will learn of first-hand experiences from fleets currently using alternative fuels and electric vehicles.
When
Thursday, May 8, 2025
from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (CDT)
Where
REGISTER
Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor
Network with dozens of commercial and government fleets and get exposure for your company by becoming a sponsor or exhibitor. Download our Sponsor Packet to learn more.
2025 Green Drives Conference & Expo Agenda - Updated Weekly
Registration and Welcome |
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| 7:30am | Vendor / exhibit set up |
| 8:00am | Registration |
| 8:30am | Welcome
Les Faul, Acting Chair, IACT / Fleet Manager, ComEd Emcee Chris Lyon, Director of Fleet Relations, NTEA Gene Kent, Director, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute |
| We are IACT
Ann Schneider, Board Member, IACT / Founder and President, Ann L. Schneider & Associates LLC Tim Milburn, Board Member, IACT / Co-founder, Green Ways 2Go | |
Morning Session |
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| 9:00am | Taking It to the Streets!
Featured Guest Speaker: Jamie Butters, Executive Editor, Automotive News / Host of Daily Drive podcast |
| 9:30am | Innovations and Best Practices Showcase
Myth Busters - Fuels and Best Practices Speakers will bust up preconceived notions with real world, real work fleet evidence. Learn from these experts on how alternative fuels are working to lower emissions and deliver cost cutting solutions, and how fleets are adopting best in show, smart alternative fuel choices for fewer emissions and big savings. Bart Sowa, Program Director of Mobility Research and Development, GTI Energy Chris Ransom, National Account Manager, AmeriGas Dick Dublinski, Director of Public Works, City of Naperville Marc Rowe, Steering Committee, IACT / General Manager of Fuel Sales, Trillium Energy Solutions Jason van den Brink, Chief Financial Officer, Ozinga Energy Karl Gnadt, CEO and General Manager, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District Matthew Carr, Board Member, IACT / Director of Integrated Powertrain Sales, International Steven Sage, Regional Sales Manager, Bollinger Motors |
Break | |
| 10:50am | Visit booths in exhibit hall and outdoor vehicle display. Peruse and ask questions about vehicles on display, and schedule a ride-and-drive in participating displayed vehicles. Raffle prize upon return to program. |
Mid-Morning Session | |
| 11:30am | NTEA - Work Truck Show & Membership
Chris Lyon, Director of Fleet Relations, NTEA |
Powering Chicago "Codes and Confidence" Enjoy a short video on how Powering Chicago brings together the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 electricians and the Electrical Contracters' Association (ECA) of Chicago and Cook County to continue to invest in consistently better construction, careers, and communities within the metro Chicago region. Elbert Walters III, Board Member, IACT / Executive Director, Powering Chicago |
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Lunch | |
| 12:00pm | Walk through our catered buffet. Visit booths in exhibit hall and outdoor vehicle display. Peruse and ask questions about vehicles on display, and schedule a ride-and-drive in participating displayed vehicles. Raffle prize upon return to program at 2:00pm. |
| 12:25pm | Thank You to Sponsors Lynn Stafford, Director of Business Development and Events, IACT / VP Business Development, True Alternative Fuel Systems |
| 1:00pm | Tours of IBEW-NECA Technical Institute's Renewable Energy Training Field begin |
Afternoon Session | |
| 2:00pm | Updates from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Hear about the future of MMC and an upcoming alternative fuel project. Edith Makra, Director of Environmental Initiatives, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus |
| 2:15pm | Fleet Electrification and Readiness
Selecting EVs and Hybrids
Tim Milburn, Board Member, IACT / Co-founder, Green Ways 2Go |
Planning and Design: Fleet EV Charging Stations and Infrastructure Rahul Chatterjea, Senior Energy Engineer, ComEd |
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Operating and Maintaining Fleet EVs and EV Charging Infrastructure Les Faul, Acting Chair, IACT / Fleet Manager, ComEd Ken Crowley, Steering Committee, IACT / Superintendent of Fleet Services, Village of Oak Park Kara Demirjian, Founder and President, DCC Marketing |
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Utility Engagement |
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Codes Standards and Best Practices Bob Hattier, Business Representative, IBEW Local 134 | |
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Looking Forward: New Technologies and Policies Bob Hattier, Business Representative, IBEW Local 134 | |
| 3:15pm | Special Funding Sessions
Show Me the Money! State and Federal Funding Opportunities Bailey Arnold, Steering Committee, IACT / Director of Healthy Air Solutions, American Lung Association / Program Director, B20 Club of Illinois Jack Cruikshank, EV Policy Advisor, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Cristina Botero, Senior Manager of Beneficial Electrification, ComEd Ann Schneider, Board Member, IACT & Founder and President, Ann L. Schneider & Associates LLC |
Closing |
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| 4:00pm | Closing remarks and grand raffle prize: TWO tickets to NASCAR Chicago Street Race |
Our Speakers
In order of appearance
Les Faul
Fleet Operations Manager, ComEd
Les Faul serves as Fleet Operations Manager for ComEd, the largest electric company in Illinois serving 9 million people, and one of the largest in the nation. In this role, he oversees a multi-year fleet electrification strategy aimed at replacing 50 percent of all vehicles by 2030 with zero-emissions vehicles in order to lower the company’s carbon footprint. Les has held various roles in the utilities sector throughout his career, including mechanic, call center lead, shop supervisor, field operations manager, and back office/procurement. He has also been engaged with vehicle electrification initiatives sponsored by General Motors, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), and has been involved with various petroleum displacement solutions including being a leader with the early adoption of Biodiesel in the Midwest. Les is involved with several industry organizations, including leadership roles on the Midwest Energy Association’s Fleet and Transportation Committee, and through his service as vice chair of the executive committee for Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation.
Gene Kent
Executive Director, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute
Gene Kent is the Executive Director of the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech), leading one of the nation’s top apprenticeship programs for union electricians. A proud IBEW Local 134 member for over 28 years, he advanced from electrician to instructor to industry leader.
Gene spent 20 years mastering his trade, rising to general foreman before shifting to teaching and mentoring apprentices. Now, as IN-Tech’s Executive Director, he drives world-class training, leadership development, and a culture of excellence.
While balancing work and family, Gene earned a B.S. from IIT, an M.S. from Purdue, and is pursuing a Ph.D. at Concordia University, focusing on emotional intelligence and construction safety. A devoted husband and father of three, he finds inspiration in family, education, and the future of the trades.
Christopher Lyon
Director of Fleet Relations, NTEA
IACT is pleased to present Christopher Lyon as the Green Drives Conference MC once again! Christopher started his career with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, where he was promoted the use of clean energy. Since July 2015, he has served as director of fleet relations for NTEA and liaison for the Green Truck Association, working as the link between distributors/manufacturers and end-user fleets and staying abreast of current issues impacting the fleet community. Christopher earned his Certified Automotive Fleet Manager’s designation from the NAFA Fleet Management Association in 2009. Christopher serves on the executive board of the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation and holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, Illinois)
Ann Schneider
President, Ann L. Schneider and Associates LLC
Dr. Schneider has 35 years of professional experience in public finance and policy, including 19 years of executive-level transportation policy experience. Nine of Ann’s 27-year career with the State of Illinois were focused on transportation. As Secretary of Transportation for Illinois, Ann directed the emphasis on freight and multimodal transportation planning, and innovative solutions to transform transportation. Dr. Schneider has worked for the last 10 years as a transportation policy consultant obtaining $320 million in grant funding. She obtained her Doctor of Public Administration and Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois Springfield. She also serves on the I-ACT Steering Committee.
Tim Milburn
Founding Partner, Green Ways 2Go
Tim has over 30 years of experience in managing people and projects in a range of energy and environmental industries. As Partner in GW2G since 2011, Tim has been engaged in developing the business and has been active in the field making sure alternative fuel technologies and supporting installations always meet expectations. Tim has been on the Steering Team of the Chicago Area Clean Cities, now the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation and has completed several useful studies on their behalf. He has also been the Project Advisor for the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus EV Readiness program since 2018, developing extensive research and collateral in collaboration with the Caucus. Milburn provides information, resources and recommendations for municipalities and other local governments related to transportation electrification.
Jamie Butters
Executive Editor, Automotive News
Jamie Butters is executive editor of Automotive News, leading the reporting, editing and production of the bible of the auto industry across multiple platforms. He joined the organization as its chief content officer in 2018. Butters started out studying journalism at the University of Iowa, graduated with a degree in finance from the University of Kentucky and studied China and its economy as a Knight Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan. His first auto show was Tokyo in ’97, when he wrote for the Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky about a new a kind of car called a hybrid and how Toyota saw it as a stepping stone to cars powered purely by electricity and eventually by hydrogen fuel cells. Butters has covered the auto industry in Detroit for more than two decades: first at the Detroit Free Press for eight years as a reporter and editor, then serving 10 years at Bloomberg News in Detroit, mostly as an editor and team leader. He also hosts the Daily Drive podcast.
Bart Sowa
Program Director, Mobility R&D, GTI Energy
Bart leads mobility research and development at GTI Energy, a non-profit technology development and training organization with 80 years of experience designing and testing tools to continuously progress energy systems. Bart is focusing on advancing transportation technologies by helping fleets, equipment manufacturers, and technology developers evaluate new technologies through pre-production demonstration projects. He is working on projects developing and showcasing alternative fuel technologies and vehicles, such as hydrogen and RNG-fueled locomotives, hydrogen-fueled Class 8 vehicles, CNG-hybrid trucks, a liquid hydrogen refueler, developing a blueprint for the Houston-to-Los Angeles hydrogen corridor, and more. Bart has over 20 years of experience in the mobility and energy industries; before joining GTI Energy, he worked for International Motors and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Chris Ransom
National Account Manager, AmeriGas
With over 30 years of Propane and Transportation management experience, Chris has been a key member of the AmeriGas AutoGas team since its inception. Covering all 50 states, AmeriGas is our country’s largest propane supplier. Helping some of the nation’s smartest school bus fleets, transit systems, and corporations work toward their decarbonization goals, AmeriGas project manages onsite equipment installations from permitting to commissioning and provides the nation's strongest supply of propane.
In his spare time, Chris is co-owner of Family Table Farms, LLC a first-generation farm practicing regenerative agriculture. Regenerative Agriculture is a holistic approach to agriculture that aims to improve soil health, restore ecosystems, and enhance biodiversity, while also improving water quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately aiming to create a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Dick Dublinski
Director of Public Works, City of Naperville
Dick Dublinski has served as the Director of Public Works for the City of Naperville, Illinois for over 13 years, overseeing critical operations including fleet services, street and stormwater maintenance, forestry, and Public Buildings. With over 25 years of progressive municipal leadership experience, Dublinski previously led the city’s Development Services Team within the Department of Transportation, Engineering, and Development since 1998.
Dublinski holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah (1985) and brings extensive expertise in project management, strategic planning, and community-focused public works initiatives. Known for his hands-on leadership, Dublinski has spearheaded programs and projects such as building a natural gas filling station, and multiple beautification projects throughout the city that have enhanced community engagement and infrastructure resilience.
Marc Rowe
General Manager of Fuel Sales, Trillium Energy Solutions
Marc Rowe has been with Trillium since 2014. In Marc’s role, he is responsible for developing and executing the overall market development strategy and growth execution for Trillium’s business lines in the US. Responsibilities include fuel sales to Trillium’s national fuel network, as well as custom fueling solutions and complimentary products/services for Trillium’s clients across the alternative fuels and sustainability spectrum.
Prior to joining Trillium, Marc’s experience includes business development roles at a natural gas utility and national retail banking and consumer finance companies. Marc sits on the board of The Transport Project as well as the steering committee of the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation. Marc earned his BA from Wabash College and holds a BEP certification from Association of Energy Engineers and resides in Downers Grove, Illinois.
Jason van den Brink
Chief Financial Officer, Ozinga Energy
Jason joined Ozinga Energy in 2019. He has a decade of experience in financial strategy and analytics. He is passionate about sustainable business practices and financial excellence. Jason recently took on the role of CFO and enjoys being very hands in with planning of both internally and customer funded CNG and RNG projects. Jason holds a MS in Nonprofit Management from Spertus Institue, a BS in Public Accounting from Calvin University, and is a registered IL CPA.
Karl Gnadt
Managing Director & CEO, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District
Since 2013, Karl Gnadt has served as Managing Director/CEO for the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD), overseeing a $57 million operating budget, 400 employees, and all aspects of MTD's services, development projects, and community partnerships. During Karl’s tenure, MTD has received a $15.7 million federal TIGER Grant to rebuild roads around the University of Illinois campus; has grown the hybrid buses in its fleet to 90%; and received a $17.3 million federal grant to support an over $100 million public-private expansion to MTD’s Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. He introduced hydrogen fuel cell electric buses into the MTD fleet, making up the remaining 10%.
Prior to this role, Karl served for 19 years as the organization's Director of Market Development, infusing technology as a core principle in operations and marketing. Karl also previously served as the Mass Transit Director for Danville (IL) Mass Transit. MTD's bus fleet includes twelve hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, and MTD produces their own hydrogen onsite using 100% renewable solar energy.
Matt Carr
Director of Integrated Technology Sales, International
Matthew (Matt) Carr is the Director of Integrated Powertrain Sales at International (International Motors), where he leads the North American go-to-market strategy for the all-new S13 Integrated powertrain. With over 25 years of experience in transportation, including leadership roles at Cummins, FCA, DaimlerChrysler, and Chrysler, Matt brings deep industry insight into how advanced technologies can drive sustainable, real-world solutions for fleets. He’s known for bridging the gap between engineering and customer needs to accelerate clean powertrain adoption. Prior to his current role, Matt held senior positions at Cummins where he helped drive adoption of cleaner, more efficient technologies across commercial vehicle fleets.
Steve Sage
Regional Sales Manager, Bollinger Motors
Steve Sage has decades of experience in automotive, transportation and manufacturing industries. Steve has worked for Chrysler Group, vRide, Cummins, Nakagawa Special Steel, and is currently the Regional Sales Manager of Bollinger MotorsSkilled in Business Development, Coaching and Team Management, Sales Operations Management and Customer Care/Retention. He holds an M.B.A. from Rollins College, Crummer Graduate School of Business and a B.A. in Biology from Vanderbilt University.
Elbert Walters III
Director for Powering Chicago
Elbert “Bert” Walters III is the Executive Director of Powering Chicago, a labor-management cooperative between the Electrical Contractors Association of Chicago and IBEW Local 134, promoting union skilled labor. A former Business Representative for IBEW 134, he represented nearly 12,000 electricians in Chicagoland.
Starting as an electrical apprentice in 1999, he earned the Apprentice of the Year award. He serves as Commander of the American Legion Electrical Post 769 and on the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus board. Walters has also held roles on the Electrical Joint Arbitration Board, Illinois Prevailing Wage Council, and Chicago Building Trades Council.
Committed to community service, he established the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast and coordinated union volunteers for Rebuild Together Chicago. A strong advocate for labor leadership, he is a recent graduate of DePaul University’s Labor Leadership Program.
Lynn Stafford
Director of Business Development and Events, Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation / VP Business Development, True Alternative Fuel Systems
Lynn has been VP, Business Development with True Alternative Fuels since 2010. Formally known as STAG USA, True AFS designs, manufactures and installs dedicated and bi-fuel, LPG and CNG fuel systems for municipal, law enforcement and commercial fleets. Mr. Stafford consults with Drive Clean Indiana, a Clean Cities Organization and is a Board member of IACT. In Detroit, as Sr. VP, Creative Director at BBDO, he was responsible for sustaining and communicating the DNA of the Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge Brands.
Edith Makra
Director of Environmental Initiatives, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Edith has worked in her position at the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) for nearly 13 years. As Director of Environmental Initiatives, Edith launched the Greenest Region Compact, now the largest municipal sustainability collaborative in the U.S. She has advanced solar adoption and led pioneering EV readiness efforts across Illinois. Her leadership in regional climate planning—developed in partnership with the EU, the Global Covenant of Mayors, and NOAA—resulted in an equity-focused Climate Action Plan for the Chicago region. Edith has also led award-winning programs—including NeighborWoods, Greenstreets, and Community Trees—that unite diverse stakeholders to strengthen urban environments.
Rahul Chatterjea
Senior Energy Engineer, ComEd
Rahul Chatterjea has over 30 years of engineering experience. He attended both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Illinois Institute of Technology and has worked as Senior Energy Engineer for ComEd since 2016.
Ken Crowley
Superintendent of Fleet Services, Village of Oak Park, IL
Ken has over 36 years of experience in municipal fleet management, including 11 years as Fleet Superintendent for the Village of Oak Park, a 4.7-square-mile suburb of Chicago with about 50,000 residents. He oversees a fleet of roughly 250 vehicles, including fire, police, public works, and administrative units, as well as park district and township equipment through intergovernmental agreements.
Oak Park's fleet is over 10% electric, runs B20 biodiesel in all diesel vehicles, and prioritizes hybrid purchases when EVs aren't feasible. The ASE Blue Seal-certified shop uses telematics in 90% of its fleet to track usage, optimize sizing, and explore new technologies, all while aiming to reduce fossil fuel use without compromising service.
Kara Demirjian
Founder & President, DCC Marketing
Kara is Senior Vice President at T/CCI Manufacturing, leading global Marketing, Sustainability, and Public Affairs initiatives while advancing Illinois' EV Innovation Hub and workforce development programs like the EV + Energy Workforce Academy. She is also Founder and President of DCC Marketing, a WBE/WBENC-certified agency specializing in multicultural marketing and strategic communications. Kara serves on the boards of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, YPO, and the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, and is recognized for award-winning campaigns across manufacturing, energy, education, and healthcare. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Robert Hattier
Business Representative, I.B.E.W. Local 134
Robert Hattier is the Director of Renewable Energy for IBEW Local 134. He also serves as the Executive Director for the Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund, a State of Illinois grant funded Workforce Development Organization authorized under the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA). Bob has over 20 years of experience in the solar energy and adjacent technology industries. Since 2008, Bob has been teaching courses on Solar, Energy Storage, and Electric Vehicle Charging Systems throughout the Midwest. Bob holds several industry specific credentials and licenses. Bob’s dedication to advancing the renewable energy industry can be seen in his involvement with several organizations as a Board Member, his codes and standards development committee appointments, his creation of industry specific curriculum, and his allied professional training initiatives.
Bailey Arnold
Director of Healthy Air Solutions, American Lung Association & Program Director, B20 Club of Illinois
Bailey Arnold is an environmental science, health, and sustainability professional, currently serving as a Director of Healthy Air Solutions with the American Lung Association in Illinois. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies from Illinois State University and an Associate of Arts with Honors in Architectural Construction Technology from Lincoln Land Community College, where he studied architectural design and green building practices. Since joining the American Lung Association in 2015, Bailey has worked in a grant and project management role, focusing on the adoption of low-carbon transportation fuels and technologies, biobased alternatives, and green building practices. He also serves as the Program Director for the B20 Club of Illinois, B20 Club of Indiana, and Biobased Academy.
Jack Cruikshank
Electric Vehicle Policy Advisor, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Jack Cruikshank is the Electric Vehicle Policy Advisor at the Illinois EPA. He supports transportation electrification across Illinois, from public EV charger buildout to freight/fleet electrification. He advises on electric vehicle policy in coordination with other state agencies as part of a whole-of-government approach to meet the State’s goal of deploying one million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030. Previously, he worked in public transportation at the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Chris Meister
Executive Director, Illinois Finance Authority
Chris Meister has served as Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority (“IFA”), since 2009. He has overseen the presentation, approval, and closing of public finance transactions and helped spur economic development across Illinois. In 2021, IFA was designated as the Climate Bank for the state of Illinois. Under Meister’s leadership, the Illinois Climate Bank has won more than $450M in congressionally approved and lawfully awarded federal funding for clean energy projects.
Cristina Botero
Senior Manager of Beneficial Electrification, ComEd
Cristina has worked in the energy sector for over 15 years in manufacturing, utilities, and research and development, and has been with ComEd since 2020. She currently is ComEd's Senior Manager of Beneficial Electrification, where she leads the program's strategy and implementation, including transportation electrification and home electrification offerings for customers. Cristina holds a BS/MS in Chemical Engineering, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and an MBA from UC Booth School of Business.
Vehicle Display Registration
Our vehicle display registration form is now closed. If you have an inquiry about displaying an alternative fuel vehicle at this year's Green Drives, please contact Whitney at whitney@il-act.org.
Fleet managers can attend Green Drives for free!
A MAX OF ONE free pass per fleet organization is available for a limited time only! Additional tickets may be purchased. Offer is available for commercial or government fleet managers or other fleet operations decision makers, such as directors, city managers, mayors or county officials. To receive a complimentary pass to Bethany at bethany@il-act.org with your name, title, organization, and contact information. Upon approval, a special link will be sent to you to use to redeem your ticket.
Event Sponsors
