• When: Saturday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m
• Where: CPCC’s Central Campus, Giles Building (see map below)
• Cost: $20, lunch included

For more information or to register, call 704.330.6756.

Come listen to area and national experts lead a discussion on the future of automotive transportation.

Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and Get Tech are pleased to present a comprehensive educational program on green mobility in Mecklenburg County and the feasibility of designing, manufacturing and selling electric vehicles in the Charlotte region. 

Event Speakers & Special Guests

Commissioner Jennifer Roberts
Chairman, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners

Commissioner Roberts was executive director of the Charlotte World Affairs Council from 1997 until 2002. She is currently an adjunct professor in the International Studies Department at UNC-Charlotte. She is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and has a master's degree in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC, and a master's in European History from the University of Toronto.

Jim Hess

Saft Batteries was awarded $299 million by DOE, world’s leading manufacturer of nickel-cadmium batteries for industrial applications and primary lithium batteries. Mr. Hess has 15 years experience in military and commercial product design, including 10 years with Saft in engineering and management roles. He has worked at SAFT factories in the USA, UK and Germany. In each facility he has been able to utilize his engineering background and has led efforts that developed new products, lowered costs and increased production.

Mr. Hess received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Currently Mr. Hess is the Director of Defense Sales for Saft, Space and Defense Division. Prior to his current role he has held Mechanical Engineering Manager and Program Manager roles in the Space and Defense Division.

Jason Wager, AICP

Jason has worked with Centralina since 1996 and received his Masters in Geography (Urban/Regional Planning Concentration) from UNC Charlotte in 2001. Jason has overseen numerous planning projects including annexation studies, development of land use regulations and plans, public input processes, and survey design and analysis. He has been or is involved in several environmentally‐based projects grounded in sustainable principles that include local watershed planning and an energy efficient pilot program for local governments. He further oversees the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition, which is a voluntary government‐industry partnership under the US Department of Energy to promote the use of alternative fuels and vehicles and to expand other clean vehicle technologies. Jason is a trained meeting facilitator.

Michael Rowand
Duke Energy

Mike Rowand is Director, Advanced Customer Technologies for Duke Energy and is responsible for evaluation of emerging customer technologies and their integration with Duke’s smart grid planning. In this role, Mike has responsibility for Duke’s strategy and planning for electric transportation, including determining the impacts of plug-in vehicles on power delivery systems, customer service processes, and marketing programs. Mike joined Duke Energy in 1985 and has experience in a variety of areas including Transmission and Distribution Engineering, Customer Service, Rates and Regulatory processes, and Marketing. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in NC and SC; and is a Certified Energy Manager.

Fred De Luca
Business and Marketing Coordinator for Get Tech

Mr. De Luca began successful small business while attending Miami U. Oxford Ohio which began his extensive entrepreneurial career which includes the following:

• Women’s fashion Industry Business Leader; importing private label fashions.
• President of Atlanta Women’s Fashion Show which included regional lectures
• Headed Marketing and Sales for Blues by J. Arcaro of Montreal, Canada
• Promoted the introduction of professional women’s boxing in Charlotte, NC
• Promoted La Fiesta Latino America at Charlotte Merchandise Mart
• Promoted “Ahh”, low voltage stimulation
• Created “Think Tank” for South Eastern Travelers Exhibitors
• Opened women’s clothing store (Our Place) at Phillips Place- (family operated)

Over the past 2 years Fred has been developing “Get Tech” – researching, developing, networking, and obtaining partners in the green electric vehicle industry.

Mike Moore, EVD

Mike has over four years of technical instruction giving classes on electrical street vehicles as well as building an international recognition as one of the persons in the know of what makes a sound electric vehicle for our streets. Mr. Moore has spent the last 12 years studying the electric propulsion industry and six years in the development and implementation of working electric vehicles. Mr. Moore is currently engaged in securing specialist within the industry to conduct educational classes as an example a person from the battery industry. These specialists will offer instructional courses which will cover what is necessary to make a functioning battery as well as the research being addressed to improve batteries for this specific use.

Special Guest Appearance:

Josh Anderson
DesignLine USA, LLC

Joshua is Director of Research and Development for DesignLine USA, where he oversees development of DesignLine’s next-generation power train systems, and manages their IP portfolio and licensing efforts. Josh calls on a broad background in mechanical, electrical and systems engineering, with a particular focus on “Greentech” projects that increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption while delivering superior technical solutions.

Previously, Josh spent 10 years directing technology development and new programs at TransTeq, LLC, a Series Hybrid Electric bus manufacturer and developer. Josh helped create the extremely successful series hybrid electric bus fleet used in Denver Colorado’s urban core, with over 3 million miles and 8 years of revenue service to date. Designing traction battery and thermal systems, Josh went on to take a key role in developing TransTeq’s vehicle control strategies and software, eventually participating in all vehicle systems. Ten U.S. patents on methods and applications for adaptive vehicle control and selective operation were awarded to Josh and TransTeq in the process. Josh also directed multiple advanced prototype vehicle programs, including medium-duty delivery platform hybrids, as well as light aircraft development, while managing TransTeq’s day-to-day operations.

Before TransTeq, Josh was involved in the development of a high altitude, unmanned solar aircraft with AeroVironment, Inc. as part of the team responsible for development of a fuel cell power module designed to allow the aircraft to remain in flight for up to 100 days at a time without need to land or re-fuel.

Josh earned a Bachelors of Engineering from Harvey Mudd College of Claremont California, with emphasis on Structural and Systems engineering.   

Ron Smith
Celgard, LLC 

Ron Smith currently holds the position of Director of Marketing for Automotive Applications for Celgard, LLC. Celgard is a global leader in the development and production of battery separators that are critical components in lithium batteries and are widely used in applications including consumer electronics, reserve power and grid management systems, and electric drive vehicles (EDVs). During his tenure at Celgard, Ron has been instrumental in providing direction for the Automotive business, and has overseen the company’s application for and receipt of both a U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) contract for HEV and PHEV research and development and a U.S. DOE grant award to increase production capacity in support of the Electric Drive Vehicle (EDV) Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative. 

Prior to joining Celgard in 2007, Ron progressed through numerous engineering and manufacturing roles in Detroit and in Europe with Ford Motor Company before its parts division was spun off as Visteon Corporation. At Visteon, his roles included product management and marketing.

Ron earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tulsa. He also holds a Master's of Science Degree in Engineering from the University of East London, and a MBA from Henley Management College, both located in the United Kingdom.