GWRCCC 2026 is Our 15th Anniversary!
The GWRCCC is pleased to announce our 2026 Conference, October 22nd, which makes 15 years for us! Come join us in celebrating and be a part of building a cleaner and more sustainable future. The 2026 Annual Conference includes cutting-edge industry-specific sessions, an expo, the Awards Luncheon, a Networking Reception, and a Ride and Drive | Alternative Vehicle Showcase. Please register here! Want to contribute to the success of the conference? Please consider sponsoring a part of it. Information here.
In depth panel topics can be found on the conference agenda page You can download a copy of the schedule as a pdf here.
Want to get an idea of what we’ve done in the past? Here is a link to our 2025 conference souvenir journal, and past souvenir journals for our 2024 conference and 2023 conference.
Check out our 2025 conference photos here!
See what we are up to at our ongoing GWRCCC events.
Speakers
Please click on speaker image to read their full bio.
Annual Conference
Alain P. Steven
Speaker: AI & Data Centers: Impacts on Regional Transportation, Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Alain P. Steven is a globally recognized authority in the utility industry, with an illustrious career spanning over 54 years.
Ariel Aklilu
Speaker: Make Your Apartments, Senior Housing, Condo and Homeowners Association EV Charging Positive
Ariel Aklilu is a partner at Precise Building Services, a company founded in 2011 that provides professional electrical and HVAC services to industrial, commercial, and residential clients.
Bobby Parlet
Speaker: Maryland Clean Fuel Standard Forum
Bobby Parlett brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and personality to his role as Sales Manager at Burch Oil & Propane
Brooke Smallwood
Brooke Smallwood is the Founder & Managing Partner, OASIS Energy Partners.
Burl Haigwood
Moderator: Maryland Biofuels Task Force
Burl Haigwood is a clean fuels advocate, government relations professional, and strategic partnership executive with more than 20 years of experience advancing alternative fuels, energy policy, and transportation initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels.
Cari Harris
Speaker: Women in Clean Energy
Cari A. Harris is the co-founder of the HBCU Environmental Justice Technical (HEJT) Collaborative, where she focuses on sustainability, environmental justice, and economics projects.
Dan Gage
Speaker: The State of the Industry: Current Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy and Transportation
Dan Gage is President of The Transport Project, a national coalition of roughly 200 fleets, vehicle and engine manufacturers, dealers, servicers, and suppliers and fuel producers and providers dedicated to the decarbonization of North America’s commercial transportation sector.
David Gelman
Speaker: Road to Success in 2030 and Beyond: Planning to Deployment
Dave is an independent automotive and legal consultant, and is currently collaborating with GWRCCC. He has a long history in the alternative fuel vehicle area, having worked on nearly all the major alternative fuels for governments, national labs, industry, and Clean Cities coalitions.
Dr. Maureen Kinyua, P.E, Founder, Usafi Technologies
Speaker: Women in Clean Energy
Dr. Maureen Kinyua is the Founder and Sustainability Educator at Usafi Tech LLC, a climate education and leadership platform that provides strategy, structure and community for professionals, institutions (municipalities, utilities, agencies), and community leaders who want to help themselves and their communities create a cleaner planet.
Emmett Jordan
Speaker: Awards Luncheon
Emmett V. Jordan is serving his fifth term as Mayor of Greenbelt, where he has lived and worked for more than two decades.
George Gilbert
Speaker: Green Faith: Developing an Actionable Sustainability Plan for Houses of Worship and Faith-Based Organizations
Reverend Gilbert is presently serving as the Assistant to the Pastor at Holy Trinity United Baptist Church;Executive Director of The Center For Racial Equity And Justice; Co-Chairman of the Civic and Social Actions Committee of the Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Washington, D.C and Vicinity, Chairman of the Social Justice Commission of the Baptist Convention of D.C. and Vicinity and Chief of Mobilization for the Social Justice Commission of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC).
Hosea Haywood
Speaker: How to Transition Your Fleet Faster: Leasing, Joint Purchasing, Federal GSA & MWOG Discounts on Vehicles & Equipment.
As a licensed dealer, Computerized Auto Search (CAS) has extensive buying and selling power across the United States.
Jill Hamilton
Speaker: Women in Clean Energy
As President of SESI, Ms. Hamilton leverages alternative fuels industry funds with public and private resources, as well as initiates, writes and manages federal grant programs for clients. She provides business plans, project management and technical support for biofuel infrastructure development, including market research, fleet analysis, equipment assessment, and fleet and retailer liaison efforts.
Joseph Weaver
President & CEO of Global Design, Inc
Karl Simon
Speaker:Fireside Chat
Karl Simon is the Director of the Legacy Emissions Division in the Office of Transportation and Air Quality.
Katherine García
Speaker: Legislative Update
Katherine Garcia is Sierra Club's Clean Transportation for All Campaign Director.
Kathryn Thomson
Speaker: Opening Remarks
Governor Wes Moore appointed Kathryn “Katie” Thomson as secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation on December 18, 2025. Secretary Thomson brings more than 30 years of experience in transportation, aviation, energy, and sustainability law, policy, and operations to the role.
Kendra Patterson
Speaker: Awards Luncheon
Kendra Patterson is a Regional Fleet Sales Manager with Volkswagen of America, where she leads strategic fleet partnerships across the Eastern and Southern United States.
Larry Glover
Speaker: Legislative Update
Larry Glover’s career reflects an expertise in marketing communications, strategic planning, and advertising.
Luis MacDonald
Speaker: How to Transition Your Fleet Faster: Leasing, Joint Purchasing, Federal GSA & MWOG Discounts on Vehicles & Equipment
Luis MacDonald started AutoFlex Inc. in 1987 and by using his vast knowledge and experience with Fleet Leasing all OEM's, including EV's, EVSE and the installations of charging stations, made his company a turn-key solution.
Marcellus Crews
Speaker: AI & Data Centers: Impacts on Regional Transportation, Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Marcellus Crews is the Founder and CEO of CREWSING LLC, and has worked with government agencies, educational institutions, businesses, and international organizations to deliver innovative technology solutions and strategic initiatives that strengthen communities and improves lives.
Margaret Smith
Speaker: Opening Remarks
Margaret Smith is a Technology Manager in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Transportation Technologies Office (TTO) and is the Clean Cities and Communities lead for the DOE headquarters team.
Matthew Austin
Speaker:Fireside Chat
Matthew Austin heads up business development and ecosystem partnerships for Viatec, Inc, a leading provider of fleet electrification solutions.
Michael Laughlin
Speaker: Fireside Chat
Mike Laughlin is a Technology Manager in the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation's Transportation Technologies Office (TTO).
Michael O’Brien
Moderator: AI & Data Centers: Impacts on Regional Transportation, Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Michael O’Brien is the founder and managing partner of Síol Venture Capital.
Odogwu Obi Linton
Speaker: AI & Data Centers: Impacts on Regional Transportation, Energy & Environmental Sustainability
Odogwu Obi Linton was appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission in 2017, reappointed in 2022, and again in 2025 by Governor Wes Moore.
Pamela Janifer
Speaker: Awards Luncheon
Pamela Janifer is a proud native Washingtonian before moving to the City of District Heights, where she celebrates 26 years as a resident of the Incorporated City of District Heights where she proudly serves as mayor.
Paul Winters
Speaker: Legislative Update
Paul serves as Director of Public Affairs and Federal Communications for Clean Fuels Alliance America.
R. Denise Everson
Moderator: Green Faith: Developing an Actionable Sustainability Plan for Houses of Worship and Faith-Based Organizations
R. Denise Everson leads ThinkBox’s community-centered programs through the Sustainable Communities Project® (SCP) as Leader of Making and Keeping Friends.
R. Earl Lewis
Speaker: The State of the Industry: Current Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy and Transportation.
R. Earl Lewis, Jr became MDOT Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) first Director of Zero Emission Bus Infrastructure in March of 2023. He has been with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) for over 22 years.
Rev. Lucinda Kent
Speaker: Green Faith: Developing an Actionable Sustainability Plan for Houses of Worship and Faith-Based Organizations
Rev. Lucinda Kent serves as senior director of the Faith-Based Development Initiative (FBDI) at Enterprise Community Partners.
Robert Borkowski
Speaker: Make Your Apartments, Senior Housing, Condo and Homeowners Association EV Charging Positive
Robert Borkowski is the owner of Plug IO, a Maryland company that designs, installs, and operates electric vehicle charging for apartment and condominium communities at no cost to property owners.
Robert Christopher
Moderator: The State of the Industry: Current Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy and Transportation
Robert Lee Christopher serves as an Environmental Planner with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, where he leads the Regional Electric Vehicle Deployment (REVD) Working Group and supports regional efforts to advance fleet electrification and clean transportation.
Ronald Flowers
Speaker: Awards Luncheon
Ronald S. Flowers has had senior management experience over more than 60 years in the public and private sectors.
Sheryl Ponds
Moderator: Make Your Apartments, Senior Housing, Condo and Homeowners Association EV Charging Positive
Founder & CEO of Dai Technologies Corporation
Steve Connelly
Speaker: Maryland Biofuels Task Force
Connelly was appointed Deputy Secretary Connelly in January 2022. Prior to that he served as Assistant Secretary of Marketing, Animal Industries, and Consumer Services.
Steve Dodge
Speaker: Maryland Biofuels Task Force
Stephen serves as the Director of State Regulatory Affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America.
Steve McCoy
Speaker: The State of the Industry: Current Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy and Transportation
Mr. McCoy serves as Vice President of Business Development for Blossman Gas, Inc. and their alternative fuels division, Alliance AutoGas.
Ted Trabue
Speaker: The State of the Industry: Current Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy and Transportation
Ted Trabue was appointed to the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia by Mayor Muriel Bowser and was confirmed by the Council of D.C. on December 20, 2022, and appointed as Interim Chairman on August 18, 2026.
Vanessa Cacho
Speaker: Women in Clean Energy
With over 15 years of experience as a Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Vanessa has honed her skills in HR strategy planning, policy and process development, employee relations, and talent/leadership development.