Antoine Maurice Thompson is a native of Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Buffalo Public Schools #61, #60, and Bennett High School. 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 in Ghana, West Africa. Antoine is the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Medaille College. He is a graduate of the 2001 Class of Leadership Buffalo.

Antoine M. Thompson is a nationally recognized leader for environmental justice, green business, housing, diversity, and urban policy. Antoine is the CEO & Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCC), a public-private partnership that promotes the use of clean, American transportation fuels for homeland security, improved air quality, environmental, energy, transportation justice, diversity, and inclusion.

He is the former Executive Director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the oldest organization of African-American real estate professionals in the United States. Antoine led efforts to increase advocacy on Capitol Hill on closing the racial wealth gap through increasing the rate of Black homeownership.

He had a significant public service career in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. His positions have included election to Buffalo Common Council where he authored the Buffalo’s Fair Housing Law, the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Inclusion Law and secured over $75 million for community development projects. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 2006 and 2008 and served as the Senate Deputy Majority Whip and the first African-American to Chair the Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation and Co-Chair of the Senate Minority and Woman Business Enterprise Task Force. He authored the NYS MWBE Mentor/Protégé Law. He was the key architect of the Green Jobs/Green New York law and secured over $450 million for schools, hospitals and various projects and organizations in his district.

He is also a licensed real estate agent in Maryland and New York State. He is the Founder and President of the Black Housing Policy Network. He is a guest writer in various publications and highly sought-after speaker. Antoine is married to Tracey Thompson, and the father of Deja L. Middlebrook and Joseph A. Thompson. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Antoine is a Silver Life Member of the NAACP, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dianne Little is a resolute, organized, and well-established professional with over 15 years of experience in executive assistance roles, having served as an executive assistant to an Executive Director, a Senior Vice President, and a Chief Nursing Officer within dynamic industries. Ms. Little is accustomed to the rigors of fast-paced, highly regulated environments requiring sharp attention to detail, consummate accuracy, and outstanding communication skills. At the GWRCCC as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, she continues to have proven success in performing administrative duties with utmost discretion, confidentiality, and professionalism as well as providing operational coordination and project management. She has an outstanding track record in managing multiple, complex calendars while meeting strict deadlines and adhering to company guidelines as well as a demonstrated strong ability to multitask and navigate various tasks by prioritizing workflows and effectively managing schedules for executives to safeguard smooth business operation. She is highly skilled in liaising with all levels and presenting/communicating complex information to team members and clients while maintaining professional business relationships.

Ms. Little is a native Washingtonian. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College, and, along with her two daughters, had a local modelling career with CK Fashions, Inc. Currently, she is co-owner and lead designer of Relegance Boutique, an on-line fashion and accessory line that creates unique, one-of-kind pieces of jewelry using upcycled goods that are created into “wearable pieces of art”.

Tracey Thompson, a native of Buffalo, NY, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo and an MBA from Georgia State University.

Throughout her career, Tracey has spearheaded numerous enterprise-level, strategic initiatives while working for global powerhouses, including IBM, Edelman PR and Pandora Jewelry.

Today, as the CEO of Creative PMO, LLC, Tracey Thompson brings over two decades of program management expertise to the forefront. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Agile Scrum certified, showcasing her commitment to excellence in her field. Furthermore, she possesses more than ten years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, holding a Diversity & Inclusion certification from Cornell University.

Jade Bynum is currently serving as a Project Coordinator/Grant Writer and Fundraising Consultant for GWRCCC. A recent graduate from Bowie State University with a Bachelor’s in English, she is excited to apply her strong critical thinking, research, and writing skills to support impactful environmental and community-based initiatives. While at GWRCCC, she writes grants, coordinates community outreach programs, and handles projects that are communication based. Born and raised in the DMV, Jade finds this work especially meaningful as it allows her to give back to the communities that shaped her.

Amaya Tatum is passionate about the intersection of sustainability, public health, and policy.  She recently graduated from Spelman College, earning her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Public Health.  Graduating cum laude, she was consistently recognized on the Dean’s List and Honor Roll for her academic achievement.  Her senior thesis explored the relationship between food deserts and political participation in Atlanta, reflecting her commitment to health equity and civic engagement.

At Spelman, Amaya cultivated her leadership and mentorship skills through active campus and community initiative involvement.  She served on the PULSE Programming Board, supported literacy through SpelREADS, and held leadership in the AUC DMV Club, fostering connection and advocacy for students from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area.  She also contributed to SKIRTS, a service organization, where she helped expand outreach efforts that supported over 1,200 community members.

Through her work with GWRCCC, Amaya contributes to advancing clean energy initiatives, promoting biofuels, and supporting advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels.  She plans to pursue a Master of Public Health with a concentration in health policy to drive equitable change in communities.

Eleanor Cupp is the web developer for the GWRCCC. She provides technical website management as well as content development for GWRCCC and Drive Electric DC and oversees social media posting for both. She also does project support for Drive Electric DC. Eleanor is proud to guide the GWRCCC and Drive Electric DC websites in their goal to be both a resource for economic, environmental, and alternative energy fuel issues,  as well as a resource for environmental equity and justice.

Eleanor is still trying to figure out if she is an artistic person who does tech, or a techy person who is passionate about art. With a double major in Art History and Music from University of Arizona and an MA/MFA in Integrated Electronic Arts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), she has a foot in both camps. Throughout her career of working with small businesses and as a defense contractor, she has used both her technical and artistic skills for video streaming and web content work, as well as being a facility security officer, hiring officer and technical web guru. Above all, she enjoys the challenge of constantly learning new technologies and putting them to use. In her spare time she likes to garden, hear live music, and go to museums.

Jill Hamilton is Founder and President of Sustainable Energy Strategies, Inc. (SESI). She has more than 25 years of consulting experience in the alternative transportation fuels industry. Over the past 20 years, Jill and her team have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the biofuels industry. She also is a trusted advisor to the National Clean Cities Program. She is Chair of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalitions.

For the past 20 years, she has provided ethanol market development for the Mid-Atlantic region on behalf of the Maryland Grain Producers. She is also a key consultant to the National Biodiesel Board and its Foundation. In addition to her biofuels background, she brings a deep familiarity of government grant writing, project management and project fundraising. Prior to starting SESI, she co-managed Information Resources, Inc. Alternative Fuels Division and ran the National Alternative Fuels Hotline for the Department of Energy.

Anne has over 20 years of experience in fostering relationships, framing policy and delivering results for companies in the energy, transportation and agriculture sectors.   She has successfully led and motivated geographically distributed teams of people with diverse responsibilities in public policy, government affairs, finance and budgeting, fundraising, constituent relations, public relations and legal.

Luis D. MacDonald is President of AutoFlex Fleet, Inc. a GSA Schedule Federal Fleet contract holder for 25+ years. AutoFlex Fleet was incorporated in 1987, and is a Maryland DOT certified Minority and service-disabled Veteran owned small business. Mr.MacDonald is a charter member of the Federal Clean Cities Program and a charter member of the GWRCCC Board of Directors. Mr. MacDonald served as Chair of D.C. NAFA’s first fleet-industry seminars on implementing Alternative Fueled Vehicle Legislation during early 1990’s. Mr. MacDonald served as a Military Policeman at the end of the Vietnam-era and studied football and business administration at Colorado State University under the G.I. Bill.

Ronald S. Flowers has had senior management experience over more than 60 years in the public and private sectors. This includes serving as the Director of the Office of Labor-Management Programs (OLMP), under the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia (DC) Government; the Fleet Administrator for the DC Department of Public Works (DPW); Director of Transportation DC Public Schools (DCPS); Executive Assistant to the Associate Superintendent, DC Public Schools (DCPS); Vice President for Student Affairs, University of the District of Columbia (UDC); Associate Vice President for Planning, Finance and Student Support Services, Chicago State University(CSU); and Dean of Students, Malcolm X College, Chicago, Illinois.

Before completely retiring, Ronald S. Flowers (Ron), founded and serves at the 1st Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC). He was also a consultant to United Soybean & Biodiesel Boards. His work enabled him to receive the prestigious “Influencer of the Year Award” from the National Biodiesel Board/Clean Fuels.

Ron has the following degrees:
Bethune-Cookman University: Graduation 1965 – Degree: BS, Business Administration
Chicago State University: Graduation 1976 – Degree: MS, Occupational Education

Recently, GWRCCC named their golf outing, “The RON FLOWERS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GOLF OUTING”. Ron has too many honors to mention them all, however, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award for 2024 from Bethune-Cookman University was awarded to Ronald S.Flowers.

Ron is married to Mattie Ayers Flowers. They have one son, Ronald Jr., and two grandchildren, Jason and Ryan. Ron is an Elder at Northminster Presbyterian Church.

Jasmine is a proud Maryland resident currently based in Waldorf, MD. She holds a Chemical Engineering degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University — a foundation that has shaped her deep understanding of environmental systems, sustainable processes, and the science behind clean energy innovation. She currently serves as General Services Administration Program Manager at Eaton Corporation, where she applies her technical expertise and strong leadership skills to drive impactful results professionally and beyond.

As a mother of two, Jasmine is personally invested in the kind of world her children will inherit. Having been born and raised in Maryland and witnessed the DMV region grow and expand at a remarkable pace, she understands firsthand how urgently our communities must evolve to meet the demands of that growth — especially when it comes to the adoption and advancement of clean energy solutions. For Jasmine, sustainability is not simply a trending conversation or a luxury; it is a responsibility we owe to future generations.

That sense of responsibility extends into every corner of her life. Jasmine volunteers with the Helping Hands Food Pantry at Second Baptist Church SW, serving neighbors in need and strengthening the fabric of her community. She is also actively involved in STEM education initiatives at her children’s school, working to inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers who will one day tackle the environmental challenges ahead.

Jasmine is thrilled to join the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition and looks forward to channeling her engineering background, professional experience, community spirit, and passion for a cleaner, greener Maryland into meaningful action alongside fellow coalition members.

Vanessa Cacho is a certified senior Human Resources and People & Culture leader, entrepreneur, and community advocate with more than 15 years of experience driving organizational transformation. She currently serves as Director of Human Resources at M-TEC Services, an assets protection (electrical) firm in the Washington, D.C. region, and is the Co-Founder of The Mosaic CoLab, which provides tailored technical assistance to help nonprofits and community developers strengthen capacity and deliver sustainable impact.  Graduate of George Washington (GW) University, Vanessa has a bachelor’s in business administration. She later returned to GW to complete and graduate from The Coalition’s ELEVATE (Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs) program and earned a feature in the Washington Business Journal.  ELEVATE is the only executive education program in DC that is backed by a university partner.
Vanessa excels in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and success. Her approach integrates strategic planning and process optimization to enhance team dynamics, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. As a certified SCRUM Master and 2024 Project REAP Fellow, Vanessa brings agile methodologies and innovative, human-centered design project strategies to drive businesses to their peak performance. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition, she leverages her extensive network and leadership experience to further enrich her consultancy services.
Passionate about sustainability, workforce development, and inclusive economic growth, Vanessa brings a unique blend of HR strategy, clean energy expertise, and community development to her work. She also leads initiatives supporting youth empowerment, affordable housing, and nonprofit capacity-building. On the GWRCCC Board, she is committed to advancing clean transportation, reducing emissions, and creating equitable access to sustainable infrastructure in the Greater Washington region.

Genevieve Cullen joined EDTA in 2005 and serves as President of the cross-industry trade association promoting the electrification of transportation by leading EDTA’s policy and advocacy efforts for tax, research and development, infrastructure, and deployment of electric drive vehicles. Prior to joining EDTA, Genevieve provided energy policy counsel in the Executive and Legislative Branches, including serving as Energy Counsel to Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) where she worked on diverse energy and industry issues, including climate change, air quality, transportation and federal energy efficiency policies, and utility regulation. She also previously worked at the Alliance to Save Energy, as a consultant to the Department of Energy, and in the office of then-Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE). A graduate of Washington College of Law and Bucknell University, Genevieve is a member of the District of Columbia bar.

Dan Gage is President of NGVAmerica, a national organization of roughly 200 members dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable marketplace for on- and off-road fleets powered by clean natural gas and zero carbon biomethane and for promoting the transition to flexible low carbon vehicle technology solutions.

A proud Central New York native now based in Washington, DC, Dan holds almost thirty years of political, government, corporate, and trade association issue advocacy, communications and government relations experience.

Jeff King oversees a variety of initiatives to help COG members address climate change at the regional level, such as climate mitigation, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction. He also supports committees focused on air quality and climate and energy planning. Jeff has been with COG since 2004.

Korey Neal is the proud owner of K. Neal Truck and Bus Center (knealtbc.com), a full-service commercial dealership servicing the greater Washington, DC Metropolitan area in four locations. K. Neal Truck and Bus Center is ranked #35 in the top 100 largest minority-owned businesses in the nation by Black Enterprise (2019) and continues to support the trucks, buses and people who move the world. Korey Neal is a 2020 Washington Business Journal 40 Under 40, Eastern Michigan and American University graduate, active board member for educational, philanthropic, and financial organizations, community builder and visionary Millennial business leader in the transportation industry.

As president of the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association, John O’Donnell is the chief executive officer of the organization that represents 275 members of franchised new car dealers in the greater Washington, D.C., area.  In a related capacity, Mr. O’Donnell is also producer of The Washington DC Auto Show.

O’Donnell directs all of WANADA’s functions including promoting the automobile business in the Washington area; representing dealers in the public policy process; representing the dealer group in the media; and leading all other activities of the organization, including various services provided to members.  The Washington Auto Show is one of the foremost international events and is regarded as the “Public Policy Show.”  The Washington Auto Show is certified by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) and was host to President Obama who toured the show in 2012, followed by Vice President Biden in 2013.

In career education, O’Donnell and WANADA have long been engaged in establishing and promoting motor vehicle technician training, Under the auspices of the Automobile Dealer Education Institute (ADEI), which was founded to oversee all WANADA’s career programming, ADEI technician training has become ASE Accredited by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence in recognition of its success in recruiting young adults into the field through dealership service departments.

John P. O’Donnell joined WANADA in 2001 as Vice President of employee benefits operations.   After successfully reorganizing WANADA’s Group Insurance programming, he was promoted to executive vice president in 2006.  O’Donnell was responsible for managing all aspects of the association’s insurance brokerage, managing the Washington Auto Show, overseeing the association’s staff on a day to day basis and engaging in lobbying at the state and local government level.

Tucker Perkins is the president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), a Washington D.C.-based non-profit which invests in the research and development of propane-powered innovation, and promotes the safe, efficient use of propane through safety training and education programs.

Perkins joined PERC in 2015 as Chief Business Development Officer and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer before the Council named him President and CEO in 2018.

A Virginia Tech graduate with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Perkins earned his MBA from the University of Richmond. He is active with many industry organizations including the National Propane Gas Association, the Industrial Truck Association, the Outdoor Power institute, and the World LP Gas Association.

Perkins is a dynamic and relatable leader who has amplified propane’s voice in the national energy conversation as a frequent keynote speaker on energy-related topics.

Tucker is also host of the podcast, Path to Zero, in which he engages energy thought leaders in provocative discussions regarding energy and the environment and the path to zero carbon emissions.

In 2024, Tucker published his first book, Path to Zero, 12 Climate Conversations that Changed the World, in which he highlights 12 of the most memorable conversations with guests on his podcast about how climate-friendly solutions available today can create a net zero carbon future.

” Your Electric Vehicle Adoption Expert”, Sheryl has extensive project management, negotiations and transactional experience in various industries including corporate banking, manufacturing and commercial real estate. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management , and is also certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Sheryl launched DaiTechCorp inspired by her personal desire to own an EV and working through her experience to overcome Range Anxiety. Stymied by the physical limitations to energize her vehicle at home and at work, she sensed that there are many individuals like her, living in urban markets, who require more accessibility to EVCE’s – in place where they live, work and play. Concluding there were no friction-less market solutions available, Sheryl began creating her own and courageously catapulted into the new era of electrified transportation.

Sheryl ,a native Washingtonian, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also a former leadership New York City Fellow and has received numerous recognition’s for contributions towards economic development in Brooklyn, NY. During her tenure with the District of Columbia Government , she gained in=depth knowledge about public-owned fleets. In  her role as a portfolio manager , Sheryl helmed real estate acquisitions for OSSE’s school bus fleet expansion and DDOR’s Circulator Bus electrified assets. Sheryl was also honored by CREW, AAREP and the former District of Columbia Mayor Gray for her innovations in public space usage and tenant improvements

Brooke Smallwood is the Founder & Managing Partner, OASIS Energy Partners. She has held senior management roles with North America’s largest utilities, including Exelon, Alta Gas, and Southern Company, and held positions with Fortune 500 companies such as Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Lockheed Martin, and AECOM. A nationally respected speaker and thought leader, Brooke is recognized for her expertise in energy efficiency, EV infrastructure, grid modernization, and renewable energy. She has served as an Advisory Board Member of the Maryland Clean Energy Center (2021–2023) and sits on the Board of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), National Capital Chapter.
In 2023, Brooke founded OASIS Energy Partners (OASIS EP), a minority woman-owned strategic advisory and clean-tech firm that focuses on accelerating the clean energy transition through advisory services, technology integration, and market strategy. Guided by principles of equity, diversity, and justice, Brooke leads OASIS EP with a servant-leader approach, pioneering innovative solutions that make clean energy accessible and equitable. Under her leadership, OASIS EP was recently accepted into the American Council for Renewable Energy (ACORE) Accelerate 2025 Cohort and is a graduate of the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator’s 2024 Cohort.
Outside of leading OASIS EP, Brooke is proud to be a wife and mother of two teens and two fur babies. Her hobbies include reading murder mysteries and gardening.