Technology Integration Program Contacts

Mark Smith is the Technology Integration Program Manager within the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office. In this role, he oversees a broad technology portfolio, which is focused on accelerating the development and widespread use of advanced vehicle technologies to advance affordable, domestic transportation fuels, and other fuel-saving technologies and practices. The Technology Integration Program portfolio includes alternative fuels, fuel economy, electrification, energy efficient mobility systems, and the alternative fuels regulatory program.

Before joining DOE in 2010, Mark was an alternative fuel vehicle consultant to American Honda. In this position, he promoted the use of Honda's advanced technology vehicles to public and private fleet managers and implemented programs to increase adoption of these vehicles. Mark also understands that alternative fuel vehicle use hinges upon the development of refueling/re-charging infrastructure. From his previous positions with FuelMaker and Clean Energy, he has provided alternative refueling solutions ranging from home refueling of a single vehicle to some of the largest commercial, airport, and transit fueling stations in the United States.

Address

U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave, SW EE-3V
Washington, DC 20585

Mike Laughlin is a Technology Manager in the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). His role for the Technology Integration (TI) Program includes day-to-day management of several TI-funded activities, and he serves as an interface between TI and other VTO research programs, in particular the Energy Efficient Mobility Systems Program. He also serves as the Federal Manager for the 21st Century Truck Partnership, a government/industry research partnership for medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.

Before joining DOE in 2019, Mike served in program director and project manager roles for several VTO contractors. He has worked with Clean Cities and Communities coalitions since nearly the beginning. He developed early databases for tracking Clean Cities and Communities alternative fuel vehicle and fueling station statistics, created the initial Alternative Fuel Price Report, directly assisted local coalition directors with coalition activities as associate coordinator, and provided analytical and technical input to case studies on a variety of medium- and heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles. He also served as technical and management support for the 21st Century Truck Partnership in developing key technical resources, including its blueprint, internal website, and roadmaps.

Mike has almost 30 years of experience in alternative fuels and advanced transportation and holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron and an MBA from Walsh University (Ohio).

Address

U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave, SW EE-3V
Washington, DC 20585

Margaret Smith is a Technology Manager in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). As the Clean Cities and Communities lead for the DOE headquarters team, she provides strategic direction for the federal partnership with a team of leaders across DOE and its national laboratories. She manages a portfolio of federally funded projects that advance clean transportation solutions through outreach, engagement, technical assistance, and deployment. Margaret also champions innovative approaches to ensure federal investments benefit underserved and overburdened communities by applying principles of energy and environmental justice.

Before joining DOE in 2020, she provided programmatic and technical support to the VTO Technology Integration (TI) team as a contractor for over 10 years. Margaret supported various TI activities, such as organizing Clean Cities and Communities trainings and peer sharing discussions, developing resources for Clean Cities and Communities coalitions, and assisting with program management responsibilities. Additionally, Margaret worked with coalitions on developing and implementing projects addressing barriers to electric vehicle deployment.

Prior to working with VTO, Margaret worked for Sustainable Energy Strategies, Inc. In this role she supported biodiesel and ethanol projects that improve infrastructure, develop feedstocks, educate stakeholders, and promote the use of biodiesel. She has two years of experience with the design, manufacturing, and sales of underground stormwater treatment systems that remove pollution from stormwater runoff. After graduating from college, Margaret served in a year-long service program affiliated with AmeriCorps where she worked in low-income Buffalo communities and lived out the values of community, social justice, simplicity, and spirituality. Margaret holds a B.S. in computer engineering with a concentration in cognitive science from the University of Virginia.

Address

U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave, SW EE-3V
Washington, DC 20585

Alycia Gilde is the National Manager for ZEV Partnerships and Engagement for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Technology Integration Program. In this role, Alycia oversees initiatives to advance transportation decarbonization by fostering partnership development and engagement across all stakeholder groups, including communities, tribes, industry, fleets, utilities, state and federal government, and non-governmental organizations to advance zero-emission vehicle deployment. Technology Integration activities include Clean Cities and Communities, EcoCAR, Clean Energy to Communities, and the Battery Workforce Development Initiative, as well as other efforts under VTO.

Prior to joining DOE, Alycia was CALSTART's vice president of clean fuels and electric vehicle infrastructure and oversaw the initiative's wide portfolio of activities that included spearheading the United States' largest initiatives to deploy alternative fuel corridors; first of its kind incentive programs for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure; and innovative public-private partnerships to advance zero-emission vehicles and equipment. Alycia has extensive experience managing the nation's largest freight and clean port truck programs, corridor coalitions, and marketing and outreach initiatives to build capacity and impact for clean transportation. Before starting her career in sustainable transportation, Alycia served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Ghana, West Africa, as an environment volunteer and the national gender and youth development director.

Grace McGinnis is a Technology Manager in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), supporting VTO's community-facing work. She manages several VTO-funded EV Community Partner projects, supports the Clean Cities and Communities Energy and Environmental Justice Initiative, and leads the development of public-facing tools and resources to educate the public about electric vehicles and other clean fuels.

Grace comes to VTO from DOE's State and Community Energy Programs Office, where she developed technical assistance around electric school buses and supported clean vehicle technical assistance for the Better Buildings Challenge. Before DOE, one of her first jobs out of college was leading a biofuels education program for a Clean Cities and Communities coalition. She has also supported a variety of public sector clean energy and decarbonization initiatives, including for the New York City Department of Education and the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office. She also spent several years in the solar industry, where she learned how to understand and deploy new energy technologies. She is excited to work at the intersection of new vehicle technologies and energy and environmental justice.

Sam Spofforth joined the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in January 2022 as a Clean Cities and Communities Project Leader. He’s also detailed to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office Transportation Integration team. Sam works with Clean Cities and Communities coalition directors and staff, fleet, industry, government, and community stakeholders, as well as DOE and national lab staff, leading and providing insight on several interconnected projects to help Clean Cities and Communities deliver maximum impact on its mission of equitable, clean transportation for all.

Previously, Sam founded and served as executive director of Clean Fuels Ohio (CFO), a DOE-designated Clean Cities and Communities coalition. As a statewide nonprofit, CFO grew to become the largest, most successful of the 75 coalitions in the network. Sam was named the Midwest Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year in 2004, national Coordinator of the Year in 2007, and was an original inductee to the Clean Cities Hall of Fame in 2011. His Clean Cities and Communities peers voted him the Benjamin Watson Leadership Award winner in 2015. In 2023, Transportation Energy Partners recognized him as a Clean Transportation Hero.

Address

U.S. Department of Energy
901 D St SW #930
Washington, DC 20024

Tameka Lester-McDaniel prepares various reports, briefs, and presentations to communicate program status, progress, and outcomes to support the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Technology Integration Program as an employee of Lindahl Reed. She collaborates with Clean Cities and Communities headquarters staff, regional managers, coalition directors, and stakeholders to advance the partnership’s goals and objectives.

Tameka has worked at Lindahl Reed since 2024, where she is currently a Program Analyst for VTO. She supports the coalition re-designation process, tracks technology integration projects, identifies potential areas of improvement, and proposes solutions to enhance program performance. She has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Columbia College Chicago.

Walt Zalis provides strategic and programmatic support to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office Technology Integration Program as an employee of Energetics. He facilitates regular discussions between Clean Cities and Communities stakeholders, reviews and updates program materials, and provides strategic planning support to improve program functions.

Walt has worked at Energetics since 2006, where he is currently the director of the Climate and Resilience group. He has worked on a variety of projects focusing on strategic planning, facilitation and roadmapping, stakeholder engagement, and market transformation and analysis support, typically for alternative fuel and energy efficient programs and technologies. He works regularly with DOE's Vehicle Technologies Office, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, and the Building Technologies Office. Walt also works with the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other state and local stakeholders on projects related to community and climate resilience, as well as program planning. He has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from McDaniel College and a Master of Arts in public communications from American University.

Address

1000 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20585

Stacy Davis is a technical senior staff member of the Transportation Analytics & Decision Sciences Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) National Transportation Research Center, where she manages the Fuel Economy Information (FEI) project. The FEI project supports the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by preparing and distributing the annual Fuel Economy Guide, as well as maintaining and continuously updating the website fueleconomy.gov.

Stacy has worked with transportation energy data at ORNL for 37 years and has been the lead author of the Transportation Energy Data Book since 1988. She has written and prepared the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office Transportation Fact of the Week since 2001. In addition, Stacy led data-related research for the Department of Transportation in policy and safety. She is active in the Transportation Research Board's Committee on Transportation Energy and the Committee on Alternative Transportation Fuels and Technologies. She holds a Bachelor of Science in transportation and logistics from the University of Tennessee.

Address

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
230 Cherahala Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37932

John Gonzales is a senior engineer in the Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He works with the Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum and is researching gaseous fuel storage equipment. He also leads and manages the Tiger Teams Technical Assistance program, which helps Clean Cities and Communities coalition staff, stakeholders, original equipment manufacturers, and fuel providers overcome obstacles to deploying alternative fuels and advanced vehicles.

Before joining NREL, John worked for the Natural Fuels Corporation promoting natural gas as an alternative fuel for automobiles, trucks, and buses. As the fleet manager for Adams 12 Five Star School District in suburban Denver, he was responsible for 140 school buses and 120 support vehicles along with the maintenance and custodial equipment for the school district of 42,000 students. His hands-on experience has helped John relate to the concerns of fleet managers who are adopting and using a variety of alternative fuels and technologies.

John graduated from the University of Southern Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in automotive parts and service management. He has served as a board member for the American Lung Association of Colorado, as chairman of the Denver Metro Clean Cities, and as chairman for the Colorado chapter of the Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association.

Address

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
15013 Denver West Parkway, MS 1610
Golden, CO 80401

Sandra Loi is a project manager in the Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). She focuses on Technology Integration (TI) coordination, education, training, and outreach activities, including supporting coalitions, preparing new program initiatives, and organizing training for coalition staff and stakeholders. Sandra supports the network of more than 75 local Clean Cities and Communities coalitions throughout the United States as the main NREL point of contact. She develops and strengthens partnerships with community organizations, industry partners, media, and other stakeholders. She leads and manages the Technical Response Service, a resource available to both coalitions and external stakeholders to help answer transportation-related questions. She also manages the Peer 2 Peer program, which pairs coalitions with peers to tackle a specific idea, project, or challenge. In 2020, Sandra received the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office Distinguished Achievement award for outstanding service to DOE and TI partners.

Before joining NREL, Sandra worked for the Propane Education & Research Council in Washington, D.C. as a project manager, focusing on product commercialization and marketing for on- and off-road vehicles, forklifts, and agricultural engines. Sandra also conducted education and outreach for propane technology.

Sandra holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in international business and marketing from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a Master of Science in management and organizations with a specialization in global management from the University of Colorado.

Address

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
15013 Denver West Parkway, MS 1610
Golden, CO 80401

Marcy Rood worked for Clean Cities and Communities at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office in Washington, D.C., from 1995 to 2008. She currently manages a team of experts at Argonne National Laboratory supporting the Technology Integration program in a number of areas, such as the Clean Cities and Communities Energy and Environmental Justice Initiative; training and analysis of the electric-drive markets; Clean Cities and Communities Accelerate; and management of the development of tools and information on idle reduction technologies, renewable natural gas, telematics, plug-in electric vehicles and charging, emissions reductions, economic impacts, and total cost of ownership of alternative fuels and infrastructure. She leads the monthly Ports Working Group. She also supports the Joint Office United Support for Transportation Lab Consortium for the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

During her time at DOE, she served as the deputy director of Clean Cities and Communities and the director of Clean Cities and Communities coalitions, directing the efforts of both headquarters and regional DOE staff; overseeing the activities of the network of coalitions; and collaborating with national and international stakeholders, fuel trade associations, infrastructure developers, and federal agencies. She provided direction for grant programs, training initiatives, and the Alternative Fuels Data Center, and assisted in the planning of national Clean Cities and Communities conferences. She is a native Ohioan, with a Master of Public Administration from The Ohio State University.

Address

Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S Cass Avenue
Building 362
Lemont, IL 60439

Mike Scarpino works at the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Volpe National Transportation Systems Center and provides technical and programmatic support for Technology Integration through various special projects and interagency collaborations. Mike's current responsibilities involve providing support for DOT and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for various transportation electrification and alternative fuel initiatives and activities, such as the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program, Federal Highway Administration’s Alternative Fuel Corridor Designation Initiative, and DOE’s Clean Cities and Communities.

Mike has been involved with Clean Cities and Communities and Technology Integration since May 1997, previously working as the Northeast Clean Cities and Communities regional manager for DOE's Northeast Regional Office in Boston, Massachusetts, until June 2006, and at DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory from June 2006 to September 2013. Mike is considered one of the "program old-timers" and in 2009 received a Lifetime Achievement Award for "leadership, creative thinking, and devotion" to Clean Citiesand Communities. Mike also received a 2015 DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Office Distinguished Achievement Award for contributions to Clean Cities and Communities and strengthening DOE and DOT collaboration.

Mike worked for two years as a nuclear engineer at the DOE's Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina (1995–1997) and for 10 years as a nuclear engineer for the Department of the Navy at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1985–1995). Mike has a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of Maine.

Address

U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
55 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142

John Smart leads Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Mobility Systems & Analytics Group. During John’s 15-year tenure at INL, he has led cross-functional teams of experts in electric transportation, energy storage, power systems, cybersecurity, and data science. John has fostered successful partnerships with numerous private companies, universities, Clean Cities and Communities coalitions, and government agencies to conduct electric vehicle and charging infrastructure research and development, demonstration, and deployment projects across the country. Prior to joining INL, John spent six years at Ford Motor Company, leading powertrain product development and manufacturing teams from multiple automakers and suppliers. John earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University.

Address

Idaho National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1625
Idaho Falls, ID 83415