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05.08.2025 – Green Drives Conference & Expo
Green Drives Conference and Expo
The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation is excited to once again present the annual Green Drives Conference & Expo 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: IBEW/NECA Technical Institute 6201 West 115th Street Alsip, IL 60803
REGISTER HERE
2025 Green Drives Conference & Expo Agenda
Registration and Welcome |
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| 7:30am | Vendor / exhibit set up |
| 8:00am | Registration |
| 8:30am | WelcomeLes Faul, Acting Chair, IACT / Fleet Manager, ComEd
Emcee Chris Lyon, Director of Fleet Relations, NTEA Gene Kent, Director, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute |
| We are IACTAnn Schneider, Board Member, IACT / Founder and President, Ann L. Schneider & Associates LLC
Tim Milburn, Board Member, IACT / Co-founder, Green Ways 2Go |
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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 ShowcaseMyth 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 11:30am | NTEA – Work Truck Show & MembershipChris 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 2:00pm | Updates from the Metropolitan Mayors CaucusHear 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 HybridsTim 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 | |
| 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 |
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| 3:15pm | Special Funding SessionsShow 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 |