Brendan Kelley, Director, Drive Electric Ohio
Brendan graduated from Oberlin College in 2007 with bachelor’s degrees in Politics and Applied Mathematics.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 305
Rachel Ellenberger, Development Director
Rachel serves as the Development Director where she is responsible for managing the organization’s membership program and the planning and execution of the organization’s fundraising efforts. Additionally, Rachel manages member relationships and the execution of membership benefits.
Prior to joining Clean Fuels Ohio, Rachel served as the Administrative Coordinator for New Visions Group, a lobbying firm based in Columbus, Ohio. There, she coordinated the company’s internship program, client research, administrative tasks, and event planning.
Rachel graduated from The Ohio State University in May of 2018 with her B.A. in Political Science specializing in International Relations. She has minors in International Studies focusing on Security and Intelligence as well as Business. While in school, Rachel served as the Risk Management Chair on the Executive Committee of National Honor Fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi. She also served as a peer mentor and volunteer board member for Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) for a year and a half.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 310
Hallie Neuhaus, Policy & Government Affairs Manager
Hallie joined Clean Fuels Ohio in March 2019 as the Fleet Services Program Assistant. She is now the Policy & Government Affairs Manager where she develops and executes Clean Fuels Ohio’s policy initiatives and programs.
She was previously a Program Coordinator that worked on the implementation of Department of Energy grant projects and supported the organization’s consulting and fleet analysis work.
Prior to joining Clean Fuels Ohio, Hallie worked on political campaigns and as a field organizer for a nonprofit organization. In 2016 Hallie graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Politics, and she completed a Master of Public Administration degree from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University in 2020.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 313
Brandon Jones, Consulting Services Manager
Brandon joined Clean Fuels Ohio in 2021 and serves as the Consulting Services Manager, where he is responsible for administering and delivering consulting services for fleet analysis and planning. This includes overseeing and executing outreach, education, and relationship building activities with key partners and stakeholders.
Prior to joining Clean Fuels Ohio, Brandon served in nonprofit development and renewable energy sales roles. He also worked for eight years in higher education as an environmental humanities teacher and researcher, where he studied the relationship between environmental storytelling and activism. He holds a doctorate degree in English from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and bachelor’s degrees in English and Physics from Dickinson College.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 316
Timothy Cho, Program Manager
Tim joined Clean Fuels Ohio as an Electric Vehicle Student Ambassador in 2017 and is currently responsible for assisting with fleet services consulting projects, Ohio Green Fleets, and other clean transportation initiatives.
Prior to joining Clean Fuels Ohio, Tim interned for the Atlanta Regional Commission and City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability in 2016.
Tim graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Environment, Economy, Development, Sustainability (EEDS) and a minor in City and Regional Planning.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 301
Jenna Ellingson, Grant & Program Manager
Jenna Ellingson serves as the Grant & Program Manager for Clean Fuels Ohio, where she supports the administrative and financial components of our grant-funded projects.
Jenna graduated from The Ohio State University in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She plans to attend grad school in the coming years to study international relations and cooperation, with a focus on climate policy and equity.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 308
Rachel Baker, Events and Communications Manager
Rachel joined the Clean Fuels Ohio team in 2021 as a Business Development and Communications Program Assistant and became the Events and Communications Manager in 2022. She is responsible for overseeing the organization’s communications strategy, managing CFO’s social, earned, and owned media, and the planning and execution of events including the annual Midwest Green Transportation Forum & Expo. Rachel is honored to have a position where she can combine her passion for environmental communication with an organization that advocates for sustainability and equity in Ohio’s energy sector. She holds a B.S. in Natural Resource Management and a Master of Environment and Natural Resources degree, both from The Ohio State University.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 312
Abigail Spracklen, Consulting Services Coordinator
Abigail joined Clean Fuels Ohio in September of 2021 and is working with the Consulting Services Department as a Consulting Services Coordinator. She is responsible for analyzing fleet data to better understand what types of EV replacements could be considered for Clean Fuels partners in the EV market of today and in the evolving market of the near future.
Abigail graduated from The Ohio State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in EEDS (Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability). During her time at Ohio State, she studied abroad in New Zealand learning about Sustainable Tourism and Human Impacts on the Environment, worked with Ashland Chemical to help them develop their Sustainable Development Goals, and lead a team to draft a Sustainable Tourism plan for an abandoned quarry site in Greenfield, Ohio.
After graduation and prior to joining the Clean Fuels Ohio team, Abigail worked as an intern for She Grows It: Sustainability Consulting where she learned about the global development of western African nations and how they can emerge successful in a rapidly expanding global economy.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 307
Maggie Hirt, Outreach & Organizing Coordinator
Maggie joined the Clean Fuels Ohio team in 2022 as an Outreach and Organizing Coordinator, where she works to support existing Drive Electric chapters, maintain the Drive Electric Ohio program, and promote electric vehicle usage while engaging with partners and community members. Maggie holds a B.S. in Environment and Natural Resources focusing on Environmental Policy from The Ohio State University. She is passionate about community outreach and environmental advocacy, and she is excited by the opportunity to combine her interests and work to make a difference.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-884-7336 ext. 304
Olivia LoGuidice, Outreach & Organizing Coordinator
Olivia joined Clean Fuels Ohio as an Outreach and Organizing Coordinator in March 2022, where she works with the Drive Electric team to promote electric vehicle engagement and education. Prior to joining Clean Fuels, she served as a consultant on a Westerville City Council campaign, where she had the opportunity to manage campaign and social media strategies. Olivia holds a B.A. in Political Science and Marketing from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She looks forward to utilizing her experiences and passions for sustainability and community in her advocacy efforts.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-468-8067 ext. 319
Sydney Hayes, Policy & Government Affairs Coordinator
Sydney joined Clean Fuels Ohio’s team in May 2022 as the Policy and Government Affairs Coordinator, where she helps execute policy initiatives and assists communities with their goals to transition to cleaner fuels. Before joining CFO, she worked in congressional constituent services and congressional campaigning. She graduated from Ohio State University in May 2022 with a B.S. in Public Policy Analysis and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She looks forward to combining her passions of analysis and research with expanding equity in her work.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-468-8067 ext. 309
Dee Henry, Program Assistant, Drive Electric Ohio
Dee works on the Drive Electric Ohio team, supporting projects and managing DEO’s social media presence and activity.
Currently a senior at The Ohio State University, Dee is pursuing a B.A. with majors in Political Science and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies respectively, as well as a minor in Peace Studies. Prior to joining Clean Fuels Ohio, Dee worked as a fellow for the Campus Election Engagement Project dedicated to increasing college student access to civic engagement and election participation. Dee’s taking that same passion and applying it toward equitable access to electric vehicles and alternative fuel technologies.
Email: [email protected]
Hannah Sturgeon, Program Assistant, Grants & Programs
Hannah works with the Grants and Programs team, supporting and managing a variety of projects and their funding.
In her last semester at Otterbein University, Hannah is pursuing three Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science, Environmental Science, and Sustainability Studies, with minors in Legal Studies and Earth Science. Prior to joining Clean Fuels Ohio, Hannah interned for Kasich Company LLC and the City of Westerville Electric Division as the Sustainability Intern. She has also worked as a fellow for the Campus Election Engagement Project and the Campus Vote Project relating to civic engagement and voting for college students. Hannah is passionate about environmental policy and is applying her interests as a Program Assistant for Clean Fuels Ohio.
Email: [email protected]
Shanvanth Arnipalli, Program Assistant, Business Development
Shanvanth serves as the Business Development Program Assistant where he is responsible for working with CFO managing staff for the organization’s membership program and fundraising efforts.
Shanvanth is a fourth year at The Ohio State University, working on his B.S. in Environmental Science with a specialization in Water Science. His undergraduate research experience and projects are focused on Biomedical Nutrition and Developmental Psychology. Outside of school, Shanvanth is currently a student-athlete on the fencing team and a member of the Buckeye Leadership Fellows 2023 Cohort. His professional interests consist of diversity, equity, and inclusion work, sustainability, and problem-solving.
Email: [email protected]
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Our Board
Thea Ewing, Board President
Ms. Ewing is a 17-year public servant focused on transportation, economic development, energy, and community planning. As the Director of Transportation & Infrastructure Development at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, her team has helped advance Smart Columbus, the Hyperloop Midwest Connect proposal, and a Downtown Columbus Employee Bus “C-pass” program. She is a Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 honoree, a Central Ohio Women’s Transportation Seminar Woman of the Year, and has previously served as treasurer for Clean Fuels Ohio.
Ms. Ewing earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Urban and Regional Planning from Miami University and a Master of Public Administration from Wright State University.
Mark Shanahan, Ph.D., Treasurer & Policy Committee Chair
Dr. Shanahan provides strategic guidance on clean energy technology policy and deployment. Appointed by the U.S. District Court, he serves on the Class Benefit Fund Board of Trustees managing disbursement of claims benefits from a class action suit involving Duke Energy. He also serves on the boards of the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund and the Emerald Cities Collaborative for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. As Governor Ted Strickland’s energy advisor, he played a key role in designing, negotiating and implementing SB 221, which created Ohio’s first advanced energy and efficiency portfolio standards. During his tenure serving five Governors as executive director, the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority issued $5.8 billion in bonds, supporting investments in air pollution control and prevention, energy efficiency and clean energy technologies.
Dr. Shanahan received an undergraduate degree from Boston College, a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University
Dale Arnold, Secretary
Mr. Arnold started with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation as an organization director in 1985 and became Director of Energy, Utility and Local Government Policy in 1995. His work encompasses economic, environmental, and social issues related to energy production and infrastructure development. He has worked with regulators, government leaders, and community stakeholders on utility aggregation, interconnection, fueling facilities, biofuels and biomass, wind and solar generation, transmission lines and pipelines, as well as oil and gas exploration.
Mr. Arnold has participated in several Public Utilities Commission of Ohio working groups concerning electric infrastructure and gas pipelines. He is dedicated to helping families and communities explore the benefits of new fuel sources and issues for additional planning adoption and use.
Cynthia Maves, Marketing Committee Chair
Prior to joining Lordstown Motors Corporation, Ms. Maves was a lawyer for the State Medical Board of Ohio and was Director of Grant Administration for Clean Fuels Ohio. At Clean Fuels Ohio, she managed more than $25 million in federal and state grants and served as the staff lawyer, drafting and negotiating all grant award and consulting contracts. She was also responsible for implementing and managing Clean Fuels Ohio’s Drive Electric Ohio initiative.
Ms. Maves earned a bachelor of arts degree from DePauw University and a JD from Indiana University at Bloomington. She currently serves as a director of First Federal Savings Bank in Indiana.
Michael Smucker
Michael Smucker is a mission driven business professional currently holding the position of Midwest Regional Sales Manager for Greenlots, an EV Charging Solutions provider. His success in business is based on two fundamental principles: building strong relationships and always looking for the win-win. Michael is unique in the clean energy space in that he had a previous 21 year career in apparel and accessories before turning to solar and now EV charging infrastructure.
Page Thorson
Ms. Thorson co-founded Benchmark Biodiesel, Inc. in 2007 with her husband, Wade Thorson, to meet the need for biodiesel blending and infrastructure in Ohio. Since that time, Benchmark Biodiesel has grown from a start-up to a thriving business that provides reliable biodiesel blends to fleets all over the state. She is responsible for managing relationships with public and private customers, developing strategies to advance the business, and promoting the use of biodiesel around the state.
Ms. Thorson has a bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University. She has been involved with the advocacy work of Clean Fuels Ohio for several years and serves on the policy and marketing committees.
Morgan Kauffman
Mr. Kauffman is the third-generation leader of Yellow Cab of Columbus, a family-owned business that was established by his grandfather in 1928 using proceeds from his produce sales at the North Market in the city. Mr. Kauffman is committed to serving the Central Ohio community and received $30,000 in 2018 in Smart Columbus rebates to replace 10 vehicles in the company’s fleet with new electric taxis. Prior to joining Yellow Cab, he managed the logistics of his family’s CPS Delivery System business.
Mr. Kauffman attended the University of Arizona. He is an active member of the North Market Development Authority Board and has served on the boards of The Wexner Center, and Ohio Art League, and supports the Columbus Museum of Art.
Tom Bullock
Tom Bullock is a veteran legislative and elections professional with more than twenty-five years’ experience in public policy and community leadership. Bullock has practical experience from work with top government leaders in Ohio and Washington, D.C., including work on Capitol Hill as a congressional aide. He has served for twelve years as a city councilman in his hometown of Lakewood, where he is a leader in implementing clean transportation, clean energy, and resiliency projects throughout the community. His interest in clean fuels and vehicles arises from Lakewood’s character as Ohio’s most walkable city and from using Clean Fuels Ohio reports and analyses. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from American University and an M.A. in Classics from the University of London.
Mary McCarron
Ms. McCarron has worked for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for 15 years. She currently manages public involvement and facilitates public hearings. She has been involved with Clean Fuels Ohio since 2002 and is dedicated to promoting the wide-spread use of alternative fuels.
Ms. McCarron graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the Ohio State University’s School of Natural Resources.
Mark Berndt
Mark oversees AEP Ohio’s efforts to provide new products and services to customers, including renewable energy, electric transportation options, and various other customized offerings. His team is also working with customers to provide electrification options in order to optimize their total energy usage. Previously, Mark managed many of AEP’s M&A opportunities as well as strategic planning for the company across its business segments.
Prior to joining AEP in 2007, Mark served in the U.S. Navy, with tours on two ships as well as graduating from the Navy’s Nuclear Power School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in business administration from The Ohio State University.
Frank Edwards
Frank has been in the propane industry for 19 years. He has held Regional level positions in operations, sales, and marketing for the industry’s largest companies. His experience includes acquisition integration, start up locations, and data analyzation for expense reducing operations. He has worked throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions.
Frank began his career as a Cylinder driver and worked his way into a Regional Position within two years. He then became a General Manager for the largest location within the MLP. Frank moved into a leadership position, traveling to underperforming locations where he would implement ideas to make them profitable. He was instrumental with implementation of Logistical systems for several areas of a MLP. He organized sales teams and implemented growth in specific and directed areas. He is now the managing partner for Linden’s Propane.
Matthew B. Allison
Mr. Allison has 30 years of transit experience at COTA, including the successful negotiation of union contracts, leading the complete overhaul of bus routes in 2017, the introduction of a text message-based emergency notification system, and robust staff development initiatives. Mr. Allison currently oversees COTA’s largest division – an estimated 800 employees engaged in all aspects of the organization’s central operations – including bus operators, vehicle maintenance technicians, and Mobility Services, the group responsible for service to people with disabilities. He has been also been a leader in the Midwest Transit Leadership Exchange and spearheaded efforts to engage COTA’s operations team with the Ohio Public Transportation Association.
Mr. Allison holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and an MBA from Ohio Christian University. During his tenure at the helm of COTA operations, the authority was named Outstanding Public Transportation System for 2018 by the American Public Transportation Association.
Carla Walker has spearheaded large-scale civic engagement and public service initiatives at the local, state, national and international levels for the last two decades. Having worked with three Cincinnati Mayors, her fingerprints are on many of the major projects that define the city’s renaissance including the Cincinnati’s notable environmental and climate change initiatives. A veteran political strategist, she has held several state leadership posts including the Finance Director for the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus, leadership positions in three U.S. Presidential campaigns and led or advised more than 100 different advocacy or candidate campaigns. Carla is currently the Director of Environmental Justice and Equity at the World Resources Institute. In this role, she provides leadership to WRI-United States’ work around equity, environmental justice, and just transition in the context of climate change to expand visibility and impact, and influence decision makers to advance solutions for today’s environmental challenges.
In 2010, she launched think BIG strategies, a strategic communications and planning consultancy to support and drive game changing initiatives. Her project portfolio focus is on green initiatives including leading equity and inclusion for a 150-member coalition of water advocates across the Great Lakes, exploring the connection between equity and green infrastructure, and serving as the Climate Advisor for the City of Cincinnati as an American Cities Climate Challenge participant.
She currently serves on the board for Green Umbrella, Cincinnati Opera, Ohio Citizen Action, the Lloyd Library and was appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Cincinnati Environmental Advisory Council. As the volunteer President of the Cincinnati-Nancy Sister City Association she leads the organization in its role to manage the municipal relationship between Cincinnati and its French Sister City creating initiatives to connect citizens across cultures.
She holds a B.S. from the University of Cincinnati, an M.S. from the University of Florida and an M.P. A from the Kennedy School at Harvard. She enjoys running, hot yoga, exploring cities, and practicing her French language skills.
Michelle Crandall
Michelle currently serves as the City Manager for the City of Hilliard, Ohio (population 39,000). She began this position in January of this 2020 as Hilliard’s first ever City Manager, following a charter change in the City’s form-of-government. Previously Michelle was with the City of Dublin, Ohio for more than 25 years in a variety of roles, including Assistant City Manager and Director of Administrative Services.
Michelle is a member of the Alliance for Innovation (AFI) Board of Directors and was previously an Executive Board Member for the International City and County Management Association (ICMA), as well as a member of the ICMA International Committee. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Wittenberg University and a Master of Public Administration from The Ohio State University.