2025 Board of Directors
Sam Adham is Head of Battery Value Chain at CRU, an independent and leading market intelligence firm. Sam leads CRU’s analysis covering the entire battery value chain from mining to end-use, in addition to technology and costs. He is an automotive and battery expert with over a decade of experience at major auto manufacturers, working on advanced engineering projects and strategic planning.
Renata Arsenault is a Technical Expert, Advanced Battery Recycling at the Ford Motor Company, where she has been interfacing closely with battery suppliers and recyclers since 2006. She also works with USABC where she manages numerous development programs.
Pierre-Jean Arvers, President and Chief Executive Officer, Andritz Bitrode Corporation has over 25 years of international experience fueling revenue growth and turning around companies in the electric vehicle, energy storage, and battery testing industries. Pierre-Jean has a Master of Science in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering along with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He has a passion for Electric Vehicles, Energy Storage and Cell or Battery Testing.
Andreas Bareid heads the E-mobility and Battery business of QAD and is passionately interested in the intersection of battery development and manufacturing and through QAD supporting established companies as well as new entrants operate and scale effectively with focus on Supply Chain, Traceability, Quality, Manufacturing and Distribution and more.
Steve Becker is Associate Director of Open Innovation at Kimberly Clark Professional. He has over 20 years of experience leading innovation programs in the Automotive, Currency Handling, and Hygiene Solutions industries. Steve is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Continental Automated Buildings Association working to improve collaboration and solution interoperability across the smart buildings industry. At Kimberly Clark Steve is responsible for innovation partnership development activities spanning across Kimberly Clark Professional’s business.
Frank Billotto is responsible for driving DuPont’s vision and business strategy for the Transportation Assembly sector in the Americas. Within the Transportation & Industrial business, he identifies and develops new opportunities for business growth and leads the execution of marketing strategies in these regions.
Larry Butkovich is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Precision Roll Grinders. Larry’s previous experience includes engineering at a vehicle OEM and battery manufacturer. He also managed operations at an electrical device manufacturer producing DC quick chargers for electric vehicles. Larry brings a unique blend of 25 years’ experience supporting automotive and battery manufacturing through engineering, operations, product management and sales.
Peter Chou is the vice president of KATOP, responsible for the sales center and strategic product department. He has 17 years of technical and management experience in new energy industry. Since joining KATOP in 2009, Peter has used his rich technical experience in key LIB equipment, such as dry electrode equipment, hydrogen energy, solid state, powder equipment, and material equipment, as well as forward-looking industry technologies, to lead the global development of KATOP.
Dave Collins was appointed vice president and general manager of Avery Dennison Performance Tapes, North America in June 2022. Based in Northeast Ohio, Dave leads the business’s commercial teams, drives top and bottom line growth, holds profit and loss responsibilities and oversees the organization’s long-term business strategy. Dave joined Avery Dennison in 2007 and has held positions of increasing responsibility in Label and Graphic Materials.
Phil Cozad is a Senior Staff Engineer and manager of the HazMat & Recycling Compliance Team. He serves as the N.A. Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Leader as well as the N.A. HazMat & Recycling Product Leader for Honda operations ensuring product chemical compliance. Phil serves on many industry action groups, in addition to his role as Board Member and Secretary for the Responsible Battery Coalition.
Austin Devaney has been in the battery and lithium markets for the last fifteen years with a focus on working with automotive, battery and materials companies to deliver lithium for the expansion of the battery market. Currently, I have an advisory business, Li7Charged and previously worked at Piedmont Lithium and Albemarle in a variety of roles managing their Lithium business with a focus on the battery market. Austin holds an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Mark Ferguson is a Director with the Metals & Mining Research group at S&P Global Commodity Insights, where he leads the metals markets team providing clients with 10-year forecasts for supply, demand and prices, across a suite of ferrous commodities, base metals, and battery materials. The team’s recent efforts are increasingly focused on supply chain resiliency across the critical minerals landscape. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology/Geography from Saint Mary’s University, and an MSc in Earth Sciences from Dalhousie University.
Ryan Franks is Director of Product Management at SES AI. With over 15 years of experience in the battery and energy storage industries, including testing and certification, product and service development, and techno-economic analysis, his mission has been to advance safe, high-performing energy storage. At SES AI, Ryan is responsible for advancing and delivering AI-enhanced, high-performance energy storage systems where reliability, safety, and uptime are non-negotiable. Ryan holds a BS in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Illinois and an MBA from John Carroll University.
Dave Geer is a Principal Engineer at Amphenol Advanced Sensors. A sensing company headquartered in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. Advanced Sensors services the sensing industry with temperature, contact and not contact, pressure, NDIR gas, and humidity sensing solutions, along with cell connection assemblies and remote data bridges from BMS to cloud data. Dave has 37 years of experience in sensors and sensor design, with his primary background focusing on sensing temperature in automotive applications. Dave has had 5 patents relating to the sensing industry granted over his career.
Katharina is the Customer Engagement Lead for the Battery Vertical at Siemens DISW. With her 15+ years of experience in the battery industry ranging from the direct lithium extraction to dry battery electrode process, her mission is to bring value to the wide range of battery companies. In addition to her role at Siemens, Katharina is a Co-chair of the “Electrode Materials Committee” at NAATBatt International and an advocate for the U.S. Battery Machine Builders Coalition.
Ulrik Grape has more than 30 years of experience in the battery and energy storage industry. He joined 24M in 2024 as President, European Operations, where he leads the company’s global expansion with European customers and partners. He is a respected industry leader, having run operations, strategy, business development and marketing for a variety of battery manufacturing companies in Europe and the U.S., including EnerDel in Indianapolis, IN and Seeo in Hayward, CA.
Brian is the Managing Director for Global Expansion of Titan Lithium. A serial entrepreneur and founder of numerous companies, Brian has played a key role in advancing tech transfer across diverse international markets. His companies have raised over $500 million in capital to date. Brian began his career at Siemens and holds a BA from the University of Rochester, an MBA, and a MS in Information Science from Penn State University.
Dawn Heng is the President of Celgard, LLC, a leading global supplier of high-performance microporous membranes. Celgard holds several patents on market-leading technologies, including ceramic coated separators and the “dry stretch” manufacturing process that produces battery separators without the use of solvents. Dawn has more than 20 years of energy storage and automotive industry experience.
Dieter Hofmann, Senior Director at Thermo Fisher Scientific, leads innovations in battery research, focusing on characterization, next-gen batteries, and sustainability. He collaborates with industry, academia, and government to drive advancements in clean energy technologies like fuel cells, solar panels, and carbon capture, with a focus on emerging trends.
Michael Joy is the Vice President of Business Development for Airgas, an Air Liquide company. He has more than 25 years of experience in the gas and welding industry, in both industrial distribution and OEM environments. Prior to his current appointment, Mike held several leadership positions within Airgas, including Vice President – Bulk Gas Sales & Operations, Vice President – Hardgoods , Vice President – Sales & Marketing Operations, and National Sales Manager for the Manufacturing & Metal Fabrication Segment.
Chris Kahl serves as the VP of Business Development at Omega Harvested Metallurgical. Omega Harvested Metallurgical is one of the leading eco-friendly end-of-life processors of lithium-ion batteries. Chris has spent over 12 years in senior positions in the recycling industry, creating efficient, cost-effective, sustainable pathways for manufactures. He has successfully overseen the recycling of 60+ million pounds of batteries and production scrap since his engagement in the battery industry.
Stephanie Van Kirk has 20+ years of experience in the battery industry and has held leadership roles in technical account management, program development, and product innovation focusing on lead acid, NiMH, and lithium-ion chemistries for EVs, stationary storage, and specialty applications. She handles battery industry strategies and battery business development.
David is the Chief Executive Officer of Cirba Solutions. His impressive, over 25-year career is in research & development, operations, commercial, and strategic leadership roles across numerous innovative industries, including the global lithium business, energy storage, and several specialty materials industries. While working at Piedmont Lithium, Albemarle, and Dow Chemical he had expansive assignments in Spain, Switzerland, Australia, and China, that brought out his passion for travel and culture. He is a Chemical Engineer with an Executive MBA in Global Management, and focuses on safety, operations, talent development, and innovation.
Brian Koontz is the Industry Principal at Honeywell leading the Battery Industry vertical within the Connected Industrial Division. Over his 24-year career he has led strategic initiatives across Electric, Gas, & Industrial Sectors spearheading emerging technologies in Battery, Software & Hardware technologies. His experience in Batteries started during the DOE’s EV Project in 2010 working with OEM’s and deployment of EV Chargers across the US.
He has a passion for energy transformation, holds an MBA from Western International University, and a BS in Business from DeVry University.
He has a passion for energy transformation, holds an MBA from Western International University, and a BS in Business from DeVry University.
Bernie Kotlier, Executive Director IBEW-NECA California and Nevada
Bernie Kotlier directs the development, promotion, and delivery of sustainable energy training for electricians, and business development programs for electrical contractors in California and Nevada including energy auditing, energy efficiency, photovoltaics, electric vehicles, energy storage and micro-grids. Bernie has been a member of the California Public Utilities Commission Advisory Committee on Energy Efficiency Workforce Development, the PUC Working Group on Lighting, and the State of California Schools of the Future Initiative Advisory Committee.
Bernie Kotlier directs the development, promotion, and delivery of sustainable energy training for electricians, and business development programs for electrical contractors in California and Nevada including energy auditing, energy efficiency, photovoltaics, electric vehicles, energy storage and micro-grids. Bernie has been a member of the California Public Utilities Commission Advisory Committee on Energy Efficiency Workforce Development, the PUC Working Group on Lighting, and the State of California Schools of the Future Initiative Advisory Committee.
Zachary Kuznar is Managing Director of Distributed Energy Technology for Duke Energy. In this role Zak leads a team responsible for developing and executing the strategy to create an investment portfolio for Combined Heat and Power, energy storage and microgrids for all of Duke Energy’s regulated companies. Previously he worked in Duke’s Emerging Technology Office. Zak holds an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Yale University.
Mark Matthews has served as Chief Technology Officer and President, Specialty Global, since August 2025, after serving as Acting CTO beginning in March 2025. He joined EnerSys in 2016 and has held senior leadership roles including Senior Vice President, Specialty Global, Vice President of EnerSys Advanced Systems, and Senior Director of Sales and Marketing.
With more than 30 years of experience in energy storage and lithium battery technology, Mark brings deep expertise in lithium-ion chemistry, energy systems design, and commercialization. As CTO, he leads EnerSys’ Lithium-Ion Center of Excellence and advances the company’s lithium strategy across battery energy storage, aerospace, and defense applications.
Ian McCallum is the Chief Growth Officer of Anovion Battery Materials. He has spent over 25 years in advanced materials manufacturing, energy storage, and transportation industries, including over a decade in the battery materials and electrochemical energy storage industries. Leadership roles include business strategy, marketing/sales, R&D, engineering, and operations at Amsted Graphite Materials, Alcoa, UCAR/GrafTech, Celgard and Asahi Kasei.
Dr. Brian Morin is President and co-Founder of Dreamweaver International, a Lithium-ion and Supercapacitor separator manufacturer. Brian CEO of Innegrity LLC from 2004 – 2010. Brian previously spent nine years in the Research Division of Milliken & Company. Brian received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in physics from The Ohio State University. He received his B.S. degree in physics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Margaret O’Riley, founder of O’Riley Consulting, helps clients in the green energy sector with business development and strategy. She works with SkillFusion, EnerSys, and Storlytics. A key figure in founding the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Margaret is an accomplished economic developer and is well known for advancing sustainability in the transportation and energy industries.
Vice President Growth And Technology at Orbia
Miki Oljaca has extensive experience in growth and technology leadership roles. In 1998, they started as the Director of Nanotechnology at nGimat. They later held various positions at Cabot Corporation from 2004 to 2019, including Technology Director and Global Segment Manager for Energy Materials. In 2019, they joined Koura Global as Director of Growth and Technology, progressing to Senior Director. Currently, in 2022, Miki serves as the Vice President of Growth and Technology at Orbia, while also serving as a Board Observer at Ascend Elements. Their roles have involved leading growth strategies, overseeing technical organizations, and driving innovation and partnerships.
Miki Oljaca has extensive experience in growth and technology leadership roles. In 1998, they started as the Director of Nanotechnology at nGimat. They later held various positions at Cabot Corporation from 2004 to 2019, including Technology Director and Global Segment Manager for Energy Materials. In 2019, they joined Koura Global as Director of Growth and Technology, progressing to Senior Director. Currently, in 2022, Miki serves as the Vice President of Growth and Technology at Orbia, while also serving as a Board Observer at Ascend Elements. Their roles have involved leading growth strategies, overseeing technical organizations, and driving innovation and partnerships.
Miki Oljaca completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine in 1993, followed by a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1998.
Vincent Ledoux Pedailles is Chief Commercial Officer at CarbonScape. Vincent is a recognised commercial leader in the battery space. Vincent was previously CCO at Vulcan Energy, where he secured offtake agreements with 5 OEMs, co-lead more than €500M of equity funding, including the first equity investment in lithium from an OEM. He was on the board and supported other battery metals projects. Vincent was also appointed as a critical raw material expert by the European Commission. He previously worked at IHS Markit where he led the battery materials research team covering the entire industry’s supply chain.
John Platt is a partner at the law firm of Snell & Wilmer and a proud member of NAATBatt. He advises and represents clients with intellectual property strategies, audits, contracts, due diligence and litigation. John also handles licensing agreements and patent and trademark prosecutions.
John’s patent practice involves Alternative Energy Technologies, using his dual degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering to assist his clients with protecting their intellectual property. He has prosecuted patents in solar, wind, micro-grid, hybrid vehicle electric motors, generation, power regulation and energy storage.
John’s patent practice involves Alternative Energy Technologies, using his dual degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering to assist his clients with protecting their intellectual property. He has prosecuted patents in solar, wind, micro-grid, hybrid vehicle electric motors, generation, power regulation and energy storage.
Dr. Sudhir Rajagopalan is a Senior R&D Project Manager at Siemens Corporation, with over 20 years of experience in research and technology spanning materials science, advanced manufacturing, and Automation and AI on the industrial edge. At Siemens, he has held various roles driving innovation and strategic development. He is known for his leadership in government R&D opportunities and his contributions to high-impact projects. Sudhir maintains strong partnerships across teams and actively engages with several industries, including Battery manufacturing, Aerospace, Energy and Controlled Environment Agriculture – shaping the future of industrial automation.
Craig Rigby joined Johnson Controls, the predecessor of Clarios, in 2007 and currently serves as the Advanced Market & Technology Strategist for Power Solutions. In this role, Rigby focuses on macro level drivers that shape the energy storage market with the goal of delivering a technology strategy that aligns with our customers’ long-term needs and objectives. In addition, he investigates and evaluates new technology opportunities for partnerships or acquisitions to support the technology strategy.
Kenan Sahin is an award winning academic, scientist, inventor, technologist, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. Educated at MIT, he has served on the faculties of MIT, University of Massachusetts and Harvard. In 1984, Dr. Sahin founded Kenan Systems, growing it into an international company before selling it to Lucent/Bell Labs. In 2002 he started TIAX where he formulated a cluster of business models and practiced them to mature early stage technologies to be IP protected, de-risked and production ready. In 2014, he spun out of TIAX CAMX Power, a leader in the development of advanced cathode materials for lithium-ion battery applications in the automotive and high-end portable electronics markets.
Mike Sandoval is the Vice President – Business Development at Maccor, Inc. He is a twenty-year veteran of the automated battery-test industry. His experience includes technical business-to-business capital equipment development, marketing, and sales and has substantial skills in software programming, manufacturing, and product development.
Rudolf Schick is Chief Science Officer at Spraying Systems Co. Under his direction, he aligned the company’s diverse testing facilities, best evidence from research and practice, and organizational learning to establish the world’s largest and most sophisticated industrial spray laboratory. Rudi’s professional affiliations include the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), former Chair of ILASS (Institute of Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems), American Physical Society Department of Fluid Dynamics (APS-DFD), and Chair of the Industrial Advisory Council of the University of Illinois.
Ann Schoeb is the Chief Research and Development Officer and Business Leader for Energy Systems at Birla Carbon. Ann has primary responsibility for all aspects of global R&D aligned with the business strategy and growth targets. Ann earned a BS degree in Chemistry from Minnesota State University, a MS, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University.
Amendi Stephens represents Industrial Business Development within Alabama Power’s Economic & Community Development organization. Amendi identifies profitable economic growth opportunities across many industry sectors and is a key resource to industrial companies seeking to grow their business within the state of Alabama. Amendi has nearly 20 years of utility industry experience in various roles at Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest producers of energy.
Sarah Stiegelmann is the Managing Director of IKA Works, Inc., part of the family-owned IKA Group. Leading North American operations from Wilmington, North Carolina, she represents the next generation of IKA leadership, committed to innovation, sustainable growth, and strengthening IKA’s legacy of excellence in laboratory, process, and battery technology worldwide.
Bjoern Stoll is the CEO & President of Digatron Power Electronics, USA, and Quench Americas. He is an accomplished business leader with a significant international experience. Bjoern’s expertise spans the cryogenic sector, energy, battery, and charging infrastructure industries. Bjoern previously served as COO and a Board Member of the largest cryogenic valve company in India and Southeast Asia. He now spearheads advancements in EV Charging Infrastructure, Energy storage, and Battery Manufacturing Equipment throughout the Americas.
Eddie Sugar is the Principal and Founder of EAS Advisors. He has more than 25-years of experience in commodities and related sectors. Prior to EAS Advisors, Eddie was the Managing Director of Jefferies & Co. in New York from 1999 until 2008, responsible for international equity sales and trading. Prior to Jefferies, Eddie worked as Managing Director for Marc Rich & Co. in Sydney, Australia.
Ben Taecker is the Chief Engineering and Operations Officer of Aqua Metals. Ben has over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and operations leadership. He has spent the last 12 years in battery recycling startups with focus on environmental regulation compliance, process development and operational excellence. At Aqua Metals, he has helped develop and commercialize a safe clean process for battery recycling.
Chris Turner is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Inventus Power and responsible for developing and integrating new technology into next-generation products and systems. He has over 20 years of multi-disciplined battery industry experience including battery technology development and strategic development of rechargeable power systems from companies such as Sony Ericsson, AER Energy Resources and SAFT Aerospace Batteries (formerly Gates Aerospace Batteries). Mr. Turner holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of South Carolina and holds several patents related to battery technology.
Mike Uhl is the President & CEO of A&D Technology, a test automation company who delivers integrated battery lab solutions and services. Offering a wide range of applications related to electrification including hardware & software-in-the-loop. Mike and been involved with battery R&D, validation, and manufacturing testing solutions across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Tim Vargo is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Stryten Energy, a U.S.-based manufacturer of stored energy solutions for the renewable energy, industrial, transportation and military and government markets. Stryten Energy helps solve the world’s most pressing energy challenges with advanced lead, lithium and vanadium flow battery solutions. Mr. Vargo has more than 40 years of leadership and managerial experience in stored energy solutions, automotive supply chain and process improvement.
Laura Wagner is the EV Battery Sustainability and Recycling Manager at General Motors, developing strategies for circularity, recycling, and tracking of batteries throughout their lifecycle. Laura spent her early career in purchasing and holds two patents in supply chain solutions. She brings over twenty years of non-profit board experience, including executive positions, and is currently an advisory board member to The Battery Show.
Vinayak has 20+ experience in consulting, private equity and industry and currently leads Customized Energy Solutions’ consulting practice globally with a focus on energy storage and renewable integration. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst with extensive experience in financial modelling and advisory in US and international markets. His focus is on techno-commercial analysis of energy storage projects, strategy consulting and investment analysis of emerging technologies.