Our Team

GNA has built team of changemakers that are helping the transportation and energy industries redefine what is possible.

Working at GNA means collaborating beyond technical background, specialty, or expertise. Our team members all bring integrity, passion, and curiosity to GNA—traits necessary to change the world around them. We begin every challenge knowing we will find a solution. We always start with yes.

Our Leadership Team

Erik Neandross

Erik Neandross

Chief Executive Officer & GNA Partner

As one of the alternative fuel industry’s most knowledgeable, engaged, and trusted professionals, Erik has been at the forefront of some of the nation’s largest alternative fuel vehicle projects–working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and public sector representatives. He has led the development of several of the nation’s most successful planned clean fuel corridors and is actively engaged with leading manufacturers and end-use commercial fleet operators in the transition to zero and near-zero emission technology in both the on-road and off-road sectors. He is the visionary who has launched some of the nation’s leading alternative fuel conferences, including the nation’s leading event for advanced clean transportation technologies and low carbon fuels, ACT Expo.

Sean Turner

Sean Turner

Chief Operating Officer & GNA Partner

Sean oversees GNA’s technical team, manages a number of GNA’s day-to-day operations, and personally works directly on a host of engineering and advanced technology projects. He provides senior technical oversight to GNA’s clients on alternative fuel initiatives, air quality improvement, fleet planning, and vehicular technology. For more than 30 years, Sean has worked in international engineering consulting and government affairs on automotive emissions, alternative fuels, and air-quality issues.

Cliff Gladstein

Cliff Gladstein

Founding President

Since founding GNA in 1993, Cliff has been instrumental in the development of environmental programs and policies that have improved air quality, increased the use of clean fuels and advanced technologies in transportation, and spurred the creation of innovative public-private partnerships in a variety of sectors. It is for these reasons that he has become one of the most sought after leaders within the environmental and energy communities—he offers unparalleled experience, insight, and perspective on critical issues at the very heart of our transportation and energy systems.

Karen Mann

Karen Mann

Senior Vice President, Programs & GNA Partner

Karen has led GNA’s grant writing effort for 22 years and heads the Programs and Policies department. Her team aggressively pursues incentives that accelerate the market for low-emission technologies. Her work focuses on implementing cost-effective and technically viable projects that reduce environmental impacts. Karen’s responsibilities include analyzing the feasibility of low-emission technologies based on current operations, tracking regulations and funding opportunities, market studies, leading research for and writing of grant applications, and facilitating successful implementation of low-emission strategies.

Sarah Gallagher

Sarah Gallagher

Senior Vice President, Creative & GNA Partner

Sarah Gallagher has nearly 20 years of experience developing communications strategies for both small businesses and globally recognized brands spanning the transportation, energy, and financial sectors. She led the launch of GNA’s creative division — a full-service in-house agency that supports clean transportation and energy stakeholders in developing marketing strategies, building brand awareness, influencing key decisionmakers, and developing outreach campaigns that result in tangible change. Her team also created Advanced Clean Tech News, an online media publication spotlighting the trends driving the future of commercial transportation. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Capital University and a master’s degree in communications management from the University of Southern California. She is a member of the Coalition for Clean Air, Women in Clean Tech & Energy, Heal the Bay, and Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy.

Patrick Couch

Patrick Couch

Senior Vice President, Technical Services & GNA Partner

Patrick both leads and collaborates on a wide range of projects and market development initiatives for GNA’s clients and brings extensive experience in the research, development, and demonstration of a broad range of advanced mobile and stationary power technologies to the firm. With over 18 years of experience in the clean energy space, Patrick’s work includes a mix of technical, business, and policy expertise from leading fleets through the evaluation of alternative fuel technologies to assisting policy makers with the development of practical and successful strategies for clean transportation. Patrick holds a B.S. and M.S in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Irvine.

21 years

of Average Industry Experience Per Senior Team Member (Transportation, Energy, Sustainability)

Joe Annotti

Joe Annotti

Senior Vice President, Programs & GNA Partner

Joe has aggregated over 15 years of industry experience across multiple sectors. He oversees a diverse team of program management, policy, and incentive specialists who drive innovative projects forward across the clean transportation industry. This includes GNA’s Funding 360 Program, which offers a comprehensive suite of grant tracking, writing, and management services to our clients. Building on his experience in the Gulf of Mexico’s oil and gas industry, Joe’s former leadership experience at the US Environmental Protection Agency supports clients seeking public affairs and policy guidance in the environmental arena.

JoAnne Golden

JoAnne Golden

Senior Vice President, Programs & GNA Partner

JoAnne brings over 10 years of experience in strategy development, policy analysis and advocacy, and clean transportation, specializing in electrification. As a trained policy and strategic initiatives expert, JoAnne pursues innovation-based solutions that will achieve client success with a focus on results and cost-effective solutions. She manages the agenda development for ACT Expo, oversees large and multi-faceted client projects, and leads a team of strategy, policy, and clean technology specialists. JoAnne has led large-scale funding efforts to accelerate transportation electrification, bringing her clients over $200 million in funding.

Tony Quist

Tony Quist

Senior Vice President, Events & GNA Partner

Tony has 25+ years’ experience organizing, trade shows and leading sponsorship & exhibitor sales programs for national and international trade shows and conferences spanning the transportation, energy, technology, first responder, aviation, recreational sports, professional beauty, aviation, mixed-use development, online and publishing industries. Tony launched the annual Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT Expo), North America’s largest Advanced Transportation Technology and Clean Fleet Event.

Jon Leonard

Jon Leonard

Senior Vice President, Technical Services

Jon Leonard has 30+ years of experience with government-industry collaborations to assess, demonstrate, commercialize and deploy advanced low-/zero-emission vehicle technologies. He authored countless major studies involving low-/zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles using low-carbon transportation fuels. At GNA, Jon authored major studies on HDVs (on- and off-road) using renewable natural gas and renewable diesel. He also authored a study about sustainable aviation fuel as an emerging strategy to decarbonize commercial aviation.  Prior to joining GNA in 2013, Jon spent 15 years at TIAX, 10 years at the South Coast AQMD, and 10 years conducing hands-on emissions motor vehicle testing programs at two different laboratories.

Kimberly Klonoski

Kimberly Klonoski

Vice President, Events

Kimberly Klonoski oversees the management and execution of client-hosted workshops and ribbon-cuttings, as well as GNA’s conference series. She has more than 10 years of experience in the event and hospitality industries including contract negotiation, and the management of venue, hotel, audio/visual, and catering contracts. She is a professional with extensive logistics experience impacting the visibility, reputation and profitability of events through strategic planning and tactical details. Kimberly has a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University. She is a member of the Coalition for Clean Air and Young Professionals in Energy.

Nate Springer

Nate Springer

Vice President, Market Development

Nate has nearly 20 years of experience in transportation and sustainability. He leads GNA’s sustainability and Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) practice to advise companies on setting goals, building strategies, and communicating results. Nate launched and runs the ACT Fleet Forum of top fleets who share best practice on clean tech and the State of Sustainable Fleets, the first neutral resource for fleet owners on leading sustainable fuel and vehicle technologies. Previously he managed more than 50 corporate sustainability projects with Fortune 500 companies and led global initiatives on clean vehicles and shipping. Nate is fluent in Spanish and holds an MBA with High Distinction and an MS in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan.

>45%

Have Worked for a Nonprofit or Public Agency

Brianna Lawrence

Brianna Lawrence

Vice President, Programs

Brianna Lawrence manages GNA’s Funding 360 Program, which delivers intelligence for more than 500 active incentive programs that support the development and deployment of advanced transportation technologies in the United States and Canada. With a background in private and corporate philanthropy, Brianna has nearly 10 years of experience in developing complex projects, preparing and reviewing applications, and managing project implementation. Brianna holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from UCLA and a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from UNLV.

Celeste Griffy

Celeste Griffy

Vice President, Communications Strategy

Our Team

Vernisa Allen

Senior Associate Programs

Hani Alsayad

Associate Programs, Compliance

Angela Amirkhanian

Senior Program Manager

Anthony Antonopoulos

Anthony Antonopoulos

Art Director

Stephane Babcock

Stephane Babcock

Director, Editorial & Partner Marketing

Abdedaim Battioui

Abdedaim Battioui

Program Manager

Jonah Berg-Ganzarain

Strategic Communications Manager

Rabia Billoo

Rabia Billoo

Senior Associate, Programs

Mark Blakeley

Senior Associate

Bill Bliem

Senior Project Director

Sharon Boutin

Sponsor & Exhibitor Manager

Barbara Brentano

Barbara Brentano

Manager, Engagement Marketing

Tiara Brown

Tiara Brown

Sr Technical Associate

7

Different Languages Fluently Spoken by GNA Team Members

Crystal Campbell

Senior Marketing Manager, Energy & Utilities

Jasmine Cannady

Digital Marketing Manager

Tony Choi

Tony Choi

Database Coordinator​

Rachel Clevers

Rachel Clevers

Associate

Bob Coale

Bob Coale

Senior Project Director

Sean Cocca

Sean Cocca

Director of Compliance

Mark Conolly

Mark Conolly

Sr Director, Programs

Erin Cornelius

Erin Cornelius

Program Manager

Ty Cratic

Senior Program Manager, Public Affairs

Anna Curtis

Associate, Programs

Chris Davis

Associate

Tim Decker

Tim Decker

Web Developer

Luis Dominguez

Luis Dominguez

Senior Associate

115+

Total Countries Visited (We love to travel and gain global insights!)

Claire Duckett

Sr. Associate, Programs

Kaleigh Enriquez

Senior Associate

Riley Erion

Riley Erion

Associate Programs

Amber Fearon

Vice President, Programs

Nick Fenstermaker

Senior Associate Programs

Nicole Alcombright

Nicole Fiel

Senior Director, Engagement Marketing

Emma Frantz

Emma Frantz

Program Manager

Owen Frazier

Owen Frazier

Program Manager

Chloe Friedheim

Associate

Zach Friedlander

Associate

Cass Garison

Senior Associate Programs

Tracy Garland

Senior Program Manager Programs

Harmony Gates

Senior Director of Compliance

Kristen Gifford

Kristen Gifford

Senior Manager, Communications Strategy

Sandeep Gill

Senior Director of Programs

Joshua Goldman

Technical Director, Fleet Electrification

Elizaveta Golikova

Director Programs

Kylee Golzar

Kylee Golzar

Associate Programs

Summer Grimmage

Front Desk Office Assistant

Carla Guerrero

Administrative Associate, Events

Bodi Hamdan

Bodi Hamdan

Senior Associate

Carlotta Harlan

Carlotta Harlan

Associate Programs

Nathan Hart

Senior Program Manager

Jo-Yee Ho

Senior Associate Technical

Carolyne Hogikyan

Senior Associate

Christian Hosler

Christian Hosler

Program Manager

Evangeline Hsu

Evangeline Hsu

Office Manager & Executive Assistant

Kristina Ishchenko

Kristina Ishchenko

Digital Campaign Manager

Leah Izzett

Senior Associate, Programs

Justine Jackson

Senior Associate Programs

Dan Janosec

Sr. Director, Funding & Incentives

James Javelosa

James Javelosa

Program Manager

Eleanor Johnstone

Eleanor Johnstone

Senior Project Manager

Sarah Kacmarsky

Sarah Kacmarsky

Strategic Communications Specialist

Faraz Kazmi

Program Manager

Patricia Kemp

Public Relations Manager

Maguire Kilpatrick

Administrative Associate, Programs

Amanda King

Amanda King

Associate Programs

Rustam Kocher

Senior Director

Jarrod Kohout

Jarrod Kohout

Senior Director

Venkat Lakshmanan

Senior Associate Programs

Nolan Lee

Senior Associate

Sophia Liebert

Sophia Liebert

CRM Database Manager

Peter Lopez

Peter Lopez

Program Manager

Rodger Lueras

Senior Art Director

Per Lundmark

Project Manager, LCFS

Mara MacDonell

Senior Associate Programs

Lawren Markle

Lawren Markle

Director of Media Relations

Mia Mayweather

Program Manager

Jaha McClean

Senior Associate Programs

Laura McElhaney

Program Manager, Compliance

Leigh Middleton

Project Manager

Mike Mitchell

Senior Director of Funding & Incentives

Rebecca Shields Moose

Program Manager

Joseph Navarro

Joseph Navarro

Associate

Flora Naylor

Associate

Taylor Nixon

Program Manager

Peter Ogundele

Peter Ogundele

Senior Program Manager

Colton Orr

Program Manager

Juliana Rodriguez Ortiz

Juliana Rodriguez Ortiz

Program Manager

Brennan Pastorek

Associate Compliance

Eleni Petrow

Eleni Petrow

Senior Program Manager

Henry Pines

Henry Pines

Program Manager

Brian Rice

Digital Designer

Hillary Rupert

Senior Director, Programs

Cacie Russell

Associate

Kathleen San

Sr. Associate, Programs

Amanda Sandoval

Events Coordinator

Rebecca Schenker

Rebecca Schenker

Senior Director, Programs

Fernando Ochoa Servin

Fernando Ochoa Servin

Administrative Associate

Caren Shorthouse

Senior Associate Programs

Tanzee Silver

Senior Director Programs

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith

Associate

Michael Somers

Senior Manager Sustainability Programs

Cindy Soria

Junior Accountant

Polly Spinassé

Polly Spinassé

Senior Associate, Compliance

Kali Staniec

Kali Staniec

Program Manager

Emily Stephens

Sr. Associate, Programs

Natalia Swalnick

Senior Director

Rosa Vizcarra

Senior Associate Compliance

Shannia Wade

Junior Accountant

Sean Wald

Exhibitor Account Manager

Cary Welsh

Senior Program Manager

Elexiss Winslow

Programs Administrative Assistant