Date: July 23
Time : 2:45 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Multipurpose Room
Participants will explore how community engagement can shape transportation and fuel decisions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits. They will identify approaches for building trust, incorporating local priorities, and improving equity in advanced transportation planning. The session will help attendees develop a stronger understanding of how community-led processes can support lasting adoption and shared value.
Alexander Baad is a clean transportation policy professional with more than five years of experience advancing equitable, community-driven e-mobility initiatives across domestic and international contexts. Currently serving as Mid-Atlantic & Northeast Program Manager at EVNoire, Alexander leads the development and implementation of seven regional e-mobility projects and campaign plans spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Northeast. He has supported more than two dozen EV-focused events, webinars, and panels, strengthening stakeholder engagement and public education while fostering partnerships among government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. Alexander has contributed to policy and research efforts at organizations including the League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Defense Fund, Sustainable Duke, and the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. His work has included authoring policy analyses and white papers on electric school buses, fleet electrification, and energy efficiency, helping inform advocacy strategies and state policy development. Alexander holds a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, with concentrations in environmental, energy, and sustainability policy, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. Alexander brings strengths in stakeholder engagement, project management, policy analysis, media communications, and public outreach, with a continued focus on advancing clean transportation solutions that deliver measurable community and climate benefits.
Hannah LaCon is the founder and visionary behind HerculE-Q, a technology company developing innovative wireless charging solutions for electric mobility and next-generation energy applications. Her work focuses on advancing accessible, efficient, and scalable charging infrastructure designed to support the future of transportation and sustainable energy systems.
As an entrepreneur and emerging leader in clean technology, Hannah has participated in nationally recognized accelerator and fellowship programs, securing funding and strategic partnerships to grow HerculE-Q’s impact. Her collaborations with organizations such as NASA, NREL, New York Institute of Technology, and Reaktor have helped position the company at the forefront of innovation in wireless power transfer and its commercialization.
Beyond her work in technology, Hannah brings a multidisciplinary background in entrepreneurship, project management, leadership development, and community engagement. She is passionate about building solutions that merge innovation, sustainability, and social impact while creating opportunities for the next generation of founders and engineers.
Nessa Stoltzfus Barge serves at the Director of Engagement for Generation180. Nessa equips individuals across the U.S. to take clean energy actions in their homes and communities and engages individuals who are already taking action through Generation180’s ambassador programs. She loves hearing about the action that triggered a person’s clean energy journey and is inspired by those who encourage their neighbors, friends, and family to consider an electric vehicle, expand solar in their community, or switch an old appliance from fossil fuel to electric. Nessa brings 20 plus years of experience working communities and individuals and collecting data to tell stories and inform next steps. She powers her home with solar and drives electric to create a more sustainable future for the next generations and to preserve the mountains, wildlife, and biodiversity of the Shenandoah Valley where she lives.
