Federal Priorities & Opportunities in Electrification
A free Defense Alliance webinar

When

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT
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Cost

FREE - Registration is required

Where

This is an online event

Event Contact

Pat Lawton 
Defense Alliance
plawton@defensealliance.com 

About the Defense Alliance

MISSION:  Defense Alliance accelerates commercialization for technology products and services, and contributes to regional economic development by supporting small businesses in the Upper Midwest.

The Alliance also contributes to the vibrancy of the defense industry and the national technology base in various market areas such as:  power and energy, strategic natural resources, cybersecurity, and others. The national technology base is driven largely by defense requirements and spending (both off-the-shelf and R&D), and we encourage firms to consider funding their innovations through DoD programs where available.

To learn more, visit our website: http://www.defensealliance.com

Join Defense Alliance, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Technological Leadership Institute (TLI) for a one-hour informational webinar on Federal priorities and opportunities in electrification.

The Federal government has embraced and helped to lead the myriad technology advances in electrification for multiple industries.  This event will cover the significant opportunities that have emerged for small business.  You will learn about:

  • Technology policy and program priorities of the Federal government
  • Contract and R&D opportunities available to small business
  • Industry tech trends, from vehicle fleet electrification to batteries and much more
  • The growing workforce needs and trends for electrification
  • Ways to stay connected to the rapidly changing electrification and adjacent markets
  • The Technological Leadership Institute’s Electrification Initiative

Webinar Agenda:  

11:00 – 11:05: Introduction and Welcome
Chip Laingen, Executive Director – Defense Alliance

11:05 – 11:30: Electrification Across the Federal Government – Policy and Opportunity
Stephanie Gresalfi, MBA, Zero Emission Vehicle Program Manager, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

11:30 – 11:50: Industry Trends in Electrification, Technology and Workforce
Electrification Initiative, University of Minnesota Technological Leadership Institute (TLI)
Dr. Travis Thul, Senior Fellow and Director of Operations, TLI

11:50 – 12:00: Discussion / Questions & Answers / Summary
Chip Laingen, Executive Director – Defense Alliance
Stephanie Gresalfi, MBA Zero Emission Vehicle Program Manager – GSA
Dr. Travis Thul, Senior Fellow and Director of Operations – TLI

Meet the Presenters: 

  • Stephanie Gresalfi, MBA, Zero Emission Vehicle Program Manager, GSA 
Stephanie manages GSA's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) team.  In her role she advises agencies on how to electrify their fleets, take advantage of GSA's vehicle offerings and plan for electric vehicle charging.  She also works with firms to help them sell to the government and diversify GSA's electric offerings.  In 2016, she served as a Senior Sustainability Advisor to The White House Council on Environmental Quality working to obtain commitments from cities and states to deploy electric vehicles nationwide.  Stephanie is a 2019 graduate from the Partnership for Public Service's Excellence in Government Leadership Program and holds a History degree from George Washington University and an MBA from The University of Maryland.


  • Travis M. Thul, D.Eng., P.E., Senior Fellow & Director of Operations, Technological Leadership Institute

Prior to joining the Technological Leadership Institute, Travis was a White House Fellow charged with developing and executing export content policy for transformational technologies and coordinated economic diplomacy outreach as part of the Abraham Accords.  He previously served as Dean of Technology at Minnesota State College Southeast.  Travis has chaired the American National Standards Institute Working Group for Wireless Power. He is a reserve Coast Guard Commander and the managing partner of 2T2J, Inc.  Travis serves as the Electrical Engineer Member on Minnesota’s Board of Electricity and as an Engineer Member on the MN Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design.  He is a licensed Professional Engineer and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.