And the EVA Board candidates are…
The 2023 Electric Vehicle Association National Board candidates come from across North America
Members of the Electric Vehicle Association are invited to virtually meet the candidates for the 2023 National EVA Board.
The EVA is North America’s leading volunteer organization that accelerates the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by supporting our 100 chapters and members as they talk one-on-one about the benefits of driving electric.
You can join the EVA and become a future voting member for only $55/year. Membership supports our EV education and outreach work.
Let’s meet the candidates.
Arthur M. Burton
Current Profession:
Managing Agent/Owner of AMB Renewable Energy Inc.
How will you add value to the EVA Board?
I would like to provide EV charging and renewable energy information to underserved areas
What is your most effective contribution toward the adoption of EVs?
We install EV chargers
What type of leadership makes you thrive?
End results of a finish product or service
Arthur’s Candidate Statement:
AMB Renewable Energy INC.
We provide Energy Efficiency Service and Products for New Development and Retrofits for both Residential and Commercial business. As we support Community Outreach Group working to develop and implement (CEJA) Clean Energy Jobs Act and (FEJA) Future Energy Jobs Acts) programs in underserved areas.
We completed our first clean energy project in 2020 — the installation of a Level 2 EV charging station at St. Paul’s Church on Chicago’s North Side.
As a Board Member for the Electric Vehicle Association in the Chicagoland area. This will allow myself and my team to promote Clean Energy Service for community access in many of the city’s EV Charging Deserts.
James P. "Jim" Donovan
Current Profession:
Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Provider.
How will you add value to the EVA Board?
I will apply my ability to think outside the box, to find the "win-win," and to attend to the business at hand in an organized, well rounded, professional and respectful way. This simple approach has garnered respect and admiration among my peers.
What is your most effective contribution toward the adoption of EVs?
Historically, being one of the five locals that created the Mid America Electric Automobile Association in 1992. More recent, being the Chapter Leader with MyEVA and coordinating our local association's post-covid activities.
What type of leadership makes you thrive?
Allowing people latitude to work towards their objectives.
Jim’s Candidate Statement:
The Mid America Electric Automobile Association (MAEAA) defined our post COVID world by addressing three questions—who are we, what do we do, and how do we do it? I will carry this approach onto the EVA Board.
EVA answers the first two questions. MAEAA’s annual activity calendar answers the third through our educational displays and presentations (Earth Days, Clean Air Days, Energy Action Days), municipal planning and building code meetings, middle and high school presentations, Electrathon and Solar Races, and uncountable presentations at social clubs, philanthropic organizations, public meetings.
I coordinate MAEAA’s monthly meetings in a hybrid format. Each meeting includes a guest presentation on an EV related topic and a “round robin” discussion initiated by those in attendance.
My philosophy is simple: Members own the organization and are the Boards’ boss. As a Board member I will advocate for:
The Board to expand our web page to include a copy of our IRS designation, bylaws, and annual operating budget – these three documents communicate and reflect our core values and priorities. Nothing is as important as sharing these values/priorities with our members.
Work with the board to assist chapters in finding and incorporating social media options, including hosting chapter web pages and assistance in developing some minimal level of content design and maintenance.
Reviewing the EVA membership database to report the make/model of member EV’s.
Creating EV specific make/model social media groups of like-minded members.
Expanding EVA’s partnership opportunities to include auto parts businesses.
Terri Kirsch
Current Profession:
VP, BizDev
How will you add value to the EVA Board?
My many years of business ownership and volunteer work lend a specific skill set at multiple levels from leadership, process management, business development, strategic planning and team building.
What is your most effective contribution toward the adoption of EVs?
Leadership as a director and officer of Electric Vehicle Association the past 3 years and through the dozens and dozens of outreach events I've done with Electric Car Insider.
What type of leadership makes you thrive?
Thoughtful leadership and open communication.
Terri’s Candidate Statement:
I am so pleased to once again run for a national board position with the Electric Vehicle Association. As current EVA Vice President and former treasurer, secretary and elections commissioner, I am happy to volunteer my time to elevate the Electric Vehicle Association while supporting our chapters and their members.
Some of my accomplishments working on the board of EVA have included the involvement of the name and logo change to Electric Vehicle Association to include all types of EV’s, not just cars; leading a sponsorship committee for a successful award with Electrify America of $150,000; increasing business memberships by 610%; cohosting webinars for Drive Electric Earth Day and National Drive Electric Week with Plug-In-America; to name a few.
As the association grows, our board needs thoughtful leaders that can take charge, set goals, stay on task and finish on time! Traits I strive to accomplish in my current position and will continue if I am re-elected.
A little about me and my past—After retiring as CEO from my special effects company, I joined Electric Car Insider in 2017 as the Managing Tour Director and am now Vice President of Business Development. I have worked closely with numerous EVA chapters with over 115 EV events around the nation. I personally have had over 400 people drive my cars in order to show them the true experience. Not one you can easily describe.
I am the proud owner of a 2022 red Tesla Model S. In fact, my 3rd electric vehicle! I am proud to say there are now six electric vehicles in my family, including my first Tesla which is now driven by my 87-year-old father…creating generations of EV lovers.
Kate Kruk
Current Profession:
Director of Community Engagement for Livingston Energy Group
How will you add value to the EVA Board?
My background in event planning, fundraising and education are all valuable skills I can bring to the organization. As an early adopter of EV technology, I enjoy sharing my family's journey to making the transition to all-electric transportation.
What is your most effective contribution toward the adoption of EVs?
I was recently the City Captain for NDEW2022 in Schenectady, NY "The Electric City." This event had the most registered attendees in the country. I have also spoken at the NY legislative hearing called to build the state's EV infrastructure.
What type of leadership makes you thrive?
Lead by doing. I am an in-the-trenches leader
Kate’s Candidate Statement:
Kate Kruk is the Director of Community Engagement for Livingston Energy Group. Kate is charged with educating the public about electric vehicles, the infrastructure to support them and the economic development possibilities related to e-mobility. Kate has been driving electric since 2015, and her experience with the early bumps in the road combined with her background in education led to pursuing her passion to promote the benefits of green technology. Kate is the President of the newly formed New York Capital District Electric Vehicle Association, City Captain for Schenectady’s National Drive Electric Week, and a member of the New York State Tourism Industry Association’s Sustainability Task Force. Additionally, she is the Vice President of Schalmont Central School District School Board, a Member of the Capital District Electric Car Drivers Club, sits on the BOCES Advisory Board for Career & Technical Education (CTE), and volunteers with various other organizations throughout the community.
Kate is passionate about promoting education in green technology and improving the necessary workforce needed to support the rapid evolution in the EV charging industry. Her understanding that green technology businesses must recruit, train, and retain a workforce of jobs that did not historically exist led her to build partnerships with local CTE programs. In 2022, she coordinated the first apprenticeship program between Cap. Region BOCES Game Design & Implementation Class and Livingston Energy Group’s development team. She has collaborated with Schenectady’s SEAT Center, HVCC, Questar III and local high school counselors to support internship and job shadowing opportunities and facilitate relationships that will bring a diverse workforce into emerging green energy technology careers.
Kate plans to utilize her time on the EVA board to encourage young adults to understand the benefits of more sustainable transportation and help to develop an EVA scholarship to support students exploring green energy technology.
Douglas Nolan
Current Profession:
Editor of TV/Film and Solar Developer
How will you add value to the EVA Board?
Continued support and educating people; especially people who are skeptic about pulling more electricity from the dirty grids who are using fossil fuels to power EV charge stations. Along those lines, I want to build more community solar arrays.
What is your most effective contribution toward the adoption of EVs?
When I completed and got certified in Electric Vehicles, I learned all sorts of new information to verbally spread the word. It really takes a conversation to convince a lot of people. Plus, I start with people I know and family members also.
What type of leadership makes you thrive?
Positive energy, teamwork, communication, strategic, and transformational.
Douglas’s Candidate Statement:
Since becoming a member, I have gained a Certification in Electric Vehicles through the edX online learning platform. We studied at a collegiate level the transition to electric vehicles, technology, business, and government policies.
I own a solar farm company. The latest venture we are doing is building community solar arrays. We have 4 sites so far and are weighing their feasibility. This way we can have community charge stations at apartment complexes.
Education is extremely important. When I was trained in solar, we merely educated consumers. I am highly motivated to spread the word. And I want to introduce our own "Introduction to Electric vehicles" course or workshop for newbies.
My Bachelor's Degree is in Mass Communication and I am half way through gaining my Master's Degree in Business where I scored very high in Leadership, Teamwork, and Finance. I have been including Electric Vehicles in my class projects (which all become realities). I was recently promoted to Lead Editor of the TV show I am working on. I also have 4.5 years of experience running a business and managing human resources using Applied Psychology.
I just saw a segment on local news with Stu Mundel about Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and their partnership with Electrify America. They assumed we all knew it was EV.
So far this year, I attended the Electrify Expo in Long Beach where I shot and recorded the entire panel of experts on 3 cameras; including Jo Borras, Electrify News, Loren McDonald, Electric Vehicle and EV Charging Expert, Joost De Vries CEO, DeLorean Motor Company, Chris Anthony CEO, Aptera, Tannaz Banisadre, COO, Shell ReCharge, Raven Hernandez, Co-Founder/CEO, Earth Rides, Melika Jahangiri, Sr. Director e-mobility, Cummins, Jack Gillin, Senior Director Business Growth, Okai, and other Directors of Public Policy and City Transportation Authorities.
I will be populating the Electric Vehicle Association’s YouTube Channel. I covered the Orange County Auto Show and just got Media Credentials for The LA Auto Show/Automobility LA November 17th.
I have been actively establishing relationships with Lexus, Kia, Hyundai, General Motors, BMW, Volvo, Ford, and way too many eBike companies to mention.
And have reserved the all-Electric Chevy Silverado for myself.
Jeff Ward
Current Profession:
Project Manager
How will you add value to the EVA Board?
I would add value to the EVA by bringing the same momentum I've brought the state of Arkansas.
What is your most effective contribution toward the adoption of EVs?
Assisted the state of Arkansas in the roll out of the FMAC, AEVIDP, & founded AEVO.
What type of leadership makes you thrive?
Situational leadership.
Jeff’s Candidate Statement:
I am an active board member for the ‘EVA - Arkansas Chapter’ as well as founder of Arkansas Electric Vehicle Owners. More info: here facebook.com/groups/AREVOwners
I created AREVO because there was little information, locally, for EV owners. I wanted a central online community for Arkansans to discuss charging infrastructure, problems, solutions, as well as local EV fellowship.
I began to notice many issues on the state and local city levels w/ lack of infrastructure for EV’s. I attempted to gain traction by writing to local legislation but requests seemed to fall on deaf ears. So I joined ARDOT in August 2021 and began working w/ our governor & local legislators to bring awareness to future mobility, the coming shift from ICE to EV’s & particularly the lack of infrastructure for EV's in our state.
Soon after, in February 2022, we announced the 'Future Mobility Council’. More info here http://tiny.cc/foc0vz
Recently, I aided in the work to draft an EV infrastructure plan. That plan is beginning to come to fruition. More info may be found here www.ardot.gov/divisions/transportation-planning-policy/electric-vehicle-infrastructure/
I hope to bring this same momentum I've brought Arkansas, to a national organization like EVA.
Michael Yared
Current Profession:
CEO of a software consultancy
How will you add value to the EVA Board?
I've spent 18 years helping build and market companies digitally. This includes startups who cannot misuse their limited funds and fortune 500 companies who are competing globally. Digital is the fastest way to spread the message on EVs.
What is your most effective contribution toward the adoption of EVs?
Being a shareholder in Tesla since 2012 and telling everyone who will listen why electric is the future. I've convinced a dozen friends and family to purchase an EV over the years and it gets easier every day.
What type of leadership makes you thrive?
Efficient and transparent leadership
Michael’s Candidate Statement:
Electric vehicles are a superior product to legacy, gasoline powered products. My why for wanting to join the EVA board is to help spread the message as quickly possible to as many people as possible. I feel strongly that society will see an increased network effect as more people choose to power their lives with renewable electricity over fossil fuels.
And to make this happen, I believe that education is the key. I learn something new that challenges my thinking at every EVA event I attend, and I really appreciate that this organization is involved in educating folks about more than just vehicles. We know that gas and oil change stations will morph in the future and that roads in the Midwest will look like more like roads in California do today. It’s the time horizon that’s in question. My hope is that I can bring my skill set to the EVA board and help positively influence more individuals by being a board member than I otherwise would.
I want to work with like-minded organizations to help fund a significant overhaul in how the EVA communicates and markets to the outside world. I think it’s important that this organization move from being primarily run by volunteers to having full-time, dedicated staff who will push the mission forward at a faster pace.