The 2024 Electric Vehicle Association National Board candidates come from across North America

Members of the Electric Vehicle Association virtually met the candidates for the 2024 National EVA Board and voting has begun. The recording of the forum has been released on the EVA YouTube Channel.

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.

John Higham

Home chapter: Silicon Valley
Job title: Senior Program Management (retired)
Industry: Aerospace
Previous Relevant Experience: EVA Board of Directors 2018 - 2021

Expertise:

I have experience in writing proposals for the federal government and have been responsible in winning more than $1B in sales. Not sure if that will translate into writing proposals for grants, but suspect there is significant overlap.

I have lobbied at the federal level for Aerospace. I have written letters of support and letters of opposition for the EAA during my last tenure on the EAA BOD. I am eager to work on Public Policy surrounding EV adoption.

Candidate Statement:

EVs may be ready for the mainstream, but the mainstream is not ready for EVs. This fact is the largest impediment to accelerating the adoption of the electric vehicle. My raison d'être within the parameters of the Electric Vehicle Association Board of Directors is to prepare the mainstream for EVs by working on two important topics:

1- Establish the right to charge where you sleep. I volunteer for the EVCAC (Electric Vehicle Charging for All Coalition). The EVCAC is focused on charging inequity. This inequity cannot be resolved until the right to charge is established. In 2018 PIA introduced a bill in the California Assembly, HR 117, that would have established an EV Driver’s Bill of Rights. Until such a right is established, all such efforts are tilting at windmills and at best incremental. Charging at work isn’t a universal solution.

2-In 2022 I retired after 32 years in aerospace with the intent of using my time to help accelerate the electrification of transportation. I built my first EV and have been driving electric for over 12 years. Professionally, I have been both a program manager on a NASA program and also a Chief Architect reporting to the company CTO. In 2017 I was responsible for winning two large government contracts representing over 50% of the booked revenue for my company. I have lobbied the US Congress to affect the future business climate for aerospace. I have 11 U.S. patents on various aspects of satellite design and operation. Public Education. Driving electric isn’t just for early adopters and the environmentally conscious. There are so many questions and misconceptions about EVs that create anxiety in consumers. There needs to be public outreach on a massive scale from trusted resources. This can’t be limited to one website, newspaper or magazine. It has to be ubiquitous in print, radio, social media, TV and film. EVA should serve as a receptacle of that trusted resource and must work with industry to develop that massive scale outreach.

Joseph Sholtes

Home Chapter: NY Capital Region
Job title: Public Safety Dispatcher
Industry: Public Service
Previous Relevant Experience: Bi-Law committee chair for Latham Fire Department

Expertise:

Over the past year, I have built the Lightning Clubs of America organization in the US and Canada. Our organization is intended to bring like minded truck owners together into a community where normally, truck communities don’t exist. We have been so successful in bringing these clubs together that we attracted the attention of the Ford Motor Company who work very closely with us on many events across the countries. I believe the skills I have learned from building this organization will help build the EVA community on a daily basis. I can provide the groundwork for recruitment and event planning to grow our organization and push forward into the future of mobility together.

Candidate Statement:

I feel I will make an excellent EVA Board Member because my passion for the future of electric mobility and my ability to bring communities together would serve our organization by continuing our growth and strengthen us as a leading voice in the EV environment.

T. Todd Elvins PhD

Home chapter: EVA of San Diego
Job title: National Actions Director
Industry: Non-governmental organization - grassroots advocacy for federal climate policy
Previous Relevant Experience: In 1998, I co-founded Indicast Corp. where I was a board member and CTO until the company was acquired by Oracle Corp in 2001.

Expertise:

During my 35 year career I’ve gained experience in many roles and types of organizations as described in my biographical information below. Of the abilities the EVA is looking for, I will support the EVA and EVA chapters with my expertise in communications, content creation and technology. Here’s some background on my experience in these areas.

Communications. As Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s (CCL) national actions expert, I write, (1) a monthly call to action guide for 400+ active chapters in the United States, and (2) communication plans for time critical volunteer campaigns. My communication skills also include a history of giving presentations at international conferences, leadership meetings and webinars.

Content creation. As a subject matter expert, I create some of CCL’s targeted trainings for our 50,000 active volunteers and I develop and maintain online resources and grassroots advocacy tools on our portal for volunteer chapter leaders, legislative liaisons and regional and state coordinators.

Technology. Having spent 25+ years managing teams in technology companies, I have expertise in a number of system and software engineering areas both as a developer and as an expert user. I’ve also installed firmware and built servers. More recently I’ve learned and applied several web publishing systems, Google Suite, and many productivity, collaboration and messaging systems.

Candidate Statement:

I’m a seasoned engineer, educator, hands-on manager and experienced board member with a passion for climate solutions and clean transportation and six years on the leadership team at a chapter-based, education-focused national nonprofit. I’ve also been an EV owner, driver and advocate since 2015. I can contribute to the EVA board, chapters and mission in the following ways:

1. Extend EVA’s chapter education and presentation programs.

If elected to the board, I would like to replicate at EVA some of the successful member and chapter programs I’ve helped develop at Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), for example the proactive presentation scheduling program I built. At EVA, this program would, (a) train EVA chapters to proactively propose and schedule EVA presentations for local organizations that have meetings of members, perhaps starting with a goal of 6-12 presentations per chapter per year, and (b) create an online training for how to give a successful EVA presentation.

2. Create timely content for EVA communications.

During my career, I’ve written everything from journal papers to company blog posts, and business plans to tweets — often explaining technical topics in plain English that anyone can understand. I can help create EVA content aimed at accelerating EV adoption.

3. Help EVA build relationships with complementary organizations.

I’ve developed key partnerships with organizations including, Oracle, IBM, Motorola, Nuance, the Environmental Voter Project and EarthDay.org. I maintain industry and nonprofit contacts and would like to leverage my networking experience to help EVA develop additional allies.

Biographical information

I started my career with ten years at UCSD’s NSF-funded San Diego Supercomputer Center teaming with earth, ocean, and space scientists to visualize massive datasets, earning my Computer Engineering PhD along the way. During this time I authored and co-authored peer-reviewed journal papers, was invited to speak at international conferences and reviewed funding proposals for the National Science Foundation.

I next co-founded the voice portal company Indicast Corp. where I was a board member and CTO until the company was acquired by Oracle Corp. I’ve also held positions as Product Director at Oracle, VP Engineering at global media leader PacketVideo and VP Business Planning with clean energy startup Pacific Integrated Energy.

I am currently National Actions Director at non-profit grassroots Citizens’ Climate Lobby (501c4) / Citizens’ Climate Education (501c3) where over the past six years I have, (1) created targeted trainings for CCL’s 50,000 active volunteers, (2) mentored co-leaders of 60 national affinity groups, (3) published a monthly call to action guide for CCL’s 400+ active chapters in the United States, and (4) led the North San Diego chapter, given 50 local presentations and been appointed State Coordinator. I also create online content and grassroots advocacy tools for the CCL volunteer portal.

I’ve been married to my wife Lisa (a biotech exec) for 27 years and our two grown children are both working in the Bay area. I surf daily with the dawn patrol in San Diego where our solar-powered home is nearly 100% electric.

Josh Hazel

Home chapter: Mississippi
Job title: Director, Clinical Server Systems
Industry: Healthcare Technology
Previous Relevant Experience: Founder, Tesla Owners Club of Mississippi; Founding Member and Board Chairman, EV Mississippi; Military Officer Association Advisory Council Member

Expertise:

I am a founding member of the EV Mississippi and the Tesla Owners Club of Mississippi organizations. I am an auto enthusiast with an education (undergrad) and background in technology. I also have an MBA as well as a Project Management Professional certification through PMI.

Candidate Statement:

I am an auto enthusiast with a technology background. I enjoy the fusion of those interests in electric vehicles. I also believe to expand the reach of EVs, we must go to where auto enthusiasts go and win them over. We have had great success with this approach in Mississippi.

Hemant Phadnis

Home chapter: EVA of San Diego
Job title: Business Development Manager, Energy and EV Charging
Industry: Energy
Previous Relevant Experience: EV Deployment Manager

Candidate Statement:

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Hemant Phadnis. I live in San Diego, and for the past four years, I have been working in the Electric Vehicle industry in a both technical and business development capacity. I bring to the board 25 years of experience from launching startups in the internet space, turning around healthcare no-growth/slow growth organizations, and building organizations for growth. I spent nearly three years building DC Fast charging stations for Rivian. I also established workplace charging (Level 2) business models for commercial offices, developed fleet transition plans for government agencies, local municipalities, and utilities. In addition, I currently work to build EV, PV, BESS, Microgrid and utility programs in the US and overseas.

Admittedly, I had not planned to run for the Board. In truth, I felt disconnected from my membership in the EV Association. I just didn't see how the organization affected me. It was not part of the buying or ownership experience for any of my previous EV purchases, and I was wondering the value of my membership fees.

However, the past few months I have witnessed declines in EV sales, changes in charging standards, declines in EV manufacturing, and heard doubts of the viability of EVs from consumers and automotive executives alike.

These challenges have convinced me that this is the time for the EV Association to step up and help turn things around. The EV Association has a unique opportunity to turnaround perceptions, participate in standards development, and act as advocates for the user experience.

We can do this through multiple ways: grow and better engage our membership, expand partnerships, participate in standards development and education, engage with OEMs, promote awareness and education of the EV ownership experience to potential owners.

It's an ambitious goal achieve 100% EV ownership. It's especially difficult given the current challenges in the market. However, I believe when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That's why I'm energized to bring my EV charging, energy development, IT business management and marketing skills to the EV Association.

I would like to ask for your vote for the national board to make the EV Association and major participant in the EV transformation while delivering greater value to your membership. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Elaine Borseth

Home chapter: EVA of San Diego
Job title: President, Electric Vehicle Association
Industry: EV Advocacy
Previous Relevant Experience: EVA President

Expertise:

I am hoping that we continue to find additional sources of funding for the EVA. We are at a crossroads where we need additional paid staff.

Candidate Statement:

I look forward to continuing the vital work that the EVA board of directors has started. We have so much to do, not only with educating and advocating for EVs but also to help build and strengthen the EV Association.

Erik Lundeen

Home chapter: Denver EV Council
Job title: Electric Vehicle Program Manager
Industry: Electric Utilities
Previous Relevant Experience: Customer Experience Program Manager (Customer Communications)

Expertise:

I work in the EV space on a daily basis. I am continuously educating people on the benefits of electrifying transportation in the residential, commercial, and government sectors. I have created education materials for in-person presentations as well as web content for our EV-related web pages. I was hired into my current position to implement Black Hills Energy's inaugural Transportation Electrification Plan in Colorado and am in the final stages of seeking approval for our next 3-year TEP from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. I am very familiar with EV programs from a utility standpoint, the regulated and the political environment pushing EV adoption.

Candidate Statement:

I am an EV industry professional who is passionate about transportation electrification and working to provide solutions and resources to those in our community who are seeking to electrify their transportation.

If you are a member of the EVA and have NOT received a ballot in your email, contact secretary@myeva.org so that we can ensure that you get an opportunity to vote in this election

the order of the candidates on this page has been assigned at random