2024 PRESENTERS BIOGRAPHIES
Listed alphabetically by first name
Brandy Johnson, P.E.
Babcock & Wilcox
Chief Technology Officer
Presentation: Commercializing BrightLoop™ Hydrogen Production in Massillon, Ohio
Panelist in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
Brandy Johnson is Chief Technology Officer at Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), responsible for the development of B&W’s ClimateBright™ suite of decarbonization and hydrogen production technologies, including the deployment, scale-up and commercialization activities of its BrightLoop™ novel hydrogen generation technology. She was named to this position in 2022.
Prior to that, Johnson held roles of increasing responsibility in B&W including overseeing all of Global Engineering as well as a large P&L.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University, and an Advanced Master Certificate in Integrated Supply Management from Michigan State University’s Executive Development Program. She is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio, a Project Management Institute Certified Project Management Professional, and has completed several advanced leadership development programs, including the 2016 B&W Executive Development Program led by Korn Ferry. She is also a contributing author of the 41st edition of Steam/its generation and use. Published by B&W, it is the world’s longest continually published engineering textbook of its kind.
Project Summary:
Babcock & Wilcox is deploying the first commercial BrightLoop™ hydrogen production plant using a chemical looping process at the nearby Massillon Energy & Technology Park. The project helps to transform the brownfield site of a former, demolished steel mill into a national showcase for sustainable hydrogen generation. The BrightLoop unit will use renewable and/or sustainably captured natural gas feedstock to produce nearly five metric tons of H2 per day for industrial and transportation applications while simultaneously capturing and sequestering the carbon dioxide. Learn more about this exciting Northeast Ohio project at the Symposium!
Bruce Bauchmire
DLZ Corporation
Director of Renewable Energy Services
Presentation: DLZ’s Hydrogen Projects
Bruce is Director of Renewable Energy Services at DLZ Corporation, a civil engineering consulting firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with offices throughout the Midwestern United States, Latin America, and Asia. DLZ also owns and operates several hydropower projects in India. At DLZ, Bruce is responsible for the design and construction of a hydrogen generation and refueling stations, finances of the hydropower operations, assessing economics of new projects, procuring financing for new projects, liaison with investors, and project manager of the hydrokinetic turbine and pump development.
- Hydrogen. Responsible for design and constructing the first private company hydrogen generation and vehicle refueling station in the State of Ohio. Will be used for fueling the company’s fleet of hydrogen vehicles.
- DLZ’s Hydrokinetic and Pump Development. Project Manager of the DLZ project team which is involved in the development, testing, and preliminary production of instream hydrokinetic turbines that produce power from flowing waters in streams and canals. Responsible for project budget, time schedule, negotiating with lenders, and liaison with government officials in obtaining a power purchase agreement. Replacement of the generator with a pump allows for use of the system as a power-free pump. The team was awarded three US patents relating to this project.
- Hydropower Operations. Responsible for project administration, negotiating and liaison with international lenders and investors, financial and accounting of projects as well as treasury functions. Evaluating economics and financial modeling of potential new projects and assessing project risks.
- Prior DLZ Experience. CFO of a company’s operations in Asia implementing water and energy projects. Responsible for financial, accounting, and treasury functions for offices and projects in five (5) countries. Project manager for construction of small hydropower plant. Prior, Bruce has had several positions in the tax and finance area in Big 4 accounting firms and international companies.
Bryan Pivovar, Ph.D.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Senior Research Fellow
Presentation: H2 Economics and Electrolysis R&D Efforts to Reduce Cost
Bryan Pivovar is Senior Research Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO where he has overseen NREL’s electrolysis and fuel cell and materials R&D. He is Director for a major US Department of Energy Consortium (since October 2020), H2NEW (Hydrogen (H2) from Next-generation Electrolyzers of Water), which focuses on addressing components, materials integration, and manufacturing R&D to enable manufacturable electrolyzers that meet required cost, durability, and performance targets, simultaneously, in order to enable $2/kg hydrogen. He received his PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota and led fuel cell R&D at Los Alamos National Laboratory prior to joining NREL. He received the 2012 Tobias Young Investigator Award, the 2021 Energy Technology Division Research Award, and was elected Fellow 2023 of The Electrochemical Society and has coauthored over 150 papers with over 16,000 citations in the general area of fuel cells and electrolysis.
Chris McWhinney
Founder / CEO / Owner
Millennium Reign Energy LLC
Presentation: Scalable Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure
MRE is a Manufacture of hydrogen infrastructure including Alkaline Electrolyzers, purification, compression, storage, and dispensing. MRE Develops and installs both custom and standard products and has completed over 2,300 successful fueling events. The company is in Dayton Ohio and has products place globally.
Chris McWhinney has experience in developing 30 full scale working production models of fully automated water electrolysis products called AutoARK® that also doubles as a heat exchanger to heat homes and water.
Successfully filed a provisional patent for a Residential Hydrogen Power Plant in 2003 to combine wind solar and hydrogen into a single harmonious system. Patent issued on the AutoARK®. He holds 10 patents.
In charge of research and development, purchasing, financing projects, and marketing. Chris is the only executive officer in attendance on all the important codes and standards meetings in the world. Currently serving on 9 technical subcommittees for CSA standards development, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Fire Protection code 2, and the International Standards Association.
David Perzynski
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Assistant Manager, Hydrogen Solutions Business Development
Presentation: CRV e:FCEV News and Honda’s Hydrogen Business Activities
David Perzynski is assistant manager of Hydrogen Solutions Development at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., (AHM), responsible for leading the company’s hydrogen product, service, business strategy and business development activities in North America.
Perzynski began working with Honda as a co-op student in May 2012. This included supporting the Sustainable Supply Chains Department within Honda R&D Americas, Inc., now part of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC (HDMA) in improving annual supplier environmental data collection efforts. In December 2012, he became a co-op in the Environment Health and Safety Department at Honda of America Mfg., Inc., also now part of HDMA, where he supported green factory initiatives.
From 2013 to 2023, Perzynski worked for several companies in the energy management field, including work on combined heat and power microturbine solutions, microgrid and nanogrid solutions, energy storage systems, backup power generation, as well as solar systems, and fuel cell and EV charging technologies.
In April 2023, he joined American Honda Motor Co., Inc. as assistant manager for Hydrogen Solutions Business Development, focused on the companies four core domains for hydrogen fuel cell technology: automobiles, commercial vehicles, stationary power stations, and construction equipment. In this position, he plays a key role in establishing collaborations and partnerships to enhance and support Honda hydrogen fuel cell business, supporting new product applications for Honda hydrogen fuel cell systems, as well as new services for products that are developed.
Perzynski holds a B.S. in Honors Environmental Policy and Management with a focus on Economic Sustainability (EEDS) from The Ohio State University.
Eric White, Ph.D.
U.S. Dept. of Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Office
Technology Manager
Presentation: U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy Perspectives
Moderator in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
Dr. Eric White serves as a Technology Manager in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Office. In this role, he manages projects designed to expedite the commercial adoption of hydrogen fuel cells, focusing on advancing US technological leadership and manufacturing capacity.
Dr. White holds B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado and the Colorado School of Mines. His professional experience includes more than 15 years developing electrocatalytic processes for energy applications in national laboratory and private R&D settings.
Ian Jakupca
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Glenn Research Center
Fuel Cell Technology Lead
Presentation: Update on NASA Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Activities
Ian graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Dayton in 2000 with a concentration in Energy Systems. After graduating, he began his career in hydrogen-based energy systems at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This work began with developing specialized instruments, flow control components, and electrochemical stacks for the next generation Space Shuttle Orbiter fuel cell power system and the regenerative fuel cell energy storage system for the HELIOS solar powered aircraft. Over the years, this work evolved from developing components to developing systems for vehicles and platforms operating in submerged, atmospheric, or space environments. These systems included primary fuel cells for electric power, regenerative fuel cells for energy storage, water electrolysis systems for generating oxygen and hydrogen for propellants, life support breathing oxygen, energy storage, and material processing systems.
His primary research interest is the efficiency of integrated electrochemical systems with a focus on low-power techniques to manage reactants, heat, and power in remote, autonomous systems. As the Fuel Cell Technology Lead at NASA Glenn Research Center, he collaborates with academia, industry, and other federal agencies to advance hydrogen-based technologies for use above and below the von Kármán line.
Jennifer Gangi
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
Director of Communications
Panelist in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
Jennifer Gangi is the Director of Communications and Outreach at the Washington, DC-based Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA).
Jennifer has been with FCHEA since 2014 and focuses on communications efforts to educate key stakeholders of the environmental and economic benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. This includes writing and editing articles, fact sheets, and other outreach materials, as well as industry and market reports for FCHEA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others. She also concentrates on new member recruitment and member engagement, and leads FCHEA's external event management, including the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Seminar (formerly the Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition) and National Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Forum.
Jennifer has been analyzing and reporting on the hydrogen and fuel cell industry and market sectors for 25+ years, previously serving as Program Director of the Fuel Cells 2000 education and outreach program at the Breakthrough Technologies Institute. Prior to joining Fuel Cells 2000, Jennifer worked as a Marketing/Communications Specialist for a public relations firm in North Carolina, handling only high-technology clients. She graduated from Binghamton University (New York) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Katrina Fritz
California Hydrogen Business Council
President and Chief Executive Officer
Presentation: Decarbonizing California with Hydrogen
Panelist in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
Katrina Fritz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Hydrogen Business Council, the largest and longest established hydrogen trading association in the U.S. Katrina leads the organization as chief advocate and champion for advancement of hydrogen and renewable fuels sectors to achieve air quality and climate objectives. Katrina is a member of the Executive Committee of the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Hydrogen Technology Alignment Cooperative, the California Energy Commission’s Advisory Committee for the Clean Transportation Investment Plan, and the Angeles Link Project Advisory Group.
Over the past 20 years, Katrina has worked with business and government leaders around the world to champion air quality, decarbonization, and economic growth through the development and use of innovative technology. She has advised global Fortune 500 companies and the public sector on business development and energy and environmental policy and regulation in distributed generation and hydrogen markets.
Katrina was appointed to the New Jersey Governor’s Fuel Cell Task Force in 2021 and has served as an expert to the European Commission on clean energy programs. Katrina has worked as an executive at UTC Power and Plug Power in business development and government relations and as an Independent Director on the Board of Advent Technologies. She has held leadership positions in numerous clean energy trade associations and advisory boards. Katrina holds a BA degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Mike Wilcher
Plug Power
Sr. Director, Services
Presentation: Plug Power General Business Update
Plug Power is a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, and refueling infrastructure. Plug has over 69,000 fuel cells in operation around the world, performing 60,000 refueling events per day. Additionally, Plug Power liquid hydrogen plants currently produce 25TPD.
Mike Wilcher is a Sr. Service Director at Plug Power located in Albany, NY. He oversees Plug Power’s field operations in North America, consisting of 45,000 hydrogen fuel cells, and 250 liquid hydrogen refueling systems. He has been with Plug for 13 years, starting out as an intern in the design engineering department.
Neil Banwart
Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2)
Chief Integration Officer
Presentation: Overview of Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2)
Panelist in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
As Chief Integration Officer, Neil Banwart’s responsibilities include ensuring MachH2 maximizes all sources of funding and also working to continually expand the reach and impact of MachH2. In conjunction with the CEO, he also represents MachH2 in public facing matters such as media interviews, on panels, and at tradeshows.
Neil also serves as Managing Director-Hydrogen at Energy Systems Network (ESN). Prior to ESN, he spent nearly a decade at Cummins Inc. He has held several M&A, Treasury, and finance roles in his career, including service as the CFO of a small private equity fund. Neil earned a Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Bradley University. He is a CFA Charterholder and serves on the Board of Directors of the CFA Society of Indianapolis as the immediate past president.
Shawn Bennett
Battelle
Energy and Resilience Division Manager
Presentation: Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2)
Panelist in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
Shawn Bennett is the Energy and Resilience Division Manager at Battelle, where he oversees all government-funded energy projects awarded to Battelle. In this role, he primarily focuses on opportunities in Carbon Capture and Storage, Hydrogen, Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals, and Direct Air Capture.
Mr. Bennett is a former Managing Director at FTI Consulting in their Energy and Natural Resources sector. Mr. Bennett is also the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Oil and Natural Gas at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he oversaw the Department’s research and development in the oil and gas sector, policy analysis, methane quantification and mitigation, and regulated LNG export authorizations for the United States.
Theodore (Ted) Krause
Chemical Engineer and Theme Leader - Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division
Argonne National Laboratory
Panelist in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
Theodore (Ted) Krause is a Chemical Engineer and Theme Leader for the Catalysis and Energy Conversion Group in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering (CSE) Division at Argonne National Lab. As theme leader, he manages R&D activities in fuels cells, catalysis, and high throughput/combinatorial materials, and process technology development. He currently serves as Argonne’s Laboratory Relationship Manager to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). His research interests include catalysis, process development, hydrogen production, technology development for new hydrogen markets, and the application of high-throughput and autonomous discovery to the development of fuel cell/electrolyzers and catalytic materials.
William A. (Bill) Whittenberger, P.E.
Executive Director
Ohio Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Coalition
Presentation: Discovering the Power of the OFCHC – We are Stronger Together
Panelist in the "Government-University-Industry Partnerships in the Hydrogen Economy" Panel Discussion
In 2018 Bill retired as Site and Technology Director of Johnson Matthey PTI in Ravenna, OH. In the years since, he has done a variety of consulting through Brite Energy Innovators and others, mostly advising entrepreneurs and technology startups.
Johnson Matthey acquired the assets of Catacel Corp. in September 2014. Bill founded Catacel in 2001 with two partners, intending to develop and commercialize catalyst materials and systems using metal foil substrates. The Catacel business achieved success by providing heat exchange and catalyst solutions to numerous fuel cell system integrators and several Fortune-100 specialty customers. During those years, Bill had a significant involvement with the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, including a two year term as Chairman.
For 15 years before Catacel, Bill developed foil based catalyst technology for numerous emission control applications at Camet Co. and Engelhard Corp. He holds 64 US Patents in the field of foil supported catalysts.
Bill earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University, and his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio.