Keynote Speakers

The AF&V Conference General Sessions and luncheons will feature keynote presentations by outstanding speakers. These speakers will set the stage for the break-out sessions, the Expo Marketplace, the Ride-n-Drive, and networking events.

Biographies for each of the Conference General and Breakout Sessions are available by clicking here.

Larry Burns, General Motors VP for Research, Development and Strategic Planning
“This man will probably have more influence on the car you drive in 20 years than anyone else on earth.” Top Gear referring to General Motors VP for Research, Development and Strategic Planning. Larry Burns is an iconic automotive industry visionary who dares to enter the eco-fray. Burns, fuel cell and non-food derived biofuels champion, says things like “We need energy diversity – because of climate change, geopolitical security, energy independence and long-term oil depletion.” To put a cherry on top, he fervently believes that it’s both about saving the planet, and saving the company he’s worked for since 1969.

Oscar Goodman, Mayor, City of Las Vegas
Las Vegas gave America the World Series of Poker, the Liberace Museum, a volcano that erupts on cue every fifteen minutes, the Rat Pack, and Mayor Oscar Goodman. Born in Philadelphia, he was an attorney for mobsters and others for 35 years before deciding to run for Mayor. The dark horse candidate won and his candor, combined with a penchant for the unpredictable, are among the reasons for his popularity. His support of alternative fuels recently resulted in an international "World Leadership Award" naming Las Vegas the "American City of the Year."

Robert Hall, United Parcel Service (UPS)
The poster child for green fleets may very well be the Fleet Environmental Manager at UPS, Robert Hall. The UPS alternative fuel fleet of 1,600 vehicles is one of the largest in the United States and currently includes trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas, propane, biodiesel, electricity, and hydrogen. In the fall of 2007 they announced they are adding 139 CNG and 129 propane vehicles to their delivery fleet. With an alternatively fueled vehicle fleet that represents an investment of more than a $15 million, Mr. Hall has plenty of tips for other companies making the switch.

Dr. Robert Hirsch, Senior Energy Advisor, MISI
Dr. Hirsch’s resume reads like a who’s who of someone who has been around the energy block. He’s been in management positions for SAIC, RAND, the Electric Power Research Institute, ARCO Oil and Gas, Exxon Research and Engineering Company, and Advanced Power Technologies. Today, as a Senior Energy Advisor at MISI, he consults on energy, technology and management by day, and spreads the science of peak oil the rest of the time. Among other things, he’s known for a defining paper he co-authored for the Department of Energy on peak oil.

Rich Kassel, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Mr. Kassel is a Senior Attorney at NRDC and he directs their Clean Vehicles & Fuels Project. His advocacy track record of reducing diesel emissions in the United States dates back to the early 1990s. He has played a major role in projects as diverse as implementing clean vehicle plans in Mexico and Brazil by working with experts in each of these countries to working with New York City Transit's clean-fuel bus program, which includes more than 1,000 natural gas and hybrid-electric buses. NRDC is a membership-based environmental action organization.

Mike Marshall, JD Power and Associates
As the Director of Automotive Engineering Technologies for JD Power, Mike Marshall talks to consumers to find out automotive trends, what people are looking for and what direction the market may be moving. JD Power research-based forecasting depends solely on information received from millions of consumers and business customers worldwide. One aspect of his presentation will include targeted questions of interest to fleets regarding their attitudes about alternative fuels and vehicles.

Aubrey McClendon, CEO and Chairman, Chesapeake Energy
What would you expect from the progeny of a former Governor of Oklahoma and U.S. Senator? A primary partner of the club which owns the NBA Seattle Supersonics? Okay, but that’s not why he’s part of the AF&V National Conference. Aubrey Kerr (as in the former Governor and U.S. Senator) McClendon is the accomplished CEO, Chairman, and co-founder of Chesapeake Energy, one of the largest natural gas producers in the United States. Not only is the company a tour de force in the industry, Mr. McClendon was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 100 bosses in America for whom to work. He shares his views on the future of transportation fuels.

Amy Myers Jaffe,
James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
As leader of the Baker Institute Energy Forum, and Associate Director of the Rice University Energy Program, Amy Myers Jaffe promotes, oversees and participates in a wide range of groundbreaking energy research and discussion. Under her guidance, these institutions support projects that address current energy science and technology policy, as well as the energy-related challenges that face society in the 21st century. A regular consultant to various national and international organizations, Jaffe is one of the preeminent sources of information and critical thought on oil and energy policy today.

T. Boone Pickens, BP Capital LLC
"You'll see $100 oil within the next six months. A hundred dollars is going to become routine." Those are the types of morsels you'll hear as T. Boone Pickens, head of BP Capital LLC, headlines this year's conference. The founder of Clean Energy Fuels is fond of saying that his blood pressure is so low he'd fall asleep if he didn't have a deal going. Hosting the internationally renowned Mr. Pickens is the real deal for those trying to figure out what's going on in the market.

Bobby Rahal, Race Car Icon
Featured speaker Bobby Rahal has had enormous influence on racing as an athlete, owner and executive. Rahal won three IndyCar®/CART championships as a driver as well as the 1986 Indianapolis 500. As a team owner he has overseen the growth of Rahal Letterman Racing, which has become a multi-car, multi-discipline organization. He's known for nurturing young talent such as 2004 Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, Vitor Meira and Danica Patrick. Rahal was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Annalloyd Thomason, Executive Director, AFVi
Annalloyd Thomason’s career started off in the oil, gas and utility fields where she sharpened her strategic planning, business management and market analyses skills, steeped in an incubator of “how things work” in the industry. The alternative fuels bug bit her before most knew it was a thing to be contended with, and in 1989, she brought her experience to bear by starting Thomason and Associates, where she worked with a broad range of clients to advance alternative fuels. In 2003, she started Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) of which, she is now the Executive Director. Never far from her Texas roots, on any given day it’s not unlikely to hear her advise, “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging.” Morsels like that have taken her to a leading role in the industry working with everyone from Fortune 100 fleets to fuel providers and auto manufacturers.