Team
Samm is a technical subject matter expert on the battery supply chain who spent over six years at the DOE in the Vehicle Technologies Office and the Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains Office (MESC). He led the DOE strategy on the battery materials segment of the $6 billion stimulus under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and was the lead for the lithium battery supply chain and recycling R&D efforts. Samm was the lead author of the Biden Administration’s 2021 100-Day Report on the Battery Supply Chain. Prior to that, Samm worked with DoD on their battery supply chain efforts in support of the Defense Logistics Agency and served in the U.S. Army. Samm holds a B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he also works as an adjunct professor in the Clark School of Engineering.
Dr. Drew Ronneberg’s specific areas of expertise are energy and material technologies including batteries, engines, metals, and composites. Drew worked at the Department of Energy in the Vehicle Technologies Program, the Industrial Technologies Program and the Wind Technologies Program. His responsibilities included overseeing over $100 million in annual Research, Development and Deployment activities, and standing up the SuperTruck and Carbon Fiber Technology Facility Recovery Act programs. While at SMI, Drew has led several industry and university coalitions including coalitions to secure R&D funding for more efficient commercial off-road vehicles, increase the efficiency of industrial drying processes and develop technologies to recycle materials at forward operating bases. Drew holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Occidental College and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Princeton University.
Dave previously served 20+ years at the U.S. Department of Energy in executive leadership roles, most recently to establish the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) as the Principal Deputy Director. Prior to his MESC role, Dave served as the Director of the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) and Program Manager for Electric Vehicle R&D. Dave was the founding Chair of the U.S. Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries (FCAB) that brings 18 Federal agencies together to coordinate and leverage investments to establish a domestic supply of lithium batteries. He also launched the Li-Bridge Alliance, a Government-Industry partnership committed to accelerating the development of a robust and secure domestic supply chain for lithium-based batteries. He served as DOE’s Representative to the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) Management Committee from 2003 to 2016. Dave holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tennessee.
Chris Michelbacher is an experienced electrification and battery expert with a background spanning industry and government. At Audi of America, he served as the Charging & Energy Lead, overseeing strategic initiatives and managing technical and business aspects of the charging and energy ecosystem. Before Audi, Chris worked as a research engineer at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and as a technical advisor to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office. While at DOE, he provided technical oversight and program management for various advanced Li-ion development projects and led the Office’s efforts to define technical gaps associated with Extreme Fast Charging of Li-ion battery-cells. At INL, Chris served as an advanced Li-ion battery materials researcher where he evaluated life and performance characteristics of next generation battery materials and systems. Chris earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Montana State University and an MBA from George Washington University.
Celia Morté is a former Air Force cyberspace operations officer who most recently served as national security adviser for Sen. John Kennedy (LA), where she supported his work on the Appropriations Committee and advised on defense, foreign affairs, and trade policy. Prior, Celia was a military legislative assistant to Sen. Kevin Cramer (ND), where she advised on defense and foreign affairs in support of his work on the Armed Services Committee. Celia has a B.A. in History from the University of Portland and an M.A. in Humanities from the American Military University.
Jeff Leahey is an experienced government affairs professional with an extensive policy background in energy, environment, and natural resources issues who has worked in Washington, D.C. for over 20 years. Jeff represents clients before Congress, the Administration, and the federal agencies on various matters including climate, clean energy, and clean transportation; tax policy; and R&D funding. Jeff has testified before Congress, drafted legislative policy, and developed comments on regulatory and administrative proposals. He has developed and implemented successful lobbying campaigns, led complex policy negotiations, and overseen public affairs messaging initiatives. Jeff holds a B.A. in Biology and Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis and a J.D. from the Northeastern University School of Law.
Matt Pearce has 20 years of experience working in Washington D.C. and currently serves as a Partner at Cannon | Pearce, a boutique Washington D.C. government affairs firm that specializes in association and coalition building and management. Matt was previously a Senior Vice President at Venn Strategies, working with a variety of clients to help them navigate the intricacies of policy and politics across the federal government. Previously, he served as a Legislative Assistant for Ways and Means Committee Member Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), and holds an M.B.A. and B.A. in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Bryan Bender is an experienced national security and political journalist and communicator who was an award-winning Pentagon reporter for the Boston Globe and Defense and Space Editor and senior national correspondent for POLITICO and POLITICO Pro. He has also taught journalism and public relations at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Emma Modesitt has worked in policy research and advocacy encouraging clean energy since 2022. As a member of the University of Sydney’s inaugural Sustainability Program and an undergraduate consultant for the Environmental Defense Fund, Emma has experience conducting research and analyzing matters related to the energy storage industry. Emma holds a B.S. in Astrophysics and a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ben McNutt has experience working on projects at the intersection of business, energy, and public policy since 2018. Ben’s previous work as an intern for top House and Senate congressional leaders included conducting research in support of major legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act. Ben holds a B.A. from American University where he double majored in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government.