Conference Speakers
Please check back for regular updates.
Cynthia V. Anderson
Director, EM Recovery Act Program
Office of Environmental Management
U.S. Department of Energy
Cynthia V. Anderson is the Director of the EM Recovery Act Program for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. She oversees the operational activities at dozens of facilities across the country where environmental management work is performed.
In March 2009, Ms. Anderson was appointed to lead the Environmental Management Recovery Act Program, which is a $6 billion initiative to accelerate environmental restoration, facility decommissioning and demolition, and radioactive waste disposal while saving and creating thousands of jobs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. With over 20 years of hands-on experience in areas of nuclear, environmental and business management, Ms. Anderson views this new challenge in her Federal career as a tremendous opportunity to showcase the organization’s work and to ensure this new investment is spent wisely.
Ms. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Computer Science and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. She is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Nickolas (Nick) Demer
Senior Procurement Analyst
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Department of Energy
Nickolas (Nick) Demer, a native Washingtonian, has been a Senior Procurement Analyst with the Department of Energy’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) since November 1999. During this time, Nick has been the advocate for service-disabled veteran-owned, Native American tribally-owned, Alaskan Native Corporations, and other small business concerns. Moreover, Nick has been responsible for tracking small business goals and achievements, the annual Secretarial Small Business Awards program, the annual competitive demonstration report, preparing parts of the strategic plan, preparing departmental policy letters and Congressional correspondences, serving as an advisor to program offices and contracting organizations, and counseling small businesses on how to partner with the DOE.
Nick brought with him to the OSDBU 20 years of procurement experience with the Navy and DOE, a baccalaureate in Zoology from the University of Maryland in 1971, and a Masters in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan in 1978.
Carlos F. García
President & CEO
RCS Corporation
Although Carlos García has achieved great success in a short time, it has not come easy. At the age of 12, Carlos immigrated to the United States from Cuba. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and began working in the Commercial Nuclear Industry in 1981. After 10 years Carlos believed he could provide comparable services at a better value. This confidence led him to evaluate the opportunities and the risks involved
with entrepreneurship. In April 1994 Carlos founded RCS Corporation to provide exceptional Professional Staffing Placement Services to the Nuclear and Energy Industries.
The company reached its first milestone when recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as “The #1 Fastest Growing New Small Business in America” in June 1997. The former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Fredrico Peña, publicly recognized RCS Corporation as a model small business. Today, RCS Corporation is a premier supplier of engineering and technical professionals worldwide. With offices in Aiken, SC and Charlotte, NC, RCS offers Permanent Placement, Contract Staffing and Payroll Services. RCS supports educational initiatives including an orchestra program in honor of Theresa Singleton and Ridgley Miller of the U.S. Small Business Administration South Carolina District Office.
David Gipson
Director
Division of Energy Resources, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority
David Gipson joined GEFA in February 2008 as the Director of the Division of Energy Resources. The Division administers the State Energy Program; State Facilities Program; Weatherization Assistance Program; Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant; Governor’s Energy Challege; State Energy Strategy and Fuel Emergency Plan.
David has a Masters of Public Administration in Natural Resource Management from Georgia State University, where he also completed a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management. He received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Protection from Ball State University, with a minor in energy resources. David is a certified Professional Energy Manager and a board member of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).
Prior to coming to GEFA, David was the Assistant Director of the Sustainability Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, where he worked for 10 years. The Sustainability Division is a non-regulatory, technical assistance provider in the areas of water efficiency, solid and hazardous waste reduction and energy efficiency through an environmental management system and recognition approach. Prior to DNR, David spent four years working on solid and hazardous waste management and wastewater issues.
Bill Hosken
Senior Project Manager
Division of Sustainability, City of Atlanta
Mr. Hosken works with the City of Atlanta's Division of Sustainability to valuate, recommend, and implement energy and alternative fuel projects, policies, and programs with an emphasis on those related to the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. He recently earned his MBA at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University in May 2009 where he was graduated with honors and top of the class in Accounting and Tax. He was admitted to the Emory's MBA program following three years of experience with Ford Motor Credit Corp. Mr. Hosken also graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree with distinction from the University of Toronto.
A. Danielle Jones
President & CEO
AWD Management Services, Inc.
A. Danielle Jones is President and CEO of AWD Management Services, Inc. (AWD) based in Grayson, Georgia. Established in 2006 with a focus on facilities support management, administrative and professional services, AWD received its’ 8(a) certification by the US Small Business Administration in 2007. Before establishing her own company, Ms. Jones served seven years as Vice President, Southeast Region for an information technology company responsible for business development and program management.
More than 12 years of her work experience was gained as a federal employee - 10 years with the US Department of Energy holding various positions including Personnel Specialist, Deputy Director, Public Information Office and Small Business Program Manager. During her tenure as SB Program Manager, Ms. Jones was asked to chair an ad hoc committee formed by then Secretary of Energy, Hazel O’Leary to improve the small business program throughout the agency. Ms. Jones left DOE in 1996 and relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where she led projects for the Martin Luther King Holiday Commission as Director, Public Affairs and the US Census Bureau’s 2000 Decennial coordinating governmental affairs, media relations and community outreach efforts.
Gary G. Lyttek
Business Source Manager, National Nuclear Security Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
Gary G. Lyttek is the National Nuclear Security Administration's Headquarters' Business Source Manager, U.S. Department of Energy. He is responsible for all small business program efforts nationwide for this nuclear defense-oriented organization with obligations worth over $9 billion dollars annually. Through his leadership, he has expanded the use of small businesses three-fold over the past five years with FY2009 small business obligations of over $418 million. In FY2007 & FY2008 alone, he guided over $1.4 billion in new contract awards to small businesses emphasizing work in some of the most demanding and technically sensitive functional areas of the agency. He has been recognized for his innovation and achievements twice as the Department of Energy's Headquarters' Small Business Program Manager of the Year as well as for receiving the DOE's FY 2008 Federal Small Business Achievement Award and FY 2006 Federal Small Business Innovation Award.
His education includes: Annenberg Leadership Institute Fellowship graduate; Masters of Public Administration, Budget and Public Finance concentration, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1994, U.S. Department of Energy Management Intern Development Program - 1991, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, 1989.
Daniel B. Poneman
Deputy Secretary of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
Daniel B. Poneman was nominated by President Obama to be Deputy Secretary of Energy on April 20, 2009, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 2009. Under the leadership of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Mr. Poneman also serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Department.
From 1993 through 1996, Mr. Poneman served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Nonproliferation and Export Controls at the National Security Council.
Prior to assuming his responsibilities as Deputy Secretary, Mr. Poneman served as a principal of The Scowcroft Group. Between tours of government service he practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C. - first as an associate at Covington & Burling, later as a partner at Hogan & Hartson.
Mr. Poneman received A.B. and J.D. degrees with honors from Harvard University and an M.Litt. in Politics from Oxford University. He has published widely on national security issues and is the author of Nuclear Power in the Developing World and Argentina: Democracy on Trial. His third book, Going Critical: The First North Korean Nuclear Crisis (coauthored with Joel Wit and Robert Gallucci), received the 2005 Douglas Dillon Award for Distinguished Writing on American Diplomacy. Mr. Poneman is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.
Mr. Poneman lives in Virginia with his wife, Susan, and their three children.
Cassandra McGee Stuart
Socioeconomic Program Officer
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Cassandra McGee Stuart is Socioeconomic Program Officer in the Small Business Programs Office at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORNL is the Department of Energy’s largest science laboratory. ORNL is committed to the support of small businesses. The Small Business Programs Office has been recognized nationally for its work in mentoring and out-of-the-box thinking in supporting the small business community. Stuart provides small business counseling and advice, participates in small business outreach activities and manages the Small Business Mentor-Protégé program.
Stuart is a former small business owner and marketing/public relations consultant. As a consultant, she managed the Minority Educational Institution Program at ORNL. She also produced videos and voiceovers for laboratory projects. She has worked successfully in the industry for more than 20 years, with much of that time spent working for and in support of small businesses. Stuart holds a B.S., Communications, With Honors, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has held positions as vice president of marketing, director of business development, and director of government relations for engineering and architectural firms and the chamber of commerce in the Knoxville/Oak Ridge area. She is also a former local television news anchor/reporter.
Mike Minter
Athlete, Businessman, Philanthropist
Mike Minter is best known for his skills as an all pro-safety with the Carolina Panthers, where he spent his 10-year NFL career. With a degree in engineering from the University of Nebraska, he now is building many successful businesses as principal or partner.
Minter began his entrepreneurial debut in real estate and earned a reputation as a savvy developer. Mike’s newest and most ambitious projects include Minter Consulting - a consulting firm that offers services in finance, business management, marketing and motivation to entrepreneurs and corporations. Current clients include fortune 500 companies like Wachovia/Wells Fargo, as well as other small and mid-size businesses from Charlotte and surrounding areas.
Mike serves as a board member for Coltrain L.I.F.E. Center, the Charlotte Chamber, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, The Cabarrus County Education Foundation and as a board advisor to Classroom Central and the Touchdown Club. In 2009, Minter began establishing his own non-profit, Minter Communities, which umbrellas programs such as “The Student Athlete’s Equation” and “I am a Foot Soldier” sports camps, which are designed to provide life skills, educational and athletic programming for youth from 7 to 14 years of age.
Ceasar Mitchell
The Honorable Atlanta City Council President
Attorney Ceasar C. Mitchell currently serves as 7th President of the Atlanta City Council. As Council President, he presides at full council meetings, makes council committee appointments, and exercises the powers of Mayor during the vacancy in that office. Prior to being elected Council President, Mitchell served eight years as a citywide Councilmember. During his time in elected office, Ceasar has advocated for safer communities and authored key legislation to facilitate economic revitalization and community input in underdeveloped areas. Ceasar believes that great cities are cities that are clean, green, safe and thriving.
In addition, Mitchell is a senior attorney with the national law firm of Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C. where he practices commercial real estate. He is a long-time civic steward who has held board directorships on behalf of civic, legal and community affairs organizations.
Ceasar is a native Atlantan, and the son of an Atlanta Police Officer and Atlanta Public Schools Teacher. He is a graduate of Benjamin E. Mays High School and Morehouse College. Ceasar earned his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. Ceasar is a longtime resident of the Historic West End community and a member of Cascade United Methodist Church.
Tertia Speiser
Project Officer
U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency Community Block Grants
Tertia Speiser is a project officer for the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency Community Block Grants (EECBG) program, funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. She provides technical assistance and oversight to $75 million in awards to state and local governments in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Previously, she spent 10 years at the research and consulting firm E Source, most recently as manager of the Climate Advisory & Business Market Services. She has a BA cum laude in International Affairs from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and an MS in Resource Policy and Behavior from the University of Michigan.
Ralph C. Thomas III
Partner
Barton Baker Thomas & Tolle, LLP
Ralph C. Thomas, III is a partner with Barton Baker Thomas & Tolle LLP of McLean, Virginia. A government contracts lawyer in the Federal procurement arena, Ralph assists and counsels small and large businesses in structuring teaming arrangements involving joint ventures, prime and subcontractor relationships and mentor protégé agreements designed to withstand legal challenges.
From 1992 – 2005 Ralph was the Associate Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Washington, D.C. where he received numerous awards for his efforts on behalf of all categories of small businesses.
Since returning to the practice of law in 2005, Ralph has won a number of cases on behalf of small businesses resulting in millions of dollars in government contracts being awarded to his clients. A graduate of Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ralph received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of California at Berkeley. Ralph has authored more than 70 published articles and has testified in Congress more than 30 times on small business issues. He serves as Chair of the Federal Bar Association’s Committee on Small Business and Socioeconomic Matters.