During each competition year, there are numerous volunteers that provide their subject matter expertise to manage and execute the competition events. These Event Captains donate countless hours behind the scenes to make EcoCAR a success, yet they are some of the least known organizers in the competition. Many of the Event Captains bring decades of automotive experience from their technical area to the competition. Drawing from their experience and knowledge, the Event Captains have been able to elevate the EcoCAR competition events and have helped EcoCAR establish itself as the premier training ground for automotive engineers in North America. We’d like to introduce this year’s Event Captains below!
AVL Drive Quality
Roger Madsen, Global Drive Quality Technical Specialist, GM (left) & Phil Marson, Technical Specialist – Objective Drive Quality, GM (right)
Autocross
Mike Neal, Vehicle Performance Owner – Handling Performance, GM (left) & Jesse Alley, AVTC Systems Engineer, ANL (right)
Dynamic Consumer Acceptability
Tim Bohn, Noise and Vibration Engineer, GM (left), Doug Moore, Noise & Vibration Engineer, GM (center) & Michael LeDuc, Production Development Engineer, GM (right)
Emissions & Energy Consumption
Jim Tulpa, Manager, Milford Operations Test Support and Engineering, GM (left) & Patrick Walsh, Advanced Vehicle Testing and Controls Engineer, ANL (right)
Gradeability
Jim Lasecki, Staff Project Engineer, GM (left) & Rodger Outland, MPG Trailer Dynamometer Operations, GM (right)
On-Road Safety Evaluation & Maximum Lateral Acceleration
Kyle Holihan, Controls Design, Test & Development Engineer, GM (left) & Ralph Brazel, Traffic Safety Supervisor, GM (right)
Business Presentation
Cindy Svestka, Engineering Group Manager – Gas Engine Diagnostics & Evap, GM (left) & Nicole Lambiase, AVTC Program Specialist, ANL (right)
Communications/Outreach Presentation
Kimberly DeClark, AVTC Communications and Logistics Manager, ANL (left) & Lynda Palombo, Senior Manager, Business Strategy – Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Transportation Energy, Natural Resources Canada (right)
Control Strategy
Tom Ender, Engineering Group Manager – Chassis Controls and Onboard Diagnostics (OBD), GM
Electrical
David Spytek, Development Engineer – Electrification Electronics, GM
Mechanical
Ed Argalas, Engineering Specialist – Deceleration, Stability & Traction, GM
Static Consumer Acceptability
Al Houtman, Vehicle Performance Manager – FWD Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, GM
Vehicle Testing Complete
Tim Campbell, Advanced Program Engineering Manager, GM
