Building Better with Brandon Bartneck

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**Building Better with Brandon Bartneck**

Focused on the people, products, and companies that are creating a better tomorrow, often in the transportation and manufacturing sectors. This show was previously called the Future of Mobility podcast.

I aim to have real, human conversations to explore what these leaders and innovators are doing, why and how they’re doing it, and what we can learn from their experiences. If you care about making an impact then this show might be for you.

Topics include manufacturing, production, assembly, autonomous driving, electric vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells, impact, leadership, and more.

Latest Episodes:

#208 – Michael Granoff | Maniv – Chinese EVs, The End of “Mobility” & Finding the Right Investments May 19, 2024

Show notes

Mike Granoff, managing partner at Maniv Mobility, discusses the future of mobility and transportation.

Links:

Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/mikegranoff
Edison Manufacturing Exchange: https://brandonbartneck.substack.com/publish/home
https://www.linkedin.com/in/granoff/

https://www.maniv.com/

Takeaways

Maniv Mobility invests in startups that focus on decarbonization and digitization of mobility and transportation.
Evaluating founders is crucial, and the ability to adapt and find answers to challenges is a key criterion.
Chinese EVs are taking over the global automotive industry, and China has the potential to dominate due to its expertise and government support.
Investors should keep an eye on the raw materials for battery production as it may present future opportunities.

Keywords

mobility, transportation, decarbonization, digitization, startups, founders, Chinese EVs, automotive industry, raw materials, battery production

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Maniv Mobility
06:34 Defining Mobility and Access to Goods and Places
11:30 Investment Criteria and Evaluating Founders
31:55 Investing Decisions and Opportunities in the Raw Materials Market
44:31 Transition Riff.wav
44:37 Evolution in the Mobility Space
45:08 Building a Strong Founding Team and Culture
45:31 The Power of Being Nice but Firm
46:00 The Rise of Chinese Electric Vehicle Automakers
46:46 Conclusion

Michael Granoff Bio

Michael Granoff is founder and Managing Director of Maniv Mobility, a venture capital fund based in Tel Aviv that invests globally in startup companies at the intersection of transportation and technology. Founded in 2015, Maniv manages over $300 million, with an investor base that includes over 20 strategic investors including automakers, suppliers, and companies from related verticals. Maniv’s portfolio includes over 30 startup companies spanning nine countries.

Among the corporate boards on which Mr. Granoff sits are Hailo, a Tel Aviv-based developer of silicon chips for energy-efficient edge computing on-board vehicles; Revel, a New York-based provider of shared electric mopeds and Tesla-based rideshare; Harbinger Motors, a US-based manufacturer of electric mid-duty vehicles; and the Dubai-based Fenix, which provides shared electric scooters throughout the GCC. He is also a founding board member of the Washington, DC-based policy and advocacy group Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) and the Israel-based Israel 2048. His past board roles have included that of electric car network developer Better Place. He has been involved in three US Presidential campaigns and has received several awards

including Brandeis University’s Asper Award for Global Entrepreneurship.

Mr. Granoff holds a B.A. from Tufts University, an MBA and JD from Kellogg, Northwestern University, has completed over 25 marathons and is a father of four.

About Maniv

Maniv is a global early stage venture capital fund investing into technology startups digitizing and decarbonizing mobility and transportation.

Future of Mobility:

The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields.

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

#207 – Andy Marsh | Plug Power - The Pace and Steps Required to Transition to a Hydrogen Economy May 12, 2024

Show notes

Andy Marsh, is President and CEO of Plug Power. He joins to discuss the company's role as a pioneer in the energy transition and the future of hydrogen fuel cells. He highlights Plug Power's accomplishments, such as developing the first commercial market for fuel cells and building the largest PEM electrolyzer hydrogen generation facility in the world. Marsh emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking and steady progress in the energy transition, while acknowledging the challenges and external noise that come with being a pioneer. He also discusses the various applications of fuel cells, including in mobility, industrial sectors, and power generation.

Topics

Plug's approach and leadership in the hydrogen space
The current state of hydrogen as a fuel source for transportation and beyond
Why the energy transition needs to be approached on a scale of decades, not years or quarters
The role of hydrogen in various transportation applications
Andy's advice for first time leaders of cross-functional organizations

Takeaways

Plug Power is a pioneer in the energy transition, having developed the first commercial market for fuel cells and built the largest PEM electrolyzer hydrogen generation facility in the world.
The energy transition is a long-term endeavor that requires steady progress and a focus on long-term goals.
Hydrogen fuel cells have a wide range of applications, including in mobility, industrial sectors, and power generation.
Listening to customers and understanding their needs is crucial in developing and implementing fuel cell solutions.
The future of the energy transition will involve a mix of energy sources, including hydrogen, biofuels, solar, wind, and nuclear power.

Links:

Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/andymarsh
Edison Manufacturing Exchange: https://brandonbartneck.substack.com/publish/home
Website: https://www.plugpower.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plug-power/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlugPowerInc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlugPowerInc

Andy Marsh Bio:

Andy Marsh joined Plug as President and CEO in April 2008. Under his guidance, Plug has become the leading provider of turnkey hydrogen solutions for the global green hydrogen economy. Mr. Marsh has established Plug as the home to the end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem where every step of operations — from production, storage and handling, delivery, transportation and dispensing of hydrogen — is available to customers, allowing them to meet their business goals and decarbonize the economy. What was once a company behind fuel cell technology that powered material handling businesses, Mr. Marsh has positioned Plug as the green hydrogen leader powering e-mobility and stationary power applications, and providing first-class PEM electrolyzer technology.

About Plug Power:

Plug is building an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, from production, storage, and delivery to energy generation, to help its customers meet their business goals and decarbonize the economy. In creating the first commercially viable market for hydrogen fuel cell technology, the company has deployed more than 69,000 fuel cell systems and over 250 fueling stations, more than anyone else in the world, and is the largest buyer of liquid hydrogen. Plug delivers its green hydrogen solutions directly to its customers and through joint venture partners into multiple environments, including material handling, e-mobility, power generation, and industrial applications.

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods

#206 – Isaac Holeman & Tarani Duncan | Croft – Rural Decarbonization, Novel Hydrogen Storage & Rugged Hydrogen Vehicles May 05, 2024

Show notes

Isaac Holeman and Tarani Duncan join from Croft. Isaac is founder and chief product officer. Tarani is VP of product. Croft is an ambitious startup with a blueprint for an enduring, local and clean hydrogen economy. From rugged vehicles to groundbreaking at-home fueling products, we build enduring hydrogen equipment for the world’s toughest challenges.

Topics in the conversation include:

The need for better solutions to decarbonize transportation in rural environments
Why existing EVs aren’t viable solutions in the country
Why it’s important to make and sell an exceptional product, rather than starting with a green-focused value proposition for end users
Why hydrogen storage is the most expensive and challenging part of the hydrogen value chain
Croft’s novel approach to hydrogen generation and storage
The decision to use a H2 powered V8 ICE rather than a fuel cell system
The path ahead for Croft

Links

Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/croft
Edison Manufacturing Exchange: https://brandonbartneck.substack.com/publish/home
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacholeman/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarani-duncan-8178056b/
https://croft.substack.com/

Isaac Holeman Bio

As the Chief Product Officer at Croft, Isaac Holeman builds enduring hydrogen equipment for humanity's toughest jobs - from rural trades and agriculture to firefighting, emergency services and defense. Prior to co-founding Croft, Isaac’s design and research efforts focused on human-centered technical equipment for remote communities and infrastructure deserts around the world. As co-founder of a social enterprise called Medic, he co-designed the Community Health Toolkit, an open source digital health product that has over 130,000 end users in Africa and South Asia. Isaac has published several dozen scientific articles, received scholarly awards for his work in the fields of computer science and organizational theory, and previously was a faculty member in the Human Centered Design & Engineering Department at the University of Washington. He received a Ph.D. in Innovation Management from the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, where he was a Gates Cambridge Scholar.

Tarani Duncan Bio

Tarani has over a decade of experience in product and operations management. Specializing in deep mobility technology, Tarani is passionate about solving real-world problems by pairing cutting-edge technology with a healthy dose of pragmatism. From perception for autonomy and teleoperation, route optimization for last-mile logistics, and alternative energy platforms for transportation, Tarani has led cross-functional teams to launch and manage customer-centric hardware and software products that millions of people rely on every day. At Croft, Tarani leads the development and deployment of Base Station, a plug-and-play refrigerator-sized appliance that makes homebrewed hydrogen using the same inputs as a washer and dryer.

Croft:

Croft is an ambitious startup with a blueprint for an enduring, local and clean hydrogen economy. From rugged vehicles to groundbreaking at-home fueling products, we build enduring hydrogen equipment for the world’s toughest challenges. Founded by serial entrepreneurs Roderick Blevins and Isaac Holeman, Croft’s early team hails from communities in the American heartland. We set out to make the transition to clean energy work for rural communities and we’re proud to be headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

#205 – Matt Markel | Spartan Radar – The Reality of Road Safety & Improving Spatial Resolution for Radar Apr 28, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Matt Markel, CEO of Spartan Radar, discusses the role of radar in improving road safety and the autonomous vehicle ecosystem.

Takeaways

Radar, when combined with cameras, offers an affordable alternative for achieving human-level autonomy in vehicles.
Radar excels in measuring range and velocity accurately, while cameras have superior spatial resolution.
Spartan Radar focuses on improving the spatial resolution of radar through software, providing a three to eight times increase in resolution.
They aim to complement radar hardware manufacturers and provide software solutions to enhance radar performance. Spartan Radar's software, Clarify, improves the spatial resolution of radar sensors, enabling better object detection and classification.

Clarify has been shown to detect objects that were previously missed by radar systems, including pedestrians next to vehicles.
The software is crucial for ADAS and autonomous vehicles, helping estimate drivable areas in a scene.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

10:41 The Abstraction of Road Safety

17:00 Enhancing Radar Performance through Software

30:22 Applications in Different Levels of Autonomy

37:27 Addressing Safety Concerns in Commercial Vehicles

48:19 Redefining Radar's Perception

49:58 Closing

Links:

Bio

Dr. Matt Markel has excelled in engineering, technology, and leadership in both the defense and commercial sectors. He created and led the radar division of Ghost Autonomy, an autonomous driving company using breakthroughs in collision avoidance technology to develop safe, attention-free self-driving for mass market consumer cars. Prior to Ghost, he led the radar team at Waymo, formerly the Google Self-Driving Car Project.

Dr. Markel is widely recognized as an expert and leader in radar, especially automotive radar for autonomous systems, Technology Readiness Assessments and Technology Readiness Levels, and electronic warfare. He is the inventor on multiple patents and trade secrets from his time at Raytheon and Waymo, with patents pending from his work at Ghost Autonomy.

He is a published author of Radar for Fully Autonomous Driving, and is now the CEO of Spartan Radar, a radar technology startup based in Southern California, where he has successfully lead Spartan’s focus from R&D to market-ready products.

Company Description

Spartan Radar is a next-generation mobility sensor provider with extensive expertise in radar digital signal processing and antenna design. The commercial vehicle division offers the product, “Hoplo,” a software-defined radar for blind spot monitoring. Applications may include trucking/delivery, construction, material handling, and mining. Spartan’s flagship software package called “Clarify” is designed to increase the performance of existing automotive radar systems in a computationally efficient manner.

Keywords:

Spartan Radar, radar, autonomy, road safety, passenger cars, commercial vehicles, spatial resolution, radar software, Spartan Radar, Clarify, radar software, spatial resolution, object detection, object classification, radar-based perception, advanced driver assistance systems, ADAS, autonomous vehicles, drivable areas, commercial vehicles, aftermarket installation, material handling

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/

brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

Special Episode: Will Low Emission Zones Discourage Driving in the UK with Adam Hill - from Transit Unplugged Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

This is a special episode, welcoming Paul Comfort (3x Future of Mobility podcast guest) to share an episode of his Transit Unplugged podcast, featuring a conversation with Adam Hill. This podcast swap format provides the opportunity to introduce an adjacent show that Future of Mobility listeners might like.

The original show notes are below:

https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-podcast/future-of-mobility-avs/

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort interviews Adam Hill, Editor in Chief of ITS International Magazine. They discuss the challenges and prospects of high-speed rail in England and the US, including the various political and logistical issues. Adam explains London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone, designed to encourage public transit use and discusses the struggles with its introduction. They explore how public transit can be made popular, touching on how to capture public interest and cater to convenience for the users. Paul and Adam wrap up the episode discussing the impacts of congestion charging and low emissions zones in encouraging public transit use.

In Mike’s Minute, Mike Bismeyer reports from the CUTA Meeting in Edmonton about the Youth Leadership Summit and his work mentoring future transit leaders.

Coming up next week we have Scott Smith, former CEO of Valley Metro reflecting on transit and leadership.

If you have a question or comment, email info@transitunplugged.com.

Episode flow:

Introduction and Introducing Adam Hill
Adam Hill’s Background and Role at ITS International Magazine
Challenges and Developments in High Speed Rail
Exploring the Impact of ULEZ in London
Political Implications of ULEZ and Public Transit
Mike’s Minute with Mike Bismeyer
Coming up next week on the show

#204 – John McElroy Round 2 | Autoline – Peak Auto & Disrupting the Automotive Industry Apr 21, 2024

Show notes

John McElroy joins for a second time to discuss topics such as electrification, autonomy, and the concept of peak auto. McElroy shares his perspective as an automotive industry enthusiast and highlights the diverse skill sets required in the industry.

Takeaways

The automotive industry requires diverse skill sets and drives economic growth.

Autonomy has the potential to save lives and transform society.
Car sales in certain regions may not significantly increase in the future.
Automakers face the challenge of designing cost-effective vehicles. Legacy automakers can face challenges in adapting to new technologies and the shift towards electric vehicles.
Creating separate organizations or skunk works programs can enable a more entrepreneurial approach to develop new products.
Balancing the risks of launching new products with an all-new team, plant, and workforce is crucial.
The Innovator's Dilemma provides examples of successful shifts in other industries.
Chinese startups with lower cost structures pose a significant challenge to legacy automakers.
The supply chain faces disruption as the transition to electric vehicles reduces the demand for conventional components.
Suppliers must adapt by diversifying their offerings or finding new industries to apply their core competencies.
Legacy automakers must find ways to design costs out of vehicles effectively.

Links:

Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/johnmcelroy2

Bio

John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis. He is also the host of the television program “Autoline This Week,” an Emmy Award-winning, weekly half-hour discussion program featuring top automotive executives and journalists. And he co-hosts “Autoline After Hours,” a weekly live webcast that focuses on new cars and technology. The show can be seen online at www.Autoline.tv

McElroy also broadcasts three radio segments daily on WWJ Newsradio 950, the CBS affiliate in Detroit. He writes a blog for Autoblog.com and a monthly op-ed article for Ward’s Auto World.

As a journalist, McElroy put his automotive background to good use. His past experience includes five years at Detroit Editor for Road & Track, and as the American correspondent for World Cars, published by the Automotive Club of Italy. He was also invited to write the annual automotive entry for the Encyclopedia Britannica Yearbook. He spent most of his career at the trade magazine Automotive Industries where he ultimately rose to Editorial Director.

McElroy has appeared as an automotive expert on ABC World News Tonight, CBS News, and NBC Nightly News. He is often interviewed by CNN, NPR, and CBC in Canada. He is frequently asked to speak to automakers, suppliers and industry organizations. He is a member of the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year, and has won numerous awards for editorial excellence.

John McElroy is the president of Blue Sky Productions, Inc., which produces television, radio, and digital content, including video production.

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

#203 – Rakesh Koneru | HummingbirdEV – Microfactories, EV Retrofits & Building a New Heavy Duty EV OEM Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

Rakesh Koneru, CEO of Hummingbird EV, discusses the company's approach to electrification in the medium and heavy-duty vehicle segment. The conversation covers topics such as vertical integration, modular electric vehicle propulsion systems, transitioning from retrofit to OEM, application in the mining industry, customization and modularity for different use cases, challenges and benefits of building a new strategy, microfactory strategy and vision, supply chain robustness and vertical integration, benefits of microfactories and localized production, and trade-offs and risk mitigation.

Takeaways:

Hummingbird EV focuses on electrification in the medium and heavy-duty vehicle segment, with a focus on vertical integration and modularity.
The company is transitioning from a retrofit company to a full-scale OEM, with a focus on building its own chassis platform.
Hummingbird EV aims to build microfactories in different locations to meet demand triggers and localize the supply chain.
The company's strategy allows for customization and modularity to meet the specific needs of different applications.
Hummingbird EV is focused on building a robust supply chain and reducing reliance on external suppliers.

Chapters

Introduction and Background
Vertical Integration in the Commercial Vehicle Space
Transition from Retrofit to OEM
Application in the Mining Industry
Customization and Modularity for Different Use Cases
Challenges and Benefits of Building a New Strategy
Microfactory Strategy and Vision
Supply Chain Robustness and Vertical Integration
Benefits of Microfactories and Localized Production
Trade-offs and Risk Mitigation
Key Takeaways and Parting Thoughts

Links:

Bio

Rakesh Koneru is founder and CEO of HummingbirdEV.

HummingbirdEV description

HummingbirdEV, Inc. (HBEV) is a global leader and innovator of advanced products, and technologies for zero emissions commercial vehicle applications including offering complete vehicles, electric drivetrain systems, bi-directional charging systems, modular batteries, control and telematic software, and other related products. The company has clients and active development programs throughout the U.S., China, and India and maintains a focus on innovating next generation products that provide significant feature and performance advantages over the status quo. HummingbirdEV was incorporated in 2015 and has its global headquarters located in Livermore, California.

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/

brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

#202 – Laura Fox | Streetlife Ventures – Improving Urban Life and Mobility Apr 07, 2024

Show notes

Laura Fox is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Streetlife Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund investing in B2B urban climate solutions to transform sectors including mobility, buildings, energy, waste, and water. She joins to discuss the challenges and opportunities in improving quality of life in cities and the urban climate space

Takeaways

Street Life focuses on the climate transition in the mobility and logistics industry, seeking opportunities beyond traditional big players.
The MORE framework (enablement, rebuild, mobility solutions, maintenance) guides Street Life's approach to addressing mobility challenges.
Infrastructure rebuilding and reimagining are crucial, as a significant portion of urban infrastructure needed by 2050 does not exist yet.
Balancing business goals and impact is a challenge, but partnerships with the public sector can be a major accelerant to growth.
Policy plays a vital role in driving change, and resistance to change can be navigated through thoughtful implementation and clear benefits.

Chapters

Introduction and Background
Defining the Problem of Improving Life in Cities
Choosing the Right Size Problem to Solve
Adaptation and the Changing Environment
Electrification and Closing the Gap
Core Thesis of Street Life and Opportunities in Mobility and Logistics
The MORE Framework for Mobility
Infrastructure Rebuilding and Reimagining
Mobility Solutions and Maintenance
Balancing Business Goals and Impact
The Role of Policy in Driving Change
Navigating Resistance to Change
Street Life's Role in Solving Mobility Problems
Encouraging Different Approaches to Problem-Solving
The Economic Opportunity in the Transition to Net Zero

Links:

Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/laurafox
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraafox/
Streetlife website
Pre-seed or seed B2B startup in the Streetlife thesis space? Pitch Streetlife here

Bio

Laura Fox speaks on mobility, city, and climate topics globally, and is on ‘Transportation Power 100’ and ‘Top Women in Mobility’ lists. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Streetlife Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund investing in B2B urban climate solutions to transform sectors including mobility, buildings, energy, waste, and water.

Previously, Laura was the General Manager of Citi Bike at Lyft and built it into a $100M+ ARR business and one of the country’s largest transportation systems, led diligence on urban climate tech companies at Sidewalk Labs, launched new mobility products with Boston Consulting Group’s digital ventures team, and advised Bloomberg Philanthropies on their urban investment strategy.

Laura also teaches MBA strategy courses at NYU Stern, and is on the board of Governors Island, which will be the test bed for climate innovation in NYC. She is a Senior Fellow with MIT’s Mobility Initiative, and on the urban-focused Expert Taskforce for the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Fun fact: Laura’s friends call her ‘20 Questions’ since she loves getting to the heart of a good idea - and she’s given a TED Talk on the topic.

Streetlife Ventures description

Streetlife Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed B2B startups at the intersection of cities and climate, across the building, energy, mobility and logistics, waste and water, and adaptive tech sectors.

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/

brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

#201 – Desmond Wheatley | Beam Global – Off-Grid, Scalable Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Mar 31, 2024

Show notes

Desmond Wheatley is President and CEO and Chairman of the Board at Beam Global, a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies.

Chapters

Introduction and Background
Early Challenges and Market Approach
The Off-Grid Charging Solution
Challenges in Implementing EV Charging Infrastructure
The Need for Decentralized and Scalable Solutions
The Product and its Hard Parts
Changing the Fueling Behavior for EVs
The Future of EV Charging: Fueling Behavior and Infrastructure
The Importance of Ubiquitous, Slower Speed Charging
Challenges of Energy Storage and Thermal Management
Reasons for In-House Battery Manufacturing
Balancing Manufacturing and System Level Assembly
Strategic Considerations in Acquiring a Battery Company
Managing Diversification and Focus
Maintaining Motivation and Excitement in the Early Stages
The Importance of Capital Markets and Innovation
The Growth Potential and Expansion Plans
Balancing Growth and Managing Success
Embracing Progress and Electrification of Transportation

Links

Bio:

Desmond Wheatley is President and CEO and Chairman of the Board at Beam Global. Wheatley joined BEAM as a consultant in 2010 when it was Envision Solar and has served as the Company’s CEO since 2011 and as Chairman of the Board since 2016. He has two decades of senior international management experience in technology systems integration, energy management, communications and renewable energy. He was a founding partner in the international consulting practice Crichton Hill LLC. Prior to Crichton Hill, Wheatley was CEO of iAxis FZ LLC, a Dubai based alternative energy and technology systems integration company. From 2000 to 2007, he held a variety of senior management positions at San Diego based Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, fka Wireless Facilities with the last five years as President of ENS, the largest independent security and energy management systems integrator in the USA. Prior to ENS, Wheatley held senior management positions in the cellular and broadband wireless industries, deploying infrastructure and lobbying in Washington DC on behalf of major wireless service providers. Wheatley has founded, funded and operated four profitable start-up companies and was previously engaged in M&A activities. Wheatley evaluated acquisition opportunities, conducted due diligence, and raised commitments of $500M in debt and equity.

About Beam Global:

Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S. and Europe, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Headquartered in San Diego with facilities in Chicago, Belgrade and Kraljevo, Beam Global has a deep patent portfolio and is listed on Nasdaq under the symbols BEEM and BEEMW.

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/

#200 – Chris Wallbank | Wallbank Industrial – Impact through Manufacturing & Pursuing a Clear Vision Mar 24, 2024

Show notes

Chris Wallbank is President and Chief Executive Officer of P.J. Wallbank Springs Inc., and CEO of Wallbank Industrial. Chris joins this milestone episode to discuss the Wallbank Industrial Vision, and the goal to have a significant positive impact on a billion lives.

Takeaways

The Wallbank Industrial Vision is driven by the importance of people and the intentional actions taken to enable the vision.
Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the culture and values of an organization.
Continuous learning and improvement are essential for personal and organizational growth.
Building an intentional culture requires hiring and firing based on values and finding alignment with the team.
Systems and communication are key to enabling the vision and creating scalability and sustainability.

Chapters

Introduction and Milestone Discussion
The Genesis of the Wallbank Industrial Vision
Learning from Reed Hastings and Netflix
Personal Reflection and Impact
The Importance of People in the Vision
Building Intentional Culture
Striving for More and Balancing Satisfaction
Building the Right Culture and Values
Key Practices for Enabling the Vision
The Importance of Systems and Communication
Closing Thoughts

Links:

Bio:

Chris Wallbank has been President and Chief Executive Officer of P.J. Wallbank Springs Inc. since 2014. Chris earned his MBA in Strategy and Innovation from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and his BA in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University School of Business. A visionary leader constantly challenging the status quo, Chris aspires to impact the world through people, and believes anything can be accomplished with the right team and the right mentality. Chris began his career on the company’s manufacturing floor and eventually assumed responsibility for the organization’s sales. Under his leadership, the team tripled the annual sales and size of the organization. With this success, the company has been presented with the prestigious Inc. 5000 Award (recognizing P.J. Wallbank Springs as one of America’s Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies) for 3 consecutive years.

Future of Mobility:

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.

linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/

brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

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