In prior years, she served as the first Sustainability Manager for the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Vanessa is a Certified Renewable Energy Manager, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Travel and Tourism Development and a Master’s of Science Degree in Sustainability Studies. She has extensive experience in the hospitality industry, bringing a unique perspective to sustainability as it relates to travel, tourism, and land/business management. Today, she likes to spend her free time traveling and working on her family farm.

Bill Eaker is a Senior Planner with the Land of Sky Regional Council of governments in Asheville NC. He serves as the Coordinator of the Regional Clean Air Campaign and the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition. The Coalition promotes the use of alternative fueled and advanced technology vehicles to improve air quality, address climate change and reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

Previously he lead efforts to clean up water pollution in the French Broad River Watershed.

Dave Erb, in his 38 years as an automotive engineer, has developed vehicles using gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, alcohol, natural gas, electric, and (since 1986) hybrid electric powertrains.  Following graduate school in aerospace engineering, he began work in the heavy truck and transit bus industry, then spent most of his career as a college professor and consultant.  From 1995 through 2004, he created and taught a three day professional development seminar on “Design of Hybrid Electric Vehicles” for the Society of Automotive Engineers.  Dave has raced electric and internal combustion cars on road courses, oval tracks, dragstrips, and autocrosses.  He is the author of Chapter 1 of “Driving to Net 0:  Stories of Hope for a Carbon Free Future” by David Hrivnak.  The book is a collection of 15 first-person accounts of families who have combined electric vehicles with solar houses.  Recently retired from teaching Mechatronics Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Dave speaks and writes frequently about sustainable transportation and renewable energy issues.  For more information, see

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