Clean Cities Directors Inducted into Hall of Fame for Leadership in Advancing Alternative Fuels and Technologies

Sept. 14, 2023

Margaret Smith (DOE), Jannet Malig (Long Beach Clean Cities), Mark Smith (DOE), Brian Trice (Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities), Tony Bandiero (Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation), Mike Laughlin (DOE), Grace McGinnis (DOE). Photo by Jorden McLean, Blue Lake Productions

Three Clean Cities coalition directors were inducted into the Clean Cities Hall of Fame on September 8, following a Stakeholder Summit celebrating Clean Cities 30th Anniversary. Tony Bandiero of Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation, Jannet Malig of Long Beach Clean Cities, and Brian Trice of Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities were honored for their resolute commitment, leadership, and contributions to further alternative fuels and advanced vehicles in U.S. transportation.

Coalition directors also selected Jannet Malig for the Benjamin Watson Leadership Award, given in honor of a long-time coalition leader whose uplifting spirit and personality will never be forgotten.

Clean Cities coalitions implement affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels, technologies, and practices in local communities throughout the country. Coalition directors foster close relationships with public and private stakeholders in their communities to cocreate solutions based on a unique understanding of local needs, opportunities, and markets.

Tony Bandiero, Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation

Tony Bandiero, a clean transportation powerhouse, has been involved in the fueling and alternative fueling industry for 11 years. He became executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation (EP-ACT) in 2009 after serving on the coalition’s board of directors for almost two years. He provides leadership for clean transportation projects with fleet, municipal, and utility stakeholders in Pennsylvania, working collaboratively with stakeholders and fellow coalitions to strengthen Clean Cities.

Numbers also speak to the strength of Bandiero’s commitment to the Clean Cities mission: in the past 5 years, EP-ACT has improved its total greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 168%. He specializes in working with both public and private fleets, helping them transition to alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies through education and outreach, grant writing, project coordination and management, and seminar leadership to develop partnerships that lead to the transition of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure. During his time as executive director, Bandiero has led the coalition through a re-designation and spearheaded the expansion of the coalition from five to 29 counties throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania.

“Tony is driving impact through his stakeholder relationships,” said Nicole Kirby of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, Regional Manager of Clean Cities coalitions in the Mid-Atlantic. “He is leading EP-ACT in providing expertise and resources to help stakeholders build use cases for alternative fuel adoption and buy-in.”

Jannet Malig, Long Beach Clean Cities

Jannet Malig ensures that people inside and outside Clean Cities benefit from her transportation initiatives. Malig brings over a decade of experience in the original equipment manufacturer and supplier market for automotive, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and off-road vehicles. In 2009, she joined Cerritos College, host of Long Beach Clean Cities coalition, and has since then promoted alternative and renewable fuels while developing an employment pipeline for students interested in careers in the clean fuels industry.

Malig leveraged her extensive experience to obtain a workforce development grant for electric school bus education used to develop curriculum and train nine college faculty members, who went on to train 97 electric school bus technicians statewide. She also helped secure a California Energy Commission zero-emission vehicle grant, resulting in 52 California high schools developing zero-emission vehicle career technology programs that to date have enrolled 5,353 students.

Malig’s commitment to workforce development is unrivaled—she also serves as chair of the Mobilize Summit for collaboration on future technology and its impact on business and the workforce, director of government relations for People of Color in Green Spaces, and chair of the California Transit Training Consortium—a non-profit group that addresses workforce needs in the transit world, including tribal lands.

Malig is committed to strengthening Clean Cities by sharing her valuable experience, acting as a peer-to-peer mentor for Massachusetts Clean Cities, and participating on the Clean Cities Coalition Council.

“Jannet has impacted the lives of thousands of middle school, high school, and college students and professional technicians through her focus on workforce development,” said Brett Aristegui of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, Regional Manager of Clean Cities coalitions in California. “She works so hard she is rumored to not sleep and cares deeply about the success of the Clean Cities Network.”

Brian Trice, Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities

Brian Trice expertly leads Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities in creating project funding proposals. Under his leadership, the coalition secured funding to electrify the City of Roses Disposal & Recycling trucks, repower Oregon-based Shaver Transportation Company tugboats, replace diesel trucks and refrigerated trailers with all-electric vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, and for many other projects. He has invaluable influence in the northwest transportation region, proven by his creation of the Green Transportation Summit and Expo (GTSE) in 2011, which has grown into one of the largest regional sustainable transportation conferences.

He recently led the coalition through redesignation and maintained its regional impact by hosting GTSE and participating in the Portland International Auto Show for regional and national leaders of green fleet operators. Trice also ran year-round educational webinars, including Mindful Mobility Tech Talks featuring presentations from sustainability leaders on eco-friendly transportation topics.

Trice supports fellow coalitions outside the region, sharing his expertise in developing partnerships with key fleets, industry stakeholders, and government organizations to implement clean fuel and technology adoption. He also supports the creation of educational resources and grant and incentive proposals.

“Brian’s efforts to advance clean transportation are non-stop,” said Dan Nardozzi of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, Regional Manager of Clean Cities coalitions in the Northwest. “He knows everyone involved with transportation in the Pacific Northwest, and he uses his relationships to advance the Clean Cities mission.”

Visit the Clean Cities Hall of Fame to learn more about these and previous honorees.