Our team shares a strong passion for achieving what the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE aims to do, namely to introduce a new generation of affordable, safe and desirable vehicles that exceed 100 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) and that reduce our dependence on oil and stem the effects of climate change.

While we are a small group of capable mavericks, we cannot achieve our goals without the incredible relationships and support we currently have and continue to build.

• Cristin Lindsay, VP, Prize Operations
• Eric C. Cahill, Senior Director
• John Shore, Senior Advisor
• Julie Zona, Director, Team Development & Relations
• Mitch Aiken, Director, Education
• Steve Wesoloski, Director, Technical Operations
• Robyn Ready, Project Manager
• Bethann Buddenbaum, Manager, Team Development & Relations
• David Locke, Associate, Prize Operations
• For Bios on our Technical Team click here [ PDF]

Cristin Lindsay, VP, Prize Operations cristin@xprize.org

Before bringing her process-driven expertise to the X PRIZE Foundation, Cristin was the Director of Operations for X1 Technologies, helping the desktop search company develop its innovative software and grow from 0 to 40 employees from 2002 to 2006. Before X1, Cristin worked on several ground-breaking startup companies at Idealab, including Energy Innovations, Omnilux, and XBeams. She also managed Idealab's knowledge management and intranet efforts. Cristin was part of the Leadership and Organizational Development group at Times Mirror before it was bought by Tribune Company in 2000. She started her career in Advertising Operations at the Los Angeles Times. Cristin holds a BA in History with a minor in Anthropology from UCLA.

Eric C. Cahill, Senior Director eric.cahill@xprize.org

Eric joins the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE with over 15 years experience directing complex, technology-intense enterprises in a broad range of industries. He has dedicated his career to the commercialization of cleaner alternatives in the automotive and energy sectors. At GM Powertrain, Eric assessed the market for alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Later, as Program Manager of a government-funded hybrid electric vehicle program, Eric led the team responsible for developing the electric drive train technology for the forthcoming Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid sportscar. Prior to joining the X PRIZE Foundation, Eric served as COO and founding member of Internet start-up company AbouTime, Inc. Eric is a veteran of the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps and Intelligence communities and a former project manager at Boeing. Eric earned a joint MS degree in Engineering & Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a MS in Technology & Policy from MIT’s Engineering Systems Division. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California, a Masters Certificate in Applied Project Management from Villanova University, and is a registered Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute. He resides in Huntington Beach, CA.

John Shore, Senior Advisor js@xprize.org

John has a mix of scientific, engineering, business, and political experience. He spent 17 years as a research scientist and Branch Head at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, where he was responsible for numerous innovations in computer architecture, software engineering, information theory, and signal processing. His technical publications include 24 peer-reviewed papers, as well as more than 50 reports and conference papers. He holds a U.S. patent in the field of parallel computing, and he published a general-audience book on computing. John was the Founder and served variously as CEO, CTO, and Vice Chairman of Entropic, Inc., a software company that specialized in speech coding, speech synthesis, and speech recognition technology. Entropic was acquired by Microsoft in late 1999. Since then, John worked as an independent consultant (technology and business development), and he served for a year and a half as Senior Advisor for Science and Technology to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. John holds a B.S. in Physics from Yale and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maryland.

Julie Zona, Director, Team Development & Relations julie.zona@xprize.org

Julie Zona comes to the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE team with fifteen years of experience in the automotive industry. With her early years spent working in environmental coordination at Mayco Plastics, then Chrysler Corporation, she soon turned her focus to product development. With a career spanning more than thirteen years at Chrysler, Julie held a variety of positions including roles in manufacturing, vehicle development, product planning/strategy, Dodge marketing, and program management for current and future Chrysler programs. Most recently she worked at Saleen Inc. as the Director of Marketing and Program Planning, with responsibility for planning and overseeing the execution of all current Saleen and Racecraft programs from concept to launch. Julie holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Detroit. She is a native of Michigan, and will represent the X PRIZE team from an office outside of Detroit.

Mitch Aiken, Director, Education mitch.aiken@xprize.org

Throughout his career, Mitch has brought the resources of the technology, entertainment and education communities together to revitalize teaching and learning. Most recently, as part of Discovery Education’s professional development team, he led intensive hands-on sessions for K-12 faculty in school districts nationwide, modeling effective use of Discovery’s online curriculum services. As Director of Screen Education at the American Film Institute, Mitch directed the creation, operation and growth of the AFI Screen Education Center. He secured and administered seven years of funding and program support from the United States Department of Education and foundation partners. Prior to AFI, Mitch served as Director of Education and Interactive Media at KCET, where he guided the use of emerging media to deliver programs and services to an increasingly technology savvy audience. He directed the station’s award winning website and the Interactive Media Center, developing programs and services for teachers, parents and lifelong learners. Previously, as VP of Operations at Media Learning Systems he oversaw company operations and served as producer/director of award winning multimedia applications for industry and education. Products included the Laserdisc Learning Series, and interactive applications for Unocal, Sizzler, GTE and Albertsons. He holds an M.Ed. in Educational Media and Instructional Design and a BA in Radio, Television, & Motion Pictures, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Steve Wesoloski, Director, Technical Operations steve.wesoloski@xprize.org

Steve Wesoloski has over 20 years experience in the Big 3 Automotive Industry, with a focus on engineering and motorsports. Most recently, he served as the Road Racing Group Manager for GM Racing. As technical and administrative leader of this group, he was responsible for a multi-million dollar annual budget distributed over up to four major programs, team contract negotiations and execution, as well as sanctioning body rules negotiation. Earlier in his career, Wesoloski was the Lead Chassis Engineer for Corvette Racing. He started at GM as an engineer on the fourth-generation Corvette.

Robyn Ready, Project Manager Robyn.Ready@xprize.org

Robyn joins the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE team with over 13 years experience in Project and Team Management. She has worked in services industries ranging from Litigation Support to Warehousing, and has had Fortune 500 clients as diverse as Pharmaceutical, Banking, Telecommunications, Insurance, and Manufacturing. Most recently she completed a Project Management Consulting assignment with BT.

Bethann Buddenbaum, Manager, Team Development & Relations bethann@xprize.org

Bethann comes to the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE after spending the past few years as a marketing consultant. In this capacity, she was responsible for the product lines and services of a variety of niche market companies including ChinaSprout, PowerSupportUSA, Rendezvous Entertainment, and The Moving Doctor, among others. She began her career in the music industry, working in music publishing and artist management. In 1994, foreseeing the potential of the Internet as a marketing tool, Bethann succeeded in bringing her clients into the digital age. This pioneering work brought consumer and critical accolades for her clients, which were viewed as industry innovators. Bethann holds a BA in Broadcasting from Pepperdine University and an MBA in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix.

David Locke, Associate, Prize Operations David.Locke@xprize.org

David comes to the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE having worked in the Film and Television industry for the past several years. Most recently working as a Coordinator in the physical production department of Sony Pictures Television, he helped oversee the production of more than twenty TV Movie and Mini-Series (including TNT's "The Company," A&E's "Broken Trail,", and ABC's remake of "Raisin in the Sun"). Prior to his tenure at Sony, David freelanced in the production arena working on a number of well-respected TV programs (scripted, live & reality programming), feature films (both studio and independently funded) as well as music videos and commercials. David holds a BA in Television Production with a minor in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.