Michael C. Block – Principal
Michael Block brings over twenty years of private and public sector experience and leadership to Emisstar, having been employed by Chrysler Corporation, Ricardo Consulting Engineers, the Engine Manufacturers Association, AVL and NESCAUM. As part of the Emisstar Team, he brings a wealth of engine and emissions control technology engineering knowledge to the technical and policy issues surrounding diesel emissions mitigation. In addition to his notable work with SCR and DPF deployment for the NYC Department of Sanitation and with Mack Trucks, Inc., he has worked as technical advisor to the Croton Retrofit Project for NYCDEP on regional initiatives such as the Connecticut School Bus Retrofit Project involving three of the largest cities in that state, has developed and managed the construction of Ricardo North America’s major engineering technical center in the U.S., was instrumental in the development of advanced engines for a number of companies, and is a recognized authority on marine and ports emissions issues. In 2003, he co-produced the EPA/NESCAUM Diesel Retrofit Workshop which has become a paradigm for ongoing educational, informational and networking workshops focusing on diesel emissions reductions nationwide.
Mr. Block’s areas of endeavor encompass on-highway, nonroad, marine and locomotive engineering and emissions for both new and existing equipment. In the mining sector, he has been instrumental in exploring opportunities for the application of surface nonroad diesel emissions reduction technology to the underground coal and metal/non-metal mining sectors. Mr. Block is the author of a seminal NESCAUM White Paper addressing diesel emission reductions which has evolved into a well-referenced primer on the subject. He has also authored a Society of Automotive Engineers paper addressing SCR and DPF applications which was presented at the 2005 SAE International Congress. He has received awards for his work as co-chair of the nationally-based EPA FACA Ports Workgroup and is twenty-four year member of SAE. Mr. Block holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. He works and resides in New Hampshire.
Glenn P. Goldstein – Principal
Mr. Goldstein is recognized for leading some of the most advanced initiatives to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency in New York City and the northeastern U.S. Prior to forming Emisstar LLC, he directed Clean Air Communities, a non-profit organization that created seventeen partnership projects leveraging more than $11M in public and private funding to advance clean air technology and energy innovation. In 2005, Mr. Goldstein co-developed the policy, technical and programmatic framework for the Northeast Diesel Collaborative and helped found the Clean Technologies Group, a technical forum within the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council that helps the agency better understand and integrate clean fuel and emission control technology strategies within its vast membership.
Mobile emission reduction projects under his leadership include: 7 World Trade Center, the NYSERDA Private Ferries Emissions Reduction project, the NYC Department of Sanitation Advanced Vehicle Retrofit project and most recently, the first implementation of "Best Available Technology" under NYC Local Law 77 for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, Mr. Goldstein pioneered the development of truck stop electrification (TSE) – an advanced idling elimination technology – in the Northeast, by bringing the first commercial TSE locations to New York and
New Jersey and by developing web-based software, Accelerate, to study the economic, energy and air quality benefits of this clean air technology.
He has been called to testify before the New Jersey State Senate, New York City Council, Westchester Board of Legislators, EPA and World Bank on issues of emissions, transportation and public health. In 2002, Mr. Goldstein was the recipient of EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Award and in 2004 the recipient of New York’s first Environmental Excellence Award through his efforts with Clean Air Communities. His work has been featured on CNN, The Discovery Channel, in the New York Times and other national publications. A career environmental professional, Mr. Goldstein holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Harvard School of Public Health and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester.
Saeed Abolhasani – Engineering Director
Mr. Abolhasani brings to Emisstar a track record of successful leadership, extensive experience with in-use emissions measurement techniques and vehicle emissions control technologies, as well as seasoned technical and project management experience. At Emisstar, he is responsible for directing the Emissions Measurement Systems Division, which encompasses research and development of advanced data acquisition techniques and instrumentation, and management of projects and technical programs. Prior to joining Emisstar, Mr. Abolhasani conducted a nonroad construction equipment assessment in Raleigh, NC, which served as the basis for his master’s thesis at North Carolina State University under Professor H. Christopher Frey. Prior to his US-based work, Mr. Abolhasani was Managing Director of the Tehran Air Quality Control Company where he was responsible for developing an Air Quality Control Action Plan for this city of 11 million people in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. His related project management experience includes managing the Tehran Transportation Emission Reduction Project conducted by the Municipality of Tehran in cooperation with the World Bank. Mr. Abolhasani holds an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from North Carolina State University and a B.S. from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran.
Mary L. Clarke – Business Manager
Ms. Mary Clarke brings to Emisstar extensive experience in the area of finance and project accounting. Her financial experience includes accounting and business management in many sectors from high-tech to environmental clean-up. Ms. Clarke has worked in the private sector for over twenty years and has developed a keen understanding of the issues and challenges involved in successful project management and accounting.
Kathi Harris – Program Director
Ms. Harris brings to Emisstar fifteen years of technology marketing and manufacturing experience as well as extensive experience working with heavy duty equipment dealers, fuel and retrofit technology clients. Her consulting experience includes managing client participation in the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP) and collaborating with the Texas Clean Air Working Group, state legislators and staff to successfully introduce state legislation to improve TERP. Ms. Harris is also experienced at project management, conducting market research and preparing technology market analyses. Prior to joining Emisstar, Ms. Harris held positions as a Market Consultant and as the Program Manager for Air Quality Programs at an environmental consulting firm. Her additional previous experience includes international business marketing, strategic planning and operations management at Advanced Micro Devices in Austin, Texas. Ms. Harris holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in Mathematics from St. Edward’s University.
Susan Sharp – Grant Coordinator
A graduate from Clark University’s School of Geography, Ms. Sharp brings a unique combination of academic preparation and work experience to Emisstar. Concentrating in city development and environmental studies, she conducted research using statistical analysis, several GIS technologies, and qualitative, interview-based methodologies on a variety of economic and environmental topics. As a manager of a start-up business, she demonstrated organizational leadership within the company and community while developing marketing and public relations campaigns. At Emisstar, she works on Texas Emissions Reductions Program (TERP) projects, supporting client needs with program requirements while providing additional grant writing, research and business support to the company.
Filippo Toscano – Engineering Manager
Mr. Toscano brings to Emisstar engineering expertise and a passion for the transportation industry. At Emisstar, he has assisted with several large-scale retrofit implementation projects, including several required under New York City’s Local Law 77, which requires the use of "Best Available Technology" to reduce diesel emissions at construction sites, as well as projects to comply with New Jersey’s diesel retrofit initiative. Prior to joining Emisstar, Mr. Toscano participated in a market research project for alternative vehicles with reduced and zero emissions. He has used computer-aided design (CAD) for industrial and vehicle applications, including a project to design an unmanned aerial vehicle powered by photovoltaic cells. Mr. Toscano fluently speaks Italian and Spanish, and he holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering from the New York Institute of Technology.
Christina A. Wolfe – Program Manager
Ms. Wolfe brings to Emisstar over ten years’ experience coordinating a wide variety of projects in both scientific and business applications, with three years of experience in the environmental consulting industry. She has participated in natural resource projects in many capacities that include conducting site surveys, completing scientific analyses, preparing proposals and writing reports for clients in the public and private sectors. She has developed educational workshops and presentations for various audiences across many scientific and general topics. Recent technical work has involved research using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to look at relationships between climatic and biological variables. Prior to joining Emisstar, Ms. Wolfe worked for the University of Oklahoma and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, in addition to several years in the private sector. She holds an M.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, as well as a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington.
