THE TOTAL ENERGY USA TEAM
Vinnie Polito, President
VPolito@TotalEnergyUSA.com
In addition to his responsibilities as President of Total Energy USA, Vinnie is also Chief Executive of VP International, a company that has three distinct divisions–a medical education division, running programs for Massachusetts General Hospital among others, a consulting division assisting some of the largest shows in the US and a tradeshow division that produces both managed and proprietary events. Their offices are located in San Diego, Alexandria, Houston and Westport, CT.
Vinnie has more than 20 years in senior leadership positions. During his career, he’s also had two international postings and launched events on five continents. Generally recognized as a content development and execution specialist, Vinnie has developed highly specialized conferences in technology, life sciences and healthcare. Vinnie is also immediate past Chairman of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and a long time member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).
Patrick Serfass, Chief Content Officer
PSerfass@TotalEnergyUSA.com
Patrick has been growing clean energy industries for over a decade. In addition to his role in charge of conference development for Total Energy USA, Patrick currently holds positions through clients of his company, Technology Transition Corporation, where he is a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Patrick is Executive Director of the American Biogas Council, the new and quickly growing trade association for the U.S. biogas industry, and he is Vice President of the Hydrogen Education Foundation, a charitable non-profit that promotes clean hydrogen energy technologies through scholarships, competitions, and education programs.
Previously, Patrick has worked for the Solar Electric Power Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Shell, BMW, General Motors, National Hydrogen Association, the U.S. Department of Energy and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He has an engineering degree from Dartmouth College and sits on the Board of the 1,300-member DC Triathlon Club.
Kimberly Hardcastle, Chief Marketing Officer
KHardcastle@TotalEnergyUSA.com
With a Master of Science in Business Administration and 18 years of marketing experience, Kimberly applies the focus, discipline and expertise needed to ensure professionals across all energy sectors realize the potential waiting for them at Total Energy USA. Kimberly has a proven track record of successfully marketing business-to-business events—many of them launches—in a variety of categories. Before becoming a trade show marketing professional, Kimberly worked in the oil and gas industry—first in the offshore sector in Aberdeen, Scotland and then as a purchasing assistant for a Southern California oil and gas distribution company.
Caroline Fawcett, Director of Sales
Cfawcett@TotalEnergyUSA.com
Caroline Fawcett’s background includes more than 20 years in local, national and global sales for the hospitality, meetings, conventions and trade show industries. Caroline’s past sales positions include; Hyatt, Sheraton, Meridien, Preferred Hotels Worldwide and The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau.
During her career, she’s also recruited on behalf of several major site selection firms in the United States covering North America.
Her focus is on exhibit sales for Total Energy USA in Houston.
Alexis Neron-Bancel, International Relations
ANeron@TotalEnergyUSA.com
Alexis Neron-Bancel graduated in scientific and international business studies both in France and in the UK. Alexis started his career in the event industry back in 1997 when he joined International Trade & Exhibitions and was appointed Oil & Gas Divisional Director in September 1999. In 2003 Alexis was appointed Executive Director in charge of organizing the 18th World Petroleum Congress held in South Africa in September 2005. In April 2006, Alexis was headhunted and joined Reed Exhibitions UK as Managing Director to head up a number of trade events in Aerospace & Defense, Design, Information Technologies and healthcare sectors. In November 2007, He joined QMDI, at the time a start up Qatar Foundation joint venture, as Managing Director Events and spearheaded the development, acquisition and management of over 35 events annually. His role included working with Qatar Petroleum to organize the 20th World Petroleum Congress in Doha, December 2011. In March 2012, Alexis founded Middle East Energy Events and NBM Associates, two companies specialized in the organization and promotion of Energy trade events worldwide.
Frederic Malgoire, International Relations
FMalgoire@TotalEnergyUSA.com
Frederic Malgoire has been involved in more than 60 events in the energy sector for the past fifteen years. As Sales Director of the three previous editions of the World Petroleum Congress, Frederic launched the World Petroleum Exhibition during the 19th WPC in Spain 2008, which has since become the largest global exhibition dedicated to the oil and gas industry. After eight years at ITE Group Plc (UK), Frederic was appointed Director of its oil and gas division in 2005, overlooking a portfolio of 17 energy events worldwide before joining QMDI (Qatar) in November 2008 to head its Energy team and successfully organize the 20th WPC in Doha in 2011.
Hisae Inami, International Sales Director
Hisae@TotalEnergyUSA.com
Hisae Inami comes from a background of more than 25 years in international sales, marketing and management in Trade shows. Prior to joining the Total Energy USA team, Hisae held a number of leadership positions across Reed Exhibitions globally. Hisae specializes in overseeing global agent networks for various exhibitions worldwide in the Renewable Energy sector.
Jeff Serfass, Content Advisor
jserfass@ttcorp.com
Jeff is President of Technology Transition Corporation (TTC), a 26-year old Washington DC company that creates industries and makes change happen in the clean and renewable energy technology space. TTC develops and manages coalitions, helping companies connect to remove barriers and promote market opportunities for evolving energy and environmental technologies and services. The organizations TTC manages include the American Biogas Council, Biomass Thermal Energy Council, California Hydrogen Business Council, Hydrogen Education Foundation, Renewable Energy Markets Association, and Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen, the international coalition of 20 hydrogen associations. Jeff helped industry create, and TTC managed for 11 years, the Solar Electric Power Association and he just ended 22 years as President of the National Hydrogen Association.
Jeff is providing support to the energy storage program at the Electric Power Research Institute, helping develop megawatt-scale energy storage demonstrations, and he is part of the team developing Total Energy USA, a unique cross energy sector event in Houston, Texas.
Jeff previously held positions at the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Research and Development Administration, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University.
Alexandra d’Archangelo, Director of Marketing
ADarchangelo@TotalEnergyUSA.com
A native of Calgary, Canada, Alexandra d’Archangelo has over 10 years of experience successfully marketing and organizing events in the United States, Canada and France. Prior to joining Total Energy USA, Alexandra held management and communications positions with trade show organizer Messe Frankfurt, where she launched their social media initiatives in the U.S.
A hands-on marketer, she has built online communities across several channels and show brands plus originated a popular weekly twitter chat hashtag.
Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Design in Communication Design from Ryerson University in Canada and acts as the key marketing and public relations contact for Total Energy USA.
Jessica Porambo, Marketing Coordinator
JPorambo@TotalEnergyUSA.com
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from San Francisco State University, Jessica began her career at a leading project management company in the Bay Area where she provided marketing and organizational support for the firm’s senior management team. Jessica’s early career experience ignited her passion for marketing, public relations and project management. She now specializes in web communications and social media marketing, bringing her expertise and insight to the Total Energy USA team.
Jennifer Hoff
JHoff@TotalEnergyUSA.com
With 20 years in the industry, Jennifer is an event and tradeshow veteran. As a key member of the Total Energy USA team, she will contribute to the successful operation of the event. Prior to joining Total Energy USA, she worked for National Trade Productions (NTP) as the Executive Director of Industry Relations. In this capacity, she was part of the NTP Executive Team and contributed to the strategic direction of the company, client and industry relations, staff recruitment, internal processes and direction.
Jennifer has been Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) since 1998. She serves on the Certified in Exhibition Management faculty for the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). She has also contributed to Art of the Show, a text book used in colleges and universities.
Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech in Production and Operations Management.
Richard Fitzhugh, Strategic Content Adviser
Richard produces and advises on conferences across the technology sector, including energy, information technology and healthcare. Having worked in some of the fastest changing fields over the last decade, Richard specialises in creating environments where industry leaders can deliver the content that delegates really need. Originally with Reed Exhibitions, Richard has worked as a conference and exhibition producer for some of the best known event franchises in the sector, with hallmark year on year growth showing testament to his theory that successful events are produced hand-in-glove with the delegates and sponsors.
