Our Team

Steve Tolen is the founder and former president/CEO of Symphony Bank in Indianapolis. He was responsible for recruiting the Bank’s original management team, overseeing the design and construction of the facility, and managing the selection of the technology platform. While departing the bank less than one year after obtaining its charter to pursue electric propulsion opportunities, the bank grew to $25 million in quality assets under his management.

Mr. Tolen began his career at Electronic Data Systems, working with cash management, treasury operations, and portfolio management before leaving to join a banker’s bank, Southwest Corporate, where he managed an investment portfolio totaling over $1 billion. In addition to his background in finance, he has expertise in software design and programming, having designed and programmed Credit Analysis and Asset/Liability Management software. He is the author of Credit Union Asset/Liability Management Theory and Techniques and Credit Union Investment Strategies.

In 1996, Mr. Tolen took the position of president/CEO of $1 billion (assets) Indiana Corporate Federal Credit Union (IndiCorp) when it was under regulatory supervision and within 3 years the firm was upgraded to an A rating by BankWatch. In 1999, he became president of $3 billion (assets) Mid-States Corporate Federal Credit Union, a position he assumed after engineering the merger between IndiCorp and Mid-States Federal Credit Union whereby IndiCorp maintained post-merger board control. Mr. Tolen holds a B.S. degree in finance from the University of Illinois.

Drew Hintz has over 8 years experience in electrical and software design. His experience includes the design of new network devices for Thomson Electronics and the development of a PIC-based embedded software system for Stage Logic.

Mr. Hintz also has experience as a contractor to Lockheed Skunk Works where he made custom modifications to the GMUGLE™ system and customized the FlightGear open-source flight simulator for the same project. Mr. Hintz is a graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology where he earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1998, won the Rose-Hulman Outstanding Thesis Proposal Award in 2002, and earned his Masters degree in 2003.

David Sobotka is President of Innovation Incorporated, a firm providing workplace innovation, performance improvement, productivity and change management consulting. Mr. Sobotka was previously an Account Manager with Purdue University’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP), an initiative of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. TAP provides process improvement, productivity initiatives and capacity building for U.S. manufacturers. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana and holds a Six Sigma Black Belt from GE Plastics

Bill Wylam is acknowledged as one of the auto industry’s pioneers in advanced battery technologies. In August 2006 he received an honorary doctorate degree in Engineering from Purdue University citing his leadership in promoting alternative energy technologies and international business development in energy-related fields. In 2005, Mr. Wylam retired from Remy International, Inc. where he served as Corporate Director of Technology, capping a five-decade career which began at Delco Remy Division of General Motors. During his career with General Motors he developed the propulsion system for the GM EV1 electric vehicle.

Through his work with Delco Remy, he established the Electricore Consortium, an Indiana-based non-profit corporation that organizes public-private partnerships to conduct research and projects in the area of advanced manufacturing and electric vehicle technologies. He has been Chairman of the Consortium’s board since its inception in 1992. Mr. Wylam is currently President of International Energy, LLC, and Chairman of Electricore Inc., both in Indianapolis, and serves on the board of Electro Energy.

Bob Galyen is an experienced product team leader and is an accomplished Battery Electric Vehicle systems designer. From 1977 through 1988, he served in various capacities for the Delco Remy division of General Motors. He was the lead designer of the battery pack for General Motors’ IMPACT, the prototype for GM’s electric vehicle, the EV1. Mr. Galyen then successfully launched the Valve Regulated Lead Acid Battery production program and the installation of control software for the EV1 Battery Control Module. For his efforts, Mr. Galyen received the GM President’s Council “Best of the Best” Award in 1995. He also was the recipient of an “Extraordinary Accomplishment Award” for the development of the new Electric Vehicle (EV) battery pack.
Mr. Galyen has served as Vice-Chair of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) EV Battery Systems Committee and now serves as Chairman SAE International Battery Standards Committee. He is the primary author of SAE J-1715, Recommended Practice for EV Terminology and co-author of SAE J-1798, Recommended Practice for EV Battery Pack Design. While serving as Engineering Manager at Delco Remy, he was responsible for Electric Vehicle Component Development. Mr. Galyen now serves as President of Global Battery Cell and Pack for Magna E-Car.

Jeff Myers is Manager of Smart Grid Development at Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities. Mr. Myers was previously Vice President of Engineering & Operations for Central Indiana Power. Earlier in his career, he served as Manager of Commercial and Industrial Accounts for Wabash Valley Power Association. Mr. Myers holds both a BS and MS of Engineering Management degree from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.

Ramon Agustines is the former president of Ramcar Inc, one of the largest Lead-Acid battery manufacturers in Southeast Asia. Mr. Agustines also serves as a Trustee of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines. He has held several director and board positions and holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University and a MS in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management.

Richard Kay is recently retired from Delphi where he served in various positions since 1985, most recently as Manager, Mergers, Post Merger Integrations, Acquisitions & Divestitures. Previously Mr. Kay served as the Delphi Representative Director, EnerDel Board of Directors. Previous to that he was a manager of their battery business unit. He holds a BA in Economics from Colgate University and an MBA from Youngstown State University.