CHARLIE ALLCOCK

Economic development director, Portland General Electric Co.

Chosen because: Allcock, 56, is the electric vehicle point man for Portland General Electric Co. and has helped put the utility at the center of some of the largest vehicle-grid projects to date. Portland General Electric and Ford Motor Co. announced a collaborative deal in August 2010 to prepare Portland's grid for EVs and study the introduction of plug-in vehicles to the grid. That same month, Portland General Electric installed the nation's first quick-charging system at its headquarters. Portland General Electric also has installed a number of charging stations throughout greater Portland.

Quote: "We set out to make Portland a premium launch site for electric vehicles," Allcock told Sustainable Business Portland.