Mobility Summit

Mobility Summit

Thursday, August. 14, 2025  |  7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

at Graduate East Lansing Hotel
133 Evergreen Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823

Researchers, Innovators, and Partners:

Join Us to Explore What Moves Michigan

This one-day summit brings together researchers, innovators, and industry partners to explore mobility challenges and solutions—from autonomous transit and drones to supply chain resilience and off-road transportation. The program features keynote talks, technology showcases, panel discussions, and opportunities for conversation and connection.

Who should attend: Engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and community leaders working on transportation, infrastructure, and mobility innovation.

Sponsored by Consumers Energy

Welcome
David Washburn, CEO, MSU Research Foundation
Judd Herzer, Mobility & Innovation Director, MSU

Keynote
“Michigan’s Changing Mobility Landscape”
Brad Wieferich, Director of Michigan Department of Transportation

Presentations & Demos

“SpartanXpress: Autonomous Transit Bus Operations at MSU”
Cemre Kavvasoglu, North America Product Management Director, ADASTEC

“PoliMOVE-MSU: Advancing Autonomous Mobility Through High-Speed AI Racing”
Paul Mitchell, CEO, Indy Autonomous Challenge
Prof. Daniel Morris, MSU Technical Team Lead – PoliMOVE-MSU Autonomous Indycar Racing

“MotMot: Pioneering Underwater Exploration with Submersible Drones”
Elliot Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Motmot, Inc.

“Hidden Hydrogen: What Lies Below Could Power What’s Next”
Prof. Matt Schrenk, MSU College of Natural Science, Microbiology and Geology

Panel Discussion

Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer, State of Michigan
Tommy Skinner, Director of Venture Investments, Michigan Rise
Katie Soven, Managing Director, Newlab @ Michigan Central

Presentation

John Verboncoeur, Senior Associate Dean for Research at MSU
Jeff Smith, Director of Research Parks, MSU Research Foundation

Buffet lunch and networking break.

Presentation

Steve Keifer, Chairman, The Keifer Foundation

Panel Discussion

Bryan Budds, Aeronautics Director, Michigan Department of Transportation
Michael Healander, President and CEO, Airspace Link
Prof. Surya Congress, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Frank Noppel, Cofounder & CEO, Blueflite

Moderated by:
Nicole Noll-Williams, President and CEO, Capital Region Airport Authority

Featuring:

  • ADASTEC: Level 4 autonomous bus platform with integrated perception, mapping, and control—deployed in live transit environments.
  • Airspace Link: Digital infrastructure linking drone flight with ground data and airspace rules, supporting scalable, low-altitude operations.
  • Blueflite: eVTOL drone platform for autonomous delivery, designed for speed, efficiency, and sustainability across logistics and emergency services.
  • Grounded RV: All-electric, modular camper vans with off-grid capability, combining clean energy, smart tech, and customizable interiors.
  • LIVAQ: All-electric ATV with twin hub motors, swappable battery, and zero-emissions performance for off-road exploration.
  • PoliMOVE-MSU: High-speed autonomous racing as a testbed for AI development, advancing real-time decision-making, safety, and self-driving systems.
  • Spin: Shared electric scooters for short-distance urban travel, enabling cleaner, safer, and more connected transportation.

Keynote

Bob Holycross, VP, Chief Sustainability, Environment & Safety Officer, Ford Motor Company

Panel Discussion

Sam Shapiro, CEO & Founder, Grounded Electric Vans
David R. Medina Álvarez, Founder, LIVAQ
Prof. Mahmoodul Haq, Director, MSU Composite Vehicle Research Center
Josef Hjelmaker, Founder and CEO, Electric Outdoors

Moderated by:
Brad Garmon, Executive Director, Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

Hosted by Michigan Office of Future Mobility & Electrification

Sponsors

Speakers

David Medina Álvarez
LIVAQ

Wolfgang Bauer
Michigan State University

Bryan Budds
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

Surya Congress
Michigan State University

Brad Garmon
Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

Mahmoodul Haq
MSU Composite Vehicle Research Center

Michael Healander
Airspace Link

Judd Herzer
Michigan State University

Josef Hjelmaker
Electric Outdoors

Bob Holycross
Ford Motor Company

Justine Johnson
State of Michigan

Cemre Kavvasoglu
ADASTEC North America

Steve Keifer
Keifer Foundation

Paul Mitchell
Indy Autonomous Challenge

Daniel Morris
Michigan State University / Motion Grazer AI

Nicole Noll-Williams
Capital Region Airport Authority

Frank Noppel
Blueflite

Matt Schrenk
Michigan State University

Sam Shapiro
Grounded Electric Vans

Tommy Skinner
MSU Research Foundation / Michigan Rise

Jeff Smith
MSU Research Foundation

Elliot Smith
Motmot, Inc.

John Verboncoeur
Michigan State University

David Washburn
MSU Research Foundation

Jeff Wesley
MSU Research Foundation

Bradley Wieferich
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

Help Shape the Future of Mobility:

Register to Attend

Let us know you’re attending the MSU Mobility Summit. We’ll keep you updated on the agenda, speakers, and ways to engage with others working on mobility solutions.