Don Nissanka is a serial entrepreneur with a global vision for strategic growth in the renewable energy market. He is one of the pioneers and driving forces in introducing advanced energy storage technologies in the United States, cited for actively being involved in the advancement of Lithium battery technology in the U.S. market and credited for building one of the first fully-automated lithium battery manufacturing plants in the United States. In his capacity as the Founder, President and CEO of Kokam America, he implemented a strategic plan to mass produce lithium batteries and was instrumental in the launch of power systems for the electric vehicle market. After a joint venture with Dow Chemical Company that enabled expansion of the company to support the automotive industry, Dow Kokam became one of the leading manufacturers of lithium batteries in the world. Don’s career involved an array of technology development and commercialization, ranging from fully electrifying a commercially-manufactured automotive power system using lithium batteries, to working in the aerospace and defense industry when he successfully launched a career developing energy solutions at Gates/Hawker Energy. Don started up the aerospace and defense division that was eventually acquired by Enersys Inc., the world’s largest industrial battery company. Under Don’s leadership, Enersys created its most lucrative portfolio of products that extended into power systems for commercial aviation, U.S. and allied-nation military aircrafts, ground vehicles and the prestigious nuclear submarine fleet of the U.S. Navy. Don’s experience includes working on advanced power systems for major defense OEMs like General Dynamics, Dassault, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. In 2010, Don formed Exergonix, Inc. to leap into the growing renewable energy market, and has industrialized technologies that would help increase efficiencies in the antiquated utility grid of today. Don earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) where he was honored in 2006 as the Distinguished International Alumnus of the Year. Today Don Serves as an advisor to several groups, including the UCM Missouri Innovation Campus, an idea Don originated with the President of the University to allow for a unique public/private partnership between education and industry. With a passion to bring education and advanced technologies together, Don has invested in a number of very strategic green-tech and other advanced technology companies. Don also serves on the Board of Trustees of MRI Global, the parent body of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the United States.