The Greasecar Team

Administration

Jeremie Spitzer

Jeremie joined the Greasecar team in February of 2007 as General Manager. A UMass Amherst graduate, Jeremie went on to found All inPlay, the pioneer of online games for the visually impaired. Jeremie hopes to draw from his business and organizational skills to help Greasecar continue its success as the company expands into new markets. Jeremie is kept on his toes and deprived of sleep by his baby daughter.

Justin Carven

Justin is Greasecar?s founder and inventor of its product. He began research into vegetable fuels in 1998 as an undergraduate at Hampshire College, producing a working prototype within a year and graduating in the spring of 2000 with a B.A. in mechanical design and a concentration in alternative fuels. After completing a cross-country road trip on vegetable oil in the summer of 2000, Justin continued to refine the technology and turned it into a business later in the year. In addition to running that business ? which has grown exponentially over the years ? he continues to conduct research and development and still finds the time to hand-craft musical instruments and work on restoring a ?66 Mini Cooper and an ?82 Volkswagen Rabbit.

Joe Carven

Joe Carven holds a BS degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard University. He served four years of active duty in the U.S. Navy aboard a Fleet Destroyer, reaching the rank of full lieutenant. He spent 20 years with the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Inc., in a number of financial and general management positions in the U.S., Africa, Europe and Asia. His penultimate and ultimate assignments with Pfizer were Chief Financial Officer of the company?s U.S. Agricultural Operations and Executive Vice President Africa/Middle East with management responsibility for operations in fourteen countries with over $100 million in sales. His subsequent career includes the presidency of four development-stage companies prior to formally joining Greasecar in 2005. He served as a Trustee of St. Sebastian?s School in Needham, MA, from 1988 to 2005.

Production

Bill Naismith

Bill Naismith has over 20 years of management and shipping experience and has brought these talents to Greasecar. Bill make sure that all shipments are properly accounted for and on their way to your door as efficiently as possible. Not only has Bill demonstrated his Shipping prowess but he can often be found constructing walls and installing doors in the rapidly expanding Greasecar complex.

Sharlene Cranson

Sharlene has years of experience in packaging and small parts assembly. With her eye for detail and nimble fingers Sharlene assures that all the bits and pieces of your Greasecar kit are assembled and accounted for.

Kathy Plocharski

Kathy grew up in Florence, Massachusetts, and lives there now. Over the years, Kathy has gained considerable experience in manufacturing and production. Her skills and experience are invaluable, but her unflagging work ethic and dedication are truly what make her an indispensable presence on the production team. Kathy loves all kinds of music, especially country, and she also enjoys fishing and never misses a Cowboys game.

Ralph McHenry

Ralph joined the Greasecar team in October 2005 and requested a lawyer when approached with questions for this bio. One of Greasecar?s veterans of the armed services, Ralph served in the Air Force from 1962 to 1966, spending six months in Thule, Greenland, with the 814th Civil Engineer Squadron. Needless to say, he?s got some stories. A Pennsylvania native, Ralph?s been married since 1965 and a resident of Easthampton, Massachusetts, since 1966. Ralph has two sons and two grandsons. ?I like watching football,? he says. ?Just enjoying life. I?m game for anything.?

Sales & Support

Mark Penta

Mark Penta has a long history working with diesel engine technology. He received his master technician certification in 1993 from Denver Automotive and Diesel College and also attended Western State College of Colorado where he was a manufacturing technology major. Mark has worked with a wide variety of equipment over the years, including cars and lt trucks, snow cats, power generation equipment and wind/solar technologies for remote industrial applications. He has traveled as far as Antarctica with field service work and has been a certified Greasecar installer at "The Gilead Garage" in Bethel VT since 2002. Mark' current responsibilities at Greasecar include duties as: Technical support manager and Installer Co-ordinator. He travels 145 miles from VT to Greasecar every week and logs alot of grease miles in his 300TDT.

Skip Wrightson

Skip is trained as an illustrator and animator. He has a BA in fine art from UVM and several degrees in animation from the Vancouver Film School. Skip has been involved with Greasecar since inception in 1998 and participated in the now famous 2000 cross country promotional tour. A long time Greasecar driver with several cross country grease trips under his belt, he is always happy to pass along useful information to potential greasers.

Ethan Olmstead

Ethan brings his smile and incredible work ethic to Greasecar and is known for having a strong back, and being ready for any task. A Greasecar crew of Ethans would be a an unstoppable force. Ethan continues to craft both his culinary skills and automotive knowledge when not at the Greasecar shop. He's also working on a Land Rover restoration project you're bound to hear more about.