

Building Up Buffalo
Jon M. Williams is rebuilding Buffalo after years of tearing down blighted properties in one of the nation’s poorest zip codes.
Part of this shift included converting an abandoned General Motors plant into a hub for Greentech jobs and community organizations.
The 850,000 square-foot campus that once housed the world’s largest motor-vehicle manufacturer has been home to Viridi Parente for more than 10 years.
In that time, Jon has turned the fossil-fuel powered plant into a production powerhouse for sustainable energy products.
Jon — with the help of the team at Viridi Parente and its subsidiaries — will continue his mission to transform the community of East Buffalo and work to electrify local ecosystems across upstate New York, the Northeast U.S. and beyond with clean, quiet, efficient, and safe battery technology.
Major Company Milestones
- 2009
2009
Company Founded through Predecessor
Viridi Parente was established in response to a challenge to innovate and utilize new green technologies in the infrastructure and development sectors.
- 20092010
2009
First Prototype
The first Green Machine, an excavator powered entirely by battery-electric, was made public. This was the first step toward electrifying the future.
- 20092012
2010
Green Machine Unveiled
The first Green Machine, an excavator powered entirely by battery-electric, was made public.
- 20102013
2012
First Commercial Demonstration Unit
The TB125 was unveiled as the first electrified excavator for commercial demonstration.
- 20122013
2013
Continued Development
Green Machine debuted the e135 excavator, the second machine in its line of development.
- 20132013
2013
First Commercial Prototype
We brought our revolutionary technology public to showcase its application in commercial settings.
- 20132014
2013
National Grid
In partnership with National Grid we started utilizing our technology throughout upstate New York and the Northeast.
- 20132016
2014
First Generation Electric Light Tower
In response to customer demand, Green Machine developed its first all-electric telescoping light tower.
- 20142017
2016
A New OEM Was Born
Under a new agreement with Takeuchi to retrofit shells to be sold under the Green Machine brand, a new OEM was born.
- 20162017
2017
OEM Builds
Green Machine partners with KATO – CES to build the electrification for 9vx and 17vx units.
- 20172019
2017
Volta Established
Recognizing the need for distributed energy storage beyond construction applications, Viridi Parente retained industry leaders to lead the charge with Volta Energy Products.
- 20172020
2019
Additional OEM Partnerships for Compact Construction Equipment
In 2019, Viridi Parente partnered with OEMs, including Doosan Bobcat and Case Construction to electrify those machines that consumers know and trust.
- 20192020
2020
Bobcat
Dosan Bobcat and Green machine Partner to Produce Electric Compact Excavators
- 20202021
2020
Case 580EV Debut
Case Construction invented the backhoe, Green Machine electrified it. In 2020, “Project Zeus” debuted at ConExpo being the first electrified machine in its class.
- 20202021
2021
Products
Viridi Parente companies launch new platforms and product lines:
Green Machine: E10, E20, E32, T7x, GME 1700
Volta: FAVEO, rps50 - 2021
2021
Recycling
Through a partnership with Li-Cycle, Viridi Parente commits to 100% recycling for all obsolete cells. This made Viridi Parente the first company in the industry to make such a commitment.



Our Leadership Team
Our team at Viridi Parente is dedicated to serving its clients and partners with the best technology and expertise in sustainable solutions to construction equipment, infrastructure, energy storage, and more.
JON M. WILLIAMS
CHAIRMAN & CEO
JON M. WILLIAMS
CHAIRMAN & CEO
As the brains behind Viridi Parente, Jon challenges every standard that the industry claims are unbreakable by leading the company’s efforts to deploy safe battery technology into markets dominated by fossil fuel energy products.
ANTHONY CHIRICO
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE
ANTHONY CHIRICO
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE
Tony joined Viridi in October 2020 as Director of Quality Assurance. He has over 30 years’ experience of operational experience, leading international aerospace and industrial organizations in the areas of quality assurance, supply chain, and product line leadership. He has led major international safety investigations by civil air authorities and customers.
He holds a M.S. degree in Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, specializing in Applied and Mathematical Statistics. He holds a M.S. in Industrial Technology Education, and has studied the quality sciences directly under W. Edwards Deming, Dorian Shainin, and Edward G. Schilling. Tony has written a series of technical papers on the application of acceptance sampling which have been recently published in Quality Digest magazine.
DENNIS ELSENBECK
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
DENNIS ELSENBECK
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
With a passion for sustainable technologies, Dennis joined Viridi Parente in February 2020 and is responsible for the strategic direction and alignment of products and services for subsidiaries Volta Energy and Green Machine. He also represents Viridi in legislative and regulatory interests on energy policy.
STEVE FINCH
CHIEF MANUFACTURING OFFICER
STEVE FINCH
CHIEF MANUFACTURING OFFICER
Steve joins Viridi’s executive team after over four decades in the automotive industry, giving much needed guidance, leadership, and knowledge for our long-term and day-to-day operations.
MARCI GREGSON
DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE
MARCI GREGSON
DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Marci joined Viridi in 2022, bringing 25 years of diverse industry experience focused in manufacturing, chemical research and development, and health care, as well as her extensive background in labor and employee relations, recruitment and retention, and employee engagement. She has an MS from Canisius College in Organizational Communication and Leadership.
PAT HANLEY
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
PAT HANLEY
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
After serving as advisor to Viridi’s executive team on all matters legal and regulatory, Pat is now our Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the administrative, managerial, and operational functions of Viridi’s business.
CHERYL HELLER, PHD
CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER
CHERYL HELLER, PHD
CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER
Cheryl joined Viridi as Chief Design Officer in January 2022. Cheryl is a designer, writer, business strategist, educator and entrepreneur. Most recently, she was Director of Design Integration and Professor of Practice in Innovation Design at Arizona State University, a joint position between the schools of engineering, business, and design. Her clients have included Ford Motor Company, American Express, Reebok, Mariott International, Discovery Networks International, MeadWestvaco, StoraEnso, Medtronic, Mars Corporation, Herman Miller, Bayer Corporation, Seventh Generation, L’Oreal, Hearst Publishing, The World Wildlife Fund, Ford Foundation, Lumina Foundation and the Girl Scouts of America. Cheryl is a recipient of the AIGA Lifetime Medal for her contribution to the field of design and a Rockefeller Bellagio Fellow. Her book, The Intergalactic Design Guide: Harnessing the Creative Potential of Social Design, is a manual for anyone wanting to use design to create a resilient future.
BROR JAN-ROGER LINNA, PHD
DIRECTOR OF CELL CHEMISTRY
BROR JAN-ROGER LINNA, PHD
DIRECTOR OF CELL CHEMISTRY
Dr. Linna is a highly accomplished author and scientist on topics related to lithium-ion chemistry and electric vehicles. He began his career with Volvo’s Electric Vehicle group, before moving to Envision International Corp. as their Principal for Energy and Transportation Technology. From there, Dr. Linna became the Senior Director and Chief engineer for electric vehicle batteries at Boston Power, Inc. He joined Viridi Parente, Inc., in 2018, and currently oversees Volta Asia as well as the Viridi cell development program.
NOAH PODOLEFSKY, PHD
CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER
NOAH PODOLEFSKY, PHD
CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER
Noah is committed to environmental stewardship and the development of new technologies that drive the green economy. He believes that to be widely adopted, products should be designed with an eye to purpose, function, and emotion. He is intensely focused on the user experience, whether it is with a smartphone app or an excavator.
JON M. WILLIAMS
CHAIRMAN & CEO
JON M. WILLIAMS
As the brains behind Viridi Parente, Jon challenges every standard that the industry claims are unbreakable by leading the company’s efforts to deploy safe battery technology into markets dominated by fossil fuel energy products.
ANTHONY CHIRICO
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE
ANTHONY CHIRICO
Tony joined Viridi in October 2020 as Director of Quality Assurance. He has over 30 years’ experience of operational experience, leading international aerospace and industrial organizations in the areas of quality assurance, supply chain, and product line leadership. He has led major international safety investigations by civil air authorities and customers.
He holds a M.S. degree in Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, specializing in Applied and Mathematical Statistics. He holds a M.S. in Industrial Technology Education, and has studied the quality sciences directly under W. Edwards Deming, Dorian Shainin, and Edward G. Schilling. Tony has written a series of technical papers on the application of acceptance sampling which have been recently published in Quality Digest magazine.
DENNIS ELSENBECK
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
DENNIS ELSENBECK
With a passion for sustainable technologies, Dennis joined Viridi Parente in February 2020 and is responsible for the strategic direction and alignment of products and services for subsidiaries Volta Energy and Green Machine. He also represents Viridi in legislative and regulatory interests on energy policy.
STEVE FINCH
CHIEF MANUFACTURING OFFICER
STEVE FINCH
Steve joins Viridi’s executive team after over four decades in the automotive industry, giving much needed guidance, leadership, and knowledge for our long-term and day-to-day operations.
PAT HANLEY
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
PAT HANLEY
After serving as advisor to Viridi’s executive team on all matters legal and regulatory, Pat is now our Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the administrative, managerial, and operational functions of Viridi’s business.
MARCI GREGSON
DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE
MARCI GREGSON
Marci joined Viridi in 2022, bringing 25 years of diverse industry experience focused in manufacturing, chemical research and development, and health care, as well as her extensive background in labor and employee relations, recruitment and retention, and employee engagement. She has an MS from Canisius College in Organizational Communication and Leadership.
CHERYL HELLER, PHD
CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER
CHERYL HELLER, PHD
Cheryl joined Viridi as Chief Design Officer in January 2022. Cheryl is a designer, writer, business strategist, educator and entrepreneur. Most recently, she was Director of Design Integration and Professor of Practice in Innovation Design at Arizona State University, a joint position between the schools of engineering, business, and design. Her clients have included Ford Motor Company, American Express, Reebok, Mariott International, Discovery Networks International, MeadWestvaco, StoraEnso, Medtronic, Mars Corporation, Herman Miller, Bayer Corporation, Seventh Generation, L’Oreal, Hearst Publishing, The World Wildlife Fund, Ford Foundation, Lumina Foundation and the Girl Scouts of America. Cheryl is a recipient of the AIGA Lifetime Medal for her contribution to the field of design and a Rockefeller Bellagio Fellow. Her book, The Intergalactic Design Guide: Harnessing the Creative Potential of Social Design, is a manual for anyone wanting to use design to create a resilient future.
BROR JAN-ROGER LINNA, PHD
DIRECTOR OF CELL CHEMISTRY
BROR JAN-ROGER LINNA, PHD
Dr. Linna is a highly accomplished author and scientist on topics related to lithium-ion chemistry and electric vehicles. He began his career with Volvo’s Electric Vehicle group, before moving to Envision International Corp. as their Principal for Energy and Transportation Technology. From there, Dr. Linna became the Senior Director and Chief engineer for electric vehicle batteries at Boston Power, Inc. He joined Viridi Parente, Inc., in 2018, and currently oversees Volta Asia as well as the Viridi cell development program.
NOAH PODOLEFSKY, PHD
CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER
NOAH PODOLEFSKY, PHD
Noah is committed to environmental stewardship and the development of new technologies that drive the green economy. He believes that to be widely adopted, products should be designed with an eye to purpose, function, and emotion. He is intensely focused on the user experience, whether it is with a smartphone app or an excavator.
Our Board of Directors
JON M. WILLIAMS
VIRIDI PARENTE, INC
JON M. WILLIAMS
VIRIDI PARENTE, INC
As the brains behind Viridi Parente, Jon challenges every standard that the industry claims are unbreakable by leading the company’s efforts to deploy safe battery technology into markets dominated by fossil fuel energy products.
THOMAS BONADIO
THE BONADIO GROUP
THOMAS BONADIO
THE BONADIO GROUP
Tom Bonadio is the Founder and Senior Counsel of the Bonadio Group. Tom has devoted his efforts to serving commercial companies in the Rochester area and helping the firm grow from two people to its present size of more than 750 employees. Tom specializes in providing business advice to privately- held companies and their owners with a particular emphasis on helping privately-held companies maximize their value and return to shareholders.
DAVID BOVENZI
GRAND OAKS CAPITAL
DAVID BOVENZI
GRAND OAKS CAPITAL
David Bovenzi is the Chief Investment Officer at Grand Oaks Capital, located in Rochester, New York. He sits on behalf of Grand Oaks in a seat previously held by B. Thomas Golisano. Founded in 2012, Grand Oaks Capital is a private investment firm that invests across multiple asset classes, including public and private equity and debt and real estate. Grand Oaks Capital Ventures is the venture capital affiliate of Grand Oaks Capital that provides seed and early-stage financing across a wide range of sectors.
MATTHEW K. ENSTICE
BUFFALO NIAGARA MEDICAL CAMPUS, INC.
MATTHEW K. ENSTICE
BUFFALO NIAGARA MEDICAL CAMPUS, INC.
Matt Enstice is the President and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc., a pioneering organization that has become a powerful engine of revitalization in Buffalo. Matt is focused on the intersection of energy, entrepreneurship & technology, and how it will drive the new economy in Buffalo and beyond. Under Matt’s leadership, foundations, private enterprise, research labs, local community leaders, hospitals, and educational institutions are collaborating to create a model for re-energizing the city that has application all over America.
LARRY A. MONTANI
VIRIDI PARENTE, INC
LARRY A. MONTANI
VIRIDI PARENTE, INC
Larry Montani is the former Managing Director of Niagara Falls-based Niacet Corporation, and is a member of Viridi Parente’s strategic planning committee. Larry also serves in advisory roles for local education, human services, and manufacturing entities. Originally from Boston, MA, he has an engineering and business background.
JOHN SOMERS
HARMAC, INC
JOHN SOMERS
HARMAC, INC
John is President and CEO of Harmac Medical Products, headquartered on Buffalo’s East Side blocks from Viridi Parente. Under John’s guidance, Harmac has established itself as a leader in medical device manufacturing with facilities in Ireland, Mexico, and Buffalo’s East Side.
EVAN VAN HOOK
HONEYWELL
EVAN VAN HOOK
HONEYWELL
Evan Van Hook is Honeywell’s Chief Sustainability Officer, leading health, safety, environment, product stewardship & sustainability for the company since 2004. He is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is both a partner at the law firm Sidley & Austin and the former Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
JOSEPH M. WILLIAMS
KIMMINS CONTRACTING
JOSEPH M. WILLIAMS
KIMMINS CONTRACTING
Joseph Williams is President of Kimmins Contracting Corp. of Tampa, FL, where he focuses on civil construction, demolition, and construction project management. Joseph is also a certified public account and real estate broker in the state of Florida.
DAN DIPOFI
TWINLAB CONSOLIDATED HOLDINGS, INC.
DAN DIPOFI
TWINLAB CONSOLIDATED HOLDINGS, INC.
Daniel DiPofi is Chief Executive Officer of Twinlab Consolidated Holdings, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of Twinlab Consolidation Corp. (a subsidiary of Twinlab Consolidated Holdings, Inc.). Dan is also on the board of PostProcess Technologies, Inc. and Manager of Fishers Asset Management. He was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Hockey Western New York LLC, Executive Vice President of the Buffalo Sabres at the National Hockey League and Chief Financial Officer of Hoffend & Sons, Inc. He received an undergraduate degree from Niagara University.
JON M. WILLIAMS
VIRIDI PARENTE, INC
JON M. WILLIAMS
As the brains behind Viridi Parente, Jon challenges every standard that the industry claims are unbreakable by leading the company’s efforts to deploy safe battery technology into markets dominated by fossil fuel energy products.
THOMAS BONADIO
THE BONADIO GROUP
THOMAS BONADIO
Tom Bonadio is the Founder and Senior Counsel of the Bonadio Group. Tom has devoted his efforts to serving commercial companies in the Rochester area and helping the firm grow from two people to its present size of more than 750 employees. Tom specializes in providing business advice to privately- held companies and their owners with a particular emphasis on helping privately-held companies maximize their value and return to shareholders.
DAVID BOVENZI
GRAND OAKS CAPITAL
DAVID BOVENZI
David Bovenzi is the Chief Investment Officer at Grand Oaks Capital, located in Rochester, New York. He sits on behalf of Grand Oaks in a seat previously held by B. Thomas Golisano. Founded in 2012, Grand Oaks Capital is a private investment firm that invests across multiple asset classes, including public and private equity and debt and real estate. Grand Oaks Capital Ventures is the venture capital affiliate of Grand Oaks Capital that provides seed and early-stage financing across a wide range of sectors.
MATTHEW K. ENSTICE
BUFFALO NIAGARA MEDICAL CAMPUS, INC.
MATTHEW K. ENSTICE
Matt Enstice is the President and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc., a pioneering organization that has become a powerful engine of revitalization in Buffalo. Matt is focused on the intersection of energy, entrepreneurship & technology, and how it will drive the new economy in Buffalo and beyond. Under Matt’s leadership, foundations, private enterprise, research labs, local community leaders, hospitals, and educational institutions are collaborating to create a model for re-energizing the city that has application all over America.
LARRY A. MONTANI
VIRIDI PARENTE, INC
LARRY A. MONTANI
Larry Montani is the former Managing Director of Niagara Falls-based Niacet Corporation, and is a member of Viridi Parente’s strategic planning committee. Larry also serves in advisory roles for local education, human services, and manufacturing entities. Originally from Boston, MA, he has an engineering and business background.
JOHN SOMERS
HARMAC, INC
JOHN SOMERS
John is President and CEO of Harmac Medical Products, headquartered on Buffalo’s East Side blocks from Viridi Parente. Under John’s guidance, Harmac has established itself as a leader in medical device manufacturing with facilities in Ireland, Mexico, and Buffalo’s East Side.
EVAN VAN HOOK
HONEYWELL
EVAN VAN HOOK
Evan Van Hook is Honeywell’s Chief Sustainability Officer, leading health, safety, environment, product stewardship & sustainability for the company since 2004. He is a graduate of Yale Law School, and is both a partner at the law firm Sidley & Austin and the former Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
JOSEPH M. WILLIAMS
KIMMINS CONTRACTING
JOSEPH M. WILLIAMS
Joseph Williams is President of Kimmins Contracting Corp. of Tampa, FL, where he focuses on civil construction, demolition, and construction project management. Joseph is also a certified public account and real estate broker in the state of Florida.
From Rust Belt to Green Belt
Viridi Parente is headquartered in an urban 850,000-square-foot facility on a 42-acre campus on the East side of Buffalo, New York. The building was constructed in 1923 by GM as its first manufacturing facility outside of Michigan and was subsequently occupied by American Axle & Manufacturing before the company completely abandoned it in 2007. Today, the former fossil-fuel-powered plant is a solar-powered facility – a fitting representation of Viridi Parente’s production of sustainable energy products that displace traditional fossil fuel generation.
The company currently occupies 120,000-square feet of the campus facility with the following:
60K
SQUARE FEET Assembly Space
20K
SQUARE FEET Office and Laboratory Space
40K
SQUARE FEET Shipping and Receiving Space