About Viridi

Jon M. Williams is the CEO of Viridi, a point-of-use energy technology company that is revolutionizing the way energy is stored and used — leading the way to a zero-carbon energy future. Prior to founding Viridi, Jon owned and managed OSC Holdings, Inc. a group of companies in the US and Canada that focused on Environmental Remediation and Re-development of former industrial sites.

Jon’s commitment to using the power of business to address the interconnected systems of economic inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change was inspired by his hometown, Niagara Falls, New York. The many abandoned factories there served as reminders of Western New York’s rich history as a thriving manufacturing center for the world, and of the devastation to lives and land caused by their abandonment. Most of all, these empty factory towns motivated Jon to help bring them back to life in a way that serves everyone who lives there. “The first half of my career was focused on removing the remnants of the industrial revolution, the second half of my career will be focused on building and developing technologies and associated industry that will last decades past my time.

Tony joined Viridi in 2020 and has over 30 years experience in operations, leading international aerospace and industrial organizations in the areas of quality assurance, supply chain, and product line leadership. He holds an MS in Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and has studied the quality sciences directly under W. Edwards Deming, Dorian Shainin, and Edward G. Schilling.

Steve joined Viridi in 2021, after retiring in 2017 as the former Plant Manager of GM’s Tonawanda Engine Plant, bringing a wealth of manufacturing experience and leadership to the team. He began his 41-year career with GM as a General Motors Institute Electrical Engineering co-op student at the Chevrolet Gear and Axle Plant in Buffalo – now the home of Viridi. His participation on many non-profit boards in Buffalo demonstrates his commitment to advancing the cause of community involvement.

Pat has been with Viridi since 2020 serving the company in numerous capacities, including legal, regulatory, operations, and employment matters.  Pat is an attorney by trade, having spent much of his career representing clients in product liability matters and mineral rights disputes.  Pat holds a BA from Gettysburg College, MA from Johns Hopkins University, and JD from the University of Akron.  In addition to his responsibilities at Viridi, Pat is a regional scout for a Major League Baseball team.

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.

JR joined Viridi in 2018 and currently oversees Volta Asia as well as the Viridi cell development program. He began his career with Volvo’s Electric Vehicle group, before moving to Envision International Corp. as Principal for Energy and Transportation Technology, after which he was Senior Director and Chief Engineer for electric vehicle batteries at Boston Power, Inc. He’s a highly accomplished author and scientist on topics related to lithium-ion chemistry and electric vehicles.

Noah started Green Machine with Jon Williams in 2012, seeing the company through the creation of Volta Energy Products and Viridi. He designed and built the first Green Machine electric excavator and was the lead designer of new products throughout the growth of the company. He now leads R&D, new product development, and innovation at Viridi. Noah received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Colorado – Boulder.