In December 2006 Global Electric Motorcars ("GEM") began its tenth year of business in the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle ("NEV") industry and today there are more than 35,000 GEM vehicles on the road in the United States, Europe and Asia. Developing GEM from start-up to the acquisition by Chrysler (formerly DaimlerChrysler), and finally into a sustainable growing business, GEM has experienced a number of lessons-learned in the often challenging but very rewarding alternative fuel vehicle business. As GEM continues its 10th Anniversary in the NEV industry, a milestone that no other NEV can claim, we thought it would be appropriate to provide a GEM 'Top Ten' list (with apologies to David Letterman) of key factors of growth and ultimately success in the ever changing NEV marketplace.
Richard Kasper, Global Electric Motorcars, LLC.
Richard J. Kasper is the President and Chief Operating Officer, Global Electric Motorcars, LLC (GEM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler Motors Company, LLC. He was GEMs Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until being named President and COO on December 1, 2002.
Prior to joining GEM in 1999, Richard spent 11 years with the Jack Kent Cooke organization, which included responsibilities as the Chief Financial Officer for the Los Angeles Daily News. Mr. Kasper received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting at Minnesota State University – Moorhead in Moorhead, Minnesota. He was named the MSUM Business and Industry Alumni of the Year in 2002. He is also a member of the MSUM School of Business Advisory Board.
Richard is currently the Chairperson for the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) Conference, most recently held in Washington, DC in November 2006, and is currently Chairing The Conference Planning Committee and the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA) for the 23rd Electric Vehicle Symposium to be held in Anaheim, California. He has also been involved in a number of community and charitable organizations including President of the West Valley Boys and Girls Club, Chairman of the Warner Center Association, Vice-President of the San Fernando Economic Alliance, and a volunteer for a number of philanthropic events.
