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2026 Coalition Annual Event

May 5-6, 2026

The 2026 Coalition Annual Event was hosted by T-Mobile at the Executive Briefing Center in Herndon, VA.

A modern office building lit in purple lights, featuring the T-Mobile logo prominently at the top center.

2026 Event Photos

Click the photos to enlarge.

Close-up of the T-Mobile logo mounted on a light marble wall with a soft purple backlight.Three adults seated in a panel discussion, with one speaker holding a microphone and gesturing while others listen, and water bottles on a small table in front of them.T-Mobile logo mounted on a dark paneled wall, illuminated against a black glossy background.Large group posing for a photo in a lobby with marble walls, a directory kiosk, and the T-Mobile logo on the rightThree adults seated on chairs in a panel discussion, with one speaker gesturing while holding a microphone and others listening.Three adults seated in a panel discussion, with one speaker holding a microphone and gesturing while others listen, and water bottles on a small table in front of them.Adults seated around a round table in a meeting room, reviewing cards and notes during a small group discussionFour adults seated at a round table reviewing printed cards and materials, with water bottles and phones on the table.Four adults participating in a panel discussion, seated on chairs with handheld microphones in a conference room.One adult presenting a framed award to another during an event, with a presentation screen visible in the backgroundSmall glass bowl filled with green liquid and floating colorful flowers on a table.Large group gathered in a bright lobby for a group photo, with marble walls, elevator signage, and overhead lighting in the background.Event exhibit area with staffed tables displaying posters, a laptop, and materials branded Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, while attendees stand and talk.Three adults discussing in front of a digital display showing a vehicle dashboard view, with a magenta “T” logo on the wall behind them.Large group of adults standing together in a conference room for a group photo, with presentation screens visible in the background.Several adults standing around a counter in a modern office kitchen area, engaged in conversation near a sign that reads Dock Door Advisory Board Lunch.Group of adults in a conference room collaborating, with one person writing on a flip chart and others seated around a table with laptops, water bottles, and notes.Group of adults in a conference room collaborating, with one person writing on a flip chart and others seated around a table with laptops, water bottles, and notes.Alt text: Modern office building with reflective blue-glass windows and a the T-Mobile logo near the top against a clear sky.

Agenda

All activities were held at T-Mobile Executive Briefing Center in various conference rooms.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Start Time End Time Activity Featured Presenters
10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Early D2D Advisory Board Registration
10:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. D2D Advisory Board Meeting (Invitation Only)
1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. D2D Technology Readiness Audit Working Group Meeting

The team is pursuing participants who want to collaborate on Virginia and regional considerations of communication and operational needs that require public and private partnerships to meet future deployments of automated vehicles. These investigations with the working group will be focused on road highway/urban or aerial operations depending on participation. If interested, please contact Prasad Gupte.
3:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Early Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) NOVA Chapter Registration
3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. VMA NOVA Chapter Meeting (Invitation Only)
4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. D2D Energy Efficient and Resilient Freight Working Group Meeting

Discussion on working group member efforts to advance energy-efficient vehicle and infrastructure technology, and setting working group priorities for the near future. Open to all D2D partners.
5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. General Registration
5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Networking Reception with Demonstrations

Join us for a happy hour networking reception with partners from Dock to Door and the rare opportunity to meet new collaborators through a jointly hosted event of D2D with the Virginia Maritime Association chapter. Demos, relationship-building, photo booth, and more. Partner technology demonstrations will take place throughout the center for small group tours.
  • Demonstrations by Nerdery, SAE Foundation-Virginia Clean Cities joint initiative, Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, and exclusive small group tours of the T-Mobile Demo Room.
6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Dinner

A Cinco de Mayo themed dinner opportunity sponsored by GPS Insight to build relationships with fellow partners and collaborators. Featuring Keynote remarks from a VP T-Mobile Representative, Dinner Sponsor Keynote GPS Insight and Honorary Award Tribute to retired former VDOT Commissioner Cathy McGhee presented by VTTI’s Tom Dingus and Mike Mollenhauer.
  • T-Mobile
  • GPS Insight
  • VTTI

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Start Time End Time Activity Featured Presenters
8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Breakfast & Networking
8:30 a.m. 8:40 p.m. CEO Opening Remarks

Opening statements by our CEO as a welcome to our D2D Coalition May event and key highlights of the D2D progress this year.
  • Myra Blanco, D2D Coalition
8:40 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Keynote Opener: Kristin White, Google for Transportation

An energizing kickoff provided by Kristin White, Google Public Sector’s Transportation Industry Executive and Head of Transportation Strategy and Partnerships, into how partnerships between government and industry are key to advancing the transportation infrastructure in the future of the supply chain.
  • Kristin White, Google for Transportation
9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Government Focused Panel: Effective Partnerships lead to Informed Policy

Legislative updates from public sector representatives and D2D partners as they relate to current market and policy changes that affect supply chain operations.
  • Zhitong Huang, VDOT
  • Mena Lockwood, VDOT
  • Dustin Rinehart, CMA CGM
10:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Last-Mile Energy Efficient Freight Project Feature: Project Lodestar

Project Lodestar is a last-mile decarbonization effort between two D2D partners, Virginia Clean Cities and Advanced Logistics Systems. The presentation and discussion will highlight project advancements as well as gaps in enabling last-mile delivery.
  • Matthew Fuhr, Advanced Logistics Systems
  • Matt Wade, Virginia Clean Cities
10:15 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Economic Impact Activity: The Impact of Communication on Freight Movement

An interactive game where participants follow a shipment across the supply chain and experience how data gaps create real economic costs. Players then see how Hermes Assistant turns selective data sharing into measurable efficiency gains.
  • Mac McCall, VTTI
11:00 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Smart & Connected Infrastructure: Urban Freight Applications

Explores emerging smart city technologies enabling more efficient and resilient urban freight movement, such as connected corridors, curb management systems, digital twins, and real time traffic coordination.
  • Matt Nice, VTTI Smart Mobility Lab
  • Hilary Orr, City of Alexandria
  • Troy Schaetzle, Ericsson
11:15 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Exploring Ways to Foster AV Acceptance by Communities

Moderated discussion with D2D partners from the research and practice perspective for enabling AV acceptance by communities.
  • Laura Chace, ITS America
  • Richard Russell, TORC
12:00 p.m. 12:45 p.m. Lunch

Keynote remarks and Lunch sponsored by Ericsson
  • Troy Schaetzle, Ericsson
12:45 p.m. 1:45 p.m. Grid Strain from High-Load Sectors: Data Centers and Zero-Emission Freight

This panel explores recent trends in the energy landscape with a focus on the implications for the transportation industry and rapid electrification and how they impact grid resiliency opportunities, risks, and energy demand in the future.
  • Julie Manzari, Dominion Energy
  • Dr. Ali Mehrizi-Sani, Power and Energy Center at Virginia Tech
1:45 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Break
2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Impacts of AI on Freight

A discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping freight operations, including routing optimization, predictive maintenance, supply chain visibility, and automated logistics.
  • Tony Boun, Nerdery
  • JC Garcia, GPS Insight
  • Kevin Speers, SPLICE
2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. EV/AV Workforce Training of the Future

Featured work and discussion around preparing the next generation workforce for electric and autonomous freight technologies, from technician roles to AV inspection needs. This will feature current D2D initiatives such as the D2D Pilot STEM program in partnership with SAE Foundation, Pulaski County, and Virginia Clean Cities, the GOVA-funded D2D Pathways Program for mid-level careers, and the Virginia Clean Cities GUMBO training project.
  • Stephanie Baker, VTTI
  • Gregory Brennan, Virginia Clean Cities
3:00 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Closing Remarks
  • Kaitlyn Bedwell, D2D Coalition
  • Myra Blanco, D2D Coalition

Location

T-Mobile

T-Mobile Executive Briefing Center

2340 Dulles Corner Blvd
Herndon, VA 20171

ID is required to access the T-Mobile facility.

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Event Hotel

Hyatt Place Herndon Dulles East

Hyatt Place Herndon Dulles East

13711 Sayward Blvd
Herndon, VA 20171
571-643-0905

Free Dulles Airport shuttle service available.

Google Maps
Book a Room

Visitor Information

Other Lodging

We are not able to provide shuttling services, so please arrange your own transportation to the Executive Briefing Center.

Airports

Registration

Registration information has been emailed to Coalition members. Please contact D2DCoalition@vtti.vt.edu if you have any questions.

Accommodations

If you are an individual with a disability and require accommodation or have dietary restrictions, please contact Christina Viers at cviers@vtti.vt.edu or 540-231-0397 during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.