James Tong is the founder/CEO of Advanced Grid Consulting, which develops and executes innovations for businesses in the climate tech and e-mobility industries. With over 20+ years in the finance industry and 13+ years in fleet electrification, he has a proven track record of launching ground-breaking solutions to overcome intractable barriers to DER deployment. Previously as SVP at Zeem Solutions, he created and launched the industry's first electric transportation-as-a-service model for commercial trucking. A distinguished expert on DER, James has published various papers on DER deployment and has been cited by major publications, including the New York Times and NPR. He earned his BA from Yale University and MBA from Northwestern University (Kellogg).