John Kopera Email & Phone Number

United States

Ortonville, Mi

Expert corporate strategy, management, engineering, implementation and manufacturing for energy storage, aerospace, unmanned systems, automotive, electronics, battery systems, stationary and industrial applications.

Responsible for Product Development, Applications, Quality, Testing, and IT

Responsible for marketing, sales, battery systems development, and manufacturing for aerospace, industrial and automotive applications. • Created business strategy, plan, capitalization and financial models.• Coordinated all R&D and was primary contact/interface developing unique, proprietary battery solutions for major customers.• Managed Sion’s patent estate leading to dominant industry position and key international licensing agreements.• Key negotiator regarding BASF equity partnership with Sion Power including multi-year, multi-million-dollar Joint Development Agreement.• Coordinated Sion and Airbus achieving world record breaking 14-day non-stop, non-refueled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) endurance flight announced in major industry press releases.• Experienced with international trade controls and regulations.• Positioned Sion Power as the global leader in next generation, high energy batteries for unmanned aerial vehicle, automotive and energy storage applications.• Instituted Sion Power’s trademarked Licerion® technology.

Created in house battery systems capability, including electronics, mechanical design and pack assembly operations. Drove creation of IP for battery pack design and application of lithium sulfur technology. Managed battery systems manufacturing operations. Reported to Executive Vice President.• Developed proprietary cell and battery level safety electronics.• Instituted and executed expansion plans for Sion facilities needed for growing commercial relationships.• Created first lithium sulfur battery packs enabling documented/published world record performance in unmanned aerial vehicles.• Created and implemented strategy for battery pack development and assembly.

Pioneered and led the Cobasys effort in stationary energy storage solutions. Enabled market acceptance of nickel metal hydride (NiMH) as a viable technology for stationary applications. Recruited and managed the staff of the stationary product engineering team including mechanical, electronics and software engineering functions. Reported to Senior Vice President.• Accelerated stationary market acceptance of NiMH batteries.• Led development and installation of first stationary system deployments for the company.• Created and executed stationary product plan to provide a family of battery solutions.• Drove implementation of system design methodologies to reduce time to market.• Wrote benchmark white paper on NiMH for stationary and automotive markets.

Co-owner and founder of company providing engineering, product representation, and business development services to clients. Business focused on engineering and business consulting services for electronics and energy storage. • Developed new business opportunities for advanced materials and energy storage systems.• Performed market and competitive analysis for specific customer target markets • Performed mechanical and electrical/electronic system design, development and prototyping for customers.• Developed and characterized new energy storage and generation technologies.• Provided software design and development services.• Engineered and delivered high performance electric vehicle.

Led corporate thrust into the arena of new, alternative energy storage systems and other advanced technologies. Reported to Global Business Unit President.• Discovered and qualified revolutionary new energy storage systems.• Key negotiator of contract to commercialize advanced energy storage system.• Directed development of advanced technology demonstration platforms that showcased new technology for public display by marketing and public relations.• Developed plans and was instrumental in the setup of a new North American Technical Center.

Following increasingly responsible roles in engineering and product management, responsible for management of cross-functional team of hardware and software engineers that developed battery and vehicle control electronics for electric and hybrid vehicles.• Initiated and implemented the Electric Vehicle Group’s first structured design methodologies for hardware and software engineering that improved turnaround time and debugging capability.• Created system design for the electric vehicle Battery Energy Management System.• Pioneered first use of high speed controller area network (CAN) communications bus for vehicle applications in Chrysler Corporation.• Developed training materials and procedures for Dealer Service organization, and implemented training at customer sites.• Created ground breaking methanol/gasoline fuel concentration sensor system for flex fuel vehicles.

Msee, Electrical Engineering / Electronics

Activities and Societies: IEEE

Certificate Of Automotive Engineering, Automotive Engineering

Bsee, Electrical Engineering, Circuits And Systems, Automatic Controls, Communications, Suma Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Phi Kappa Phi, IEEE