{"id":4075,"date":"2018-06-22T13:30:07","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T17:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plugpower.local\/?p=4075"},"modified":"2018-06-22T13:30:07","modified_gmt":"2018-06-22T17:30:07","slug":"powerspot-dan-oconnell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.plugpower.com\/blog\/powerspot-dan-oconnell\/","title":{"rendered":"PowerSpot: Dan O&#8217;Connell"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to PowerSpot, Plug Power\u2019s new blog series where we\u2019ll highlight the Plug Power employees who inspire us and, we hope, will inspire you too. \u00a0Today, we\u2019re meeting Dan O\u2019Connell, the site manager for<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ir.plugpower.com\/Press-Releases\/Press-Release-Details\/2018\/Plug-Power-Acquires-American-Fuel-Cell-AFC-Research-and-Development-Capabilities-Expand-in-On-Road-Applications-Including-Delivery-Vehicle-Fleets\/default.aspx\"> Plug Power\u2019s new Rochester facility, the recently acquired American Fuel Cell<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"entry-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plugpower.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DOConnell-Photo-FCEV-e1529616680463.jpg\"<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4076 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.plugpower.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DOConnell-Photo-FCEV-e1529616680463.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"374\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dan, could you explain what you do for a living in 20 words or fewer.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">I manage the Rochester Operations team where we are working on Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) research, development and manufacturing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">I\u2019m an environmentalist at heart and have always wanted to do my part in cleaning up the environment for future generations. I believe that widespread adoption of fuel cell technology is one of the best ways I can accomplish that goal. I spent many years working on automotive applications for fuel cells and I\u2019m now excited to work on material handling and backup power opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Tell us one of the most extraordinary\/unusual experiences you\u2019ve had during your career.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">I was very fortunate to travel extensively and experience many different cultures through my work.\u00a0 Many years ago, I had the opportunity to live in Brazil for a year while I worked on releasing the world\u2019s first fuel injected 100% ethanol fuel systems for production. Despite the widespread poverty in Brazil, I met a lot of great people and enjoyed the culture immensely. I still have many friends there and have vacationed there with my family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Late one-night driving home from the proving grounds, the vehicle broke down in a very poor, scary part of town. I didn\u2019t speak much Portuguese at the time, cell phones weren\u2019t invented yet, and I had a car full of expensive electronic test equipment. Needless to say, I was pretty concerned. A half a dozen very young children hanging out nearby came up and escorted me to a pay phone, called a tow truck, and explained exactly where I was. They waited with me until the truck came. This incident had a profound impact on me, renewed my faith in humanity, and reminded me that kindness can be found in any situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you could go back and give your 21-year-old self a valuable piece of advice, what would you say?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">No one ever said it was going to be fair, so maintain a positive attitude no matter what the circumstances and always follow your passion. Stop worrying about who gets the credit, take more calculated risks, and don\u2019t be afraid to take a stand for what you believe in and what you know is right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Share your favorite book, and why it\u2019s top of your list.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">The Blue Zones series by Dan Buettner. Great lessons from around the globe on living a better, more balanced, longer life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Do you have a life philosophy? \u00a0If so, what is it?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Don\u2019t fight \u2013 flee, and if you can\u2019t flee \u2013 flow &#8211; Robert Elias M.D.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re excited to have Dan and the Rochester team join Plug Power as we all continue working to change the way the world moves.<\/p>\n<p>#InfiniteDrive<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to PowerSpot, Plug Power\u2019s new blog series where we\u2019ll highlight the Plug Power employees who inspire us and, we hope, will inspire you too. \u00a0Today, we\u2019re meeting Dan O\u2019Connell, the site manager for Plug Power\u2019s new Rochester facility, the recently acquired American Fuel Cell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[76,77],"class_list":["post-4075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-plug-powerspot","tag-powerspot"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n<title>PowerSpot: Dan O&#039;Connell - 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