Jack D. Hidary, after studying philosophy and neuroscience at Columbia University, became a very successful entrepreneur in the finance and technology sectors. He later co-founded SmartTransportation, a nationwide organization dedicated to encouraging clean technology in the transportation and housing sectors, which has, among other achievements, led a coalition to establish hundreds of hybrid taxis in cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. Hidary also currently serves on the Advisory Council to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.