GE Vernova hosts the third annual Pinewood Derby Competition for Greenville engineers.

Last week, the 2026 GE Vernova Pinewood Derby showcased the innovative spirit and competitive drive of engineers and employees across Greenville.

Greenville participants from all departments including Gas Power, M&D, Generator & Electrical, Controls, Global Supply Chain, and Wind were called to join the competition and “race your role.”

“This is our third year hosting the Pinewood Derby in Greenville,” said Scott Day. “It’s more than just a race, it’s a celebration of innovation, teamwork, and diverse talents within GE Vernova.”

Engineers were challenged to design cars that reflected how they power GE Vernova, while still adhering to strict guidelines to ensure a fair and exciting race.

“It’s awesome to be here, especially during Engineering week,” said Engineering & Technology Vice President John Intile. “We are ending the week in a very competitive mood, and it’s bringing out the best of our innovation.”

The Pinewood Derby Awards were given to the top three fastest cars:

• 1st Place: Andrew Kormylo, “First Rotation Edison Mobile”, Gas Power EEDP
  • 2.5241 seconds
• 2nd Place: Slavic Lozitsky, “Intern Slayer” (Joke on his teams Intern’s car being called “Thee Intern”), GTE Design Lieson Engineering
  • 2.5590 seconds
• 3rd Place: John Wodecki/Team, “GEV – Green Means GO”, GTE Customer Services Engineering
  • 2.5933 seconds

People’s Choice Awards were also voted upon in the following categories to highlight the creative and innovative efforts that went into each car:

• Fastest Looking Car – Slavic Lozitsky, “Intern Slayer”
• Best Paint Job – Brian Wheeler, “Barnaby Jr.”, CMPD Accessories
• Most Innovative Design – Diego Lopez, “Thee Intern” (the intern from Slavic’s team), GTE Design Lieson Engineering

“My favorite aspect of this event is supporting the camaraderie between longtime friends and peers. Everyone has fond memories of race derbies like this, whether from their childhood or as a parent,” said Combustion Engineer and event coordinator Cody Hasler. “We work with such intelligent engineers that they can solve any technical problem that comes their way, even if it’s a derby car!”

Overall, the 2026 GE Vernova Pinewood Derby was a resounding success, demonstrating that when it comes to powering the future, innovation, and teamwork are driving forces. Extra congratulations to our winners!