Below are our speakers from our 2020 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit. We will soon release a call for our 2021 conference - stay tuned!
SPEAKERS
2020
Greening the Ghetto
Ted Talk by Majora Carter
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MAJORA CARTER
Majora Carter is an American urban revitalization strategist and broadcast producer/host from the South Bronx in New York. Carter’s career has spanned environment, economy, social mobility, and real estate development, and her work has won major awards in each sector including a MacArthur 'genius' Grant, a Peabody Award, the Rudy Bruner Award Silver Medal, nine honorary doctorates, and accolades from various professional groups. Her consulting clients benefit from her ability to disrupt outdated assumptions in order to uncover better solutions to vexing and persistent problems. Carter is quoted on the walls of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture: “Nobody should have to move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one.” She applies this talent-retention lens to all of her work.
Carter combines her corporate consulting insights to reducing Brain Drain in American low-status communities. Her firsthand experience pioneering sustainable economic development in the South Bronx, has enabled her to harness capital flows resulting from re-urbanization across age, race, and income levels, to help increase wealth building opportunities across demographics left out of this historic financial tide change. Her work produces long term fiscal benefits for government and leading private real estate developments through innovative economic diversity structures.
Her ability to shepherd teams through difficult socio-economic conflict has garnered a very long list of awards and honorary PhD's, including: 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs, Silicon Alley 100 by Business Insider, Liberty Medal for Lifetime Achievement by News Corp, and other honors from the National Building Museum, International Interior Design Association, Center for American Progress, as well as her TEDtalk which was one of six to launch that site in 2006.
At Sustainable South Bronx, Carter deployed MIT’s first ever Mobile Fab- Lab(digital fabrication laboratory) to the South Bronx - where it served as an early iteration of the “Maker-Spaces” found elsewhere today. The project drew residents and visitors together for guided and creative collaborations.
After establishing Sustainable South Bronx and Green For All (among other organizations) to carry on that work, she opened a private consulting firm to help spread the message and success of social enterprise and economic development in low-status communities - which was named Best for the World by B-Corp in 2014.
Majora Carter has helped connect tech industry pioneers such as Etsy, Gust, FreshDirect, Google, and Cisco to diverse communities at all levels.
She is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science.
Session Panelists:
Reframing Sustainability: Exploring the Intersection of Race, Health, and Environment
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Victoria Parks
Hamilton County Commissioner
Victoria Parks is a Hamilton County Commissioner. She served as the Chief of Staff for Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune for four years and represented the Commissioner on several Boards, including Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Transportation Agency, Oral Health Commission, Transportation Improvement District, SORTA and The Port Authority. Prior to her work with the County Commission, Parks served as Major Gifts Officer at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Development Director at the Women’s Crisis Center. Parks started her non-profit and government career as Community Outreach Representative for Congressman Steve Driehaus from 2010-2011 after 30 years in customer service and marketing. Parks is an enlisted United States Air Force Veteran having served honorably from 1976 -1980. She was awarded the Air Force Longevity Service Award and Air Force Good Conduct Medal.
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Renee Mahaffey-Harris
President & CEO, the Center for Closing the Health Gap
Harris is a committed advocate for the underserved and marginalized populations in Greater Cincinnati and the region. She started her journey in eliminating health disparities with The Health Gap in 2008. Harris leads The Health Gap in its mission to lead the efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities through advocacy, education, and community outreach. During her tenure at The Health Gap, Harris has co-led the creation of the Food Desert Task Force, jointly implemented the City of Cincinnati Health In All Policy, and launched several groundbreaking community-based health initiatives including the Black Women’s Health Movement.
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Jaime Love
Associate Director, US Programs, Institute for Sustainable Communities
Jaime Love is Associate Director of U.S. Programs. In this role, she will work with the U.S. Program team in the overall management, implementation, and business development of the U.S. program. Prior to ISC, Jaime worked with Interact for Health where she developed and managed grant portfolios in healthy and active living and led the foundation’s work on equity, diversity, and inclusion. In her previous experience at Hamilton County Public Health, she created and managed a community-driven project focused on improving health through policy, systems, and environmental change strategies. Jaime is also an Adjunct Instructor in the Health Promotion and Education program at Union Institute & University. She holds a Master of Education in Health Promotion from University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University.
Majora Carter
Award-Winning Urban Revitalization Strategist and Corporate Consultant
Majora Carter is an award-winning urban revitalization strategist and corporate consultant. She is the founder of Sustainable South Bronx and Green for All, and has worked at the intersection of race, place and environment for over two decades. Her work in the South Bronx has transformed a once blighted community into a hub of opportunity and advancement for residents of all backgrounds. Carter's work has won major awards, including a MacArthur 'genius' Grant, a Peabody Award, the Rudy Bruner Award Silver Medal, nine honorary doctorates, and accolades from various professional groups. She is quoted on the walls of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture: “Nobody should have to move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one.”
James P. Buchanan
University Professor and Director of the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue
James P. Buchanan, University Professor and Director of the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue, was educated at Yale University and University of Chicago where he completed a PhD in comparative religions and value systems. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, The University of Moscow, and the University of Beijing. His teaching and research has focused upon ethics, sustainability, global systems, and interfaith dialogue. He has published widely and delivered more than 250 talks worldwide. To see the work of the Center see www.xavier.edu/dialogue
Sustainable Business Models
Andrea Wilson Mueller
Inside Out Design
Andrea is a native Kentuckian and graduate of the UK College Of Design with a BA in Design. She is the first and only APLD certified landscape designer in the state of Kentucky. She specializes in designing outdoor spaces of all sizes and styles with an ecological focus.
Heather Warman
Sup Kentucky
Heather is a native Kentuckian and graduate of the UK College of Design with a BA in Interior Design. She ran her own design studio for 10 years where she focused on environmentally friendly and sustainable design. She is also a certified environmental educator for the state of Kentucky.
Net Zero Everything: Interactive Sustainability Planning Workshop
Jennifer Eismeier
Camp Joy Executive Director
Jen joined Camp Joy as the Executive Director in 2017 after serving for over five years as the Executive Director of the Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities. She brings 13 years of non-profit experience to Joy along with a natural resource management education from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Penn State. Outside of Joy, Jen serves as vice-president of the Millcreek Valley Conservancy District.
Jeff Millard, PE, LEED AP, CEM
CMTA Cincinnati
Jeff has over 20 years experience designing energy efficient buildings. Jeff designed over 30 LEED educational buildings including the first LEED Platinum school in Ohio. A 40 Under 40 honoree by BD&C, Jeff is an AIA accredited speaker and has presented on high performance building systems, Zero Energy strategies, and WELL building certification.
Chris Willis,PE, LEED AP, CEM
emersion DESIGN
Chris is a registered architect and LEED AP professional. She has several LEED Gold and Silver projects and written sustainability guidelines for NIH Design Requirements Manual. The Matthew O. Diggs III Laboratory for Life Science Research at Wright State University was the Midwest’s first higher education LEED Gold Laboratory, this new facility creatively employs sustainable design strategies to optimize efficiency and conserve resources while providing superior laboratory spaces that house interdisciplinary research focused on the advancement of human health.
Andy Holzhauser
Donovan Energy
Andy Holzhauser is Partner with Donovan Energy, a clean energy project development firm based in Cincinnati that provides products and services that reduce carbon emissions in the built environment.
Andy is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) that founded and led the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance 2009-2016. His work experience prior to that includes Fifth Third Bank, Deloitte and 3CDC.
Andy serves as the President of Green Umbrella’s Board of Directors and lives in Over-the-Rhine with his family in a LEED-Platinum certified home and he serves on the Board of the OTR Foundation dedicated to preserving the neighborhood’s rich history.
Solutions for a Regenerative Historic Urban Core
Sanyog Rathod
Sol design + consulting
Sanyog is the founder of Sol design + consulting, a Cincinnati-based firm providing sustainability consulting and design. He is a longtime advocate for affordable housing, historic preservation, and green building, and has earned numerous awards for his work, including the Over-the-Rhine Infill Design Award and Habitat for Humanity’s Recognition for Service.
Carl Sterner
Sol design + consulting
Carl is the Director of Design & Sustainability at Sol design + consulting, where he oversees the design and delivery of ambitious sustainable projects, including Net Zero Energy and Passive House work. He believes in the potential of architecture to create a more humane, equitable, and joyous world.
Manufacturing Sustainability: Why Local Efforts Should Include Industry
John Seryak
Go Sustainable Energy
John is the founder and CEO of Go Sustainable Energy, leading Go's strategy of providing accurate, unbiased advice on sustainable energy. John is a professional mechanical engineer, a distinguished alumni of DOE’s Industrial Assessment Center, and an energy consultant to the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association.
Melissa Hulting
EPA
Melissa is an environmental scientist in U.S. EPA’s Chicago office. She works in clean energy and air quality programs, with the last four years focused on promoting ENERGY STAR’s programs for industry. She is also a cycling and sustainability advocate in the Chicago suburb where she lives.
The Young and The Restless: How Younger Generations are Stepping Up to Fight Climate Change/Youth Resiliency in Cincy
Madison Butcher
Green Building Consulting
With an education in sustainable business from Ohio State University, Madison assists project teams in achieving their building certification goals through research, documentation, and verification of green program requirements. She also serves as the Emerging Professional and Vice Chairperson for USGBC SW OH Regional Chapter.
Stephanie Crockett
Elevar Design Group
Stephanie received her Bachelors of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and she is currently enrolled in the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) working towards registration as an Architect. Stephanie cares deeply about her community serving as an advisory board member for the AFC’s Design Lab and USGBC Ohio.
Sarah Fischer
Electric Vehicle Specialist
Electrification Coalition
Sarah received a B.S. in Sustainability & Business from Ohio State University. In her current role, she supports the Climate Mayor's EV Purchasing Collaborative in facilitating public fleet electrification across the country. Locally, Sarah is also involved in the USGBC Emerging Professionals Committee and the Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Young Professionals Council.
Savannah Sullivan
City of Cincinnati
Savannah is a MPA and MS in Environmental Science candidate at Indiana University. She began her career in Washington, DC working on green chemistry programs for the US EPA and ACS Green Chemistry Institute. Prior to working with the City, she was a Turner Farm Apprentice, AmeriCorps VISTA for Rural Action, and Green Umbrella intern.
A Climate Action Pathway for the Religious Community/Solarize Ohio PPA: How Churches Can Afford Renewable Energy
Joanne Gerson
Shomrei Olam
Joanne is the founder and president of Shomrei Olam, founder and chair of the Rockdale Environmental Committee, the Montgomery Planning Commissioner (13 years), program committee chair for the Hamilton County Regional Planning Partnership, member of the Green Umbrella Watershed Task Force, founder and past director of the Super Saturday Program. She is also an accomplished artist, dressage enthusiast, and grandmother of two adorable girls.
Ken Wright
Solar Energy Advocate
Ken worked as a materials engineer at GE Aviation in Cincinnati. After retirement, he’s focused on solar energy. In Virginia he helped organize and lead the Hampton Roads Solar Group. Now he’s working with Episcopalians across Ohio to set up a PPA to place solar panels on churches.
Rev. Craig A. Foster
St. John's Episcopal Church
The Rev. Craig A. Foster, P.E. is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church as well as a Registered Professional Engineer. Craig’s career of over 40 years includes time as an energy management consultant and as an energy and environmental manager for a large auto manufacturer in Ohio.
Designing Future Foodsheds for Regenerative Regions
Amy Stross
Author and Webmaster at Tenthacrefarm.com
Amy specializes in permaculture gardening and edible landscaping, and enjoys teaching and speaking about these topics. She holds a Masters degree in education and has received certification in both Permaculture Design and Community Garden Development. She runs The Tenth Acre Farm website since 2013, and her first book, The Suburban Micro-Farm: Modern Solutions for Busy People was first released in December, 2016. A full-color edition was released in 2018, distributed by Chelsea Green Publishing. The book has won three awards!
Chris Smyth
Common Orchard Project
Chris is a regenerative designer, group facilitator, and rebuilder of the Commons. After studying and practicing Permaculture for 11 years he now teaches and practices his craft in Cincinnati through consulting with individuals and organizations. Most of his devotion goes toward implementing Permaculture Orchards on Vacant Land as the Director of The Common Orchard Project.
Doug Crouch
Treasure Lake
Doug is trained as a Permaculture Designer and Fish and Wildlife Manager. He has extensive experience surrounding landscape planning and food production systems. This regenerative design and implementation work spans the globe. He now lives on third generation land in Northern Kentucky, stewarding and educating at Treasure Lake Forest and Farm
Braden Trauth, MDes
Cincinnati Permaculture Institute
Braden is the Program Coordinator for the Horticulture Program in the College of DAAP at UC. He has been teaching and consulting about Permaculture since 2007 with the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture on behalf of USAID, the Earthship Academy, and across the US. He cofounded the Cincinnati Permaculture Institute and its Edible Landscaping Nursery, Growing Value for the past 12 and 10 years respectively. He has been involved with many of the Public forage gardens around Cincinnati.
Alan Wight, Ph.D.
The Christ College of Nursing
Alan is on faculty at The Christ College of Nursing. He runs their Service Learning Program and leads the Mt. Auburn Gardens Initiative & Collaborative. Alan also works with the University of Cincinnati, as their School and Community Food Forest Liaison, and teaches Fruit and Nut Production for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
Indigenizing Colonized Spaces: Building Health and Wealth with Food Sovereignty
Jheri Neri
Executive Director, Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition
Jheri is Din’e / N’de and has worked with the Miami Valley Native American Council, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, Poor People’s Campaign and Sierra Club. He was active in Standing Rock and co-founded GCNAC to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2018.
J. Dawn Knickerbocker
Co-Leader at Mothers Out Front Ohio and Vice President of the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition
Jennifer belongs to the Anishinaabe people and is an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. She is an environmentalist and indigi-feminist working on culturally-based sustainable development and food sovereignty in Yellow Springs and White Earth reservation through Honor the Earth. She is a published writer, poet and public speaker.
Shane Creepingbear
Associate Director, Antioch College
Shane Creepingbear is the Associate Director of Antioch College.
More Than a Donation: How Re-Purposing a Solar PV System Galvanized an Urban Community
Steve Melink
Melink Corporation
Steve is founder and CEO of Melink Corporation, a provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for the commercial building industry. Author of CEO Power & Light – Transcendent Leadership for a Sustainable World, Steve advocates for a clean energy revolution to improve our global economy, security and environment.
Pastor Damon Lynch, III
New Prospect Baptist Church
Pastor Damon Lynch, III has served as Pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church in Roselawn for 29 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cincinnati Bible College. Among his many leadership roles, Pastor Lynch also serves as President and CEO of Community Economic Advancement Initiative.
Mark Fisher
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Mark’s role at the Zoo is diverse – including the development and execution of the Zoo’s master plan, supporting teams that build and maintain the Zoo, and being present in the neighborhood of Avondale, working to heal old wounds. Mark is also the driving force behind the Zoo's sustainability movement, transforming the Zoo from an organization that barely had a recycling program, to becoming the Greenest Zoo in World.
Kevin Sasson
SonLight Power
Kevin serves as executive director for SonLight Power, a dynamic non-profit that equips people living without basic electricity with faith-based love and solar power for transformational, lasting impact. Under his leadership, SonLight Power has impacted 300,000+ lives by increasing access to sustainable, clean energy. Kevin is a featured speaker on Leadercast.
Transforming a Community: Addressing Energy Affordability in Cincinnati/Light Up Avondale
Savannah Sullivan
City of Cincinnati, Office of Environment & Sustainability
Savannah is currently the Climate and Community Resilience Analyst for the City of Cincinnati's Office of Environment and Sustainability, where she is co-leading the development of two low-income energy efficiency programs for multifamily buildings, leading the City’s participation in the National League of Cities 2020 Resilience Cohort.
Carla Walker
Climate Advisor, City of Cincinnati
As Climate Advisor for the City of Cincinnati, Carla leads the city’s work on creating energy efficiency services for low income families living in multi-family structures, public education initiatives on electric vehicles, and building out the city’s EV charging infrastructure.
Robert McCracken
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance
Robert is the Director of Operations at the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance. He is committed to improving the energy literacy of homeowners and renters so that they can reduce their energy usage, save money, and improve the environment.
Staci O'Leary
People Working Cooperatively
Staci is the Director of Utility and Special Programs at People Working Cooperatively, and has worked on HWAP programs in Indiana and Ohio, utility energy conservation and weatherization programs through Duke Energy, Vectren, and Dayton Power & Light, The Electric Partnership Program through the Ohio Department Services Agency and the development and implementation of new energy programing such as WarmUp Cincy.
The Next Frontier: Urban Carbon Capture and Storage
Oliver Kroner
Sustainability Coordinator, City of Cincinnati
Ollie's work focuses on climate science and urban policy, including energy, transportation, waste, and food systems. He leads collaboration of government and community partners to advance and track the sustainability, equity, and resilience strategies of the Green Cincinnati Plan.
Crystal Courtney
Cincinnati Park Board
Crystal oversees the Natural Resource Management Section for the Cincinnati Park Board. In this duty she is responsible for the care of the urban forest and natural resources along the streets of Cincinnati and throughout Cincinnati Parks. With over 10 years of experience in the Natural Resource Management field, she is honored and humbled to have the great responsibility to address City’s climate change goals through nature-based solutions on public lands.
Matt DiBona
Cincinnati Park Board
Matt oversees the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the Cincinnati Park Board. In this duty, Matt is responsible for the management of all the spatial assets within the park system and urban canopy throughout the city. With over 15 years of experience in the Natural Resources Conservation field and a recent graduate from Xavier University with his Masters in Urban Sustainability and Resiliencies. Matt is honored to come back to Xavier and help promote trees within the urban landscape.
Carl Sterner
Sol Design + Consulting, Director of Design and Sustainability
Carl is the Director of Design & Sustainability at Sol design + consulting, where he oversees the design and delivery of ambitious sustainable projects, including Net Zero Energy and Passive House work. He believes in the potential of architecture to create a more humane, equitable, and joyous world.
It Takes a Village: Sustaining Restoration Projects with Service Learners and Community Organizations
Kineta Sanford
Outreach & Fundraising Manager, Yellow Springs Home, Inc.
Kineta started at YS Home, Inc. in 2018 as an AmeriCorps VISTA and is now the Outreach and Fundraising Manager. Kineta is actively engaged in grant writing, affirmative fair housing marketing and community relationship building. A former Village Council member, she currently serves on the YS Housing Advisory Board.
Krista Magaw
Executive Director, Tecumseh Land Trust
Krista has long worked in public and nonprofit sectors, first focusing on improving access to quality health care, then working in land and water conservation. With a masters in Public Policy, she has participated in policy development and implementation, ranging from federal Farm Bill programs to local land use plans
Marianne MacQueen
Council Vice President & Environmental Commission Liaison, Village of Yellow Springs
Marianne moved to Yellow Springs because of Antioch College President Arthur Morgan who developed a philosophy for sustainable communities well before it was fashionable. She helped start a cooperative childcare center, the Village Mediation Program and a community land trust. On Village Council, she leads environmental and affordable housing initiatives.
Brian Housh
Yellow Springs Council President & Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Midwest Policy Manager
Brian is actively engaged in regional economic development initiatives emphasizing strategies to enhance quality of life, create jobs and increase commerce via arts, culture and environmental sustainability. With a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations and a JD/MBA (Environmental Law/Entrepreneurship), he brings a community enhancement perspective to the Village.
Susan Jennings
Executive Director, The Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions
Susan actively supports resilient communities and led the 2017 purchase of Agraria, a 128-acre farm on the outskirts of Yellow Springs being developed into a Center for Regenerative Practice. She facilitates a Community Climate Resilience class for UD’s lifelong learning institute and founded Dartmouth’s Office of Campus and Community Sustainability.
Best Practices from Peer Cities
Larry Falkin
Director of the Office of Environment & Sustainability, City of Cincinnati,
Larry leads the development and implementation of sustainability programs; ensures the City’s compliance with environmental regulations; and oversees recycling services for City residents. Larry has more than 25 years of experience as an environmental professional, including positions with the City of Kansas City Missouri and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Larry holds a B.A. from Binghamton University and a J.D. from Pace University.
Lauren Travis
Assistant Director of Sustainability, Bloomington, IN
Lauren works to improve the environmental performance of municipal operations and the community by working with local leaders, developing local ordinances and policy, and overseeing the development of Bloomington’s climate vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan.
Kristin Hall
Director, City of Cleveland Mayor's Office of Sustainability
Kristin is a dedicated sustainability professional working to drive Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio region towards a sustainable future. Currently serving as Director in the City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Kristin oversees sustainability projects, programs, policy development, and grant administration for the City’s municipal operations and Sustainable Cleveland initiative.
Natalie Vezina
Sustainable Coordinator, Louisville Metro Government
Natalie is the Sustainable Coordinator for Louisville Metro Government’s Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability. She focuses on developing climate action solutions, working with private investors to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and implementing strategies to mitigate urban heat. Natalie also leads citywide sustainability plan initiatives.
A Threat to Our Drinking Water: Appalachia Petrochemical Hub
Bev Reed
Advocate
Bev is a lifelong Ohio Valley resident with a degree in nursing and public health. She loves Appalachia and exploring nature. Bev is now working to protect herself and her community from plans to develop the PTT Global Chemical Ethane Cracker.
Brenda Jo McManama
Advocate
Brenda Jo has been in involved in grassroots organizing for over 25 years. For the past 15 years BJ has organized media projects and frontline campaigns for the Indigenous Environmental Network promoting the Rights of Nature, food sovereignty and in defense of water and forests from encroaching extractive industries.
Sarah Martik
Campaign Manager, Center for Coalfield Justice
Sarah is Campaign Manager at the Center for Coalfield Justice, where she works on coal, fracked gas, and petrochemical issues in southwestern Pennsylvania. She supports communities (including her own) facing infrastructure projects, and works with regional coalitions to build collective power to stand up to the fossil fuel industry.
Lick Run Greenway: A Transformative Approach to Regenerative Stormwater Management
Gary Wolnitzek
Human Nature
Gary is a registered Landscape Architect with 34 years of experience. He leads Human Nature’s planning and design of green infrastructure projects which include regional plans, watershed-based planning and site-based solutions. He promotes a holistic approach to the preservation and restoration of natural systems for purposes of reconnecting stormwater to the natural environment, while reducing and mitigating the environmental effects of combined sewer overflows.
John Lyons
Environmental Engineer
John holds a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and is a registered professional engineer in Ohio and Kentucky. He has been working in the civil/environmental field for over 30 years. His work history includes a unique blend of private sector, regulatory, and municipal experience.
MaryLynn Lodor
Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer, MSDGC
MaryLynn is the Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC) and has been at MSD for just over 10 years and has over 25 years in the water and wastewater utility industry. MaryLynn holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management and Policy from RPI and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York, Oswego.
Managing Natural Resources in a Developing County
Katie MacMannis
Design Engineer, Sustainable Stream
Katie has over 11 years of experience in the fields of stormwater management and water quality. Her expertise includes watershed planning, BMPs, stream restoration, and stormwater management for channel stability. She is particularly adept at developing comprehensive watershed plans that maximize the in-stream benefits and minimize costs.
Liz Fet
Field Scientist, SD1
Liz has a broad background in many aspects of science, with over 20 years of experience as a field scientist. She holds a BS in Zoology and Environmental Science and an MS in Biology from Marshall University. At SD1, her focus is on the interactions of stream ecology and urban hydrology to manage impacts of stormwater runoff.
Mark Jacobs
Director of Conservation Programs, Boone County Conservati
Mark holds a B.S. in Anthropology at Northern Kentucky University and his A.A.S. in Recreational & Wildlife Management at Hocking Technical College. He currently serves as Director of Conservation Programs at the Boone County Conservation District, where he works with landowners, government agencies, and community partners to conserve natural resources.
Matt Wooten
Northern Kentucky Sanitation District
An Aquatic Ecologist with 24 years of experience, holding both BS and MS degrees in biology from Marshall University, Matt Wooten has been working for Northern Kentucky Sanitation District No. 1 (SD1) since 2006, where he and his colleagues have established a nationally recognized approach to ecologically relevant stormwater management.
Power a Clean Future Ohio Overview Panel
Joe Flarida
Power a Clean Future Ohio, Campaign Manager
Joe is the Executive Director of Power a Clean Future Ohio, a diverse coalition that works with local leaders to develop community-driven carbon reduction strategies. He previously worked as a Congressional staffer for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and as a Robert Bosch Fellow in Germany.
Brendan Kelley
Clean Fuels Ohio, Director, Drive Electric Ohio
Brendan leads the Drive Electric Ohio initiative, Clean Fuels Ohio’s comprehensive approach to accelerate electric vehicle adoption. Prior to joining Clean Fuels Ohio, he spent 15 years in local and state government and electoral politics. Brendan graduated from Oberlin College in 2007 with bachelor’s degrees in Politics and Applied Mathematics.
Sarah Spence
Ohio Environmental Council, Director of Climate Programs
Sarah works as the Ohio Environmental Council’s Director of Climate Programs, advancing climate mitigation policies at the local and regional levels to transition Ohio to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She is a graduate of Ohio University and serves on the governing board for the Ohio Conservative Energy Forum.
Nolan Rutschilling
Ohio Hospital Association, Energy Program Director
Nolan Rutschilling, Energy Program Director for the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA), assists hospitals in achieving their energy and environmental goals. Nolan is active at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Legislature, and works on state and local issues relating to energy efficiency, resiliency and sustainability at healthcare facilities.
Connecting People with Sustainable Transportation Options
Nathan Alley
Sierra Club
A native of Greater Cincinnati, Nathan Alley spent more than a decade practicing environmental and land use law in California and working with organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund and WildEarth Guardians, mostly in New York and New Mexico. Since 2014, he has worked with the Sierra Club's Ohio Chapter to promote sustainable and equitable transportation alternatives, advance clean energy and energy efficiency, and prevent the petrochemical industry from transforming the Ohio River Basin into a hub of polluting activities. Nathan earned a B.A. in Journalism and Religious Studies from Indiana University, and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law, where he was Editor-In-Chief of the NYU Environmental Law Journal. Nathan is a member of the Tri-State Trails Executive Committee and serves as Chair of the City of Cincinnati's Environmental Advisory Council.
Michael Peters
Sway Mobility, CEO and Co-Founder
Michael Peters is the CEO and co-founder of Sway Mobility where he partners with cities, non-profits, and real estate developers on electric vehicle carshare networks. Michael was previously an investment banker and received his undergraduate degree from The University of Chicago and graduate degree from New York University.
Jason Barron
Red Bike, Founder and Executive Director
Jason Barron is the Founder and Executive Director of Red Bike, Greater Cincinnati’s Bike Share Program. Red Bike is a network of 630 bikes and 59 bike share stations throughout Cincinnati, Covington, Newport, and Bellevue. Since its September 2014 lunch, over 540,000 rides have been taken on Red Bike. In 2018, Red Bike launched Red Bike Go, to provide access to bike share for low income individuals. The Go program has been incredibly successful, with Go members accounting for over a quarter of Red Bike rides in 2019. In May of 2019, Red Bike become one of the first bike share systems in the country to offer electric assist bikes. Before Red Bike, Jason served for eight years as a senior adviser to Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, focusing on the areas of public affairs and communications. Jason Barron is a graduate of Ohio University and a resident of Downtown Cincinnati. Jason has a dog named Whatley who may attempt to interrupt this panel and sit on his lap.
Cam Hardy
Better Bus Coalition, President and Co-Founder
Cam Hardy is the President and Co-Founder of the Better Bus Coalition, a grassroots organization supporting investment in Hamilton County's bus system. They mobilize riders, engage public and private entities, and activate the community to push for a revamped bus system that provides true mobility and economic viability for our region.