Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy
Bracken Hendricks is a Senior Fellow with American Progress where he works on issues of climate change and energy independence, environmental protection, infrastructure investment, and economic policy, with a focus on broadening progressive constituencies and message framing. Hendricks served in the Clinton Administration as a Special Assistant to the Office of Vice President Al Gore and with the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where he worked on the Interagency Climate Change Working Group, the President's Council on Sustainable Development, and the White House Livable Communities Task Force on issues of public safety, electronic government, oceans policy, trade and the environment, and smart growth. Hendricks was the founding Executive Director and is currently a National Steering Committee member of the Apollo Alliance for good jobs and energy independence, a coalition of labor, environmental, business and community leaders dedicated to changing the politics of energy independence. Hendricks served as a Consultant to the Office of the President of the AFL-CIO and as an Economic Analyst with the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute. He has been a member of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's Energy Advisory Task Force, the Cornell University Eco-Industrial Round Table, and the Energy Future Coalition. He is also a philanthropic advisor to the Wallace Global Fund on matters of Civic Engagement and Democratic Participation. Hendricks serves on the board of Green HOME, a Washington DC based non-profit promoting green building in affordable housing and has worked on political campaigns in the private sector. Hendricks is widely published on economic development, climate and energy policy, national security, and progressive political strategy. Bracken received his Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with a Minor in Sociology from Mary Baldwin College , and holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Urban Planning from Harvard University 's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
UMass Amherst - Political Economy Research Institute
Robert Pollin is Professor of Economics and founding Co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. His research centers on macroeconomics, conditions for low-wage workers in the U.S. and globally, the analysis of financial markets, and the economics of building a clear-energy economy in the U.S. His books include A Measure of Fairness: The Economics of Living Wages and Minimum Wages in the United States (co-authored, 2008); An Employment-Targeted Economic Program for Kenya ( co-authored, 2008); An Employment-Targeted Economic Program for South Africa (co-authored, 2007); Contours of Descent: U.S. Economic Fractures and the Landscape of Global Austerity (2003); and The Living Wage: Building A Fair Economy (co-authored 1998); and the edited volumes Human Development in the Era of Globalization (co-edited 2006); Globalization and Progressive Economic Policy (co-edited, 1998); The Macroeconomics of Saving, Finance, and Investment (1997); and Transforming the U.S. Financial System (co-edited 1993). . Most recently, he co-authored "Job Opportunities for the Green Economy," (June 2008) and "Green Recovery," (September 2008), exploring the broader economic benefits from large-scale investments to build a clean-energy economy in the United States . He has worked with the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Economic Commission on Africa on policies to promote to promote decent employment expansion and poverty reduction in Latin America and more recently, sub-Saharan Africa . He has also worked with the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress and as a member of the Capital Formation Subcouncil of the U.S. Competiveness Policy Council.
M. V. Lee Badgett is the director of the Center for Public Policy and
Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst , as well as a
professor of economics. She is a labor economist whose research focuses on
family policy issues and on labor market discrimination based on sexual
orientation, race, and gender.
Representative Daniel E. Bosley, of North Adams, serves as the House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies in the Massachusetts Legislature. This Committee considers all matters pertaining to economic development within the Commonwealth, including issues related to commercial establishments, industrial development, casino gambling, gaming and the racing industry. Representative Bosley worked extensively on the Economic Stimulus packages that included STEM an initiative to encourage students to pursue the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as encourage technology applications in classrooms and the use of technology in workforce training and development.
The Chairman has been a leader on a number of state policy initiatives including the 1997 electricity restructuring law, rewriting unemployment insurance laws twice, multiple economic stimulus bills, and groundbreaking stem cell legislation. Most recently, he has taken the lead on a $1 billion life sciences bill, the green communities act, the expansion of broadband service, the green jobs initiative, the preservation of the dairy industry, and the creative economy council.
Representative Bosley has served as Chairman of the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference ( CSG /ERC) Export Promotion Task Force and as Chair of the Electric Deregulation Task Force. He rose through the organization and in 2004 he was elected as the CSG National Chairman.
First elected as State Representative in 1986, Representative Bosley is currently serving his eleventh term. Bosley graduated cum laude from North Adams State College in 1976 with a BA in History and Political Science. In 1996, he received his MA in Public Policy from UMass Boston. In 2001, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts awarded Bosley with an honorary Doctor of Laws. He lives in North Adams with his wife, Laura, and his daughter, Stephanie.
Kirsten Bonanza attended the Millbrook School in New York graduating with a high school diploma in '96. While at Millbrook, Kirsten played Soccer, Lacrosse, Squash, ran Cross-Country, took care of and rode her horse daily, acted and sang in many productions, volunteered with the Admissions office, was on the Intersession and Orientation committees, trained in a multicultural diversity workshop, worked at the school store, acted as dormitory Prefect, and did water testing in the Brazilian Amazon. She then went on to Drew University to earn a B.A. in English with a minor in French in '00. While at Drew , Kirsten played Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Equestrian, volunteered for Earth Day, campus living events, and as stage crew for a dance performance, and traveled with the Soccer team to England , Scotland and Whales. She rounded out her college career with a semester abroad at Vesalius College in Brussels , Belgium with a focus on the European Union. During that time, Kirsten traveled for school and for pleasure to London , Paris , Cologne , Aachen , Munich , and throughout Holland and Belgium .
Once returning to the US Kirsten took a job translating and doing data entry until the events of 9/11 pushed her to follow her desire to move to Boulder, Colorado where her love of the outdoors and understanding of the need to live sustainably deepened. In 2002 Kirsten began to work in the field of private school education and administration as the Activities Coordinator at St. Philip 's Academy in Newark , New Jersey . She remained there until a promotion to be the Assistant to the Dean of Students at the Kent School in Connecticut where she remained for two years until Idyllwild Arts Academy in California hired Kirsten to be their Associate Dean of Students. She moved back to the East Coast to pursue a Masters degree through Goddard College in Socially Responsible Business and Sustainable Communities (expected '09 grad)( goddard.edu ). Her enthusiasm for sustainability drew her to apply for and receive a fellowship through StartingBloc ( startingbloc.org ), which is where she learned about the Gasoline Alley Foundation. On a visit to Springfield to see the site in March 2008, Kirsten felt such a passion for the mission that she has settled in the Pioneer Valley and is now the Executive Director of the Gasoline Alley Foundation( gasolinealleyfoundation.org ). Additionally, Kirsten sits on the steering committee of Pioneer Valley Local First ( pvlocalfirst.org ), one of the founding BALLE networks, and is a member of the Greater Springfield Young Professionals Society ( springfieldyps.com ) and the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network ( pvsustain.com ). In her spare time she volunteers for various local groups and enjoys to hike, rock climb and kayak.
Chris Cato is the Green Initiative Project Manager for YouthBuild USA. Chris's primary role is to support the Greening process for YouthBuild programs throughout the United States. Chris is currently assisting with the development of a "green agenda" for Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition, and has implemented demonstration and planning projects that promote the building affordable Green Homes, increase awareness of renewable energy technologies as a pathway to prepare young adults to become a part of the new green economy.
Chris has over 25 years of management experience in youth and community development with a focus on environmental awareness and responsibility. Understanding that we all have an important role in relation to our environment, it has been Chris' mission to increase access to opportunities, build awareness and develop environmental leaders within low-income urban communities.
Chris is a member for the Board of Directors of Eagle Eye Institute, (Eagle Eye uses the power of nature to transform urban youth) a Corporate Advisory Board member for the Trustees Of The Reservations (one of the oldest and largest private land conservation and preservation organizations) the United South End Settlements, Camp Hale Alumni Association (executive committee), a member of the Advisory Board for the Appalachian Mountain Club's, Youth Opportunities ProgramPatricia Crosby is Executive Director of the Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board, overseeing nearly 4 million dollars in workforce development funding for two counties plus the North Quabbin region. She is a graduate of Greenfield Community College ; Catholic University (B.A. English); and Brown University (M.A.T. English). After early work in education and juvenile justice, she became Occupational Education Liaison and Director of Special Projects at Springfield Technical Community College , (1991-2001). A few of the projects she co-developed and launched were Tech Prep West, the Western Mass Gender Equity Center, and the Construction Industries Training Assistance Program. She is on the Board of Directors for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce; and is a member of the state Leadership Council for the Governors Readiness Project. . She was the recipient of the DYS Commissioner's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1986; and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) award for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in 2001.
New England Clean Energy Council
Nick is a veteran entrepreneur, having held management positions in a number of technology companies and start-ups over the past 20 years.
Nick currently serves as Executive Director for the New England Clean Energy Council, a trade group formed in 2007. The Council's mission is to accelerate New England 's clean energy economy to global leadership by building an active community of stakeholders and a world-class cluster of clean energy companies.
Before joining the Council, he was the CEO and founder of Conjoin, a developer of sales productivity software for corporate sales teams. The company was acquired by Intranets.com (subsequently acquired by WebEx).
Previously, Nick co-founded and served as VP Marketing for Wildfire Communications, which brought to market a voice recognition-based electronic assistant for managing all of an individual's telephone activities. Wildfire was acquired by Orange PLC, now a subsidiary of France Telecom.
Nick also served as Vice President of Marketing for C-bridge Internet Solutions, Director of Marketing for PRI Automation, and Product Manager for Apollo Computer.
Nick is a representative of The Climate Project, trained by former Vice President Al Gore to educate audiences about the science underlying global climate change. He serves on the Board of the Carlisle Conservation Foundation and the Mass Audubon Council.
Nick holds a BA from Georgetown University .
Benjamin B. Downing (D-Pittsfield ) was elected to the Massachusetts Senate on November 7, 2006. Senator Downing represents 48 communities in Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin Counties , proudly serving the largest Senate district in the Commonwealth.
Senator Downing's top legislative priority is promoting sustainable economic development through expanded access to broadband Internet in unserved and under-served communities and making critical investments in transportation and housing.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules, Senator Downing considers all violations of rules and all questions of conduct of Senators and employees of the Senate. His Committee is also authorized to recommend policy procedures for the Senate and recommend rules changes for matters requiring the expeditious action by the Senate. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, the Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading and is an active member of the Committees on Financial Services, Veterans & Federal Affairs, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure and Senate Post Audit & Oversight. Additionally, Senator Downing is a participating member of the Regional Schools Legislative Caucus.
Senator Downing is the former Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service, during which time he considered important matters regarding salaries, civil service and retirement of public employees, and collective bargaining for state and other public employees.
Since beginning his service, Senator Downing has represented the Senate in a variety of capacities. He has served on the Governor's Local Government Advisory Commission, where members of the administration, legislature, and municipal government seek to address municipal concerns. He has represented Massachusetts at the Council of State Government's (CSG) Eastern Leadership Academy and is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and Energy. In Pittsfield , the Senator serves as the Co-Chair of the Leadership Council to End Chronic Homelessness in Berkshire County .
A Pittsfield native, Senator Downing received his B.A. in Political Science from Providence College (2003). In May 2008, he received a M.A. from Tufts University 's Department of Urban and Environment Policy & Planning.
Before returning to Pittsfield , Senator Downing lived in Washington , D.C. working for U.S. Representatives William Delahunt (D-Quincy) and Richard E. Neal (D-Springfield), before joining the staff of U.S. Representative John W. Olver (D-Amherst). For nearly 2 years, he served as Congressman Olver's senior advisor on housing, budget, tax, homeland security and foreign affairs.
Senator Downing's family has a long history of public service. He is the oldest of four children (Maggie, Nate & Nick) raised by late Berkshire District Attorney Gerard and Pamela Downing.
Kevin Doyle is Principal of Green Economy, an independent consulting firm for public, private, nonprofit and academic employers in the United States , its territories, and other parts of the world. Green Economy offers research, planning, facilitation, and education services that help employers earn high scores on the "triple bottom line" of ecological health, economic security and social justice. Clients/funders include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USDA Forest Service, National Grid, NStar, Conservation Services Group, New England Clean Energy Council, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources, National Council for Science and the Environment, Texas Tech University , and many others.
Kevin is the co-chair of the New England Clean Energy Council's workforce development group, the "green careers" advice columnist for Grist Magazine ( www.grist.org ), and the co-author of three books about environmental careers, including The ECO Guide to Careers That Make a Difference: Environmental Work for a Sustainable World (Island Press). Information from Green Economy has been featured in Newsweek, Forbes , New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, E Magazine, and on National Public Radio. He is a frequent speaker at college campuses, career service organizations and green career conferences.
Prior to launching Green Economy in June, 2007, Kevin was the National Director for Program Development at The Environmental Careers Organization (ECO), a national, nonprofit organization that created over 11,000 environmentally-related internships and fellowships in dozens of different "green" career areas.
Inventor, entrepreneur and educator John Fabel both practices and teaches technology innovation and commercialization, with a particular emphasis on sustainable development. Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, John is a founding partner in green technology firm Jattra Ventures, llc , which links entrepreneurial skill with technical skill to commercialize promising early-stage green technologies. John is a founding partner of Jattra spin-off SunEthanol, Inc a biofuels technology company developing a novel process for making ethanol from sustainable, non-food biomass feedstocks.
Originally trained as a climate scientist, John has spent that last 20 years working on developing technology, market strategies and best practices for addressing environmental challenges and opportunities. As an educator, John has developed and taught course sequences in Technology Innovation and Commercialization at both the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and at Hampshire College, where he spent 4 years as visiting Lemelson professor of design and entrepreneurship.
A repeatedly successful inventor and entrepreneur, John's licensed technology and product designs are sold in over 20 countries. John has received numerous awards for his design and development work, and his work has been widely featured in the media, most recently on the Discovery Channel and on the cover of both Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. John's design work is held in the permanent collection of several museums, including the Smithsonian, where he is featured in the “Invention at Play” exhibit on American inventors. John is also featured in Daniel Pink's recent bestselling book “A Whole New Mind”, which discusses the practices of successful innovators and entrepreneurs.
E2M Initiative for a Sustainable Community
As a commercial entrepreneur, Michael Garjian holds nine worldwide patents for technology inventions he manufactured and distributed globally during a 35 year period with the help of four hundred of his employees.
As Director of Small Business Development at the Valley Community Development Corporation, he helped low to moderate income entrepreneurs launch more than 60 businesses in Hampshire County . He worked with the Alliance to Develop Power, a group of 1450 low income families occupying tenant owned apartment complexes, to help form a tenant owned worker coop and taught classes in areas relating to finance and economic power.
He worked with the US EPA, Mass DEP, Massachusetts and North Carolina state legislators, and the City of Cincinnati , to develop and implement procedures to expand the use of pure vegetable oil as a replacement for fossil fuels.
Garjian is now CEO of the Vegetable Energy Group, LLC d/b/a Vee-Go Energy and is a principal in Sunrise Oil, LLC which produce solid biomass and vegetable oil biofuels.
As a partner in Angel Eyes Produce of New England he is planning a facility to use a proprietary indoor growing technology to grow certified organic crops in biologically dynamic soils in inner city buildings while employing inner city residents at living wages.
On January 1, 2000, Garjian founded E2M.org to establish E2M, an Economic Model for Millennium 2000 which is a sustainable system of community capitalism he conceived to provide an alternative to the current unsustainable economic system.
E2M, now been established and is growing in Western Mass, and enjoys the support of elected officials, educators, labor leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and community members as well as the interest of leaders in a major US city and one foreign country.
Commissioner, MA Department of Energy Resources
Phil Giudice brings diverse and expansive experience to DOER. He is a geologist (B.S. from University of New Hampshire and M.S. in Economic Geology from the University of Arizona ) and management professional (M.B.A. from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth ) with over 30 years experience in the energy industry.
Commissioner Giudice serves as board member, board executive committee member and treasurer of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Governing Board chair for the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, board member for the National Association of State Energy Officials, leadership group member for the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, vice chair for the National Council on Electricity Policy and a board member of the Commonwealth's Energy Facilities Siting Board.
Prior to joining DOER, Commissioner Giudice served as Senior Vice President at EnerNOC, a start-up company providing electricity demand-management services to businesses, institutions, utilities, and grid operators. The Commissioner was also a Senior Partner, and leader of Mercer Management Consulting's global energy utilities practice.
Commissioner Giudice is also active in the nonprofit realm. He is board chair of the Center for Effective Philanthropy and serves on the President's Council of ACCION. Previo us ly, he served full terms on the board of City Year Boston, First Parish Church of Wayland (Unitarian Universalist), Haitian Health Foundation, and was the founding chair of Boston Cares.
UMass Amherst Green Building Program - Amherst, Massachusetts
Dr. Simi Hoque teaches environmental systems and sustainable design principles. Her research is focused around the application and development of energy efficient buildings. She specializes in energy modeling, resource efficiency, and systems design and is seeking to improve the way buildings use the earth's resources. Hoque is the co-founder of Floodspace , a research and design collaborative, whose mission is to develop strategies for improved housing, infrastructure, and livelihood in communities subject to climate change-related flooding.
Dr. Hoque is a member of the American Society of Heating, Cooling, and Air Conditioning Engineers and the Boston chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Before her appointment to the NRC faculty in 2008, Hoque was a lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At that time she was a consulting mechanical engineer at Norian/Siani Engineering, Inc. in Waltham, MA
Since 1970 Pam has worked on anti-poverty issues through community organizing and economic development, mental health administration and children's rights advocacy, fair housing, land use planning and affordable housing development, administering federal, state and private financing. In 2000 she started a business in construction of small houses and most recently as owner of Natural Siding Associates, Inc. has employed 57 entry-level workers from low-income neighborhoods. Currently Pam is initiating a Springfield-area green jobs program training public housing tenants in energy efficiency trades to retro-fit municipal and state-owned buildings.
Pam holds a Masters in Public Administration from UMASS and in November will moderate a panel at the International Greenbuild Expo on Global Warming and the Concentration of Poverty.
Current memberships and affiliations:
Sean Jeffords has been working in the construction industry since 1987. He holds his construction supervisors license which oversees residential, commercial, industrial, and power plant production facilities. Sean has worked in all facets of construction, including but not limited to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, moisture management, alternative energy systems, rainwater collection, passive solar design, as well as eco-community planning. Sean's focus has always been towards energy efficiency and other green measures, and at present is focused on a green redeveloping of existing building stock. Sean's work has also been featured nation wide on the Discovery Channel's new series Renovation Nation with Steve Thomas from This Old House .
Sean is the founding principal of Beyond Green Construction, which is a comprehensive multi-service green building outfit. The Beyond Green model uses an integrated teamwork approach to designing and accomplishing the construction of high-performance buildings, as well as energy efficiency upgrades. Beyond Green is also initiating a collaborative effort to lobbying for the appropriate increase in state and federal tax incetives to make these necessary energy efficiency improvements viable for all. Currently incentives are sized for basic weatherization measures and alternative energy systems and do not address the expense related to retrofitting a home to be truly energy efficient.
Program Coordinator, Renewable Energy / Energy Efficiency (RE/EE)
Science Department Instructor
Teresa B. Jones teaches Sustainable Energy and plant science courses at Greenfield Community College . As Program Coordinator, she directs program development of the rapidly growing certificate and pending associate's degree program in Renewable Energy / Energy Efficiency. The program combines workforce and academic goals through innovative collaboration between the science department, community education (workforce development), the Hampshire/Franklin Regional Employment Board, regional employers , community-based organizations, technical and comprehensive high schools, non-profits and agencies and four-year programs. Teresa earned a dual B.A. from Yale University in History and Environmental Studies and a M.A. in Plant Biology from the University of Massachusetts . She also works with her husband to integrate energy efficiency and renewable technologies into their wholesale organic farm and greenhouse operation in Whately , MA .
Berkshire Photovoltaic Systems - Adams, Massachusetts
Chris Kilfoyle is President of Berkshire Photovoltaic Services, BPVS,and founded the firm in 1985. BPVS has helped pioneer the technology in the region installing over 200 PV systems including those for early PV Pilot programs sponsored by Massachusetts utilities and for NREL and DOE demonstration projects. Kilfoyle has presented on PV at the annual NESEA conference and at colleges and universities throughout the region. He served as an advisor to the Cornell 2005 Solar Decathlon team. A founding member of SEBANE , the Solar Energy Business Association of New England, he presently serves as Vice-President of the 85 member organization. Kilfoyle is a 1976 graduate from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He is a NABCEP certified PV installer and Massachusetts Licensed Construction Supervisor.
Vice President of Research & Development, Solar Wrights, Inc.
Mr. Kocsmiersky is Vice President of Research & Development with SolarWrights, Inc., an energy conservation and renewable energy generation company whose mission is to help people live more sustainable lifestyles through energy conservation and renewable energy generation.
Mike Kocsmiersky was founder and president of Kosmo Solar a Springfield Massachusetts based alternative energy solutions provider, which was acquired by SolarWrights in early 2008
• Certified energy engineer by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE),
• Certified solar installer by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
• Certified Building Analyst and Building Shell Specialist from the Building Performance Institute (BPI)
• Member of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES)
• Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE), and has recently
• Founded the Springfield chapter of the North East Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA).
• Bachelor of Science degree in solid state physics from the University of Rochester .
• Instructor at Springfield Community College for the curriculum of installation of photovoltaic systems.
Mr. Kocsmiersky has made a lifestyle of energy efficiency and solar energy both in his career and his personal life. He has lived with solar hot water heating, solar electric, solar ovens, and implemented various energy conservation measures in his own home. Professionally he has designed both domestic and international off grid solar hybrid power systems, and installed several of solar energy systems.
Mr. Kocsmiersky likes to play soccer, teach energy science, volunteer, and extol the virtues of minimalism.
Greendustry Park - Holyoke, Massachusetts
John Laux is Founder & CEO of Greendustry Park, LLC. Greendustry Park is building New England's first fully integrated business community dedicated to the principles of green commerce. A mission-driven organization offering a strategic and comprehensive business environment, Greendustry Park integrates a range of essential real estate, start-up incubation, design, engineering and prototyping services. Greendustry Park provides green enterprises with the framework within which to grow their business: a mission-focused community, essential business services, and a dynamic marketing and networking platform.
Greendustry Park ( http://GreendustryPark.com ) is currently involved in starting multiple facilities in the western and eastern regions of the state and has offices in Holyoke, MA. Greendustry Park formed a strategic partnership with Greentech Engineering, LLC ( http://GreentechEngineering.com ), a company dedicated to green technology research, development and prototyping in October 2007.
Greendustry Park has already helped to launch LEEP - Low-cost Energy Efficient Products, LLC. LEEP creates residential and commercial window treatments that will provide 6 to 7R of insulating value. The initial price point is projected to be half the price of a standard double-pane window, but with 3 times the efficiency. Commercial models will be motor driven and integrated with a solar array and a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack and be wirelessly controlled and integrated with a server to provide real time metrics and cost savings.
LEEP was developed using our whole systems design platform in which Greendustry Park provides engineering, design, prototyping, business startup expertise, sales, marketing and avenues to capital. The initial manufacturing facility will be located in Western Massachusetts. Greendustry Park is also developing training modules to meet the demand of the production, sales and installation of their initial product lines.
Greendustry Park hosts and produces a new radio show called the Green Gateway on WHMP 96.9 FM on Saturdays @ 10:30am. The show offers tips and tricks and discusses the practical sides of being green and what it takes to live sustainably.
Before founding Greendustry Park, John owned and operated technology businesses ranging in scope from multimedia application development to industrial automation. While working for the University of Massachusetts in the 1990s he was responsible for long distance satellite communications and large scale website design and development. He has over 25 years in developing commercial websites and the implementation, integration and management of large scale business platforms including accounting, eCommerce, digital communications and automation as well as facilities, and staff management.
Dr. Chris Martenson is the creator of The End of Money (live) and The Crash Course (on-line) economic seminar series, has extensive experience analyzing and communicating financial information, and publishes a weekly newsletter on the economy and finance (located at http://chrismartenson.com ).
Dr. Martenson combines a scientist's attention to fact and analysis (PhD, Duke University, Pathology and Toxicology) with a solid understanding of finance and economics (MBA, Cornell, Finance) with strategic thinking (4 years as a management consultant).
He currently operates a website devoted to spreading financial and economic awareness that is visited by over 10,000 visitors each day. The Crash Course has been viewed more than 250,000 times and is currently being made into a DVD and book.
His past work has involved the development and oversight of $100M+ budgets, using portfolio decision tools to enhance governance & prioritization efforts, and investigating how neurons work. He has been published in the scientific journal Nature, consulted to fortune 50 companies, and lectured and written extensively on economic and financial topics. His diverse background allows him to synthesize complex subjects across diverse fields. In the end, though, he is a proud father and a concerned citizen and this is what drives his work.
Catherine Miller--Principal Planner, Sustainability. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
B.A. History and Literature, Brown University, M.S. Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 23 years experience in sustainable community development with a focus on the intersection of transportation and land use planning--focusing most recently on the promotion of smart growth, clean energy, and energy use reduction, conservation and efficiency to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Ms. Moss began her career as the youngest Tenant Council President in the history of the Springfield Housing Authority. She was charged with the coordination of a $1.5 million renovation pilot project. This project involved tenant recruitment, working with the Housing Authority to develop the renovation plans, learning to read architectural plans and overseeing construction plans to improve the development.
Ms. Moss went on to hold the positions of Western Massachusetts Coordinator and Organizer for the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants and the Western Massachusetts Coordinator for the Anti-Hunger Coalition. During her employment with the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants, Ms. Moss was responsible for the education and development of 15 tenant associations in Springfield , Holyoke and Chicopee Massachusetts . Additionally, she served as a Technical Assistance Provider for the Institute for Community Economics where she traveled nationwide to recruit and train residents to develop Community Land Trusts in their communities.
Patricia has extensive experience as a public speaker, and project developer, and has been instrumental in building collaborations. She has delivered her message of organizing communities from the inside out at Harvard University , Wellesley College , and Lewis & Clark College in Portland , Oregon , Lancaster PA. , and in many other communities from Massachusetts to Key West , Florida . Patricia is also known for the development of the Springfield Community Outreach Partnership Center from 2000-2002.
Ms. Moss is the cofounder and Project Manager of Groundwork Springfield. This Groundwork Trust Pilot Project was chosen by Groundwork USA July, 2007. She has worked tirelessly for three years to create a coalition of active members to serve on the Groundwork Springfield Steering Committee. Those members include the Spanish American Union, Springfield Technical Community College, the Parks and Recreation Department of Springfield, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the Gasoline Alley Foundation, Citizens Bank, the Mayor's Office, the Hungry Hill CDC, the National Park Service, the Springfield Republican, the Vietnamese American Civic Association, American International College, Western New England College, retired school teacher, Ms. Doris Robinson, and other advisors such as the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
The city of Springfield has been Ms. Moss' primary residence for most of her life. She was educated in Springfield from primary school at Deberry Elementary School to receiving her Associates degree in Law Enforcement/ Criminal Justice, at Springfield Technical Community College , and her Bachelors in Human Services from Springfield College . Ms. Moss has extensive network connections within the community and is known in Springfield for her commitment to uplifting those who are less fortunate. She has served on the boards of several community, and national organizations, including the United Way , Arise for Social and Economic Justice, national steering committee for the Food Research and Action Center of Washington D.C. and is also a former board member of the Spanish American Union.
Alan Page is a native MA resident, who works as a forester from his home in Belchertown , MA . Over the course of forty years of professional forest management, Page has watched forests as investors and other private owners chose to use the forest as a cash cow with no concern for the integrity of the ecosystems that were part of their trust as financial stewards. Along the way he acquired a small band saw mill to understand the performance of trees in particular situations.
Since the early eighties Page has operated a small consulting forestry company through which he sought to apply the principles of tree physiology that had been the basis for his graduate studies. On those acres that received regular forest management it has become apparent that even in the face of heavy cutting the forest just continues to improve. This will happen as long as there are resources to employ people where necessary on these properties.
Recently, Page has become involved in formation and maintenance of a group in Belchertown, StepItUpBelchertown, to raise awareness about the bases of problems we are now witnessing. A small group of these attendees formed to review the alternatives that are possible with a carbon-negative society. Benefits from this unexpected source include: carbon sequestration, pollution remediation, soil nutrient retention, soil strength, aeration and drainage improvement, improvement in crop production, local clean energy production, maintenance of strong local economies, and a means for evolving a new more sustainable lifestyle.
Wind Energy Center - Amherst, Massachusetts
Patrick Quinlan manages the Wind Energy Center at the University of Massachusetts , the oldest wind energy academic program in the United States. Patrick has been actively involved in wind power and clean technology development since 1982, including serving as Congressional Fellow in the office of the Ranking Member of the House Science Committee and as the ASME White House Technology Fellow supporting the Presidential Science Advisor at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Patrick also worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on the Federal wind energy, solar energy, geothermal, and hydrogen technology programs. Patrick holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts , an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a Professional Engineering license in mechanical engineering in California .
177 Gulf Road, Po Box 914 . Northfield , MA 01360
Steve Roberto has run a residential remodeling company since 1986, including construction of his own low-energy green home. He has managed and trained employees in construction practices and safety and managed all business aspects of the company. Prior to this, Steve worked as senior marketing specialist for Data General Corporation in Westboro , MA and a telephone technician for New England Telephone Company. He has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts , and served as Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. He is currently enrolled in the Renewable Energy / Energy Efficiency Certificate program at Greenfield Community College .
Flagship Ventures - Cambridge, Massachusetts
Peter is Executive-In-Residence at Flagship Ventures , a leading seed and early stage venture capital firm in Cambridge Massachusetts . Peter joined Flagship in 2007, expanding Flagship's investment and venture creation focus on emerging Sustainability opportunities, and bringing many years of deal experience, startup venture development and industry relationships in the cleantech venture market. Peter has been involved in several of Flagship's cleantech deals and portfolio companies, including Ze-gen (an advanced gasification company focused on gasifying various municipal waste streams and producing electricity) and Novomer (a catalytic process company using CO and CO2 for energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly plastics, polymers and specialty chemicals). Peter was also startup executive with Mascoma , a Flagship portfolio company in the cellulosic ethanol market.
Prior to joining Flagship, Peter was President of Allegro Strategy , a consultant, advisor and interim executive with early-stage, high-tech, and cleantech startups. Peter's work has focused on early-stage venture development, and is based on a career with extensive entrepreneurial, strategy, venture development, venture deals, acquisitions, and general management experience in energy and digital media/software markets. Peter has been an interim executive, advisor, and/or board member with a number of VC-funded early-stage companies, including cleantech startups Mascoma , Boston-Power , and Mechanology , and digital media/software ventures WorkshopLive, MetaCarta and Pyxis Mobile . Peter has founded several companies including The Human Interface Group, Inc. , which was acquired by Lotus Development in 1994. Peter spent several years at Lotus and IBM in various executives roles focused on incubating, starting, and leading new knowledge management businesses, including strategy and acquisitions experience. After Lotus/IBM, Peter was a Partner at Kodiak Venture Partners , focusing on seed and early stage Internet ventures before founding Allegro Strategy to work directly with early-stage ventures and to return to energy technology opportunities.
Peter has a Masters degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management with a concentration in energy economics and finance, and a BA in Environmental Design from Clark University . He co-chairs the New England Clean Energy Council's Innovation Task Force , and is a member of the National Renewable Energy Lab's VC Advisory Board .
Alex Risley Schroeder has nearly two decades of experience in adult basic education and workforce development arenas. Her work has included program design and management, professional development and training and policy education and advocacy. Currently she is the Green Careers Coach with the Franklin / Hampshire Regional Employment Board. She also works with the Massachusetts Workforce Alliance and as a consultant focusing on green career awareness and training for adult basic education students. Alex has a Masters of Education and a Doctor of Ministry degree, both of which focus on adult and community education.
Eduardo Suárez is Executive Director ECHO for Sustainable Development, a collaborative, dedicated to generating green jobs, capacity building & leadership development (Present). Coordinator HPN a consortia of Five Colleges and the Holyoke – COPC grant ('06-'08) Project Director: AccessHolyoke Partnership built 14 Community Technology Centers providing access and education in low-income communities ('01-'04). Supervisor of Public Health: NYC Department of Health ('92-'01). Community Organizer: Community Service Society of New York ('90-'92). Founder member: ECHO for Sustainable Development, Inc., advocating for waterfront access and technology training in low-income communities in Northern Manhattan ('96-'01). Founding member: Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union, ('95-'01). Founding member: (NMHAG), which created 7 Ambulatory Care Network Clinics Northern Manhattan ('84-'96).
Education: Nassau Community College ('79-'81). New School for Social Research ('87-'88) Columbia University, Charles H. Revson Fellow on the Future of New York ('95-'96) UMass-Amherst (UWW).
Joseph Steig is CFO of the venture capital firm Long River Ventures. He also serves as Manager of Venture Development at the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance where he directs their Venture Well program. Joseph has a background working for and advising entrepreneurial companies and non-profits in a CFO and COO capacity. He has worked in a diverse range of industries including software, aquaculture, consumer products and real estate and has extensive experience in technology economic development. He also founded the angel group River Valley Investors. Joseph has a B.A. from Hampshire College. Contact information and links to Long River Ventures and Venture Well are at www.steig.com .
Dietz & Company Architects, Inc.
Marc Sternick is the Vice President and Senior Project Architect for Dietz & Company Architects and oversees their affordable housing and green building efforts. He was the principal designer for the award-winning Churchill Neighborhood project in Holyoke , MA and is the principal designer for the new community being developed on the site of the former Northampton State Mental Hospital , now called The Village at Hospital Hill. He has provided planning and design services for numerous multi-family housing, educational and commercial projects throughout Western Massachusetts .
Marc's professional activities include membership in the North East Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) and three years being Track Chair for the annual Building Energy Conference. Marc has lectured on the topic of Affordable Green Housing at Build Boston, NESEA's Building Energy Conference and is a regular lecturer at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst's Urban Design Class.
Marc has spent over 25 years assessing, designing and/or constructing high quality, affordable housing. His long-term interest and experience with energy-efficient construction techniques and indoor air quality issues has led to his expertise in those areas. His experience in taking a major role in designing two new, mixed-income neighborhoods in Holyoke, MA (160 units of housing) and Northampton, MA (200+ units of housing planned) have contributed a great deal to his ability to work out practical solutions to many of the challenges faced by developers of affordable urban housing.
Marc earned a Bachelor of Science in Solar Design in 1981 from the University of New York , New Paltz where he was instrumental in obtaining a Federal Department of Energy Prototype Housing Award and Grant. He earned his Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado in 1985. He is a licensed architect in Massachusetts and is a LEED certified professional. Marc began working with Dietz & Company in 1990 after working for several architecture firms in Massachusetts and Colorado .
Lawrence G. Union, Jr. is currently the President and CEO for Northeast Biodiesel Company, LLC of Greenfield, MA. Prior to joining Northeast Biodiesel Mr. Union was the CEO for the Connecticut Energy Cooperative, Inc. of Hartford , CT where he directed the introduction of the first retail "green" power offering in the northeast. His innovative, cooperative marketing programs signed on over 13,000 consumers, businesses, municipalities and major educational institutions for the energy product and service offerings of this CT co-op. Additionally, Mr. Union was the President of Co-op Fuels, LLC the heating oil affiliate of the Connecticut Energy Co-op. Mr. Union has over 25 years of engineering and management experience in the fields of technology and energy. Mr. Union holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from General Motors Institute in Flint , MI and a MBA in Finance from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia .
Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Representing the Center for Fueling the Future,
a National Science Foundation Center for Chemical Innovation
B.Sc., 1989, University of Madras; M.Sc., 1991, Indian Institute of Technology;
Ph.D., 1996, University of Illinois
Professor Venkataraman's work is in the forefront of renewable energy research,
concerning the molecular design of materials that will be the foundation of
next-generation energy harvesting technologies.
Conference Planning Committee Chair
Research Liaison & Development
Advanced Energy Research Initiative
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Loren Walker is Associate Director for Research Liaison and Development at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. On behalf of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, he coordinates the Advanced Energy Research Initiative at UMass Amherst, which fosters the advancement of interdisciplinary research programs in clean energy. Loren was project leader for the 2008 UMass Clean Energy for the Commonwealth [PDF] report [download PDF], a comprehensive assessment of clean energy-related R&D throughout the University of Massachusetts system. He previously worked as freelance scientific and technical writer and as a Research Associate with Exelixis Plant Sciences in Portland, Oregon. Loren earned a BS in Biology from Roanoke College and a MS in Biology from Portland State University. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Association of Science Writers.
9:00 am to 4:45 pm
FREE Opportunity Fair
Opens at 1:45 pm
Pre-registration Required
- Career seekers
- Students
- Business developers
- Community leaders
- Entrepreneurs
- Innovators
- Financiers
- All who want to take part in the clean energy movement for sustainable economic development
General information:
Loren Walker
413-577-3725
loren@research.umass.edu
Sponsor information:
Marla Michel
413-577-0092
marla@research.umass.edu
Karen Ribeiro
413-735-6583
kribeiro@bankwmass.com
Exhibitor information:
Michelle Wonsey
413-545-2706
mwonsey@
research.umass.edu
Clean Energy R&D:
UMass Amherst Advanced Energy Research Initiative
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