Speaker

Assemblymember 6th District

Elected to the Assembly in November 2006, Assembly Member Jared Huffman has quickly earned respect as a legislator who tackles complex public policy challenges, works tirelessly, and gets results – often by forging consensus on seemingly intractable issues. In his first two years, Huffman was among the state’s most prolific lawmakers, passing 28 pieces of legislation.

His determination, candor, and independent thinking are reminiscent of his hometown hero, President Harry S. Truman. Growing up in Independence, Missouri, Huffman’s earliest political memory was seeing Truman walking around the town square. Huffman still collects memorabilia and books on President Truman.

Huffman’s priorities include protecting our environment; fighting global warming while creating jobs and building a “clean and green” 21st century economy; promoting sustainable water, land use and transportation policies; revitalizing public education; and reforming our broken health care system.

President, Harrington Investments, Inc.

John Harrington is the President of Harrington Investments, Inc., a socially responsible investment advisory firm. He was the managing member of a social venture fund, Global Partners, LLC and is currently a partner of Community Commercial Ventures, LLC. Mr. Harrington has a BA degree from Sonoma State University and received his MA degree in Humanities from Dominican University completing his thesis entitled “The Morality of Materialistic Self-Interest, The Corporation and The State”. In 2007, John received the Sonoma State University 'Distinguished Alumni' award. He is the author of "Investing With Your Conscience" (John Wiley & Sons, 1992) and "The Challenge to Power: Money, Investing and Democracy" (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2005).

Sustainability Consultant, Blu Skye Consulting

Pic’s decade of experience in the environmental sector allows him to recognize emerging sustainability trends, research and evaluate needs in the marketplace, and implement innovative strategies to align the organization’s environmental principles with market potential. He assists clients in research and development of sustainability and environmental programs. Prior to joining Blu Skye, Pic worked at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation leading research and development efforts for the Environment team.

He was born and raised in New England and holds a B.A. from Middlebury College in Vermont and an M.B.A in sustainable enterprise from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Heather, and their two beautiful daughters, Zelle and Kit live in San Rafael, CA.

Project Manager, CH2M Hill

Andrea Gardner is a project manager and the Southwest Region Sustainable Solutions Manager for CH2M HILL, a global planning, design, and construction firm. She guides regional efforts to implement sustainable engineering and design solutions for a range of infrastructure projects. She has a B.S. in Mathematics from Stanford University, an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA, and is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional.

Founder, TheGreenOffice.com

Alex Szabo founded TheGreenOffice.com in 2005 after work as a sustainability consultant and educator. The company works to leverage the purchasing power of values-based consumers in order to speed the transition to sustainability in the office products industry. By offering a full selection of socially and environmentally responsible office products at competitive prices, TheGreenOffice.com empowers individuals and organizations to align their values with action.

Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Numi Organic Tea

After earning her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, Reem switched gears and went on to pursue a Diploma d’Arte in Drawing & Painting from Lorenzo di Medici Art Institute in Florence, Italy and then a Masters in Fine Arts from John F. Kennedy University in their department of Arts & Consciousness Studies. Reem’s hand painted original paintings inspired by her brother & co-founder’s photography grace Numi’s packaging. As Chief Marketing Officer at Numi, she heads all marketing efforts including all package design. In addition, Reem is fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic.

Senior Marketing Manager, Sustainability, Autodesk

As a leader in design software, Autodesk provides design innovation technology to millions of architects, engineers and designers who are creating the built world around us – from buildings to cars to bridges and shoes. Before joining Autodesk, she has worked in public relations and marketing communications roles for global technology companies and has also spent time in the non-profit sector with the United Way, Amnesty International and the Canadian International Peacekeeping Center.

CEO, Worldwise, Inc

Aaron Lamstein co-founded Worldwise, immediately after graduating from UCLA, at the age of 22. Eighteen years later, Lamstein has succeeded in developing Worldwise into a leading brand of environmentally responsible consumer products. Worldwise is known as a pioneer in the field and enjoys distribution of its natural, recycled, and organic pet products in over 30,000 retail stores across North America. Lamstein frequently speaks and is interviewed as an expert about issues surrounding the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of environmentally responsible consumer products.

Assistant General Manager, Sonoma County Water Agency

Grant Davis is Assistant General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency. He is responsible for management activities related to the Agency’s core functions of water delivery, wastewater management, flood protection, and environmental sustainability. Prior to joining the Agency, Mr. Davis was Executive Director of The Bay Institute, a respected science-based nonprofit, dedicated to protecting the San Francisco Bay-Delta Watershed and improving water management in California. Mr. Davis also worked for Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey from 1993-1997. Grant covered energy and water-related legislation. He was also an aide to State Senator Milton Marks of San Francisco and to Assemblywoman Lucy Killea of San Diego. Davis also operated a successful small business, specializing in strategic planning, public relations and campaign management.

Executive Vice-President of Staffing, Nelson Staffing

Prior to joining Nelson, Craig worked for the California State Attorney General's Office as a Public Defender for seven years and worked for the Law Offices of Bowles and Verna as a litigator for three years prior to that. Craig has a Masters of Law from the University of San Diego and a Juris Doctor from Hastings College of Law. Craig was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1990. Craig Nelson joined the Nelson Family of Companies in 2001 as General Counsel and immediately assumed responsibility for the following corporate functions: Legal, Administration, Safety & Risk, and Human Resources. In 2006, Craig became Executive Vice President of Staffing Services, responsible for the management of the Nelson staffing divisions as well as NelsonJobs.

Vice-President of Operations, La Tortilla Factory

With over 12 years of experience, Samuel Tamayo has worked in food manufacturing, with an emphasis in specialty baking, including research and development, quality control, and operations management. His success in the field reflects his commitment to innovation at all levels, and a commitment to quality. Sam holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, is certified in Baking and Pastry Arts from the Culinary Institute of America and is an American Institute of Baking Certified Baker. He is currently the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for La Tortilla Factory, located in Santa Rosa, California. Vice-President of Operations, La Tortilla Factory

Cofounder & Director, Green MBA at Dominican University of California

After fifteen years in high technology industrial marketing, John desired to leverage his business background in developing a profession that would serve the environment and society. In 2000, he cofounded a groundbreaking graduate program in sustainable business that, in 2002, became the Green MBA. The Green MBA at Dominican University of California is a rigorous two-year program that transforms students’ abilities to advance environmental and social initiatives through enterprise creation or reinvention. In 1997, John and his wife Ana purchased an organic fruit farm in Sonoma County as a step toward developing a more ecological lifestyle. Their 2.5 acre farm and home now model "suburban sustainability", with natural buildings, a solar system, a vegetable oil powered vehicle, extensive and diverse food production, and a community living situation.

Founder and Principal, Earthsite.net

Joey Shepp is an Internet entrepreneur, sustainable brand expert, and a social technology speaker.

Mr. Shepp is the Founder and Principal of www.Earthsite.net, a new media agency for sustainable brands. He is also the Founder and Editor in Chief of www.GreenMaven.com, the world's most comprehensive search engine for environmental and social websites. For the past 7 years he has served as the Online Marketing Director for Green Festival, the world’s largest sustainability event.

President & Founder, Global Genesis

Terry D. Taylor is an independent consultant who has worked successfully with small non-profits to international Fortune 500 entities, in all areas of the globe and with multi-cultural teams. Terry studied educational and social psychology as an undergraduate and graduate at Stanford University. He currently owns and serves as President for Global Genesis, a small consulting firm that specializes in training, coaching and consulting in the arenas of change management, leadership, negotiations, conflict resolution, high performance teamwork and strategic planning. A few of his past and present clients include Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Apple Computers, Marriott International, the Singapore Government and Samsung Corporation. Services have been delivered in over 60 countries worldwide.

President/CEO, Natural Logic, Inc.

Gil Friend is founder, president & CEO of Natural Logic Inc, a sustainability consultancy helping companies build economic advantage through exceptional environmental performance. Friend lectures widely on business strategy and environmental policy, and writes "The New Bottom Line," a monthly column on business strategy; an irregular weblog on strategic sustainability and other matters of interest at blogs.natlogic.com/friend; contributes to GreenBiz.com and WorldChanging.com; and a forthcoming book: Risk, Fiduciary Responsibility and the Laws of Nature. He holds an MS in Systems Ecology from Antioch University, a black belt in Aikido, and is a seasoned practitioner of "The Natural Step" environmental management system.

Principal Consultant, Stephen Gale & Associates

Stephen Gale is the Principal Consultant for Stephen Gale & Associates, a business development partnership located in Northern California. Stephen works with socially responsible early stage companies, many of whom have already grown to the point that they are preparing for a funding event – including second or third round venture financing, mezzanine financing, attracting a strategic investor and traditional bank financing, including asset based lending. Sustainable business practices produce cost savings and profit enhancements that can mean significantly better performance over the long run vis-à-vis competitors. For over 20 years, Stephen has incorporated sustainability principles in his work with businesses located in the United States, Europe, Australia and Canada.

Consultant,Women Building Business

Cynthia Riggs, the Business Diva, has successfully started and exited three profitable businesses, including Making It Big, her multi-million dollar mail order/catalog company, which she sold in 2004. A small company with 25 full time employees, Making It Big’s policy manual included the obligation to environmentally healthy and sustainable business practices and the company’s responsibility to uncover and maintain them. Cynthia’s core commitment to green business, sustainability and the triple bottom line has influenced her business ventures since day one.

Senior Professor of Business, Sonoma State University

Robert Henriques Girling received his Ph. D. from Stanford University and has taught and consulted in 20 different countries. Recently he has served as a consultant to the Caribbean Development Bank on sustainable development strategies for the island of Dominica and as a founder and organizer of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Sustainable Enterprise Conferences on Tools for Sustainable Businesses and Communities.

Senior Director, Global Integrity & Sustainability Programs
WSP Environmental North America

Ed Quevedo’s practice encompasses domestic and international Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) Strategic Counseling, and EH&S Compliance Counseling. In addition, for over 10 years Ed has advised his clients in the high technology, life sciences, automotive, public agency, academic, and manufacturing industries, on sustainable development practices, strategic EH&S management, environmental product design, green building and facility design, eco-labeling and green marketing, industrial ecology methodologies, and environmental management system implementation.

Founder, Three Point Vision

Miriam Karell is founder of Three Point Vision, a consulting firm that inspires business leaders to integrate creativity, community and consciousness into their daily practices. She assists organizations in setting up green teams, developing sustainability programs (assessments, trainings and strategic planning), and getting green certified by the Bay Area Green Business Program. She is former sustainability champion at a medium-sized consulting firm and has a Masters in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability from Blenkinge Institute of Technology in Sweden.

Co-Founders, Syntony Quest

Kathia and Alexander Laszlo are co-founders of Syntony Quest, an organization that offers consulting, research and workshops in the areas of leadership and organizational transformation for sustainability. They are recipients of the Swiss Förderpreis Akademischer Klub award for their work in social innovation and sustainable development. They impart MBA and Ph.D. courses on strategy, leadership, and systems thinking at six universities in the US and internationally. Kathia completed her Ph.D. in Human Science with a focus on Social and Institutional Change from Saybrook as a Fulbright Scholar from Mexico. Alexander holds a Ph.D. in the interdisciplinary field of Science and Technology Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Chief Sustainability Officer, Codding Enterprises

Mr. Syphers is committed to the principle of living well, within our means. He serves as Chief Sustainability Officer for Codding Enterprises, a Sonoma County developer and property management firm, where he manages the company’s environmental and social initiatives and helps with the planning of a deeply sustainable mixed-use community.

Geof challenges the company to rethink fundamental practices and manages Codding’s sustainability education program and policies. He brings practical experience earned as the founding director of the Green Building Services Group at KEMA, an international consulting firm. Under his directorship, KEMA consulted on 160 construction projects, from homeless shelters to airports, including 40 LEED buildings.

President & Co-Founder, Indigenous Designs

Matt has over 14 years Experience in organic and fair trade cottage industry production and has been responsible for Spearheading a new production financing model for fair trade knitting cooperatives throughout South America. In addition to their memberships with Co-op America, Social Venture Network, BALLE, Organic Trade Association, and the Organic Fiber Council, Indigenous Designs is a Founding B Corporation.

Senior Facilities Manager, Agilent

Dave Shufo has been involved in industrial Energy and Utility management for more than 30 years with experience in the design, operations, and implementation of industrial electrical, HVAC, control programming, water conservation and recently, solar projects. He is currently involved in the 1 MegaWatt Solar implementation at Agilent.