Erb Advisory Board

Manager, Social Sustainability
Ford Motor Company

David Berdish has been at Ford since 1983 and has worked Production, Program Management, Finance, Quality, Business Planning and Organizational Learning. He received a BA from the University of Michigan and a MS from Virginia Commonwealth University. His work has been featured in several publications and he has presented at systems thinking conferences around the world. David is responsible for the development of the Ford Motor Company Business Principles. The Principles will integrate the "triple bottom line" of economics, environmental, and societal performance into current Ford operating processes. He is also leading the design and development of a Human Rights Code of Conduct and related processes. David regularly teaches courses for the Erb Institute and is also on the faculty of the Prince of Wales Business and Environment Programme.

CEO
Growth Capital Network

Lauren Bigelow Reed is CEO of Growth Capital Network and was previously the Managing Director for the Cleantech Network. Prior to joining Cleantech, Lauren served as the Educational Director at the Ann Arbor IT Zone, a networking and education organization that promoted the growth of the IT industry in Michigan. At the IT Zone, Lauren was responsible for over 60 annual events, including IT Forums, Entrepreneur Bootcamps, and the Center for Venture Capital & Private Equity Finance's annual venture conference. She served the IT and Biotech sectors in collaboration with a wide range of partner organizations and entrepreneurs. Lauren was the Marketing Director of the Richard Hale Shaw Group, a boutique developer training company where she created and executed marketing strategy and brand awareness. Her prime foci were to develop marketing & advertising materials and further their market position as a premium .NET training provider in coordination with Microsoft and other software companies. Lauren earned a BA in Economics (University of Michigan) and an MA in Anthropology Northwestern University), and has authored several anthropological publications. She currently serves as a Director of the Sustainable Living Company in England and on the Advisory Board of Amara Conservation.

Ecomagination Leader
GE Energy

Katharine Brass is the ecomagination program manager for GE Energy. Kate leads the Energy businesses efforts with respect to defining the ecomagination product portfolio for Energy, developing strategic customer relationships and large energy and conservation demonstration projects. She represents the environmental interests of the business with respect to national and international government affairs, global research efforts, new technology commercialization and internal greenhouse gas reduction programs. Kate holds a Bachelors degree in Finance and Economics and a Masters in Environmental Management and Policy. She has 20 years of experience in sales, marketing communications and strategic marketing.

Director, Office of Sustainability
George Washington University
MBA/MS Program 2002

Before joining George Washington University, Meghan was Director of Client Services at SustainAbility, a think tank/consultancy group, working to advise on corporate responsibility and sustainable development as it relates to market risks and opportunities. Previously, at the World Resources Institute, she managed the Beyond Grey Pinstripes report as well as other projects within the business education portfolio. She has experience in corporate social responsibility from her work with The Albright Group, Ford Motor Company, and Dow on climate change, human rights, and emerging markets, respectively. She also has expertise in community development and environmental education. While at the University of Michigan, she worked on various start-up projects including a social enterprise for the Crow Indians, a green marketing plan for a Bolivian company that is a WRI New Ventures client, and a greenhouse gas emissions registry. She also conducted a new business opportunity analysis in Brazil and Argentina for Dow Chemical through the William Davidson Institute. Her interest in the social issues of sustainability led to her work on Ford Motor Company's social performance strategy in the summer of 2001. Before enrolling at Michigan, Meghan applied her Environmental Science degree from Northwestern with Public Allies in Chicago to implement economic development programs with low-income communities. She has also worked with the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy as a community outreach coordinator and a writer for public relations and fundraising efforts. In addition, she initiated a teen community environmental program for the Southeast Chicago Development Commission.

Director, Sustainability
Amcor

Dave Clark is Director, Sustainabilty for Amcor Rigid Plastics. Dave joined Amcor as plant manager of Amcor’s PET recycling plant. He currently leads Amcor’s EnviroAction program to enhance the environmental profile of Amcor’s Rigid Plastics plants and products, combining his hands-on technical skills and project management skills with a interest in finding more sustainable business strategies. He is closely involved with PET recycling and issues related to the collection, processing, and use of recycled containers, as well as integrating sustainable design into Amcor’s product development and innovation processes. Dave is an active member of several organizations including the Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, and the Plastic Recycling Corporation of California. Amcor is a $12.6 billion leader in packaging, delivering innovative solutions to customers around the world from over 300 sites with 35,000 employees in 43 countries. Amcor’s commitment to sustainability and responsible packaging guides how the company operates both internally and as a part of our communities and the global environment. Amcor is a member of the Carbon Disclosure Project Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and FTSE4Good. Dave holds a B.S., Physics, from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He has made presentations on sustainable packaging and recycling and has been published in several articles about sustainable packaging.

President and Sr. Partner
Meridian Institute

Dr. Ehrmann is a founder and Senior Partner of the Meridian Institute. Dr. Ehrmann is one of the most highly skilled and sought after facilitators in the field. He has pioneered the use of collaborative processes for two decades, using it for everything from conflict resolution to creative processes like organizational planning for the future. He has led projects in national and international forums; in public policy arenas involving legislation, negotiated regulations and Federal Advisory Committees; in organizational management settings; and with stakeholder groups advising individual companies. For the most part, his work has focused on the environment, natural resources issues, and the economic and social challenges associated with developing sustainable practices for communities and industries. In addition to his extensive involvement in facilitating collaborative processes, Dr. Ehrmann also works to promote the use of collaborative decision-making. He gives lectures and has published numerous articles on collaborative decisions in public policy issues. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Wyoming and provides advice to the Institute and School of Environment and Natural Resources on the use of collaborative problem solving in natural resource decision-making. Dr. Ehrmann received his undergraduate degree from Macalester College and his Ph.D. in Natural Resource Policy and Environmental Dispute Resolution from the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources. His doctoral dissertation involved developing a practice-based model of the policy dialogue, which can be applied to both practice and research. Between 1983 and 1997, Dr. Ehrmann was executive vice president at the Keystone Center, Keystone, Colorado. In September 1997 he left Keystone to found the Meridian Institute.

Principal, CEO and Co-Founder
Resource Recycling Systems, Inc.

Mr. Frey's ability to find and implement practical environmental solutions began with his role in growing the award winning Recycle Ann Arbor program from a voluntary organization into a comprehensive non-profit municipal recycling service provider. His founding of Resource Recycling Systems kicked off over two decades of consulting for thousands of municipalities, institutions and corporations successfully addressing complex and difficult implementation challenges. Skilled in strategic planning, economic analysis, program and service design, operations management consulting, system procurement and negotiations, Mr. Frey brings a long track record of success in bringing cost effective and environmentally responsible solutions to RRS clients. Mr. Frey holds an MBA with High Distinction from the University of Michigan with a concentration in Strategic Planning, Business Economics and Public Policy.

Chairman and Founder
Global Change Associates

Energy consultant Peter C. Fusaro is chairman of New York-based Global Change Associates Inc. and co-founder of the Energy Hedge Fund Center. He is the best- selling author of What Went Wrong at Enron and is an energy industry thought leader noted for his keen insights in emerging energy and environmental issues. He coined the term “Green Trading” as well as created the annual Green Trading Summit held in New York each spring. His experiences and insights have lead him to the leading edge of energy consulting including carbon & emissions trading, LNG market developments, coal trading, hedge funds, and renewable energy project finance and venture capital.

Principal
Barton Consulting Services, LLC

After a successful career in the auto industry, Ms. Gorman now does extensive consulting work for local non-profits and early-stage companies. She began serving on the EAB four years ago, and worked closely with Erb Institute staff to facilitate the Erb strategic planning and implementation process. She enjoys coaching and mentoring at all levels, has done so for Net Impact and CleanTech Open, and especially enjoys working with Erb Students.

Principal
Cleargreen Advisors

Greener Solutions Inc., is a network of talented people and firms; reinventing everything—creating a sustainable Future. Prior to founding Greener Solutions, Catherine was Saatchi & Saatchi S’ Vice President of Sustainability Consulting. Ms. Greener has more than 20 years of experience in the implementation of sustainability, lean manufacturing, and industrial quality management systems. She has led sustainability and resource efficiency projects for clients ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to the industrial facilities of multinational corporations and Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, Catherine sits on several advisory boards addressing sustainability in higher education programs, for-profit companies, and the city of Denver. She has experience in the food and beverage processing, automotive, chemical, semi-conductor, facility automation (robotics), and construction industries. She combines her sustainability, quality management, and lean manufacturing experience with acute problem solving skills and an exceptional ability to uncover process waste. Catherine has given numerous talks, facilitated visioning sessions and conducted training classes in sustainability, continuous quality improvement and other disciplines, developed waste reduction programs, and led problem-solving groups for manufacturing strategy. Additionally, she has experience in ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and Six-Sigma. She holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a MBA from University of Michigan. Catherine lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband Alan in a home featured on the Boulder Solar Home tour.

Clean Vehicles and Fuels Director
The Ecology Center

Charles Griffith is Director of the Ecology Center's Auto Project. He has worked for almost 15 years in the area of toxic materials management and environmental policy, including the last decade on automotive issues. Mr. Griffith currently helps coordinate a coalition-based advocacy initiative called the Clean Car Campaign, which challenges automakers to produce and consumers to purchase vehicles that meet global best practices for fuel efficiency, emissions and clean production. Mr. Griffith has served as an advisor on a variety of automotive environmental initiatives, such as the US EPA's Common Sense Initiative for the Auto Manufacturing Sector, the President's Council on Sustainable Development Auto Demonstration Project, and the U.S. Auto Pollution Prevention Project. He was also an author on a recent groundbreaking study that documented the hazards from automobile end-of-life processing and developed policy solutions to address it.

Corporate Industrial Ecology
Holcim (US) Inc.

Erika Guerra is the Manager of Government Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility for Holcim (US) Inc, a leading global manufacturer of construction materials. In this role, Ms. Guerra is responsible for leading and coordinating the company’s public policy advocacy efforts at the federal and state level. In addition, she represents Holcim (US) in a variety of trade associations and environmental forums. Ms. Guerra also develops and executes the corporate sustainable development strategy through consultation with key internal and external stakeholders. This includes the facilitation of various programs geared toward employee education and community outreach around Holcim (US) operations. Previously, Ms. Guerra served as the Regional Manager for Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials (AFR) Business Development in North America, where she lead efforts to improve the performance of Holcim (US) and St. Lawrence Cement in Canada. She participated in the successful implementation of an aggressive strategy to substitute more than 20% of fossil fuel consumption with waste-derived fuels for cement production in the region. During this time, she was responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of the company’s global standards related to alternative fuels usage. Concurrently, she held the position of Manager, Sustainability Programs, representing Holcim (US) in a number of sustainability-related organizations, including the US Business Council for Sustainable Development, University of Michigan’s Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change’s Business and Environmental Leadership Council. Earlier, she served as Senior Consultant for AFR Development in North and South America. Ms. Guerra began her career with Holcim in 1997 as a member of the Ecoltec group at Holcim (Apasco) in Mexico. Prior to joining Holcim, she worked for the Mobile Oil Corporation in the lubricants and fuels divisions. She brings a unique international perspective to her new role, having worked throughout North and South America. Ms. Guerra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico, and a Diploma in Business Administration from Universidad de las Americas, Mexico.

Founder and Principal
Hedstom Associates

Gib Hedstrom has 25 years of experience advising CEOs and board members about how to handle the toughest environmental issues of the day. Schooled in finance at GE, Mr. Hedstrom spent 20 years at Arthur D. Little, leading significant aspects of ADL's environmental auditing, strategy, and governance work. He was elected a Vice President of the firm in 1989. Mr. Hedstrom has reported to outside boards of directors of Fortune 500 companies on over 50 occasions regarding environmental governance, emerging issues, sustainable development, and audit program oversight. Following the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio to 2001, Mr. Hedstrom led ADL's worldwide Sustainable Development team. During this time, Mr. Hedstrom also managed ADL's EHS activities throughout Europe and Asia. From 2001 to 2003, he was a partner with PA Consulting Group (largest consulting firm in the U.K.), leading the firm's corporate environmental and sustainable development practice. Gib holds a MBA and MS (Natural Resource Management) from the University of Michigan and a BA Economics and Geology from Hamilton College.

Manager
StarPak Group, ForestCove LLC

Reyn is an Associate Broker of Swisher Commercial and a member of the Michigan Bar Association. He has 30 years’ business and real estate experience. His real estate skill set includes site location/demographic research, mergers & acquisitions, business start-ups, taking firms public, site development and management from raw land through stabilized lease-up and permanent financing, and sustainable/New Urbanist mixed use projects. Reyn works with clients in all types of commercial property transactions, including office, multifamily, vacant land, retail, research and industrial. He has built, managed, leased and sold hundreds of millions of dollars of real estate in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Reyn also has active projects elsewhere in the (Utah) plus a 20-suite mini-resort on Lake Rapel in Chile. Reyn’s has lived in and around Ann Arbor since 1970. His academic background is 100% University of Michigan: undergraduate degree in location research and demographics, and Juris Doctor from University of Michigan Law School.

Life Cycle Assessment and Product Sustainability Leader
Dow Chemical Company

President and CEO
Sterling Planet, Inc.

Mel Jones is President and CEO of Sterling Planet, one of the leading renewable energy providers in the country. As a former employee of the Southern Company and now the CEO of a successful start-up, Mel combines 20 years of utility industry experience with the perspective of an entreprenuer in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector.

Managing Director/Partner
US Renewables Group
MBA/MS Program 1996

Jonathan is a Managing Director and co-founder of the Firm, and is based in New York. Prior to joining USRG, Mr. Koch was COO for Visible Path, a Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers funded application service provider. He was the founder and CEO of Sundial, a leader in provisioning utility services online. Sundial was acquired by Essential.com, an early entrant into retail power marketing and telecommunications, and later sold to InPhonic (NASDAQ: INPC). Prior to founding Sundial, Mr. Koch was a Business Development Manager at General Electric Power Systems (“GEPS”). Prior to GEPS, Mr. Koch spent more than five years with Booz, Allen & Hamilton consulting on large M&A transactions in the energy and life sciences sectors and advising the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA“) on policy issues in the Superfund, Clean Air and Drinking Water divisions. Mr. Koch holds a joint MBA and MS in Resource Policy from the University of Michigan and a BA from Tufts University.

President & CEO
Michigan Environmental Council

An environmental champion in the legislature and a veteran of the environmental management field, Kolb was one of the legislature’s most consistent and vigorous defenders of clean water, clear air and public health during his six years as State Representative from the 53rd District. He was instrumental in important environmental legislation, including joint planning commissions, land bank authorities, lead poisoning prevention for children, regulation of dangerous polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), establishment of a fund to help clean up leaking underground storage tanks, and numerous land-use initiatives. Kolb graduated from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment.

President
Council of Great Lakes Industries

During the past 3 decades, George Kuper has been a recognized leader in the national effort to establish a productivity growth policy. In 1975, he was nominated by President Gerald Ford and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as executive director of then newly created National Center for Productivity and Quality of Working Life. In 1978, Kuper joined the General Electric Company where he reported to the Senior Vice President in charge of operations and was responsible for company-wide productivity improvement programs. While executive director (1983-1988) of the Washington, D.C.-based Manufacturing Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences, Kuper was the originator and one of the principal founders of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, a major cooperative research program among U.S. manufacturers. Under his leadership, the Manufacturing Studies Board also gained prominence for the identification of public policy issues facing U.S. manufacturing. For example, the board initiated the concept of the Engineering Research Centers program of the National Science Foundation, and contributed to the understanding of manufacturing issues through a pioneering book entitled Toward a New Era in U.S. Manufacturing: The Need for a National Vision. Before joining the CGLI in 1994, George Kuper spent 6 years as President and CEO of the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) – a not-for –profit manufacturing research, development, and deployment organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With a staff of over 130 professionals, under Kuper's leadership ITI became the largest organization of its kind assisting manufacturers in the United States, and became financially self- sufficient through both industrial and governmental contracts. Kuper has also been the founding principal in four corporations and director of five additional companies. He has been executive vice president of the Boston Venture Management Co., deputy director of the Mayor's Office of Justice Administration in the City of Boston, and developed prototype productivity assessment programs for banking officers of the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. In the last decade, Kuper has been chairman of the Working Group on Dual Use Technology policy for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, a member of the Board of the Arlington Institute, and the Technology Managerial Program Advisory Committee of the Conference Board. He has also been an advisor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Committee for Economic Development; chairman of the National Association of Manufactures Committee on Productivity; a founder and vice president of the American Productivity Management Association; and a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Council on Trends and Perspectives He holds an undergraduate degree in political science from John Hopkins University and graduate degrees from the London School of Economics (International Law) and Harvard Business School (Business Administration). He has published several dozen papers and books, served on editorial boards of 4 journals, and has lectured extensively in the U.S., Europe and South Africa.

Executive Vice President, Global Business Development
The CarbonNeutral Company

Mark LaCroix is Executive Vice President of Global Business Development for The CarbonNeutral Company headquartered in New York City and London. As a member of The CarbonNeutral Company senior management team, and a thought leader in the sustainable business movement, he is an outspoken advocate for sustainable business practices. Mark has leveraged his experience to “sell” the business case for this sustainability and provides guidance and direction to all disciplines within companies seeking to integrate sustainability in all its dimensions. At Interface, he was instrumental in the launch and creation of the Terratex brand, the most widely recognized name in increasingly sustainable textile products. Along with this experience, Mark has also developed and provided hundreds of workshops and CEUs covering a broad spectrum of sustainability related topics. Mark is a LEED Accredited Professional and a regular speaker on sustainability related topics. He was co-chair of the Materials workgroup for the BIFMA Sustainability Assessment Standard for Commercial Furnishings, a board member of the Association for Contract Textiles and of the Joint Committee for the ACT Sustainability Assessment Standard for Commercial Furnishings Fabrics. Mark has served as President of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. He serves on the advisory boards of Aquinas College Sustainable Business Degree program and Very Special Arts – Grand Rapids.

President
Sheperd Advisors

Loch McCabe founded Shepherd Advisors in 2000 with the belief that the key to a truly sustainable future is to grow businesses which enhance our wealth and environment at the same time. Mr. McCabe has been involved in the formation of the Clean Tech sector from “day one.” In the late ‘80s he helped design and raise money for commercial and municipal recycling programs. In the ‘90s, he built the Environmental Capital Network, which facilitated over $50 million in early-stage investments to Clean Tech companies nationwide. He has a knack for recognizing opportunities, developing stories, and working with others to secure needed resources. He backs up his instincts and enthusiasm with analysis and due diligence that fosters clearer thinking and action. At Shepherd, Mr. McCabe focuses on strategy, market development, and financing.

CEO
Global Forest Partners LP

Peter Mertz is CEO and Founder of Global Forest Partners. GFP is headquartered in Lebanon, New Hampshire and is one of the largest timber investment management organizations in the world. Mr. Mertz has more than 25 years of forest management, analytical and investment experience in the timberland business. Prior to co-founding GFP, he was the Managing Director of UBS Timber Investors. Before joining UBS in 1995, he was Division Manager of Acquisitions, Economics and Planning for the International Paper Company. Mr. Mertz is a University of Michigan alumnus with a BS in Forestry from the School of Natural Resources and Environment and an MBA from the Ross School of Business. He is a Certified Forester and a Member of the Society of American Foresters and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Senior Vice President
Business for Social Responsibility

Eric leads BSR's growing Advisory Services practice of delivering consultation on successful corporate social responsibility strategies and integrating them into the core businesses of BSR’s member companies. He joined BSR in 2005 with 15 years of work in the consulting field, including significant experience both in supply chain management and issues related to sustainable development. Most recently, Eric led The Natural Step in San Francisco to deliver advice and counsel to a broad range of companies on sustainability matters. He has also served as Vice President at the Boston Consulting Group and was a Partner and Founding Member of the Mitchell Madison Group, a global consultancy focused on strategic sourcing and supply chain management. Eric's primary expertise is in CSR and sustainability strategy development and integration, strategic sourcing and supply chain management, climate change strategies and program development. He has a Master’s degree in philosophy in Russian and East European studies from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and a B.A. in chemistry and Russian from Macalester College.

Chairman & CEO (retired)
BP America

Steve Percy is the former Chairman and CEO of BP America, Inc., BP's U.S. subsidiary prior to its merger with Amoco Corporation, and served in that capacity from 1996 until 1999. Prior to assuming those duties, he was President of BP Oil in the U.S. from 1992 to 1996, and since retiring from BP has also served as the head of Phillips Petroleum's Refining, Marketing and Transportation Company. He currently is Visiting Professor, Corporate Strategy and International Business, at the University of Michigan Graduate School of Business. Mr. Percy returned to BP America from London, England where he served as Group Treasurer of The British Petroleum Company p.l.c. and Chief Executive of BP Finance International. Born in 1946, Mr. Percy is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Masters in Business Administration from The University of Michigan and graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar. Mr. Percy joined The Standard Oil Company in 1976 following service in the U.S. Army and several years with Babcock & Wilcox as a Senior Planning Analyst. His posts with Standard Oil included Manager of American Flagged Marine Transportation, Manager of the Eastern Crude Oil Division, Director of Operations Analysis, Director of Downstream Strategic Planning and Development, and Director of the Executive Office. In 1987, following the merger of BP and Standard Oil, Mr. Percy moved to London to become Manager, Oil Planning and Control in BP Oil International. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Omnova Solutions Inc. and is Chair of its Audit Committee. Past corporate board memberships include GenCorp, Inc., the Tranzonic Companies, KeyBank National Association, and Transtar International. Mr. Percy currently serves on the boards of Resources for the Future and Junior Achievement International and Chairs the Board of the Chautauqua Foundation which is a supporting organization to the Chautauqua Institution. At the University of Michigan, Mr. Percy is a member of the Ross School of Business Corporate Advisory Board and the External Advisory Board of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. He is also a member of Rensselaer's Engineering School's Advisory Board and the National Advisory Council of the Cleveland Marshall College of Law. Previously, he has served as a member of President Clinton's Council on Sustainable Development in the role of Co-Chair of its Climate Change Task Force. He has Chaired Cleveland State University's Foundation, held the position of Vice Chairman of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and Chair of its Finance Committee and Chairman of Neighborhood Progress, Inc. He has also served as a member of the boards of University Hospitals of Cleveland, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, the British American Chamber of Commerce and the Council on Economic Priorities. Mr. Percy is married to Barbara, a math educator, and has two daughters, Amy, a graduate business student at the University of Michigan and Sarah who is an environmental consultant.

Sr. Vice President and Director of Corporate Sustainability
Comerica Bank

Rick is responsible for leading Comerica's efforts to implement a comprehensive, enterprise-wide sustainability strategy that creates long-term value for stakeholders. He works with colleagues across the company as well as with external stakeholders to embed sustainable practices in Comerica's workplace, workforce, products & services, processes, and governance structures and to identify opportunities for improved sustainability performance. Rick previously served as head of the bank's Environmental Risk Management Group for 20 years prior to taking on his current role. He is a founding member and current officer of the Environmental Bankers Association and is a past chairman of both the Michigan Bankers Association's Environmental Affairs Committee and the Southeast Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. He was also chairman of the board of directors of the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. Rick served on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Environmental Advisory Council and on the Cross-Cutting Issues Technical Workgroup of the Michigan Climate Action Council. He was educated at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.A.), the University of Goettingen in Germany (Fulbright Scholar), and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (M.A. and M.B.A.). In 2005, Rick completed the Senior Executives Seminar of the Prince of Wales’s Business and the Environment Program (BEP), a program of Cambridge University which seeks to train corporate leaders from across the world on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable business.

Mark is an accomplished international business development professional, with an excellent combination of technical aptitude and business acumen.
He has had a variety of experience in both staff and operating positions. After starting his career at Ford Motor Company in Product development and Product planning, Mark transitioned to the automotive supply base, focused on electronics products. He served as Director of Product Planning for Bendix Electronics, then was responsible for strategic planning for the global automotive business at Siemens. He then became Director of Sales, Marketing Planning for the automotive electronics division of United Technologies Automotive. After UTA was acquired by Lear Corporation, he was promoted to Vice President, Marketing and Business Development for the electrical/electronics division. His responsibilities included evaluating and executing technical partnerships with outside companies for joint product development. This work led him into Lear’s mergers and acquisitions group as Vice President, Business Development where he executed over two dozen acquisition, divestiture and joint venture transactions. He was also responsible for corporate oversight of more than 30 international joint ventures, including serving on the board of directors of seven different JV’s.
At the end of 2008 Mark ended his corporate automotive career and transitioned to the entrepreneurial arena. He currently serves as the director of business development for a local start-up and provides consulting services for other companies.
Mark has a passion for renewable energy. His home is powered by a 5kW photovoltaic array, and he volunteers his time with the Clean Energy Coalition to work on the XSeed Energy community solar project.
Mark’s education includes a bachelor degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University, a Master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Director, Corporate Partnerships
Environmental Defense Fund

Gwen provides strategic direction for Environmental Defense's Corporate Partnerships Group, which develops innovative, business-based solutions to environmental problems. The Corporate Partnerships Group develops and implements policies to leverage the corporate supply chain, increasing the demand for, and supply of, environmentally preferable products. Ongoing projects involve reducing corporate paper use and increasing recycled content, improving emissions and fuel efficiency in corporate vehicle fleets and incorporating design-for-environment principles into corporate product development. Prior to her role at Environmental Defense, Gwen served as Vice President and Director of Environmental Sustainability for Metcalf & Eddy (1998); Director of Executive Program Planning and Operations, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, (1995-1997); Director of External Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England Region (1984-1994); Chief of Marine & Estuary Protection for Massachusetts Bay, Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay and Long Island Sound; and Chemical Engineer, Texaco Inc. (1984 1987). Gwens other service includes Innovations in American Government (evaluation team leader for Harvard University) (1997 and 1998); Robert C. Seamans Fellowship in Technology and Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government (1994); U.S. House of Representatives Merchant Marine & Fisheries Committee, loaned executive (1991); and Water Environment Federation, Watershed Management Committee Vice-Chair. Gwen is the author of numerous articles on watershed protection, coastal development sustainability, and point and non-point source pollution management. Gwen earned a M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a B.S., Chemical Engineering from University of Virginia.

Director EHS Audit
Alcoa Inc.

Haig joined Alcoa as an industrial hygienist in Pittsburgh in 1978. He then began a series of EHS management positions in Tennessee and Pennsylvania, before being named environmental manager in 1994 for Alcoa’s Rigid Packaging business, based in Tennessee. In 1997, Haig returned to Pittsburgh as manager, EHS Audit. In 2005 his accountability was expanded to include Operations Audit, responsible for global assessment of the Alcoa Business System. A Pittsburgh native, Haig received a bachelor's of science in biochemistry in 1975 and master's degree in industrial hygiene in 1979 from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2004, Haig received an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business, where he received the honor of class valedictorian. He and his wife, Theo, have five children.

State Director, Michigan Chapter
The Nature Conservancy

Helen Taylor is the State Director of The Nature Conservancy's Michigan Chapter. She joined the Chapter in 1999 to lead their efforts to protect the natural heritage of Michigan, a beautiful and ecologically significant state on a regional and global scale. She came to Michigan after directing the Conservancy's Great Lakes Program for three years. While there, she led the program's work with Conservancy state programs, public agencies, private institutions, government, industry, and environmental organizations to develop and implement a concerted science- based strategic approach for protecting the biodiversity of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Prior to joining the Conservancy in 1996, Helen spent nine years working in the environmental policy field with a concentration in Great Lakes issues, pollution prevention, waste, and public involvement. Her project work focused on designing, facilitating, and mediating environmental initiatives, partnerships, and decision-making processes involving multiple stakeholders. Prior to entering the environmental field, Helen spent several years in the field of social services working with youth; the arts; as well as teaching overseas. She holds a degree in philosophy from Northwestern University.

Counsel
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

William Thomas is counsel in the firm’s Environmental and Climate Change practices. He advises companies, financiers, developers and other enterprises on all aspects of environmental law, including issues arising in connection with transactions and projects, formulation of management and legal compliance strategy, and litigation and disputes involving environmental, health and safety (EHS) matters. Mr. Thomas regularly counsels clients on matters with a foreign or global environmental dimension, including risks and opportunities arising under regional and international environmental agreements, emerging EHS legal regimes and related international standards and codes of conduct, and legal aspects of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Mr. Thomas appears frequently at national and international conferences, and is a widely published author on environmental law, policy and related matters of corporate strategy. In 2007, he served as chair of ABA SEER’s annual Conference on Environmental Law in Keystone, Colorado. His body of published work includes contributions to the Cross-Border Environment Handbook (PLC 2008/09), Stumbling Toward Sustainability (John Dernbach ed., ELI 2002), and Environmental Law and Enforcement in the Asia-Pacific Rim (Terri Mottershead ed., Sweet & Maxwell 2002). His articles on environmental issues have appeared in the National Law Journal, Natural Resources & Environment, Review of European Community & International Environmental Law, The International Lawyer, International Financial Law Review, Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, BNA’s Environmental Law Reporter, European Environmental Law Review, Corporate Environmental Strategy, Project Finance International, Carbon Business and Environmental Finance, among others. He also serves on several editorial advisory boards, including those of BNA’s Environmental Due Diligence Guide, Carbon & Climate Law Review, Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy, Sustainable Development Law & Policy, and Environmental Liability. Mr. Thomas is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2009 (Environment), Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2008 (Environment and Climate Change), The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2008 (Environment), and PLC’s Which Lawyer? Handbook 2008 (Environment).

Manager, Business Development/Strategic Planning
United Technologies Corp. Power

Bob Tierney has worked for UTC/Pratt & Whitney since 1979. Currently, he directs sustainability and government programs for UTC Power. Previously, he was Director of Health and Safety for Pratt's global operations. Prior to that, he was manager of green business solutions in the Specialty Materials &: Services organization and prior to that he was manager in the engineering division leading the green engine program. Within UTC, Bob founded and leads the companiy's sustainability network. Bob obtained a BS in environmental engineering from Florida Institute of Technology, an MBA from Florida Atlantic University, and a Masters of Environmental Studies from Yale University.

Managing Director-Ogranic Growth, S4 Energy Solutions
Waste Management

Mr. Vaillancourt serves as Managing Director in the Organic Growth Group at Waste Management, Inc. Mr. Vaillancourt was one of the founding members of the group responsible for developing a new ventures unit for the company focused on developing new and innovative growth platforms in the environmental, sustainability, solid waste, recycling, energy and cleantech sectors. Prior to this role, he spent 7 years as a Director in the company’s waste to energy division involved in finance, asset optimization and strategic development. Prior to joining Waste Management, Mr. Vaillancourt spent 10 years in entrepreneurial endeavors as part of various founding groups of start up and early stage companies in the high tech, entertainment and financial and business advisory services sectors. Throughout these engagements, Mr. Vaillancourt has assisted in structuring in excess of $800 million of debt and equity financings as well as contributed to the operational management of many of these ventures. Mr. Vaillancourt holds a BS in accounting and finance as well as an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. In addition to serving as an advisory board member of the Erb Institute, he also serves on the external advisory boards of The University of Massachusetts College of Management, Greenopolis.com and is a member of the Strategic Venture Association.

Principal
Huron River Ventures
MBA/MS Program 1999

Ryan is currently Principal at Huron River Ventures, a Michigan-focused investment fund that specializes in early stage ventures in alternative energy and other advanced technology sectors. Ryan was Co-Founder and Managing Director of Huron River Ventures. He brings over 13 years of professional experience in investing, operating and consulting roles in the alternative energy and environmental sectors, and is widely recognized as an experienced alternative energy technology investment professional. Ryan was previously a Director at ZBI Ventures, the private equity arm of Ziff Brothers Investments, LLC (ZBI). ZBI is a multi-billion dollar private investment firm that manages the assets of the Ziff family, formerly of Ziff-Davis publishing. ZBI Ventures invests in energy assets and technology companies with a primary focus on unconventional oil and gas, biofuels, solar and other carbon-favored energy sources. Before joining ZBI, Ryan was Director of Venture Services for NextEnergy, a non-profit corporation founded to advance the alternative energy technology industry in the State of Michigan. There he developed and managed Michigan\'s only business accelerator program and seed fund focused exclusively on alternative and clean energy technologies . Prior to joining NextEnergy, Ryan spent over six years at DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE) where he identified, evaluated and managed clean energy technology investments in DTE Energy\'s $100 million corporate venture capital fund (DTE Energy Ventures), as well as managed several advanced energy technology demonstration projects. Ryan has also worked as an environmental engineer, and co-founded a start-up company, GetOutdoors.com. Ryan earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. He also earned an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he participated in the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. Ryan currently serves on the External Advisory Board for the Erb Institute, and has lectured and taught courses on energy, energy technology and venture capital at the University of Michigan. After nearly four years living and working in New York, Ryan returned to Michigan in 2010 with his wife, four children and dog Brady. They live in Dexter, Michigan.

Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Herman Miller

Gabe Wing provides the technical leadership for the Design for the Environment (DfE) team. Since joining Herman Miller in 2001, Gabe has created an environmental materials database that allows Herman Miller’s engineers to specify the most eco-effective materials for the new products. A significant portion of his work involves working closely with key industrial partners to optimize current materials and to also identify new, sustainable solutions. In addition, he has led the training sessions that educate designers and engineers on the principles of sustainable product design. Gabe received an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science from Michigan State University in the same discipline. “My primary role is to help make the world a little bit safer by selecting the best possible materials,” says Gabe. He loves a good pickup basketball game, and enjoys running and biking with his wife and young children