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Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities will be held on September 9-10 at Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center. Main conference speakers for this event will include:

• George Heartwell, Mayor, City of Grand Rapids, Michigan

  Now serving in his second term, Mayor George Heartwell took office in 2004. During his tenure, the City of Grand Rapids government has "gone green," introducing a variety of environmental measures into the agenda - including the purchasing of renewable resource energy, using of alternative fuels in City vehicles, continued attention to water quality in the Grand River and widespread energy conservation measures. In 2007, the United Nations recognized Grand Rapids as a "Center of Expertise" in sustainability.

• Rebecca Humphries, Executive Director, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment

  Rebecca Humphries became director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment in January 2010, after serving as director of the former Department of Natural Resources since 2004. Created under executive order by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, the DNRE assumed the powers and functions of the departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, both of which were abolished by the executive order. Humphries is actively implementing an ecosystem-based strategy for resource management aimed at protecting and enhancing the sustainability, diversity and productivity of the state's natural resources.
  

• Doug Farr, Author and Founder, Farr Associates Architecture and Urban Design, Inc.

  Doug Farr is a Founding Principal of Farr Associates, an award-winning architecture and planning firm widely regarded as one of the the most sustainable design practices in the country. The firm's three LEED Platinum buildings – the first firm in the world to achieve this feat – are models are urban architectural sustainability. based on the firm's pioneering sustainable urban design practice and his insights gained serving as the inaugural chair of LEED-Neighborhood Development, Doug authored the planning best-seller, Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature.

Additional speakers for Future Cities will include:

• Jerry Adams, President, West Michigan Cooperative
• Haris Alibasic, Director, Office of Energy and Sustainability, City of Grand Rapids
• Jon W. Allan, Executive Director of Environmental Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs, Consumers Energy
• Landon Bartley, Planner, City of Grand Rapids
• Michael N. Beaulac, State Assistant Administrator, Executive Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment
• Chris Beckering, Director of Business Development, Pioneer Construction
• Arn Boezaart, Director, Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center, Grand Valley State University
• Amy Butler, Director, Bureau of Energy Systems, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
• Patty Cantrell, Senior Policy Specialist, Michigan Land Use Institute
• Norman Christopher, Director of Sustainability, Grand Valley State University
• Kathryn J.A. Colasanti, Academic Specialist, C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University
• Mike Corby, President, Integrated Architecture; Andy Winkel, Partner, Locus Development
• Gary Cuneen, Executive Director, Seven Generations Ahead
• Michael Davidson, Midwest Regional Director, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
• John Eberly, Senior Electrical Engineer, Fishbeck, Thompson Carr & Huber, Inc.
• Michael Ford, Cascade Renewable Energy
• Chris Hall, Director of Construction Operations, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
• Renae Hesselink, Vice President of Sustainability, Nichols; Chair of U.S. Green Building Council West Michigan Chapter; USGBC Michigan Chapter LEED for Schools
• John Hieftje, Mayor, City of Ann Arbor
• Paul Isely, Associate Professor of Economics, Grand Valley State University
• Sue Jeffers, Associate General Counsel; Director, Municipal Litigation Center, Michigan Municipal League (MML) Green Challenge
• Denis Jennisch, Produce Manager, Sysco Grand Rapids
• Fred Keller, Chairman and CEO, Cascade Engineering
• John Koches, Associate Research Scientist, Annis Water Research Institute, Grand Valley State University
• Grace Koehler, Nursery Sales & Marketing Manager, Pizzo & Associates
• Daniel Nally, Business Services Director, Holland Board of Public Works
• Jen Nelson, Zero Waste Ambassadors Coordinator, Seven Generations Ahead
• Greg Northrup, President, West Michigan Strategic Alliance
• Kerrin O'Brien, Executive Director, Michigan Recycling Coalition
• Brita Pagel, Midwest Regional Officer, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
• Roger Rekhopf, Vice President of Preconstruction Services, Rockford Construction/Rockford Bergé
• Jeff Remtema, Director of Sustainability, Progressive AE
• Deborah M. Steketee, Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Aquinas College
• Dennis Sturtevant, CEO, Dwelling Place
• Tom Turner, Owner, Spurt Industries
• David Van Ginhoven, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Zeeland Public Schools
• Greg R. White, Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission