GreenTown Grand Rapids CSP Energy Workshop
The Future of Energy in Western Michigan: How Communities
Can Drive Change

Led by Seven Generations Ahead / a5

Honorable George Heartwell, Mayor, City of Grand Rapids
Arn Boezaart, Executive Director, Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center, Grand Valley State University
Greg Northrup, President, West Michigan Strategic Alliance
Paul Isely, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Economics, Grand Valley
State University
Jaclyn Miel-Uken, Regional Planner, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments
Haris Alibasic, Director, Office of Energy and Sustainability, City of Grand Rapids

VIP Mayors Reception (by invitation)

Hosted by the City of Grand Rapids
Grand Valley State University-Downtown Grand Rapids, Eberhard Center, 401 Fulton Street West

11:15am to 12:00pm

The Promise of LEED-ND
Doug Farr, Author and Founder, Farr Associates Architecture and Urban Design, Inc

11:15am to 1:00pm

Michigan Mayors & Senior Staff: Climate Action Planning Roundtables & Luncheon (by invitation)
Host: George Heartwell, Mayor, City of Grand Rapids
Grand Valley State University-Downtown Grand Rapids, DeVos Center-Regency Room, 401 Fulton Street West

OR

ICLEI Meeting: Midwest Regional Sustainability Network (by invitation)

The afternoon session at Future Cities will feature four separate breakout tracks, including Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities; Community Design and Building; Healthy Food, Little Waste; and The Outdoors/Green Jobs. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in three sessions of their choice throughout the course of the afternoon.

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Track One - Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities #1
1:15pm to 2:15pm

Title: Future of Greenhouse Gas Emission and Management Strategies
Moderator: Michael N. Beaulac, State Assistant Administrator, Executive Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment
Speakers:
  - Norman Christopher, Director of Sustainability, Grand Valley State University
  - Michael Davidson, Midwest Regional Director, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
  - Sue Jeffers, Associate General Counsel; Director, Municipal Litigation Center, Michigan Municipal League (MML) Green Challenge
  - Brita Pagels, Midwest Regional Officer, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA

Track One - Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities #2
2:30pm to 3:30pm

Title: Future of Energy Efficiency and GHG Inventory – Case Study: City of Grand Rapids
Moderator: Haris Alibasic, Director, Office of Energy and Sustainability, City of Grand Rapids
Speakers:
  - Amy Butler, Director, Bureau of Energy Systems, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
  - John Eberly, Senior Electrical Engineer, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.

Track One - Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities #3
3:45pm to 4:45pm

Title: How the Future of Wind Energy Reshapes Michigan
Moderator: Arn Boezaart, Director, Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center, Grand Valley State University
Speakers:
  - Roger Rekhopf, Vice President of Preconstruction Services, Rockford Construction; Principal, Rockford Bergé
  - Michael Ford, Business Unit Manager, Cascade Renewable Energy
  - Daniel Nally, Business Services Director, Holland Board of Public Works

Track Two - Community Design and Building #1
1:15pm to 2:15pm

Title: Building Green: Selecting the Right Team to Achieve Best Results
Speakers:
  - Chris Beckering, Director of Business Development, Pioneer Construction
  - Michael Corby, Executive Vice President and Design Principal, Integrated Architecture

Track Two - Community Design and Building #2
2:30pm to 3:30pm

Title: Greening K-12 Schools: LEED Green Building Design
Moderator: Renae Hesselink, Vice President of Sustainability, Nichols; Chair of U.S. Green Building Council West Michigan Chapter; USGBC Michigan Chapter LEED for Schools
Speakers:
  - Jeff Remtema, Director of Sustainability, Progressive AE
  - Ron Snoeyink, Mechanical Engineer, GMB Architecture + Engineering
  - David Van Ginhoven, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Zeeland Public Schools

Track Two - Community Design and Building #3
3:45pm to 4:45pm

Title: LEED for Neighborhood Development
Moderator: Landon Bartley, Planner, City of Grand Rapids
Speakers:
  - Chris Hall, Director of Construction Operations, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
  - Ben Stehouwer, Real Estate Development Manager, Inner City
Christian Federation (ICCF)
  - Dennis Sturtevant, CEO, Dwelling Place
 

Track Three - Healthy Food, Little Waste #1
1:15pm to 2:15pm

Title: Fields, Forks & Futures: How Healthy, Local Food Factors into Development
Moderator: Kathryn Colasanti, Academic Specialist, C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University
Speakers:
  - Jerry Adams, President, West Michigan Cooperative
  - Patty Cantrell, Senior Policy Specialist, Michigan Land Use Institute
  - Denis Jennisch, Produce Category Manager, SYSCO Food Service of Grand Rapids

Track Three - Healthy Food, Little Waste #2
2:30pm to 3:30pm

Title: Michigan Waste Reduction's Next Frontier: Food Scrap Collection and Composting
Speakers:
  - Russ Aubil, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
  - Kerrin O'Brien, Executive Director, Michigan Recycling Coalition
  - Rick Menken, General Manager, Spurt Industries

Track Three - Healthy Food, Little Waste #3
3:45pm to 4:45pm
Title: Moving Toward Zero Waste
Speakers:
  - Gary Cuneen, Executive Director, Seven Generations Ahead
  - Jen Nelson, Zero Waste Ambassadors Coordinator, Seven Generations Ahead

Track Four - The Outdoors #1
1:15pm to 2:15pm

Title: Green Infrastructure: Adapting to a Changing Climate
Moderator: Greg Northrup, President, West Michigan Strategic Alliance
Speakers:
  - Grace Koehler, Nursery Sales & Marketing Manager, Pizzo & Associates, Ltd.
  - Elaine Sterrett Isely, Green Infrastructure Project Manager, West Michigan Strategic Alliance

Track Four - The Outdoors #2
2:30pm to 3:30pm

Title: Saving the Great Lakes: How to Improve Water Quality and Combat Invasive Species
Speakers:
  - John Koches, Research Scientist and Professor, Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University
  - Dan O'Keefe, Southwest District Extension Educator, Michigan Sea Grant Extension at Michigan State University

Track Four - Green Jobs
3:45 pm to 4:45pm

Title: Growing Your Business Green: How Sustainability Can Improve Your Bottom Line
Moderator: Deborah M. Steketee, Ph.D., Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Aquinas College
Speaker:
  - Steve Busch, Human Resources Director, S2 Yachts and Energetx Composites
  - Julie Parks, Director, Training Solutions, School of Workforce Development, Grand Rapids Community College