GreenTown Rockford Region

Sustainability and Climate Action Plan 101
Ballroom A (Live Stream) 

This session will provide an overview of some of local and Chicago regional planning initiatives, including Chicago metro communities and the Chicago Regional Climate Action Plan.

Moderator: Gary Cuneen, Seven Generations Ahead

Panel/Speakers:

• Shelby Best, Sustainability & Resiliency Coordinator, Region 1 Planning Council

• Darnell Johnson, Executive Director, Urban Efficiency Institute

• Edith Makra, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus

• Ben Mjolness, City of Naperville

• Katrina Thompson, Mayor, Village of Broadview

• Jodi Trendler, Executive Director, The Resiliency Institute

The Importance of Groundwater
Munthe

Globally, water – so essential to all life - is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. In this session, presenters will describe groundwater dynamics in the northern Illinois region including the region’s geology, deep sandstone aquifers, the impact of climate change on aquifer recharging and changing demands for water. Presenters will also provide specific steps some in our region have made to help ensure that we have a more sustainable supply of water for residents, industry and agriculture.

To learn more about GreenTown speakers, sessions and networking opportunities, and to register, click on the button below.

Moderator: Dan Kane, Boone County Conservation District

Speakers:

• Daniel Abrams, PhD., Groundwater Flow Modeler, Illinois Prairie Research Center, Univ. Of IL

• Jason Thomason, Geologist, Illinois State Geological Survey

From Energy Efficiency to Net Zero: How to Use Energy to Combat Climate Change
Ballroom B

This session will focus on leading municipal and community policies to support decarbonization and will highlight case examples of net zero energy buildings and an overview of the Net Zero Energy Building Program and how to apply for funding.

Moderator/Speaker: Katie Kaluzny, Associate Director, Illinois Green Alliance

Speakers:

• Chris Lindgren, Superintendent of Parks & Planning, Park District of Oak Park

• Gabriela Martin, Program Director, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

Preserving Land and Water for Future Generations
Talcott

How do we preserve land for future generations in the Rockford region? How do we ensure that sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture practices enable people, water and land to remain healthy? In this session, we will explore efforts underway to preserve land—and what’s needed to move forward.

Moderator: Tom Lind, Rockford Park District

Speakers:

• Dennis Anthony, Winnebago Soil and Water Conservation District

• Joni Denker, Rockford Park District

• Mike Groves, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County

• Kerry Leigh, Natural Land Institute

• Josh Sage, Boone County Conservation District

Strategies to Reduce Food Waste and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Nelson

This session will dive into the work of state and regional groups that are advancing strategies, programs and policies around food waste reduction, food recovery, recycling and composting. Learn about private sector supermarkets, municipal and community institution successes and strategies for scaling up.

Moderator/Speaker: Jen Nelson, Senior Program Manager, Seven Generations Ahead

Speakers:

• Susan Casey, Zero Waste Schools Program Manager, Seven Generations Ahead

• Stephanie Katsaros, CEO, Bright Beat

Water Reclamation and the Technologies of  Protecting Watersheds
Munthe

What’s water reclamation? It is water recycling and is an essential part of keeping our community sustainable. The private/public partnership of Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. (AASI) and Four Rivers Sanitation Authority (FRSA) showcases the cutting edge wastewater technology used to better protect the watershed in the Rockford/Winnebago Region. Technology, developed by AASI and used by FRSA, demonstrates the first use of advanced wastewater treatment that will offer several advantages including reducing the carbon footprint of the treatment facility and allowing wastewater byproducts to be used to create energy and fertilizer.  Over the next nine years, this partnership will allow the FRSA plant to not only satisfy the requirements from the US EPA, but will revolutionize the industry; setting the standards of attainment for next-generation technology in wastewater treatment.  

Moderator: Tim Hanson,  Four Rivers Sanitation Authority

Speakers:

• Chris Baer, Four Rivers Sanitation Authority

• Greg Cassaro, Four Rivers Sanitation Authority

• James Horton, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.

Connecting with Nature: Improving  Physical and Mental Health
Talcott

Contact with nature offers a range of physical and mental health benefits. This session will discuss understanding how health and the outdoors are connected and the many benefits that interacting with nature provide. Explore the Parks RX program, Unplug Illinois, 815 Outside, Conservation at Home, Conservation at Work as ways to get people connected to nature.

Moderator: John Harris, a5 Branding & Digital

Speakers:

• Amanda Huber, Director of Advanced Practice Providers, UW Health

• Jim Kleinwachter, Natural Land Institute

• Tom Lind, Rockford Park District

• Karyn Schwitters, LCSW

• Ann Wasser, Executive Director, Severson Dells Nature Center

Creating an Innovation Ecosystem and Equity in Our Communities
Ballroom A (Live Stream) 

Imagine if we are a globally recognized hub for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovative companies. What would that look like? The ACE (Accelerating Creatives and Entrepreneurs) team, consisting of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial service providers, is connecting the various resources and organizations together so entrepreneurs are supported from startup to growth of their business. In addition, the team is helping to grow talent and resources in the community.

Moderator and Presentation Lead: Spitty Tata, Transform Rockford

Speakers:

• Tamir Bell, Evolution Digital Marketing Agency

• Sully Cadengo, Rockford Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• Heather Wick, Business Enterprise Manager, Growth Dimensions Economic Development

The Future of Mobility in the Rockford Region
Nelson

From electric (and driverless cars) to bicycles to mass transit to complete streets, transportation is changing rapidly. Energy plays a big role, as do traffic patterns and individual and community preferences. So where are we in the Rockford region, where are we headed—and how do we get there?

Speakers:

• Sydney Turner, Region 1 Planning Council

Resources for Reducing Energy Use
Ballroom B

This session will look at a variety of projects, programs and resources that support residents, municipalities, community institutions and the private sector in saving money and reducing energy use through efficiency upgrades.

Moderator: Aaron Miller, Regional Manager, Nicor

Speakers:

• Samantha Bluemer, McKinstry

• Joe Mays, Energy Efficiency Engineer, ComEd

• Diana Vargas, Ameresco

Urban Agriculture and Gardens
Talcott

This session will look at some of the urban agriculture models working in the metro area and a statewide program and efforts to advance local food procurement in schools.

Moderator: Carol Erickson, Extension Educator, University of Illinois Extension

Speakers:

• Dan Kenney, Executive Director, DeKalb County Community Garden

• Tedd Snowden, Program Director, Roots and Wings; Angelic Organic Learning Center

Planning for the Future of a Keith Creek Greenway
Munthe

The City of Rockford, working with the Keith Creek neighborhood and other regional partners, is working to turn Keith Creek--formerly a flooding hazard--into an asset. From watershed management and flood hazard area buyouts to corridor analyses and hydrologic/hydraulic studies, learn about the confluence of steps being taken in Rockford to better prepare for the future of a Keith Creek Greenway--and a revitalized Keith Creek neighborhood. 

Moderator: Kyle Saunders, City of Rockford

Speakers:

• Brad Holcomb, City of Rockford

• Jeff Macke, Fehr Graham Engineering & Environmental

• Ashley Sarver, Senior Urban Planner, Studio GWA

The Small Scale Development Movement: How to Build Wealth in Neighborhoods for Neighborhoods
Ballroom B

From Rockford to South Bend and beyond, neighborhoods are being transformed by the residents that live within them, creating housing, businesses, belonging, beauty and building stronger communities. Learn some of the tools and techniques of successful Townmakers from those who are turning their neighborhoods around and helping to create intergenerational wealth. This session is targeted towards potential small scale developers, municipal officials, not-for-profits, and the financial community, all crucial to building a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem of small scale development.

Speakers:

• Monte Anderson, Options Real Estate, Duncanville, TX

• Consuela Hopkins, Accounting & Tax Service, South Bend, IN

• Mike Keen, Hometowne Development and The Bakery Group, South Bend, IN

Solar Energy: The Future is Here for Energy and Employment
Ballroom A (Live Stream) 

This session will discuss regional efforts to advance solar energy and State of Illinois programs designed to advance solar energy production in Illinois while producing reduced rate energy for low-income households. Attendees will also learn about a unique school district approach called CPS Goes Solar!

Moderator: Brad Roos, Executive Director, Sustain Rockford, Inc.

Speakers:

• Jon Carson, Trajectory Energy Partners

• Michael Dunn Jr., Region 1 Planning Council

• Diana Vargas, Ameresco

Housing and Health: Driving Towards a Healthy Community
Nelson

Affordable housing is essential to the strength of a community, yet it sometimes gets a bad rap. During this session, we will explore new models in affordable, and mixed-income, housing for Rockford and its residents. Learn from case studies about housing developments that benefit neighborhoods, human health and the entire community.

Moderator: Ron Clewer, Gorman & Company

Speakers:

• Caitlyn Baylor, Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity

• Angie Walker, Homeless Program Coordinator, City of Rockford