Afternoon Speakers - Bronx Green Business
The Bronx Green Business Summit Ethical Culture Fieldston School - Bronx, NY
Friday, June 25, 2010 9:00am - 4:00am
*Speakers are being added periodically. Please check back for updates.*
Engaging Youth in Green Business 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Janae Seignious-Shields Coordinator of Green Initiatives Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ
Janae Seignious-Shields, currently the Coordinator of Green Initiatives at Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ, has her Master’s of Social Work from Monmouth University with a concentration in International and Community Development. She is 2009-2010 Green For All Academy Fellow. She has developed and manages the Goodwill Green Maintenance training program for unemployed men and women from the Bronx, NY. She has a dedication to youth development, environmental justice, and restructuring the re-entry systems for ex-offenders to lower recidivism rates.
Stephen Ritz Discovery High School Teacher
Stephen believes that students shouldn't have to leave their community to live, learn and earn in a better one and that the infrastructure of the South Bronx including a wealth of human, social and resource capital can become the basis for nationally replicable models of community based/asset oriented transformational initiatives: neither zip code nor parental income should not determine destiny. Moving generations of students into spheres of personal and academic success they have never imagined while reclaiming and rebuilding the Bronx, Stephen's extended student and community family have grown over 20,000 pounds of vegetables donated to local soup kitchens in the Bronx while generating extraordinary academic performance. Learn more at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGL6mz3dBY His speech, "From Crack to Cucumbers" at Columbia University highlighted moving students with 40% attendance to 93% daily with 100% graduation rates while capturing national acclaim and merit. He has facilitated the donation of hundreds of computers, personally arranged scholarships while helping build programs that hire hundreds of youth annually. Most recently, Stephen and his Bronx students traveled to Boston on scholarship to become the youngest citizens in America to earn nationally recognized employment certifications in green roof and green wall maintenance and installation - presented to them by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. His Bronx classroom features the first indoor edible wall in NYC DOE. In addition to his DOE responsibilities, Stephen is the NYC Regional Director for Urban Farming - www.urbanfarming.org - and is working to create a nationally preeminent Career Technical School dedicated to green and sustainable initiatives in the poorest Congressional District in America: changing the landscape and mindset of the community while harvesting hope and cultivating minds. Stephen won the USS Intrepid Hometown Hero Award in 2009 and received the 2010 US EPA Award this past April. His work has been featured nationally in the Huffington Post and on Brian Lehrer Radio.
W.J. Thomas Ecopreneur
W. J. Thomas has been making his own way in the business world for over thirty years. He is currently involved in several eco friendly business ventures, his ability to identify and source new technology helps many manufactures bring their product to market. Knowing that there are companies and everyday people throughout this great county who have amazing ideas and inventions keeps him on the hunt to help bring complete awareness to all that these great earth friendly products exist. He shares his experience and expertise in many speaking engagements through the year as he helps others embrace renewable energy, energy reeducation and green building products and methods. If you are in need of eco help he always has the time to help you find it. He also contributes editorial content for green magazines and media, and consults and sources product for programming for the Discovery Chanel and other media sources. Mr. Thomas is also working with many national nonprofit originations in helping them get into the green job sector. These originations serve people who would normally be left out of the new emerging green economy. Many successful programs are up and running and yielding amazing results. As a validated instructor and well versed in Energy Auditing and Weatherization training, he has worked for the past few years and has been instrumental in developing green job training curriculums. “The birth of a new industry for the 21st century is vital to rethinking and relearning how we conduct ourselves for the new green market allowing us to fill the void for green jobs that must be filled now.” Mr. Thomas is well versed in Energy Auditing, Weatherization with his extensive experience in the field. Mr. Thomas has been in a position to add his expertise in consulting for building in the green industry and considered an expert in his area of creative thinking and implementing of green technologies in green builds. He has been instrumental in assisting numerous NHBA chapters in the creation of green standards. His lecturing schedule in building performance and green retrofitting has been a sought after source for information and direction. “Making a difference in the global impact in the way we build and remodel is and live is the pivotal point of change. By creating awareness for the consumer and being part of the critical bridge in making the difference for a positive change in our building and living habit will make the future brighter for all people and our beautiful planet earth...wjt”
The Economy of Waste and Reuse 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Marisa Adler Waste Prevention Unit, NYC Department of Sanitation
Marisa Adler has worked for the NYC Department of Sanitation for the past year and a half. She is here today to represent NY WasteMatch, a program created and funded by the Department of Sanitation. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science from Cornell University in 2004 and received her Masters of Science in Natural Resource Management and Conservation from Antioch New England Graduate School in 2008. She is interested in exploring the linkages between waste prevention and environmental sustainability. In her dual role as an Associate Program Manager at the Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling, and the Business Development Associate for NY WasteMatch, Marisa focuses her efforts on waste reduction in NYC, with particular attention paid to the reuse sector.
Adanna Roberts Business Development Associate and Administrator NY WasteMatch
Adanna Roberts has worked for NY WasteMatch for the past three and a half years. She is the Business Development Associate and Administrator for NY WasteMatch, a program created and funded by the Department of Sanitation. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Studies from Connecticut College in 2006 and received her Masters of Arts in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University in 2009. She is extremely passionate about educating individuals about the need for protecting and preserving the environment for future generations.
Defining Sustainable Business Practices 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Pamela Peeters Environmental Economist & Sustainability Strategist
Pamela consults companies and personalities towards sustainable business deve-lopment and leadership enhancement. She lectures internationally as a sustainability personality. Pamela Peeters grew up in the country side of Belgium. She launched her first environmental magazine - grab the green - at the age of 12. Pamela obtained a first Master degree in Economics in 1995 and researched through her thesis on how nations can change consumption and production patterns towards sustainable levels. She obtained another Master in Environmental Management in 1997 and wrote a second thesis on the creation of indicators that could be used by urban policy makers in their development plans towards sustainable city transitions. She obtained a distinction for both of her contributions. Thanks to the successful completion of an additional course in Psychology, she became an Eco Consultant from the French University in Brussels and continued researching on sustainable business applications in international emerging markets during various assignments. In 1997 she developed a reorganization program for a management federation of the Belgian government and created strategies that would open up their business opportunities in the sustainable development market. She prepared the state visit of the Prince of Belgium to India in 1998 while identifying bilateral trade opportunities in the environmental techno-logy sector. Later that year, she joined a Brussels PR company where she managed various international accounts - such as the green SMART city car - for whom she did their market introduction. Driven by the desire to solely dedicate her time to mainstream sustainable development, she moved to the USA in 1999 and completed a research fellowship at Columbia University where she drafted the design of the first TV show that promoted Sustainable lifestyles. The "OUR PLANET" lifestyle television series got launched in 2001 and she has since then produced and hosted more than 200 episodes. She launched a second TV format - "STYLING THE NEW WORLD" - in 2003, which introduced European companies to the American market. In 2005 she joined the marketing team of the US partnerships for the UNESCO decade for Sustainable Development and launched the Sustainable Planet film festival later on that year. The festival is currently produced in three countries and more countries are joining shortly. Her first book URBAN ECOLOGY got published in 2007 and later that year she developed the online Sustainable Styles magazine. Her first children’s book called ECO HERO is in pre-production. Pamela also created the LOTUS WOMEN think tank in 2008 as to increase the presence of female entrepreneurs in the development of the green and social economy. Pamela already gained expertise in this area through the foundation and directorship of the Manhattan Chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s Club in 2004.
Gil Ozir Partner, Eco Concepts, Inc.
Gil graduated from NYU School of Law in 1999. He has extensive experience in international real estate development. He is the former Vice President of Marketing for Raymond Weil Geneva and McKinsey & Co. consultant. He now is a partner at Eco Concepts, Inc., a manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning chemicals for industrial/institutional use. He is also the managing director of northeast region and vice president of marketing.
Green Job Opportunities in Marine Environment and Buildings & Renovations 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Vincent R. Lander President, Quality Environmental Solutions & Technologies, Inc
Mr. Lander has over 35 years of experience in the Environmental Health & Safety discipline in both the Nuclear Power Generation and Construction Industries. Mr. Lander is the President and founder of Quality Environmental Solutions & Technologies, Inc. (QuES&T). QuES&T is a full service Environmental Health & Safety consulting, testing and training company serving the commercial facility management and construction industry. Mr. Lander directs the business activities of the organization in the area of energy utilization, green building, LEED construction, hazardous material management, pollution prevention, industrial hygiene, IAQ evaluations, Building Sciences and environmental remediation project designs in support of facility maintenance, renovation and demolition projects. Mr. Lander previously held the position of Radiation Protection Manager and served as the Emergency Plan Off-site Radiological Assessment Director at Indian Point Nuclear Generating Station. Mr. Lander has worked closely with Local, State and Federal Emergency Response and Regulatory personnel to define off-site impacts, develop testing protocols, design remediation strategies and establish re-occupancy criteria for clean-up and plant recovery relating to contamination from catastrophic events (e.g. steam line explosions, fires, boiler explosions).
Steven P. Salsberg Founder, Ecoventions/Vice Chairman, GrowNYC
Steven P. Salsberg is founder of the Salsberg Group of companies (www.salsberggroup.com) and is Vice Chairman of the Council on the Environment of New York City (www.cenyc.org) appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He is active in diverse entities including technology and shipping. He is an attorney and member of the Bars of New York and New Jersey. Steven splits his time between public interest work and technology related to mobile payments and transparency in banking and government financed construction projects He is a member and active director of numerous boards including the Board of Visitors of the CUNY School of Law (www.law.cuny.edu) and The Friends of Hudson River Park (www.fohrp.org), and the Social Venture Network (www.SVN.org). Much of Steven’s entrepreneurial work is social policy in action, rooted in his well-known dedication to expanding opportunities for underserved populations and his commitments to Corporate Social Responsibility. Steven often speaks about Attainable-Measurable-Sustainable ™ business practices. He and his wife Orly Natan Salsberg, CEO of Salsberg Group, own a sustainable wine bar in New York called Café Notte (www.NotteWineBar.com). Steven enjoys creating new businesses and advising young socially responsible entrepreneurs.
Bette Jean Yank, Managing Member, Yank Marine Services LLC and Jersey Diesel LLC and John C. Yank Jr., President, Yank Marine Inc.
Bette Jean’s introduction to the boat building and repair industry began when she accepted a position with Yank Marine Inc. Since 1995, Bette Jean has continued to apply her sales and marketing experience gained from more than 29 years in real estate sales, to expand and promote Yank Marine Inc. Bette Jean is also the Managing Member of Yank Marine Services LLC (www.yankmarineservices.com) which is a Small Shipyard located on the Maurice River in Cumberland County, New Jersey, and the Managing Member of Jersey Diesel LLC (www.jerseydiesel.com) a marine diesel engine sales and service company. Bette Jean is a licensed New Jersey Real Estate Broker/Salesperson, a member of the National Association of REALTORS (www.REALTOR.org), a member of Women Impacting Public Policy (www.wipp.org), a member of the Passenger Vessel Association (www.pva.org) and a member of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (www.mtanj.org). John’s introduction to the boat building and repair industry began as an after-school job, at the age of 14, when he was hired by a small local boat yard to sweep the shop floors at the end of each day. After working several years in this position at Troth Boat Works, the owners, both Naval Architects, began to teach John how to read plans, layout and build 30’ wooden boats. Since this yard also repaired many other types of vessels, John was exposed to a wide variety of work and gained experience in many areas of this business. Eight years later, John took a position at Egg Harbor Yachts where he began to build 37’ boats on the assembly line. Every three days a boat was completed. In 1969, while still working for Egg Harbor Yachts, John purchased a property on the Tuckahoe River and began the construction of his own shipyard with the installation of a marine railway. Over the past 40 years, John has continued to build his reputation along with his business, constructing over 100 new vessels, 87 of which are United States Coast Guard certified passenger vessels. Many of John’s vessels work in and around the New York City area and are pictured on his website, (www.yankmarine.com). John and his wife Bette Jean also own several other marine related businesses, Yank Marine Services LLC (www.yankmarineservices.com) and Jersey Diesel LLC (www.jerseydiesel.com). John is a member of the Passenger Vessel Association (www.pva.org) and the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (www.mtanj.org).
The Value of Green Roofs 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Eric Dalski Founder, Highview Creations, LLC
Eric Dalski is a founder and partner of Highview Creations. He has installed several green roofs and vertical gardens throughout New York City. Most recently, while working for the Gaia Institute, Eric installed a 12,000 square foot intensive green roof at the Linda Tool & Die Corporation in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The stormwater drainage flows are currently being monitored by Columbia University, and energy while energy savings are still being assessed by the owner, it is predicted that air conditioning/heating costs will be reduced by 30%. Eric has a strong background in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from Washington College, and is currently working on his Certificate of Conservation Biology at Columbia University and an MBA at Fordham University.
Kate Shackford Executive Vice President Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation
Kate Shackford is Executive Vice President overseeing business services for the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC), economic consultants to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. as well as managing the Borough President’s Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Environment,. In her role at BOEDC, Kate assists local businesses in becoming more environmentally friendly and energy efficient in making recommendations for improved technologies such as Photovoltaic Panel and Green Roof installation projects, and in applying to grant and loan programs currently offered through the BOEDC. Prior to her tenure at BOEDC, Kate worked with Operation Crossroads in Africa and has a graduate degree in African Studies from the University of Edinburgh.
Local Sourcing & Sustainability in the Food Industry 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Shayna Cohen Wholesale Greenmarket Specialist GrowNYC
HOSTED BY
PARTNERS
Shayna Cohen is GrowNYC’s Wholesale Greenmarket Specialist, working to grow the Wholesale Greenmarket, New York City’s only dedicated marketplace for farmer direct wholesale trade, located in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. Shayna graduated from Brown University in 1999, where in 1996 she co-founded and managed Rhode Island’s first Community Supported Agriculture venture. From 2000 to 2003, while working as a researcher and writer for The Nation, The Green Guide and other publications, Shayna was a Core Group member of the Little Seed Gardens CSA, helping to grow it into one of NYC’s largest at that time. She has worked on farms in West Virginia, Rhode Island and New York, as well as community gardens around NYC. From 2003 to 2008, Shayna was a Senior Consultant with Karp Resources, a New York City based consultancy dedicated to growing food businesses. In that capacity, she was a researcher on the Wholesale Farmers Market feasibility study team and a project leader for NYC SchoolFood’s local food procurement efforts. She recently returned from a year and a half spent in rural Greece as a Fulbright Fellow, where she studied the preservation, cultivation and marketing of rare and local seed varieties.
Stephen Ritz Discovery High School Teacher
Stephen believes that students shouldn't have to leave their community to live, learn and earn in a better one and that the infrastructure of the South Bronx including a wealth of human, social and resource capital can become the basis for nationally replicable models of community based/asset oriented transformational initiatives: neither zip code nor parental income should not determine destiny. Moving generations of students into spheres of personal and academic success they have never imagined while reclaiming and rebuilding the Bronx, Stephen's extended student and community family have grown over 20,000 pounds of vegetables donated to local soup kitchens in the Bronx while generating extraordinary academic performance. Learn more at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGL6mz3dBY His speech, "From Crack to Cucumbers" at Columbia University highlighted moving students with 40% attendance to 93% daily with 100% graduation rates while capturing national acclaim and merit. He has facilitated the donation of hundreds of computers, personally arranged scholarships while helping build programs that hire hundreds of youth annually. Most recently, Stephen and his Bronx students traveled to Boston on scholarship to become the youngest citizens in America to earn nationally recognized employment certifications in green roof and green wall maintenance and installation - presented to them by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. His Bronx classroom features the first indoor edible wall in NYC DOE. In addition to his DOE responsibilities, Stephen is the NYC Regional Director for Urban Farming - www.urbanfarming.org - and is working to create a nationally preeminent Career Technical School dedicated to green and sustainable initiatives in the poorest Congressional District in America: changing the landscape and mindset of the community while harvesting hope and cultivating minds. Stephen won the USS Intrepid Hometown Hero Award in 2009 and received the 2010 US EPA Award this past April. His work has been featured nationally in the Huffington Post and on Brian Lehrer Radio.
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