*Speakers are being added periodically. Please check back for updates.*

Understanding Green Collar Jobs 10:00am - 10:45am

Baye Adofo-Wilson, Esq is an urban planner and the Executive Director of Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD). Before running LPCCD, Baye was the Director of the New Jersey office of the Regional Plan Association, the nation's oldest private, non-profit regional planning organization, where he set policy agendas, conducted research programs and helped develop the New Jersey Mayor’s Institute of Community Design, a design charette for NJ Mayors. He's also a community organizer and former Executive Producer of the Black August Benefit Concerts, a concert series that uses hip-hop music to organize and bring awareness to political causes and events domestically and internationally. Baye received a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and English from Rutgers University, a Masters degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

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”

Tax Breaks & Incentives for Greening Your Business 10:00am - 10:45am

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.

Elyssa Rothe Energy Smart Communities Program, NYSERDA

Elyssa Rothe joined Courtney Strong Inc.’s Energy $mart Communities Program in 2008, after working as the Energy $mart Communities Coordinator for Northern Manhattan, Bronx, and Queens. This energy efficiency community outreach program has Elyssa traveling across Westchester, helping communities take advantage of the assistance available from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA.) Before becoming part of the team at Courtney Strong Inc., Elyssa was a communications associate at the Coro New York Leadership Center, working to encourage ethical and effective leadership in New York City. She has written and reported for several Westchester newspapers and publications, after graduating from New York University with a degree in Social Entrepreneurship and Writing.

Richard Klein is currently the CEO and Founder of Quixotic Systems Inc., a New York City based solar systems integrator. Quixotic Systems has built and designed some of New York City’s largest and most innovative solar systems (www.quixotic-systems.com, or see attachment). The company is a provisional Photovoltaic installer with NYSERDA. They are also NACEP certified for solar thermal, only the second company in NYS to obtain this certification. Mr. Klein is a member of the New York State Solar Energy Association and other related professional organizations. Mr. Klein currently has several U.S. Patents issued (US 7,481,211 B2) or pending in the domain of solar energy. Mr. Klein has established the Klein-Rudd Alternative Energy Fund and the Phoenix Fire Funds to invest in Clean Technology. Mr. Klein has, up till now, been an early stage investor in solar and wind energy companies, e.g., Q-Cells AG (cell manufacturing-IPO 2005); Prism Solar Technologies, Board of Directors (solar concentrator); Solaria Corporation, Advisory Board (solar concentrator); Clear Skies Group, formerly Board of Directors (national systems integrator- reverse merger IPO 2008); The Solar Center, (systems integrator), Board of Directors; Iosil Energy (polysilicon production); Own Energy, formerly Board of Directors (wind energy project development); Silicon Fire AG; Tri-State Biodiesel (Board of Directors); Wind products LLC, Board of Directors (vertical axis wind turbine and support systems): Ray Tracker (single axis solar tracker), (Board of Directors). Mr. Klein was formerly an Executive Advisor to Solution Capital Partners, an investment fund specializing in the Clean Technology space. He is a New York native and a former instructor of Mathematics. He holds a BA in Philosophy from Colgate University and did postgraduate studies in Mathematics and Physics at Columbia University. He speaks four languages and travels extensively internationally to meet with entrepreneurs and scientists who are developing new Clean Technologies.

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.

Liliya Shames Director of Green Building Projects for Association for Energy Affordability’s Green New Construction Group

Liliya (Lily) Shames is a LEED accredited professional and a mechanical engineer with over nineteen years of hands-on experience in analyzing, developing, designing, and implementing multi-family energy projects in New York City’s buildings. Ms. Shames is a Director of Green Building Projects for Association for Energy Affordability’s Green New Construction Group assisting developers, architects and engineers with incorporating Green and Energy Efficiency strategies into the development of low and moderate income projects.

Do It Yourselves Green Job Creation 11:00am - 11:45am

Sonia is the Communications and incoming Training Coordinator of Green Worker Cooperatives. She is involved with the Green Worker Coop Academy, which has trained our first coop, ReBuilders Source. Sonia received a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from Spelman College and Ph.D from University of Missouri-Columbia. Her professional background is as a physiologist, teaching biology at Bronx Community College and Manhattan College. She is a board member Green City Challenge and sits on advisory boards for Samuel Gompers High School and BMCC. Her early education was completed in the Bronx at Holy Rosary and at The Bronx High School of Science. She lives in the Bronx.

John Valverde Business Manager, Osborne Association’s Green Career Center

John Valverde is the Business Manager for the Osborne Association’s Green Career Center. The Osborne Association is a 75-year old nonprofit organization dedicated to serving those affected by incarceration and to developing effective approaches for strengthening families and communities, preventing crime and reducing reliance on incarceration. As Business Manager for Osborne’s Green Career Center, John has been instrumental in building relationships with training partners; including Local 10, a new union in New York City and Long Island representing workers in the residential construction and energy efficiency industries. Prior to joining Osborne, John worked as a Program Director at Exodus Transitional Community where he was responsible for directing all program areas. John has a Master’s degree from New York Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Science from Mercy College.

William Cerf CEO, Workers Diner

William Cerf, the CEO of Workers Diner has over twenty years of experience networking and operating in the US national cooperative community, amidst the producer and housing sectors, and organizations dedicated toward intercultural communication. He has extensive community involvement in organizations such as Community Voices Heard and the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary. Mr. Cerf has a BA degree in Sociology from California State University at Los Angeles and is currently pursuing a Masters in Arts in Business Communication (MABC) at Jones International (online) University.

Jennifer Biscoe Globus Cork

Going Green Without Spending Green 11:00am - 11:45am

Brent Baker Chief Executive Officer, Tri-State Biodiesel LLC

Brent Baker is the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Founder of New York City based, Tri-State Biodiesel LLC, and its parent company The Sustainable Biodiesel Company. Under Baker's leadership, Tri-State Biodiesel is the first, most well-known and biggest biodiesel brand in New York City, and a national pioneer in urban, sustainable biodiesel. Tri-State Biodiesel distributes over 2mm gallons of biodiesel feed-stock and fuel-blends per year, operates one of largest waste cooking oil collection services in New York, and is in the process of building the city’s first commercial-scale biodiesel production facility. Tri-State Biodiesel is also a partner to biodiesel companies in Connecticut and Oakland, California, and continues to expand with it’s model of vertically integrated, sustainable, urban-based biodiesel. Brent is a pioneer of the biodiesel movement and has been a biodiesel educator and producer of biodiesel fuel since the fuel emerged in the United States about 14 years ago. He is now a nationally known spokesman on biodiesel and related issues. Prior to founding Tri-State Biodiesel in 2004, he was the Executive Director and founder of Biotour.org, a non-profit organization that specialized in global warming and sustainability education. Through his work at Biotour.org and Tri-State Biodiesel, Brent has educated hundreds-of-thousands of Americans about the dangers of global warming and the benefits of biodiesel fuel. Brent has been the subject of numerous print articles, radio and television programs including the New York Times, National Public Radio, ABCs Business Week Weekend and PBS News Hour, which called him a “Johnny Appleseed of biodiesel”. Baker, is currently advising members of the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council on biodiesel policy. He also serves as a consultant to other biodiesel startups and is featured in the award-winning documentary “Fuel”. Baker, who has met with Al Gore and biodiesel superstar Willie Nelson, is called upon regularly to be interviewed or speak at biodiesel industry and environmental forums. More recently, Brent was awarded the Social Venture Network’s “Innovators Award” for his work at Tri-State Biodiesel. Tri-State Biodiesel is a member of Social Venture Network, National Biodiesel Board, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Business NYC, Center for the Urban Environment, Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance, and Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corp.

Richard Klein CEO and Founder, Quixotic Systems

Richard Klein is currently the CEO and Founder of Quixotic Systems Inc., a New York City based solar systems integrator. Quixotic Systems has built and designed some of New York City’s largest and most innovative solar systems (www.quixotic-systems.com, or see attachment). The company is a provisional Photovoltaic installer with NYSERDA. They are also NACEP certified for solar thermal, only the second company in NYS to obtain this certification. Mr. Klein is a member of the New York State Solar Energy Association and other related professional organizations. Mr. Klein currently has several U.S. Patents issued (US 7,481,211 B2) or pending in the domain of solar energy. Mr. Klein has established the Klein-Rudd Alternative Energy Fund and the Phoenix Fire Funds to invest in Clean Technology. Mr. Klein has, up till now, been an early stage investor in solar and wind energy companies, e.g., Q-Cells AG (cell manufacturing-IPO 2005); Prism Solar Technologies, Board of Directors (solar concentrator); Solaria Corporation, Advisory Board (solar concentrator); Clear Skies Group, formerly Board of Directors (national systems integrator- reverse merger IPO 2008); The Solar Center, (systems integrator), Board of Directors; Iosil Energy (polysilicon production); Own Energy, formerly Board of Directors (wind energy project development); Silicon Fire AG; Tri-State Biodiesel (Board of Directors); Wind products LLC, Board of Directors (vertical axis wind turbine and support systems): Ray Tracker (single axis solar tracker), (Board of Directors). Mr. Klein was formerly an Executive Advisor to Solution Capital Partners, an investment fund specializing in the Clean Technology space. He is a New York native and a former instructor of Mathematics. He holds a BA in Philosophy from Colgate University and did postgraduate studies in Mathematics and Physics at Columbia University. He speaks four languages and travels extensively internationally to meet with entrepreneurs and scientists who are developing new Clean Technologies.

Bronx Green Jobs Roundtables 11:00am - 11:45am

Rebecca Lurie

Bio TBD