Green Sports Summit 2012

Featured Speakers 2011

Joe Abernathy | Vice President, Stadium Operations, St. Louis Cardinals

As Vice President of Stadium Operation, Joe is responsible for all day-to-day building operations and game-day event management activities at Busch Stadium. Joe was a member of the design team for the new ballpark and was responsible for commissioning the start-up of the new Busch Stadium in 2006. During Joe’s 15 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team has made it to the post season 8 times and has hosted 36 post season games including 5 World Series games and 17 National League Championship games. Joe is currently serving as the President of the Board of Directors of the Stadium Managers Association, as well as serving on the Stadium Operations Advisory Committee for Major League Baseball where he Co?Chairs the Sustainable Operations sub-committee that is responsible for the benchmarking of sustainable operations metrics for all MLB facilities.

Sam Adams | Mayor, Portland, Oregon

Mayor Sam Adams of Portland, Oregon was elected Mayor of Portland in May 2008 with 58% of the vote. Prior to being elected Mayor, Adams served as a Commissioner on the City Council for four years earning a reputation as a "policy-driven” advocate for sustainability, public transit, transportation planning, the arts, and gay rights. Adams gravitated to politics as a University of Oregon intern for Congressman Peter DeFazio where he stayed on staff until 1987. He then went to work for the Oregon House Democratic Campaign Committee and at that time the Democratic Majority Leader Carl Hosticka. Adams turned his focus to Portland in 1991, where he successfully managed Vera Katz’s first campaign for mayor. At age 29, he began the first of 11 years as the youngest mayoral chief of staff in the city’s history. As a City Commissioner, he was Commissioner in Charge of Portland’s Office of Transportation and the Bureau of Environmental Services, and council liaison to, among others, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Association of Portland Neighborhood Business Districts, and Worksystems, Incorporated. Today, Mayor Adams continues to tackle those political first ascents serving as Portland’s first openly gay City Commissioner and now, Mayor. In his new role as Mayor, Adams is the lead Council member on Economic Development, Planning and Sustainability, Education, Arts and Culture, and Transportation.

Stephen Ashkin | President, The Ashkin Group

Steve Ashkin is an entrepreneur, author, speaker and advocate focused on using the marketplace to drive health and environmental improvements. He has worked in the cleaning industry since 1981 where he has held senior positions in leading commercial and consumer products companies, and has been an international leader working to “green” the cleaning industry since 1990. In short, Steve is regarded as the "Father of Green Cleaning". As the leader of the Green Cleaning Movement, Steve currently serves as: President of The Ashkin Group, one of the most influential consulting firms in the cleaning industry; Executive Director of the Green Cleaning Network, a nonprofit working to make it easy for building owners to adopt Green Cleaning; Co-Founder of Green Cleaning University, an educational company offering the “Green Cleaning Professional” designation.

Stephen Banchero | General Manager, Cedar Grove Recycling

Stephan Banchero is the General Manager of Cedar Grove Recycling and has spent the past 5 + years pioneering one of the fastest growing organics collection and recycling programs in the U.S. Stephan continues to help advance the green sports agenda by working closely with the Seattle Mariners, the Sounders, the Seahawks, as well as college teams and the PGA. His specialty is the development of viable, large scale organics diversion and composting programs that have a positive bottom line impact.

Darryl Benge | Assistant General Manager, First & Goal, Inc.

In his role as Assistant General Manager, Darryl oversees maintenance and engineering, capital projects, fields, conversions and technical operations for Century Link Field and Event Center and the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Prior to that he was the Director of Capital Planning and Projects where he was instrumental in the start-up, commissioning, and relocation of the Seahawks to their new home in Renton. Darryl joined First & Goal after working for the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum (EMP|SFM) as the Director of Facilities and Operations. Darryl was instrumental in building teams and operational plans during the opening of both museums. In 1999 he worked for the Seattle Mariners in the engineering department and opened Safeco Field. Prior to joining the Mariners, Darryl worked 16 years for the base operating service contractors at Naval Submarine Base Bangor. Darryl has a B.A in Business Management from the University of Washington and also earned a Certified Facilities Manager designation from IFMA in 2008.

Mary Anne Biddiscombe | Director of Customer Solutions and Marketing Coca-Cola Recycling, LLC

Mary Anne Biddiscombe has more than 30 years experience in marketing, sales, and management in the Coca-Cola bottling system. Over the course of her career, Mary Anne managed the Coca-Cola Enterprises sales and marketing organizations in Atlanta, New York and Chicago. During her time in Atlanta, she led the company through one of the most visible events ever in Coca-Cola's hometown, the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. In 2008, Mary Anne took on the role of Director of Customer Solutions and Marketing for Coca-Cola Recycling, a division charged with leading the effort to recover the Coca-Cola packaging footprint in North America. Mary Anne is responsible for developing and implementing the marketing strategy for Coca-Cola Recycling as her team brings together the material recovery experts in the Coke Recycling organization with customers of the Coca-Cola system to help create sustainable recycling programs. A native of New Jersey, Mary Anne lives in Atlanta with her two terriers, Maggie and Scottie. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Jimmy V Foundation, is an active member of the University of Miami alumni association, and an avid golfer.

Matt Bogoshian | Senior Policy Counsel at Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, EPA

Appointed by the Obama administration in February of 2010, Matt Bogoshian now serves as U.S. EPA's Senior Policy Counsel at the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. In that role, Matt provides advice and analysis to the Assistant Administrator in all matters to include program and policy initiatives involving pollution prevention and sustainability. Prior to his appointment as Senior Policy Counsel, Matt served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator at EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. That office manages a national criminal enforcement, forensic and training program, the EPA's regulatory, site remediation and federal enforcement programs as well as the Agency's Environmental Justice and federal activities programs under the National Environmental Policy Act. Before joining the Obama Administration, Matt served at the California EPA, where he was the Deputy Secretary for Law Enforcement and Counsel having been appointed there in 2007 by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Tom Carpenter | Director of Business Development & Consulting, WM Sustainability Services

Mr. Carpenter leads both the Business Development and Consulting department for Waste Management’s Sustainability Services division. This professional business unit works with clients to uncover resource value all along their supply chain, in many cases enabling them to realize significant cost savings. His team reviews all aspects of a company’s operations, proving solutions that help meet a variety of needs – from simple recycling programs to complex zero-waste strategies. Tom provides over 18 years of environmental and business management experience, applying a broad suite of tools, which include sustainability strategy, concepts of LEAN Six Sigma, Zero Waste and performance improvement. He graduated from Trine University with a BS in Environmental Engineering and holds a MBA from Colorado Technical University. A deep personal commitment and passion are evident within his approach to sustainable solutions designed to reduce cost, mitigate risk, build a better brand and ultimately protect the planet.

Buzz Chandler | President, Asean Corporation

As President of Asean Corporation and their stable of brands (Stalkmarket, Planet+ and Jaya) single use compostable products, since 2003, Buzz has directed the company’s growth from a simple box of samples shown to a local grocer in Portland, Oregon, to now one of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of certified compostable tableware products on a global scale. Currently Asean Brands are sold throughout North America, Asia, and recently introduced into the UK/Western Europe marketplace. The company was the 3rd US company to have its carbon footprint certified by the world renowned Carbon Trust (Behind Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola) for its low environmental carbon footprint for its Bagasse based products. Asean only deals with 100% natural biobased compostable raw materials, and is a specialist supplier for the products.

Craig Collins | Program Manager, Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Craig has managed more than 40 Solar 4R Schools projects since joining the team in 2008. Prior to working for BEF, Craig was a licensed Journeyman Electrician in the state of California, where he installed several PV systems. Craig also held a position as an intern for the Energy and Resources Team at the Rocky Mountain Institute. Craig graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and has an Electronics Technician Certification from City College of San Francisco. He is currently enrolled in Electrical Engineering coursework at Portland State University working towards a Masters degree. Craig brings a wealth of knowledge in computer programming and data systems to BEF.

Sara Conte | Director of Corporate Development for Greenstar Recycling

Sara has worked for Greenstar Recycling since the company was launched in North America in 2007. Previously Sara worked for Greenstar's parent company, NTR plc, for six years in Dublin, Ireland and led the initial strategic planning process for entry into the North America recycling market. In 2010 Sara helped develop a unique sports marketing agreement for Greenstar as the jersey sponsor of the Houston Dynamo. Greenstar sponsored the Dynamo to give recycling a new kick in Houston and beyond and highlight the importance of creating a sustainable environment for all through the power of sports. Through the business relationship with the Houston Dynamo and its parent company, AEG Worldwide, Sara has helped Greenstar develop an expertise in implementing recycling-led waste management programs at sporting venues across America. She is a firm believer in the power of sports sponsorships to quickly build brand recognition and that teams can find sponsors that closely align with their own goals. Previous to joining Greenstar Recycling/NTR plc, Sara spent eight years in management consulting and investment banking. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Although Greenstar is headquartered in Houston, Sara is originally from Oregon and relocated to Portland in 2007 with her family.

George Daniel | Commissioner, National Lacrosse League

George Daniel has just completed his third season as Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League, after being appointed as Commissioner on January 10, 2009. As Commissioner, Daniel has secured sponsorship agreements for the league with companies such as Reebok, the league’s largest corporate partner. Daniel also secured a national television agreement with Versus that led to national broadcasts of regular season and playoff games during the 2011 season, as well as live broadcasts of the championship game in both 2010 & 2011. Prior to serving as Commissioner, Daniel was Deputy Commissioner & Chief Operating Officer as well as serving as the league's General Counsel for the 2001 to 2006 seasons as well as the 2008 season. During his tenure as Deputy Commissioner, Daniel led the league's efforts in collective bargaining negotiations as well as television and sponsorship contract negotiations. Daniel also served as President of the New York Titans for the 2007 season. Daniel, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Temple University School of Law.

Tom DeBlasis | Global Design Director, Nike Football (Soccer)

Tom De Blasis took his first step towards a life in Industrial Design when as an 8-year-old boy he took apart his Star Wars Tie-fighter toy to see what was inside. Magic, inspiration and a painful lesson in spring-loaded assemblies hit him all at once. Next thing he knew he was 19 and driving across the country on his way to an Industrial Design co-op in California, and then onto graduation in 1992 from DAAP and the University of Cincinnati. In the past 20 years Tom has worked in design studios at IDEO, Philips, and Hewlett-Packard and ballydesign. He believes in designing experientially and in the name of design research he has found himself shooting an illegal Belgian semi-automatic assault rifle, walking into a burning building in full firefighter gear, going on a stakeout with a private detective and walking the tent cities of refugee camps. His work has been recognized with several IDEA, ID Magazine, Design Preis, and Good Design Awards as well as been granted a dozen or so international patents. Currently, Tom is a Global Design Director for Nike Football (Soccer) where he has marveled at the power that a simple object like a soccer ball can have in every corner of the world, from High Street in London to the favelas in Brasil. For the past 4 years he has been leading the effort to transition Nike’s entire global soccer ball production to integrate the principles of sustainability.

Chris Devolder | Project Leader, 360 Architecture

Chris deVolder of 360 Architecture is an architect and project leader with a focus on a range of project and event types, from sports facilities and mixed use projects to the greening of triathlons. He believes the key to a great project or event is to get great people together around the table, then do cool stuff together to maximize the project’s social, environmental, economic, and design aspects. As a volunteer in his community both local and national, he currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Energy Center, which helps create resource efficiency, environmental health, and economic vitality in the Kansas City region. He is also currently on the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Sustainability Committee, the Heartland Region LEED Regionalization Team and the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Business advisory panel for the Kansas City Region.

Haley Drage | Account Director/Sustainability, Social Innovation Practice

Haley Drage is an Account Director and sustainability lead for the Social Innovation practice at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide and during the past seven years she has helped to develop the agency’s portfolio of sustainability clients with a focus on new materials, climate change and energy issues in developed and developing nations. Most recently she has served as the strategic lead for the United Nations Foundation Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, Microsoft’s Environment and Sustainability initiatives, the AEG 1EARTH program and supporting work out of bgC3, the Bill Gates think tank, including the launch of his personal website and presence on Twitter as well as critical energy conversations including a recent speech at the TED conference.

Ann Duffy | Principal, The Ann Duffy Group

Ann is an international advisor and speaker on sport, sustainability legacies and engagement with The Ann Duffy Group. She was the media spokesperson and architect of Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games’s corporate-wide Sustainability Management and Reporting System, an Olympic Movement first. Under her leadership, initiatives were created to establish the Game’s first sustainable reporting, sourcing, innovation recognition and athlete engagement programs. Vancouver 2010’s 2008 Sustainability Report was received the 2008 award for innovative reporting by CERES and the ACCA. On a national level, Ann chaired the development of Canada’s first sustainable event management standard, CSA Z2010. She continues to advise Sochi 2014, sponsors, bid cities and international standards bodies like the GRI and ISO. She is a senior fellow with the University of British Columbia, Sauder Business School and ISIS Centre and director for Clean Air Champions.

Margie Gardner | Chief Executive Officer, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)

Margie Gardner is the Chief Executive Officer of the entrepreneurial nonprofit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) where she provides vision to the foundation’s sustainability work in renewable energy, watershed restoration, ecosystem services, and carbon offsets. Margie comes from a background of developing responsible energy alternatives and transforming markets at the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Northwest Power Planning Council and the Natural Resources Defense Council. She currently serves on various boards including the Green Sports Alliance and Renewable Northwest Project.

Logan Gerken | Associate, Populous

Logan Gerken is a licensed architect for Populous, specializing in sports architecture. He has programmed and designed more than four million square feet of collegiate and professional venues and specialized athlete training facilities worth more than one billion dollars. He always has an interest in maximizing the facility performance as a venue for competition, training, spectator experience and community integration. Logan believes sport provides a hyperactive platform that occupies a place in the heart of people around the world allowing for deeper and more meaningful connections. He recently co-authored the book Sustainable Buildings for the Public Realm focusing on the unique nature of sustainable large scale venue design and construction. Logan's experience as a student athlete for the University of Minnesota Gopher baseball team provides him greater insight into the athlete perspective of sport facility design. He earned his BS in Architecture at the University of Minnesota and a Master of Architecture and an MBA in Real Estate Development from the University of Colorado.

Gary Glawe | Director, Ballpark Operations, Minnesota Twins

Gary Glawe is currently the Director of Ballpark Operations at the Minnesota Twins. He has held this position for three years. He spent 10 years in Contract Manufacturing and Medical Device Manufacturing Facility Operations, was a project member on two LEED Silver certified buildings, and a team member for three ISO 14001 certifications.

Jack Groh | Director Environmental Program, the National Football League

Jack Groh is Director of the National Football League’s Environmental Program and a principal in the consulting firm of Groh Associates. Mr. Groh has been a communications and environmental consultant for more than 19 years and has worked on Super Bowl since 1993. He has been involved in environmental projects for the US Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, the American Solar Energy Society, the State of Rhode Island, the National Clean Cities Coalition and the United States Consortium for Automotive Research. He has also worked on a number of environmental projects sponsored by General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler. Prior to working in the environmental and communications field, Mr. Groh was an award-winning journalist. Associated Press, UPI, and the Society for Professional Journalists have presented awards for his investigative journalism work.

Allen Hershkowitz | Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council

Dr. Allen Hershkowitz is a Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a leader in the movement to make environmental responsibility understandable and achievable for every individual and institution –an accomplishment that earned him the name “The Godfather of Greening” by Yoga + Joyful Living Magazine in 2009. Dr. Hershkowitz joined NRDC’s senior staff in 1988, more than two decades ago, and has been the force behind some of the organization’s most effective and visible initiatives. Through the years, he has championed systemic change on critical issues ranging from recycling to forestry, paper industry impacts, mountaintop coal mining, waste incineration, and medical wastes.

Darby Hoover | Senior Resource Specialist, NRDC

Darby Hoover is a Senior Resource Specialist with NRDC's urban program. She specializes in issues related to the paper industry, solid waste management, and recycling, and works with sports and entertainment organizations to develop comprehensive institutional greening initiatives. Prior to joining NRDC in 2004, Darby was for seven years the Executive Director of the Recycled Paper Coalition, a group of over 270 private and public sector organizations dedicated to the purchase and promotion of recycled paper products. Darby received her bachelor's degree from Stanford University, and her master's in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley.

Scott James | Founder, Fair Trade Sports

Scott James is an entrepreneur, instructor, advisor, and investor in the world of sustainability. He is the founder of Fair Trade Sports, offering the world's first line of sports balls for soccer, football, basketball (and more) that are Eco-Certified and Fair Trade Certified. Like the Newman's Own brand, all after-tax profits are designated for charity. BusinessWeek named Scott as one of "America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs" in 2009 and Forbes profiled him as a leading eco-entrepreneur in 2010. The products from his company have been featured in publications ranging from O Magazine to the Washington Post. Scott also teaches the Marketing course at the green MBA program, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, and the Sustainability interterm course at University of Notre Dame, where he serves on the Advisory Council. He writes a monthly essay about sustainability for Forbes. Scott previously worked in the high tech sector, including Visio and Microsoft. Scott completed a BBA in Marketing at Baylor University and an MBA at University of Notre Dame. He lives on an island near Seattle with his wife and children.

Ian Jaquiss | Director of Community Programs, Portland Trail Blazers

Ian Jaquiss is the Director of Community Programs for the Portland Trail Blazers. Ian’s duties including planning and implementing the Trail Blazers community based programs. The Trail Blazers focus on children and their families where they live, learn and play in Oregon and southwest Washington. Prior to joining the team, Ian was the Executive Director for Oregon Disability Sports, a non-profit organization that promotes athletic opportunities for people with physical disabilities, for six years. At ODS, he oversaw all facets of the business and was a participant in several of its programs including the Portland Wheel Blazers Wheelchair Basketball Team. Ian played wheelchair basketball for ten years before retiring when he was elected president of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, which is the oldest and largest sports organization for the physically disabled in the world. In addition to playing basketball, Ian is a two winner of the Portland Marathon Handcycle Division, including 2004 when he raced the final seven miles on a flat rear tire. Ian is a two-time Paralympian, representing the US in 1984 and 1988. He won two gold medals in swimming at the Seoul Paralympics in 1988. Ian swam for the University of Southern California, where he became the first person with a traumatic spinal cord injury to swim for an NCAA Division I team. After graduating from USC with a degree in English, Ian worked as a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times for three years before going to the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Ian and his wife are the parents of a very active daughter.

James Jedibudiah | Corporate Sustainability Coordinator, Ovations Food Services

James Jedibudiah is the Corporate Sustainability Coordinator (CSC) for Ovations Food Services. He is responsible for the development and monitoring of sustainability programs including purchasing/supply chain management, operational standards/policies, and waste management. James served as project manager for Ovations' portion of the Rose Garden's LEED EB Gold certification, has helped Ovations win several sustainability focused awards, and has presented on behalf of Ovations at seminars and conventions across the country. James is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison and has a degree in Conservation Biology along with certificates in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Business Practices.

Scott Jenkins | Vice President, Ballpark Operations, Seattle Mariners

Scott Jenkins recently completed his fourth season as the Vice President of Ballpark Operations for the Seattle Mariners where he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of operating and managing Safeco Field. Prior to joining the Mariners, Jenkins spent three years with the Philadelphia Eagles where he opened and managed Lincoln Financial Field. From 1997-2002, Scott served as V.P. of Stadium Operations for the Milwaukee Brewers, where he opened Miller Park in 2002. Scott was the Director of Facilities and Events for Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin and was involved in the design and construction of the Kohl Center that opened in1997. A native of Kenosha, WI, Jenkins graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1986 with a degree in Construction Administration and is a 2009 graduate of the University of Washington Executive MBA program. While at Wisconsin, Scott was a five-time All-American in cross country and track and was a member of the1982 and 1985 NCAA National Champion Cross Country teams.

Kevin Johnson | Mayor, Sacramento, California

Sacramento native Kevin Johnson was elected as the 55th mayor of the City of Sacramento in November 2008. He is the first native Sacramentan, and the first African American to be elected to the office. His vision is for Sacramento to become “a city that works for everyone.” In the first two years of his administration, Mayor Johnson has embarked on an ambitious plan to reshape how city government serves the citizens of Sacramento. His top priorities include public safety, economic development, education, green, and good government. He has been the driving force for creating jobs and economic development through the development of a new entertainment and sports complex in Sacramento’s downtown region. During his second year in office Mayor Johnson launched an ambitious initiative to transform Sacramento into the Emerald Valley – the greenest region in the country and a hub for clean technology.

Joe Khirallah | Founder, Green Bear’s Group

Joe Khirallah is Green Bear’s Group's founder, facilitator, and idea synthesizer. A skilled communicator, he listens with great presence and probes for insights about his clients needs. With deep experience in marketing and communications, Joe’s work spans creative strategy and production execution. In addition to Fortune 500 clients such as Microsoft, Intel, and HP, he works with startups, clean tech businesses, sustainability initiatives, and nonprofits. Joe specializes in helping organizations tell the right story to the right people at the right time. He lives with his wife, Diane, and their cat, Meep, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Cape Cod, MA.

Steve Kokes | President & Strategic Director, Coates Kokes

Steve has more than 25 years of experience working in marketing communications and strategic planning for consumer, B2B, government and cause-related clients--often in the area of sustainability. As strategic director of Coates Kokes, Steve has led the agency’s development of recycling campaigns for Metro, urban planning initiatives for the City of Portland, energy efficiency campaigns for Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and anti-tobacco and H1N1 public health communications for the State of Oregon. Prior to becoming a partner in Coates Kokes in 2000, Steve spent eight years at the Portland offices of Cole & Weber, working with clients such as Umpqua Bank, Portland General Electric and The Oregonian.

Scott Martin | VP National Sales and Business Development, Green Mountain Energy^TM Solutions

Scott is an 11 year veteran in the renewable energy sector. Securing his certifications as an Energy Procurement Professional and Certified Carbon Reduction Manager, Scott has helped companies, and organizations, develop their commitment to green power and pioneer the sales and marketing of renewable energy products. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, and a veteran of the Gulf War, Scott started his career with Green Mountain Energy in the newly deregulated California energy market. Through his success, Scott quickly grew and helped to launch the Texas market in 2001. By 2003 he began leading Green Mountain Energy into the commercial energy space; piloting a business-to-business cleaner energy model in the competitive Dallas and Houston markets. During his time with Clean Source Power, a solar PPA provider, Scott introduced the concept of integrated venue-sponsored solar installations and developed individual solar projects for sports and entertainment venues. Today as the VP of National Sales and Business Development with Green Mountain Energy^TM Solutions, Scott is focused on creating comprehensive sustainable energy strategies for businesses nationwide.

John McEvoy | Operations and Marketing, Minnesota Twins

John started with the Twins as an usher in April of 2000. He has held various roles within the organization in the Operations and Marketing departments. After taking on Managerial duties in 2007 he started the first office recycling program at the Metrodome and began learning about environmental issues and how sports impact them. Among other operational procedures John wrote the back of house and public recycling program for Target Field and manages the daily operations of the ballpark while overseeing the environmental initiatives of The Minnesota Twins.

Sarah Mensah | SVP, Chief Operating Officer, Portland Trail Blazers

Sarah Mensah is a 17-year veteran of the Trail Blazers. Mensah was appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer in June of 2010. In her current role as COO, Mensah oversees all day-to-day management of the team’s business, revenue and brand management operations, including ticket sales and service, corporate sales and service, suite sales and service, marketing, communications, community relations, broadcasting, game operations and digital communications. Mensah is credited for her success in assisting the Trail Blazers to revive its brand and financial viability. Under her leadership, the team has launched many successful, widely recognized ventures such as the “Rise with Us” campaign. As a result, in part from her efforts and leadership, the team has experienced consecutive years of rapid revenue growth and fan affinity.

Larry Miller | President, Portland Trail Blazers

Larry Miller is the President and Alternate Governor of the Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchise. Miller joined the team in June 2007, having previously held executive positions with some of Oregon’s most recognized brands. He has garnered international respect for his reputation of being an inspirational leader who understands how to build premium businesses by establishing strong connections to the community. As President of the Trail Blazers, he is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s business portfolio, including all team business and basketball activities, as well as the Rose Quarter. Miller reports directly to team owner, Paul Allen. Since Miller joined the club, The Trail Blazers have positioned themselves to make a respectable run at an NBA title, assembling one of the league's most talented teams. Portland has recorded three consecutive trips to the postseason for the first time since 2001-03 while riding a streak of 159 straight sellouts at the close of the 2010-11 season.

Peter Murchie | Regional Advisor Clean Energy, USEPA

Peter Murchie has worked for the World Health Organization, the International Joint Commission, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency using collaborative approaches to solve environmental health issues. At the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Peter helped start and led the West Coast Collaborative (www.westcoastcollaborative.org), a partnership among leaders from federal, state, and local government, the private sector, and environmental groups working to reduce heavy duty engine emissions along the West Coast. Peter was also a member of the U.S. EPA Regional Climate and Clean Energy Team and the Mobile Source Workgroup of the Green House Gas Reporting Rulemaking. Peter recently led an effort at the Policy Consensus Initiative (www.policyconsensus.org) and the National Policy Consensus Center (www.orsolutions.org) at Portland State University that supports state and local leaders in using public-private collaboration to implement climate and clean energy strategies and projects.

Patrick Nye | Sales Director, Green Building Services

Patrick Nye serves as Sales Director for Green Building Services (GBS) and leads growth activities for the new Building Insights LLC at GBS, offering a suite of products and services that help organizations develop the internal capacity to address the environmental imperatives the built environment faces. Prior to joining GBS, he worked for approximately 10 years in renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction. Patrick is a LEED® Accredited Professional and can be reached at 866.755.6565 or patrrick@greenbuildingservices.com.

Stephanie Owens | Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education, Environmental Protection Agency

Stephanie Owens is the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education in the Office of the Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency. She is responsible for the management and oversight of the Offices of Public Engagement, Environmental Education and Special Projects/Product Review. In her role, she advises Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and other senior EPA officials on strategic efforts to collaborate with business, industry and non-governmental organizations. She also leads EPA’s public engagement efforts to build capacity in ethnically and socio-economically diverse communities to broaden the participation in the environmental movement. Stephanie was formally the senior vice president of The Agency LLC, a consulting firm specializing in the development of corporate social responsibility strategies. Her clients included the National Football League and Major League Baseball. She also served as the Vice President of Collaborative Initiatives for the American Cancer Society, Special Assistant to Vice President Al Gore for the Federal Interagency Task Force on St. Petersburg, Senior Advisor to Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and Special Assistant to Secretary Henry Cisneros. Owens is a graduate of the University of Southern California and native of Detroit, Michigan.

Steve Owens | Assistant Administrator, U.S. EPA

Steve Owens is responsible for managing the Nation's regulatory and scientific programs on pesticides and industrial chemicals, as well as overseeing many collaborative pollution prevention programs. Steve was nominated by President Obama in April 2009 and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2009.
Prior to becoming the Assistant Administrator for OCSPP, Steve served as Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano in January 2003, Steve was the longest-serving Director in ADEQ history, providing executive leadership and setting overall agency policy and priorities for the department. As ADEQ Director, Steve made protecting children from toxic exposures a top priority, and among many other initiatives, helped launch Arizona's Children's Environmental Health Project and established an Office of Children's Environmental Health at the department. Before joining ADEQ, Steve was a practicing environmental attorney in Phoenix, Arizona, for 14 years.
Steve received a bachelor's degree with honors from Brown University and a law degree from Vanderbilt Law School, where he was Editor in Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review. From 1982-1984 Steve served as Counsel to the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology. During 1985-1988, he was Chief Counsel and later State Director for then-U.S. Senator Al Gore. Throughout his career before joining EPA, Steve served on numerous environmental panels, including EPA's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, the Phoenix Environmental Quality Commission, the Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee of the Western Governors Association, and the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation, which reviews environmental matters arising under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Steve also served as President of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS). Steve and his wife Karen have two teenage sons, John and Ben.

Jennifer Regan | Global Sustainability Director, AEG

Jennifer Regan is the Global Sustainability Director for AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. Jennifer advises company executives on environmental strategy and assists division leaders with integrating sustainable practices into their operations to achieve the company’s AEG 1EARTH 2020 Environmental Goals which focus on energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, employee education and sustainable purchasing for all of AEG’s operations. AEG builds, owns and operates world class facilities and entrainment districts such as the STAPLES center and LA Live in Los Angeles; AEG Live which is the second largest promoter in the world, promoting concerts, tours and music festivals such as Bon Jovi and Coachella; Family shows and museum exhibits such as King “Tutankhamen and The Golden Age of the Pharaohs”. In addition, AEG owns several sports franchises including the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Los Angeles Kings. Before working at AEG she was a Field Organizer for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters serving Marion County, the home of Oregon’s state capitol and Jennifer’s Alma Mater. Jennifer received her BA in Political Theory from Willamette University and maintains her community involvements with groups like LA Green Drinks and the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council’s Sustainability Committee.

Jill Savery | Sustainability and Sport Consulting

Jill Savery is a sustainability specialist with a particular emphasis on the intersection of sport and sustainability. Her new book entitled Sustainability and Sport, co-edited with Dr. Keith Gilbert, reveals the challenges and innovations of this growing field. Her professional experience includes supporting organizations such as: the London 2012 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, the Chicago 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid team, the America's Cup Event Authority, the England 2018 FIFA World Cup^tm bid team, and several municipalities in the United States. She recently led the London 2012 sustainability work program of a London-based NGO. Jill earned a Master's Degree in Environmental Management from Yale University, won a 1996 Olympic gold medal in synchronized swimming, and was later inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Keith Schneringer | Marketing Manager, WAXIE Sanitary Supply

Keith Schneringer is Marketing Manager for WAXIE Sanitary Supply, a family-owned sanitary supply distributor providing sustainable cleaning solutions focused on your triple bottom line. Keith is a CIMS-GB ISSA Certification Expert and a LEED(r) AP O&M, was a part of the CIMS-GB Technical Committee that helped write the green cleaning elements of the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS), is on the Board of Directors and is the Immediate Past-President of the USGBC-San Diego Chapter, is the Co-Chair of the Chapter's CRE LEED EBOM Committee, is the Regional Point of Contact to the National Chapter of USGBC on the topic of LEED for Existing Buildings, and has been a stakeholder in standard development processes for Green Seal. Keith has assisted several cleaning organizations earn CIMS-GB certification, and has also served on many LEED project teams as a green cleaning consultant, including universities, schools, museums, commercial real estate buildings, sports facilities and two of WAXIE's own LEED Silver Certified Inventory Centers.

Alan Scott, FAIA, LEED® AP BD+C, O+M | Principal, Green Building Services

As a Principal and LEED Project Consultant, Alan has been integral to making GBS one of the top green building consulting firms in the country. Alan's passion for sustainability is evident in all aspects of his work, whether he is leading training workshops, providing technical assistance on projects, or helping clients find cost-effective solutions to achieve their green building goals. He has more than 24 years of professional experience and has orchestrated numerous International green building projects over the last 15 years. A seasoned eco-charrette facilitator and former LEED® Faculty^TM member, Alan is skilled creating an open forum for interactive brainstorming that taps the expertise of all team members and engages them in the learning process.

Steve Scott | Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships, Portland Trail Blazers

Steve Scott is the Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships for the Portland Trail Blazers. A product of the University Of Oregon School Of Journalism, Steve is an Oregon native with 20+ years of marketing and advertising experience in the Portland market. Recognized for being a creative thinker, in his current role with the Portland Trail Blazers he currently is charged with orchestrating major partnerships involving the Trail Blazers, the Rose Quarter and any organizational Sustainability initiatives.

Sharla Settlemier | Sr. Director of Sustainable Sourcing & Manufacturing, Nike

Sharla is the Senior Director of Sustainable Manufacturing and Sourcing for Nike. She has worked for Nike for more than 20 years in Manufacturing and Sourcing, but in different roles. She was the General Manger for Nike China Manufacturing based in Guangzhou, China. She was also a Product Creation Director, Product Development Director, Footwear Product Developer and a Production Planning and Scheduling Manager. Prior to working for Nike, Sharla worked and lived in Japan as a teacher and student.

Sarah Severn | Director of Stakeholder Mobilization, Nike Inc.

Sarah joined Nike in 1993 to establish a consumer insights department in their European headquarters. In 1995 she relocated to World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon as Global Director of the Environmental Action Team. From 1995 to 2000 she led the company’s early efforts to integrate sustainability into the business, from operations through to product design and manufacturing. In June 2000 Sarah was appointed Director of Sustainable Development. In this role she focused primarily on stakeholder engagement, corporate responsibility reporting and the identification of emerging issues. In 2005 Sarah took on the newly created role of Director of Horizons within the Corporate Responsibility team. The Horizons function has responsibility for “looking long” and identifying future trends, opportunities and issues at the intersection of business and sustainability.

Andrew Shipe | Vice President of Culinary and Marketing, Aramark Sports and Entertainment

As Vice President of Culinary and Marketing, ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment, Andrew Shipe is responsible for developing and implementing strategic culinary and marketing programs that accelerate base business growth and enable new sales. He provides leadership for the company’s consumer engagement outreach and spearheads the growth of ARAMARK’s market position, by developing programs and initiatives that deliver the best customer experience in the sports and entertainment industry. Shipe will be responsible for the development, implementation and execution of S&E culinary and beverage programs that will delight our guests. He will also lead marketing activities to differentiate ARAMARK’s service offerings, including market research, brand positioning, sales collateral and product launches. He has a proven track record of innovation and problem-solving coupled with a dedication to building successful teams. In his previous role as Vice President of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions, Shipe oversaw 29 venues accounting for $140 million in business. Prior to joining ARAMARK as a District Manager in 2004, he held various sales and marketing roles with Campbell Soup Company. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Michael Stember | Managing Director, Pacific Edison

Michael Stember is the Managing Director of Pacific Edison. In this role, he is responsible for developing large-scale solar energy and LED lighting projects on behalf of commercial, industrial, and municipal property owners. Michael also oversees many of Pacific Edison's strategic relationships with LED lighting manufacturers and other emerging renewable technology companies that specialize in wind, biomass, fuel cell, and LEED certified building products and services. Prior to joining Pacific Edison, Michael spent nearly 2 years at Solar Power, Inc. (SPI) where he served as an energy consultant and strategic accounts representative. While at SPI, Michael led the sales effort to bring solar energy to Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), a leading company in the live entertainment industry. Michael helped develop a 512 kilowatt solar project that was installed on the rooftops of AEG's Staples Center and Nokia Theatre LA Live in October 2008, representing the largest entertainment venue solar project in U.S. history, which was lauded by Governor Schwartznegger as one of California's trophy solar projects.

Susan Stevens | Founder, CEO, Practically Green

Susan Hunt Stevens is the Founder/CEO of Practically Green, an online service that motivates people to make healthy green changes at home, at work and in their community. Previously, Stevens spent nine years at The New York Times Company, most recently as senior vice president, digital for Boston Globe Media, where she ran Boston.com, one of the largest news and information sites on the web. She has previous start-up experience as co-founder and president of Abridge, which specialized in datamining email for patterns and trends. Stevens began her career as a management consultant. She also serves on the boards of the Center for Women & Enterprise and Xconomy.com.

Martin Tull | Executive Director, Green Sports Alliance

As Executive Director, Martin manages the overall operations of the Green Sports Alliance, whose mission is to help sports teams, venues, and leagues enhance their environmental performance. He oversees all environmental impact reduction strategies, strategic alliances and membership programs. Martin serves on the Oregon Global Warming Commission Communication Committee, and on the National Advisory Board and Portland Metro Working Group of the Climate Prosperity Project. He previously served in senior leadership positions in the outdoor recreation industry and has been an elite rock climber and instructor since the early 1990’s.

Mike Wooley | Public Assembly Facility Management, Populous

Mike Wooley is an industry veteran in public assembly facility management. Prior to joining Populous in 2005, Mike was the assistant general manager of the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was responsible for marketing and operations of the arena. With Populous, Mike uses his hands-on facility management experience to help lead the firm's team in providing facility assessments, gameday management and sustainable operations consulting. Mike has a master's degree in sports management from The University of Georgia; he also has attended the Academy for Venue Safety and Security and is a graduate of the Public Assembly Facility Management School at Oglebay. He is a founding member of IAVM's sustainability task force, and he is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Justin Zeulner | Director of Sustainability and Planning, Rose Quarter/Portland Trail Blazers

Justin J. Zeulner, MBA, is the Director of Sustainability and Planning for the Rose Quarter/Portland Trail Blazers. Zeulner is responsible for the management and coordination of corporate sustainability initiatives for the Rose Quarter and Portland Trail Blazers. In addition, he directs management of transportation operations and acts as a liaison for community land-use and business affairs within the City of Portland and the local region.

Additional Speakers

We are fortunate to be joined by senior executives from professional sports teams, sports industry thought leaders, senior government leadership, sustainability and green building experts and sports league officials. Please check back to see the most current updates on our summit speakers and attendees.

• Jennifer Carlson – Director of Sponsorship Sales – Seattle Storm (2010 WNBA Champions)
• And many others…