Past Events
Regional Conference on Sustainable Development
8:30am - 1:30pm
Morning Sessions
8:30am - 9:05am
Registration
9:05am - 9:15am
Welcome
Adam Thatcher
Director of Operations, Grace Farms
Daphne Dixon
Co-founder and Execultive Director, Live Green Connecticut
9:15am - 9:30am
Global Perspective on Sustainability
David L. Downie, PhD
Associate Professor, Fairfield University
Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs
Director of the Center for Sustainable Development
Columbia University
9:30am - 9:45am
Keynote Speaker
Kanni Wignaraja
Director UN Development Operations Coordination Office
9:45am - 10:00am
What are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and
How are They Measured in Our Region?
Daphne Dixon
Co-founder and Executive Director, Live Green Connecticut
Jessica Scott
Education Manager, SDG Academy
Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Jessica Espey
Senior Advisor to SDSN
Director of the Urban and Data Programs
10:00am - 10:30am
Building Sustainability into Our Municipalities
Introduction: First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, New Canaan
Moderator:
Joe DeLong
Executive Director, Connecticut Conference of Mayors
Panelists:
First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Ridgefield
First Selectman Jim Marpe, Westport
Mayor Harry Rilling, Norwalk
First Selectman Mike Tetreau, Fairfield
First Selectman Peter J. Tesei, Greenwich
10:30am - 10:45am
Coffee Break
10:45am - 11:15am
Morning Keynote
The Economic and Community Benefits of
Sustainable Development
Keynote Introduction:
Howard Rosenbaum, PhD
Director, Ocean Giants Program, Senior Conservation Scientist, Global Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society
Keynote Speaker: Catherine Smith
Commissioner, Economic and Community Development
11:15am - 11:45am
Panel Discussion
What is the Condition of Connecticut’s
Sustainable Infrastructure?
Moderator:
Keri Enright-Kato
Director, Office of Climate Change
Department of Energy and Environmental Protections
Panelists:
Scott Cassel, CEO & Founder, Product Stewardship Institute
Bryan Garcia, President and CEO, Connecticut Green Bank
Lee Grannis, Coordinator, New Haven Clean Cities
Jason Shaplen, CEO, Inspirica
Jeff Ulrich, Director of Supply Operation
Aquarion Water Company
11:45am - 12:05pm
Panel Discussion
The Critical Role Business Plays in
Sustainable Development
Panel Introduction:
Tracy Van Holt
Director of Academic Research, NYU/Stern
Moderator:
Christopher Bruhl, President & CEO
The Business Council of Fairfield County
Panelists:
Josh Cohen, Founder, The Junkluggers
David Gable, President, Hocan Gas
Stillman Jordan, P.E., C.E.M. Division Manager
Brian Paganini, Vice President & Managing Director
12:05pm - 12:15pm
Morning Wrap-Up
David Downie, PhD
Associate Professor, Fairfield University
Howard Rosenbaum, PhD
Director, Ocean Giants Program, Senior Conservation Scientist, Global Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society
12:15pm - 1:15pm
Lunch Provided in The Commons
1:30pm – 4:15pm
Afternoon Sessions – West Barn
The afternoon program consists of two sessions, each with three breakouts. Over 35 presentations given.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Afternoon Session I - West Barn
Breakout Group A
Statewide, Regional and Local Sustainability Networks
West Barn Hall
Moderator:
Floyd Lapp, PhD, FAICP
Professor in Urban Planning, Columbia GSAPP
Panelists:
Melissa Everett, PhD, Executive Director, Sustainable Hudson Valley
Midge Iorio, Executive Director, Bedford 2020
Lynn Stoddard, Executive Director, Sustainable Connecticut
Scott Thompson, Chair, Sustainable Fairfield Task Force
Dan Welch, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Westchester
Breakout Group B
Community Projects That Can Scale Regionally
Moderator:
First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, Darien
Scalable Community Projects for Discussion
Plastic Bag Ban - Jeanine Behr Getz
Zero Waste Schools - Heather Priest
Pollinator Pathway - Jackie Allgon
Pesticide Education - Heather Lauver
Vertical Gardens for Underserved Schools - David Havens
Breakout Group C
Latest Trends and Technology in Sustainability
Moderator:
Lee Grannis, Clean Cities
Presenters:
Producer Responsibility
Scott Cassel, CEO & Founder, Product Stewardship Institute
Darien's Energy and Recycling Advisory Sucess Stories
Craig Flaherty, Chairman, Darien's Energy and Recycling Committee
Alternative Fuel Sources
David Gable, President and CEO, Hocon Gas
Waste Stream Utilization Technologies
Tanner Kenny, Involved Citizen
Anaerobic digestion Technology
Brian Paganini, Vice President & Managing Director
Quantum Biopower
3:00pm - 4:15pm
Afternoon Session II – West Barn
Breakout Group A
Community Ecology Projects
Moderator:
Dan Delventhal
Founder and CEO, MowGreen
Presenters:
How to Combat Food Desserts in CT
Lauren Howard, Involved Citizen
Organic Waste Reduction
Aleksandra Moch, Greenwich Conservation Commission
The Invasive Plant Imperative
Bill McKinney, noinvasives.com
Water Conservation
George Logan, Aquarion Water
Conservation
Bill Labich, Highstead Foundation
Breakout Group B
Renewable Energy
Moderator:
Mark Robbins
Founder, MHR Consulting
Presenters:
Eric Gribin, Applied Associate of Science Degree in Energy Management
Emily Gordon, Stamford 2030
Jamie Howland, Director, Climate and Energy Analysis Center & Director, Energy Efficiency and Demand, Acadia Center
Stillman Jordan, Encon
Diane Lentakis, Ready for 100 Campaign
Sisters of Notre Dame
Debra Thompson, Chair, Wilton Energy Commission, Wilton Public Schools
Breakout Group C
Lifestyle and Community Engagement
Moderator:
Jim Biardi, PhD, Fairfield University
Presenters:
Jeff Ackley, Environmentalist, Eco Enlightenment
Jennifer Butler
Susan Masino, Old Growth Forest Coordinator, Hartford County
Jen Siskin, Food and Water Watch
Janine Walsh, St. James Parish
4:20pm - 4:35pm
Closing Remarks and Next Steps
West Barn Hall
James Biardi, PhD
Associate Professor, Fairfield University
4:45pm - 6:00pm
Networking Reception in The Commons