2023 Breakout Sessions

Morning Breakout 1
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Grand Ballroom

For Us, By Us:
Collective Hope for Neighborhood Resilience

From participating in City of Cincinnati’s climate action plan to supporting the City’s first Ecodistrict, community members in the neighborhoods of Lower Price Hill, Bond Hill, Roselawn North Fairmount, and South Cumminsville have risen as climate justice leaders and advocates for healthy, equitable, and resilient neighborhoods. In this discussion session, brought to you by the Climate Safe Neighborhoods Partnership, local leaders who have gone through the Climate Advisory Group cohort will share their hopes and perspectives on climate resilience, neighborhood planning, community leadership and trust.

Anthony Smith

Green Corps Crew Lead - Groundwork Ohio River Valley

Anthony Smith is one of the Crew Leads for the Green Corps at Groundwork Ohio River Valley. He is a high school graduate, clean water certified , and is a member of the Beekman Corridor Climate Advisory Group. He has worked at Groundwork as a Green Corps member for about 4-5 years now and loves the job, the people, and making a change in the community.

Darryl Franklin

Resident Leader - North Fairmount Neighborhood

Darryl Franklin has lived in North Fairmount since 1967. He is a US Navy veteran, a retired sheet metal worker and musician. He served as North Fairmount Community Council President for 5 years(1987-1992). He has a B.A. in Organizational Leadership (University of Cincinnati, 2010).

Darlene Capell

Resident Leader - North Fairmount Neighborhood

Darlene Capell is a Graduate of Taft High School with Associate degrees in Management and Marketing. She has 33 years of service with the City of Cincinnati, 2 yrs retired and is member of New Prospect Church, a board member of Communities United of Action (CUFA), and a member of the North Fairmount Community Council. She is also involved with the following groups: Port Authority - Dollar lots program, Beekman Street Coalition, Climate Advisory Group, CUFA Stormwater - Overland Flooding program.

Marisha Davis

Resident Leader - Lower Price Hill Neighborhood

Marisha Davis has been a resident in Lower Price Hill for 6 years serving as an ambassador and leader for her community. She has worked as the Deli Lead at Mesiers Grocery & Deli since its starting and currently serves on the Neighborhood Action Team, Community Matters Board, and is the Lower Price Hill Neighborhood Liaison for Groundwork Ohio River Valley.

Kelsey Hawkins-Johnson (Moderator)

Community & Climate Resilience Program Director - Groundwork Ohio River Valley

Kelsey Hawkins-Johnson (she/her) is the Community & Climate Resilience Program Director at Groundwork Ohio River Valley. She has been involved with climate advocacy at both the national and international scale working to center frontline communities in decision- making through policy, research and grassroots organizing. At Groundwork, she leads the Climate Safe Neighborhoods program development and community climate resilience organizing. She holds a BA in Anthropology with a focus on ecological relationships and community development. Prior to Groundwork, she was a Sustainability Fellow with the City of Cincinnati leading energy efficiency efforts.

Junior Ballroom B

Food Waste Solutions and Strategies Across Ohio

In the United States—where more than 40 percent of food goes uneaten—food waste contributes to extensive environmental, economic, and societal impacts, generating greenhouse gas emissions equal to 58 million passenger vehicles annually, costing the U.S. $408 billion each year, and consuming roughly 20 percent of America’s cropland, fertilizer, and fresh water. Most of this uneaten food ends up in landfills, where it accounts for the largest proportion of trash. Meanwhile, more than 30 million Americans—approximately one in eight—struggle to put nutritious food on the table. Thankfully, municipalities across Ohio are showing leadership on food waste reduction. Cincinnati, in partnership with Hamilton County R3source and Columbus, in partnership with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) are working on innovative solutions to prevent wasted food, rescue and redistribute surplus food, and recycle remaining food scraps.

This panel discussion will feature representatives from both regions, highlighting the importance of innovative partnerships, cross-agency collaboration, and strategy solutions across different sectors offering attendees tangible strategies that can be replicated and scaled in communities across the Midwest.

Tony Staubach

Food Waste Diversion Coordinator - Hamilton County R3source

Tony seeks to inspire peace by helping good people do great things. Through his work as the Food Waste Diversion Coordinator with Hamilton County R3Source, Tony has been able to; support education efforts in marginalized communities to maximize purchasing power, partner with agencies to divert edible food scrap to people who need it most and incubate opportunities to expand food scrap collection services. Tony holds an M.S. in Public Policy and a B.A. in History and Education.

Robin Henderson

Program Manager, Office of Sustainability and Environment - City of Cincinnati

Robin has been active in a variety of food system work, including managing the City’s Urban Agriculture Program, creation of and serving on the Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council, and participation in NRDC’s Food Matters Great Lakes Cohort. OES has just completed the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan (GCP), and over the next several years Robin will be working on implementing various strategies and action steps to support numerous GCP food and waste goals.

Karima Samadi

Policy Analyst, Food Systems - Center for Public Health Innovation, Columbus Public Health

Karima has engaged in food systems work for over 15 years, in various programs ranging from child obesity prevention, to food and agricultural education, to food security research. She supports the work of the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan, and works to address racism as a public health crisis through policy and system change.

Andrew Booker

Programs Manager - SWACO

Andrew Booker is the Program Manager at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). Andrew is involved in a wide variety of programs that SWACO implements, including community curbside recycling, public education, grant programs, business recycling, and SWACO’s food waste initiative. Prior to coming to SWACO, Andrew worked at Ohio EPA for over 20 years where he managed the statewide solid waste planning program, which involved establishing statewide recycling goals and working with solid waste management districts and communities throughout Ohio to reach those goals.

Madeline Keating (Moderator)

Food Matters Initiative Lead, City Strategist - NRDC

Madeline leads the NRDC Food Matters initiative which partners with cities to achieve meaningful reductions in food waste through comprehensive policies and programs. Keating approaches food and waste work with an equitable systems-wide lens, advocating for community-based solutions that rethink the problem of wasted food. She has a background in economics and urban and regional planning and is based out of Washington, DC.

Junior Ballroom A

Leadership in Electrification: The City Perspective

Acceleration of electric vehicle adoption imagines a future with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, better local air quality, and enhanced national security. Furthermore, pursuing electrification at the municipal level lends unique and creative solutions to resiliency that all community members may benefit from, like vehicle-to-grid capability, electrified transit systems, and backup battery options. Building off work from the American Cities Climate Challenge, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis are driving transportation electrification to imagine this cleaner and more resilient future. In this panel, the Electrification Coalition, a nonprofit committed to driving transportation electrification, convenes local government experts to discuss their transportation journeys.

While reflective, the discussion will also dive into what these cities see in the future. Key discussion points include:

What did your electrification priorities look like in the past? What about now?
What does community interest in electrification look like?
What stakeholders are vital in advancing transportation electrification?
How do you see electrification playing a role in resiliency?

Mo McReynolds

Senior Project Manager, Office of Sustainability - City of Indianapolis

Mo McReynolds uses she/her pronouns and is a native of Indianapolis. She has been with the Office of Sustainability (OOS) since 2019 and serves OOS as Senior Project Manager. In this role, she primarily manages the implementation of the city’s sustainability and resilience plan (Thrive Indianapolis), right-of-way improvement through tree planting and litter cleanups, solid waste policy, air quality programs, EV charging infrastructure projects, and electric vehicle education and advocacy. Mo also serves on the boards of Groundwork Indy, Reconnecting to Our Waterways, and Central Indiana Women’s Soccer League.

Rob McCracken

Energy Manager, Office of Environment and Sustainability - City of Cincinnati

Rob McCracken serves as the Energy Manager in the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment & Sustainability. His work focuses on implementing the climate action goals contained in the Green Cincinnati Plan by procuring renewable sources of energy, improving the energy efficiency of facilities, and transitioning to a zero-emission fleet. Rob has a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and a Master of Public Affairs from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.

Bethany Bella

Building and Energy Coordinator - City of Columbus

Bethany is a passionate sustainability advocate who envisions a just and vibrant future for all. Her work supports equitable solutions and is guided by community-based planning and intersectional climate justice. A proud Central Ohio resident, Bethany supports the sustainability efforts rooted in the Columbus region with the City of Columbus’ Sustainable Columbus team. As the Building and Energy Coordinator, Bethany supports the implementation of the buildings-section strategies in the Columbus Climate Action Plan, with a focus on increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Columbus region. She received her Master of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University and her Bachelor of Specialized Studies from Ohio University. View her complete portfolio of work at: https://bethanybella.com

Jessica Stoll (Moderator)

Program Associate - Electrification Coalition

Jessica is passionate about forging a cleaner and more equitable future for our planet and people. She serves as a program associate at the Electrification Coalition, a national nonprofit focused on driving electrification policy and programs at scale. In her role, she provides technical assistance to municipalities, supports the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative, and implements programming to drive electrification. She also has expertise in broader sustainability work, having held positions with the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council and the City of Indianapolis Office of Sustainability before joining the Electrification.

Junior Ballroom C

Taking Sustainability Within
Companies to the Next Level
Through Worker Ownership

How do we build businesses of the future that can effectively respond to changes in our climate, technology, and markets over upcoming generations? How can we build businesses that serve people and the planet while generating profit?

Hear from leaders of Cincinnati's worker-owned business movement in the industries of local food (Our Harvest, Growing Black Power, Queen Mothers Market), energy efficiency and generation (Sustainergy), nature-based childcare (Shine Nurture Center), and waste reduction/composting (Queen City Commons) as they share how their business models will allow them to become businesses of the future. These leaders will discuss how worker and community ownership are helping transform our community and create climate justice with equity and inclusion, a green workforce, just and food-secure communities, and a a healthy and resilient world for the long haul.

Flequer Vera

CEO - Sustainergy Cooperative

Flequer is the CEO and co-founder of the Sustainergy Cooperative, which is a worker-owned business in the energy efficiency, insulation, and solar industry. He is also a Co-founder of the non-profit cooperative business incubator, Coop Cincy. Flequer grew up in an entrepreneurial family and is passionate about creating worker-owned businesses. He is proud to have graduated from University of Cincinnati College of Business with a Degree in Finance. Flequer also serves on the City of Cincinnati’s 5 Year Green Plan steering committee and has recently been asked to advise the White House and US Department of Labor on building power for working class families through worker-ownership as well as the “Good Jobs” national campaign. Flequer is originally from Lima, Peru and in his free time he loves to travel, dance, volunteer in the community, and spend time with his family.

Trisha Hay

Founding Worker Owner - Shine Nurture Center Cooperative

Trisha is the Lead Preschool Teacher and a Co-Owner of the Shine Nurture Center Cooperative, a nature based, Montessori infused early education child care center. Trisha has a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and has recently completed a 3-6 Montessori Certificate Program at GCCME. Trisha is also a Certified Children's Yoga Instructor and the mom of 2 daughters, 2 dogs and a cat.

Julia Marchese

Co-Founder - Queen City Commons

Happy to be back in their home of Southwestern Ohio after living in wintry Northeastern Ohio and New England, Julia is a former academic getting their hands dirty with compost. With their social sciences and interdisciplinary education, Julia brings an enthusiasm and knowledge of community-centered work and alternative ways of living and working to ensure that composting can become a norm in our Cincinnati community. In addition to their Community Engagement and Marketing work with QCC, Julia's soul is nourished through gardening and cooking, camping and hiking, singing and speaking Spanish, and finding creative ways to reduce waste in their home.

Mona Jenkins

Co-Founder - Queen Mother's Market

Mona M. Jenkins is an educator and organizer who graduated from the University of Cincinnati, where she studied Educational Foundations for Social Change. She actively works with community members to address neighborhood-specific issues related to health, gender, housing, and education. In collaborating with leaders and individuals, Mona seeks to build engagement, empowerment, and community sustainable solutions. As the Cooperative Food Justice Coordinator, Mona coordinates with residents to address food insecurity within their neighborhoods through equitable, community-centered approaches. Mona enjoys gardening, traveling, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Kristen Barker (Moderator)

Co-Director - Co-op Cincy

Kristen Barker is a social entrepreneur and the Co-Director of Co-op Cincy. She leads up the design and is the lead facilitator for Co-op Cincy’s educational courses including Co-op U (a 14 week co-op development course), the Cooperative Management Certificate in partnership with the Xavier Leadership Center, and Co-op Cincy’s proprietary co-op culture building curriculum embodied in the Worker Owner Workbook. Kristen serves as the organization's chief visionary and systems change thinker, relentlessly bringing inspiration and pushing what is possible to the worker co-op movement in Cincinnati and beyond. Before becoming a Co-Director at Co-op Cincy, she worked for 12 years fostering partnerships between people of faith, union members, and community members of diverse backgrounds. Kristen is a graduate of Xavier University and a lifelong Cincinnati resident—except for two years in El Salvador! Kristen is a single mother of a resilient daughter with special needs.

Junior Ballroom D

Corporate Real Estate Decarbonization - From Strategy to Action

Corporations and institutions face many options when it comes to meeting their climate commitments and decarbonizing their buildings. The biggest current obstacle is figuring out how all the parts fit together and the best tactics that will provide substantial progress against your goals. This session will share insight on how corporations and institutions can implement a strategic, cohesive, and analytical approach to decarbonization, and will also provide perspective on the financial market drivers.

How can decarbonization efforts enhance: 1) strategic and master planning, 2) facility design, construction, and management, 3) financial performance, 4) resilience and reliability, and 5) alignment with regulators, investors, customers and employees? And how can you measure these integrated results?

Doug Sitton

Sr. Principle - IMEG

Doug Sitton is a licensed professional engineer, and a Sr. Principal and Client Executive leading the strategic direction of IMEG’s building performance and analytics services. Doug has 40 years of experience with clients of various types and sizes and is known for his track record of helping organizations drive sustainable performance and growth. Through his leadership, strategic thinking, and complex problem-solving skills, he helps clients assess, achieve, and sustain optimum performance of their real estate portfolio.

Steve Winbigler

Global Technical Director, Facility Systems - Procter & Gamble Company

Steve has worked at Procter & Gamble for 35 years in a variety of Engineering, Manufacturing, Project Management, and Facilities Assignments. In his current role Steve is responsible for the performance of the Facilities Systems at P&G’s Corporate Offices and Innovation Centers. These responsibilities include Facilities Design, System Performance, and Energy Management. Currently he is involved in a number of technology efforts to optimize the facilities footprint, improve systems performance and convert the facility operating strategy from “Run to Schedule” to “Run to Demand”.

Christina O’Keeffe

Executive Director - Ohio Air Quality Development Authority

Christina O’Keeffe serves as the Executive Director of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA). She was appointed to the position by the Authority members in October 2018 and provides the strategic direction in fulfilling the mission of the Authority as an independent, non-regulatory agency, providing financial and technical assistance on projects that harmonize a strong economy and a healthy environment. O’Keeffe is a recognized energy and air quality expert with 20 years of leadership experience. She brings to OAQDA extensive knowledge in sustainability, economic development, policy and financing. Prior to joining OAQDA, O’Keeffe served as the Director of Energy and Air Quality for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and held several leadership positions in the Ohio Energy Office located in the Ohio Department of Development. She received her B.S. degree in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University.

Joshua Brugeman

Co-Founder and Managing Partner - Fresh Coast Climate Solutions

Joshua is an experienced, passionate, and sustainability-focused executive with multi-stakeholder expertise in ESG, CSR, circular economy and Cleantech. Joshua founded Fresh Coast Climate Solutions, a consultancy focused on helping clients navigate a path toward bold sustainability and climate action. Previously, he built and ran a sustainability consulting team at NSF International and was a Director at NextEnergy, a clean energy accelerator, where he focused on helping companies commercialize and deploy advanced technologies in the building, lighting and energy storage space. He’s led solutions with clients such as Patagonia, McDonalds, Denso, Bosch, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Restaurant Brands International, and Cytiva – ranging across industries from manufacturing and commercial buildings to food and textiles – to create resilient supply chains, commercialize products, build brand integrity, and address stakeholder (both investor and consumer) concerns. Joshua holds both a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree from the University of Michigan where he focused on sustainability, land use, and urban planning.

Morning Breakout 2
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Grand Ballroom

Connecting the Dots:
Linking Housing and Environmental Justice

This panel is going back to the basics to discuss the fundamental principles at the heart of the intersection of equity and sustainability and how Cincinnati is working to get there. Housing and transportation are innately related to housing location, and typology dictates how people choose to travel, and how people can reasonably travel dictates what type of housing choices they make. This intertwined relationship is at the core of a city’s social mobility and it’s communal carbon footprint.

Public transportation produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions per mile than private vehicles, and having a robust, diverse transportation system reduces income inequality. Therefore, the built form of our housing ecosystem informs the success of our public and active transportation systems, which has a direct impact on our equity and sustainability goals. These foundational choices are hidden in plain sight, and this panel will intentionally discuss how Cincinnati is addressing its sustainability, and justice goals through its housing policy.

Mark Jeffreys

Council Member - City of Cincinnati

Mark is a resident of Clifton with his wife Pamela and four kids. The son of an immigrant, Mark grew up working poor, and worked his way through college at the University of Chicago with a union laborer job. After college, Mark went on to work on Capitol Hill and then in Asia before getting his MBA from Georgetown University. Mark spent over 16 years at Procter & Gamble. While at P&G, Mark led brands such as Pampers and Gillette. He left P&G 5 years ago to launch his first start-up, which he sold in July 2020. He then launched 4Sight Advantage, which is a machine learning capability that predicts “villain and hero” ingredients for large companies. He still runs 4Sight Advantage today. On City Council, Mark has focused on building a Safer, Cleaner & Greener Cincinnati and serves as Vice Chair of the Climate, Environment & Infrastructure Committee.

Reggie Harris

Council Member - City of Cincinnati

Reggie Harris, MSW, LISW-S, is a Cincinnati City Councilmember, chairing the Budget and Finance committee and vice-chairing the Equitable Growth & Housing Committee. A former professional ballet dancer with ten years of performing experience, he danced for the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Ballet Austin, River North Chicago Dance Company, and Dances Patrelle. Reggie spent four years working in Chicago’s first public performing arts high school, developing and teaching aspiring young dancers. Reggie has worked in affordable housing development, LGBTQ homelessness, housing case management, and behavioral health therapy. In addition to his council work, Reggie is a Senior Fellow at the Children’s Funding Project, where he helps local governments expand equitable opportunities for children and youth through strategic public financing. Reggie also is a consultant with EJP Consulting Group. He supports cities in applying for the competitive Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhood Initiative grants.

Pete Metz

Vice President, Civic & Regional Partnerships - Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

As the Vice President of Civic & Regional Partnerships for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Pete Metz is responsible for connecting the Cincinnati Chamber and its members to the region’s most pressing civic and regional Initiatives. Metz has led the business community’s efforts to expand investments in transportation that connects people to jobs, education, healthcare and all that the Cincinnati region has to offer. Metz has successfully advocated for local, state, and federal policies that have driven hundreds of millions of dollars into transportation projects across the Cincinnati region, including the Brent Spence Bridge, Western Hills Viaduct, record state funding for public transit, investments in the CROWN trail network, and more. In the community, Metz serves on the board of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the Corporation for Findlay Market, OKI Regional Council of Governments and as the Board President for NEST, Northside’s community development corporation.

Elizabeth Blume

Principal - Blume Community Partners

Liz Blume is the principal at Blume Community Partners. She was the Director of the Community Building Institute (CBI) for almost 20 years. She is a planning professional with more than 30 years of experience in the field. Liz has led research efforts on important issues facing many metropolitan areas today including affordable housing, urban education, land use, community and economic development, equity, and community engagement. Liz has been the Co-Director of a master’s program in Urban Sustainability and Resilience at Xavier University and also served as the Planning Director in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.

Junior Ballroom A

Bolstering Climate Resilience:
The Cincinnati Biochar Project

Cincinnati aims to lead the country in the battle against climate change by becoming one of the first US Cities to produce biochar, an exciting technology for removing carbon from the atmosphere and improving the environment. Through an innovative new collaboration between the City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Park Board, Great Parks of Hamilton County, University of CIncinnati, and Carbon Harvest LLC, the Cincinnati Biochar Project project will convert wood waste into a vital resource.

Cincinnati’s biochar material will be used in new tree plantings to increase survivability and canopy growth within Cincinnati communities, especially those most at risk from climate change. In the soil, biochar improves drought tolerance, promotes soil health, limits runoff, immobilizes contaminants, and reduces methane, CO2 emissions, and odors in compost. Once up and running, Cincinnati will repurpose thousands of tons of wood waste into biochar a year, which will keep tons of CO2 out of the local environment.

Sam Dunlap

Founder - Carbon Harvest LLC

Sam Dunlap founded Carbon Harvest LLC in 2020 with the mission of creating soil amendment products that impact climate change by diverting waste, removing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it in the soil. His company has been selected as the operator and manager for the Cincinnati Biochar Project, which is slated to begin production at the end of 2023. The project addresses environmental justice, city-wide sustainability goals, urban canopy and woodland restoration, waste reduction, climate resilience, and youth education/workforce development through an elegant and collaborative solution.

Stephanie Bacher (she/her)

Sustainability Coordinator - Great Parks of Hamilton County

Stephanie Bacher, Great Parks’ Sustainability Coordinator, manages waste reduction programs and education, as well as resource usage and reduction at all 22 park destinations across Hamilton County. Additionally, Stephanie is finalizing Great Parks’ first Sustainability Strategic Plan, and serves as Great Park’s representative for the biochar collaboration with Cincinnati Park Board. Stephanie also manages Great Park destinations that are participating in Cincinnati’s 2030 District within Winton Woods, Sharon Woods, and Little Miami Golf Center. In addition to nearly 10 years of professional experience in the waste reduction field, Stephanie earned a Master of Arts degree in Urban Sustainability and Resilience from Xavier University where she is currently an Adjunct Professor teaching Managing for Sustainability, a course that provides an overview of the issues faced by business managers related to the topic of triple bottom line sustainability; economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and corporate social responsibility.

Amy Townsend-Small

Professor, Department of Geosciences - University of Cincinnati

Amy Townsend-Small is a professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Cincinnati. She is a climate scientist who makes measurements of greenhouse gases including methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide from human systems and also studies how climate change may be affecting natural emissions of these gases. She and her students work on community engaged research toward greenhouse gas emissions reductions, water quality, and air quality including in environmental justice communities. In addition to her teaching and research at UC, she works with the Biden-Harris Administration at the US Department of State as a Climate Advisor.

Crystal Courtney

Division Manager, Natural Resources Division - Cincinnati Park Board

With over ten years of experience in natural resource management, Crystal is a municipal leader overseeing the care of Cincinnati's urban canopy, park forests restoration, natural surface trail system, right of way beautification, and environmental education programming. Crystal and her staff work in collaboration fellow city departments and community-based organizations, to implement nature based solutions to climate change, enhance community access to greenspace, and educate the public through data driven natural resource management to build an environmentally just, climate resilient city, in which Cincinnati’s most at risk neighborhoods have equitable access to greenspaces and ecosystem services.

Junior Ballroom B

2023 Farm Bill:
What Is the Impact at the Regional Level?

At the end of September 2023, Congress will vote on the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, a series of programmatic directives and budgetary adjustments related to the topics of the USDA, agriculture, supplementary nutrition incentives, regional food system infrastructure (including farmers markets and distribution supply chains), and farmland conservation. The decisions made at the federal level will impact the regional food systems in the Midwest.

Representatives from the Kentucky Food Action Network (KFAN), Community Farm Alliance (CFA), and Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN) will provide grounded examples of how the decisions

made in the 2023 Farm Bill will impact the regional food systems in the Midwest. The representatives will speak for fifteen minutes before starting the interactive portion of the session.

Through this workshop, attendees will be able to advocate and submit comments in real-time through a guided writing session, submissions of comments to Congress Committees on Agriculture, and emails to their representatives. Community Farm Alliance and the Kentucky Food Action Network (KFAN) have proven experience with storytelling in their advocacy efforts, and they will facilitate advocacy tools using such skills.

Tania Whitfield

Member of the Steering Committee - Kentucky Food Action Network (KFAN)

Tania Whitfield is from Lexington, Kentucky, has represented KFAN as a member of the Steering Committee since 2021, and is a mom of two princesses. She is attending the Summit to discuss her experience with SNAP benefits and the Farm Bill. Being a mom of two princesses, it is vital for her to have access to SNAP benefits to keep them healthy and fed. Tania doesn’t like being called "low-income" because as she says, "ain’t nothing low about us. We are just struggling and doing our best with what we have." She received her GED in December 2022 and registered for classes to start at Bluegrass Community Technical College in 2023.

Penny Shore

Coordinator - Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN)

Penny Shore works with the Ohio Farmers Market Network, supporting and advocating for farmers’ markets and the vendors who sell at them. She previously owned and ran the Wyoming Ave. Farmers’ Market from 2007 – 2019. The market was early in the acceptance of SNAP benefits and Produce Perks nutrition incentive matches. Additionally, the market was an instrumental part of the business plans for over 55 small businesses – from farms like That Guy’s Family Farm to regional favorites like Taste of Belgium to national distributors like Foodies Vegan LTD. Penny’s love of local food began while managing and developing technical training functions at several software companies in California.

Kimmie Ishmael

Policy Campaign Coordinator - Community Farm Alliance

Kimmie grew up on her family farm in Fleming County, Kentucky. From dairy, to tobacco, to beef cattle this industry has given her many opportunities and life experiences that helped mold her into the person she is today. Throughout college, and now motherhood she has always worked to fight for the underdog. She has worked for over three years in Central Kentucky trying to pass state legislation and learning the ins and outs of our state house. Along with working with state legislators, she has extensive experience in community organizing and working with political campaigns.

Amanda Lukas (Facilitator)

Community Connections Coordinator, Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council - Green Umbrella

Amanda Lukas is the Community Connections Coordinator of the Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council. Amanda brings over five years of experience in food systems and sustainability, including most recently as the Outdoor Market + Sustainability Manager at Findlay Market, the Warehouse Manager at the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, and the Market Manager at Madeira Farmers Market. She studied both Humanities and Biology at the University of Louisville. Amanda is deeply passionate about creating a sustainable, equitable regional food system that both mitigates and can adapt to climate change. She has proven success in engaging stakeholders like farmers, food businesses, and nonprofit organizations and in conveying complex information into digestible material.

Junior Ballroom C

Honoring Pain:
A Strengths-Based Approach to Resilience

Often, we don’t time to stop and consider the impact our work has on our wellbeing. We’re consistently facing uncertain futures, which can take its toll. During this session, participants will learn the basics of how the brain and body collaborate to keep us alive, safe, and help us avoid pain and discomfort. With only 5 options for response, participants will be equipped to identify their responses to stress, threat, and danger while gaining tools to help them move towards regulation and safety. Additionally, participants will be invited to check-in with themselves to determine how their experiencing trauma exposure in their work life and use a tool for developing a strengths-based intervention plan to better care for themselves, their teams, and their community.

La Shanda Sugg - LPC

Chief Love Officer, Therapist, Liberatory Coach, Consultant -
Labors of Love Counseling and Consulting, LLC

La Shanda Sugg, LPC is a Trauma-Specializing Therapist and Liberatory Coach. Her trauma expertise and ability to make complex concepts easy to understand make her work accessible. Her authenticity and transparency as a trauma survivor make people want to listen. La Shanda founded Labors of Love Counseling and Consulting, LLC to help organizations understand trauma and the traumatic stress of racism and other forms of oppression and help them move towards Cultural Humility and Somatic Abolitionism. As a therapist and coach, she helps relationships and communities Move from Coping to Healing. Through her podcast, The Labors of Love Podcast, La Shanda and her guests invite people into a world of healing, wholeness, and mental wellness. For more information about Labors of Love Counseling and Consulting visit www.thelaborsoflove.com.

Rosie Santos (she/they) - M.C.P

STRONG Workplace Solutions Manager - Mayerson Academy

Rosie Santos, M.C.P, (she/they) is an expert facilitator and planner with over ten years of collective impact and process improvement experience in academia, government, and nonprofit sectors. Rosie calls on coalition building, community engagement and advocacy experience at state and national level from early career experience as an environmental educator, organizer, and park director. Rosie learned to fuse the goals of an agency with social justice principles to challenge the status quo, resulting in a measurable impact that can be seen and felt. Currently, Rosie co-facilitates professional learning, coaching, and consulting services based in VIA Character Strengths science for some of the most prominent nonprofit and government organizations in Greater Cincinnati, including the City of Cincinnati, the Contemporary Arts Center, HER Cincinnati, Cincinnati Works, Green Umbrella, and many more. Rosie also serves on the board for Groundwork Ohio River Valley, offering expertise in leadership and team development, organizational strategy, and change management.

Junior Ballroom D

Green Workforce Development and the Clean Energy Revolution

The clean energy transition is underway, and the continued rise of green jobs is being supercharged by recent unprecedented federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the CHIPS and Science Act, as well as numerous state policies. These historic investments add up to hundreds of billions of dollars for the clean energy economy.

The IRA is slated to create more than 100,000 green jobs across the country, with specific incentives for projects that incorporate union apprenticeships and prevailing wages. Workforce training will be critical to the continued growth of the industry, as over 80 percent of employers in the Midwest report at least some difficulty hiring workers. How can we rise to meet the needs of the clean energy economy while diversifying the workforce and creating viable career pathways for both urban populations and rural communities transitioning from the coal industry?

Jason Ashbrook

Executive Director - Workforce Council of Southwestern Ohio

Jason Ashbrook is the Executive Director of the Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio (formerly Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board/SWORWIB). The Council serves as a regional convener of workforce development and sets the vision, policy, and performance expectations for the public workforce system in Cincinnati-Hamilton County, known as OhioMeansJobs (OMJ). Jason has over 21 years of experience in workforce development, non-profit leadership, grants management, and public-private partnerships. Prior to that capacity, Jason was the Workforce Program Coordinator at Brighton Center Inc., one of the largest private non-profit organizations in Greater Cincinnati and oversaw the agency’s Workforce Investment Act programming. Jason serves on the Board of Directors for the Midwest Urban Strategies, a workforce laboratory of metro areas across the U.S. Additionally, he serves on the Board for the Supply Chain Ohio Kentucky Indiana (SCOKI). A native of the Greater Cincinnati region, Jason resides south of downtown Cincinnati in Covington and attended Thomas More University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Management.

Jacob Israel Hannah

Chief Conservation Officer - Coalfield Development

Jacob Israel Hannah is Coalfield Development’s Chief Conservation Officer. With 3 generations of coal mining in his family, and a 5th generation West Virginian, Jacob integrates an empathetic and grounded approach to the strategy of triple- bottom line sustainability; balancing People, Planet, and Prosperity in harmony with each other with a lens towards a fair and just transition. Jacob’s work primarily revolves around bringing renewable energy to underserved and coal-impacted communities, reclaiming abandoned mine lands, supporting a regional network of upcycling and reuse, and remediating brownfields and protecting water systems. All while centering this work around the people of Appalachia.

Chris Fridel

Assistant Director - IBEW/NECA Apprenticeship

Chris Fridel, 33 years as a Union Construction Electrician. Currently the Assistant Director of the IBEW/NECA Electrical Apprenticeship Training Center and the Director of the Greater Cincinnati Apprenticeship Council for the last 15 years.

Teneah Chambers

Green Jobs and Aggregation Coordinator - City of Columbus

My name is Teneah Chambers and I am the Green Jobs and Aggregation Coordinator with the City of Columbus. I have a Master’s degree in Public Health from Kaplan University and am working towards my Master’s in Workforce Development from The Ohio State University. My background is in workforce, education, and healthcare. My spouse and I have 3 children and have resided in Columbus for 15 years. I am passionate about community advocacy and ensuring ALL Columbus residents receive fair, equitable opportunities. I have recently gone solar at my residence and hope to purchase an electric vehicle in the near future.

Chad Day (Moderator)

Membership Development - IBEW Local Union 212

Chad Day is a business agent with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 212 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been an active member of the union for over 25 years, and his dedication and hard work have earned him numerous positions of leadership within the organization and the community. Throughout his career, Chad has been committed to advocating for workers' rights and ensuring that union members receive fair treatment and compensation. As a business agent, he is responsible for negotiating collective bargaining agreements, resolving disputes between workers and employers, and representing union members in grievance procedures. Chad is also involved in training and educating new union members, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their careers. He is passionate about promoting the importance of unions and their role in protecting workers' rights.

Afternoon Breakout 1
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Grand Ballroom

Navigating Federal Funding:
How to Leverage IIJA and IRA

In this unprecedented era of funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), communities need support to navigate funding opportunities that can deliver transformational sustainability and resilience projects since federal funding opportunities can be challenging to track, apply for, and win.

In 2021, Power A Clean Future Ohio launched the Infrastructure Grant Assistance Program (IGAP) to assist local governments in bringing federal funds to Ohio. IGAP provides support to help communities stay on top of federal funding programs, develop staff capacity, and pursue grants competitively.

Join this session for a “Grants 101” presentation that will also include federal grant snapshot handouts, designing your project breakout sessions and small group discussions on lessons learned for how best to vet and apply for federal grant funding opportunities. We will also review the sustainability-related tax credits available through IRA and ways to promote these credits to your community.

Melanie Nutter

Principal - Nutter Consulting

Melanie Nutter is the Principal of Nutter Consulting and provides sustainability and smart city strategy for cities, foundations and nonprofits. Her firm has served a variety of clients including the Energy Foundation; The JPB Foundation, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council); the Urban Sustainability Directors Network as well as over a dozen municipalities across the country. Melanie serves as the Lead Technical Consultant for Power A Clean Future Ohio. Nutter is the former Director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment and served for Mayors Gavin Newsom and Edwin Lee from 2010 through 2014. From 2005-2010, Nutter served as the Deputy District Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Nutter founded and is Chair Emeritus for the Energy and Environment Circle for Full Circle Fund. Nutter also served on the Planning Committee for the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) and Co-Chaired USDN’s Innovation Fund.

Cassandra Clevenger

Deputy Director - Power A Clean Future Ohio

Cassandra Clevenger is the Deputy Director of Power a Clean Future Ohio (PCFO). In this role, she oversees day-to-day operations and programming initiatives. PCFO empowers local governments and community members to implement achievable, measurable, equitable, and economical climate action plans and clean energy policies. Before joining PCFO, Cassandra worked in community development and planning. She has successfully built capacity and strengthened fundraising efforts for grassroots community projects, brownfield development, business development, and local/state coalition efforts. Her mission is to create healthier, sustainable, and more equitable communities where everyone has access to the resources and opportunities to live their best lives, regardless of their circumstances. Cassandra is a graduate of Kent State University. During their time there, she led campus activities aimed at auditing, expanding, and conserving the university's urban forest canopy.

Courtney Kishbaugh

Director of Innovation Projects - Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP)

Courtney Kishbaugh is the Director of Innovation Projects at Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), where she works to connect Federal funding opportunities and Agency programs with the goals of Greater Cleveland organizations to support their sustainability and innovation planning and initiatives. Prior to her time at GCP, she worked at New Localism Associates (NLA), an economic development consultancy founded and led by Bruce Katz with the mission of helping cities and metropolitan areas design, finance and deliver transformative initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable growth. During her time with NLA she developed multi-year economic development plans for the Greater St. Louis region and the State of Rhode Island. Before NLA, Courtney worked at Accenture consulting for Federal Agency and independent nonprofit clients, focusing on business strategy and design as well as project management. She graduated with high honors from Georgetown University with a degree in Economics.

Junior Ballroom A

Play Your Way to a Better World

Educators, scientists, and policymakers face numerous barriers to effectively educating and engaging the public on climate change topics. In recent years, interactive games have emerged as a powerful tool to engage learners of all ages. Games promote climate change learning and action by immersing players in climate change-centered scenarios and often by positioning players as decision-makers and action-takers in a variety of key roles. By introducing elements such as imagination, creativity, competition, and future visioning, game-playing can serve to override psychological barriers to education and engagement (e.g., despair, fear) known to inhibit climate change learning and action.

In this interactive session, facilitators from Faith Communities Go Green and the University of Cincinnati, will briefly introduce games as a critical pathway to promote engagement and action on climate change, then participants will be invited to play four games that they could in turn share with others in a variety of settings.

Joanne Gerson

Founder/Co-Chair - Faith Communities Go Green

Joanne Gerson is founder / co-chair of Faith Communities Go Green, a Green Umbrella and EquaSion collaboration. As founder / chair of Rockdale Temple’s Environmental Committee and of Shomrei Olam, Jewish Environmental Advocates, she learned how bottom-up, “green teams” in faith communities inspire congregations to become better stewards of our planet. She led Southwest Ohio NO Frack Forum and continues speaking about Fracking as a guest lecturer at Cincinnati State College. As a Montgomery Planning Commissioner and program committee chair of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Partnership, Joanne led the revision of Montgomery’s Storm Water and Lighting Zoning Codes and worked to change environmental zoning codes in the county. Joanne created Kinder-Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo’s first preschool program, and The Super Saturday Program, an enrichment program for gifted children, directing it for ten years. Both continue 40+ years later.

Becca Desai

Past Education/Lifestyle Group Leader - Faith Communities Go Green

Becca Desai lives in Fairfield, OH, with her family. As a CPA, she worked as auditor in the public sector. Since several years she has been devoting her time as a volunteer. To advance the work of Beloved Communities, and peace and understanding among the people everywhere, she volunteers as: Co-Chair of Interfaith Activities Committee of FEZANA (fezana.org); President of ZAKOI (zakoi.org); A member of the Executive Council of RfP, USA; A member of the Steering Committee of Cincinnati’s Annual Festival of Faiths; Co-Chair of Sacred Connections Program, EquaSion, Cincinnati; Advisory Board Member of Kids 4 Peace, Cincinnati. Becca practices and advocates a greener lifestyle. She’s a member of, and past leader of the Education/Lifestyles Working Group of Faith Communities Go Green (https://www.fcgg.org) in Cincinnati. Becca is also an active Board Member of humanitarian organizations like: Shared Harvest Food Bank (https://www.sharedharvest.org); and Restore Hope (https://www.restorehopeliberia.org).

Stephanie Lam - MA

Psychology Doctoral Student - University of Cincinnati

Stephanie Lam, M.A. is a Community Psychology doctoral student in the Community and Organizational Research for Action (CORA) program in the University of Cincinnati’s Psychology department and a research lead in the Collaborative Sustainability Lab headed by Dr. Trott. Stephanie values interdisciplinary, decolonial, and feminist processes in her work for climate-just futures. She is excited to collaborate on projects involving people of various backgrounds, knowledges, and intersectionalities to work towards transformative change for collective well-being while challenging systems of oppression. Stephanie is also a serving board member for the Community Engagement Collective in Cincinnati.

Carlie Trott - PhD

Assistant Professor in Psychology & Head of Collaborative Sustainability Lab - University of Cincinnati

Carlie D. Trott, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati where she heads the Collaborative Sustainability Lab. Dr. Trott’s climate justice research agenda aims to bring visibility to, and work against the inequitable impacts of climate change, socially and geographically. As a social-community psychologist and community-engaged researcher, Trott’s work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration and action-oriented research methods. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Her research has been published in the journals Sustainability Science, Action Research, Environmental Education Research, Studies in Higher Education, Sustainability, Journal of Social and Political Psychology, Journal of Geoscience Education, and others.

Junior Ballroom B

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty –
Two Generations at a Time

The Cincinnati Scholar House is a 44-unit LEED Platinum development in Walnut Hills that provides safe and affordable housing to single parents pursuing a college degree, along with on-site childcare and supportive services. The facility and its programs are designed to break the cycle of poverty, helping open opportunities for both parents and their children. Moreover, the building’s LEED Platinum certification flowed naturally from a focus on low utility bills, healthy indoor air, and community connections – elements that are also central to equity. This panel brings together individuals from the design, development, and operation of the Scholar House, and shows how the project was made possible and how it can serve as a model for sustainable, equitable housing.

David Thompson

President of Affordable Housing - Model Group

David Thompson joined the Model Group in 2005, and has held the positions of Project Manager, Development Manager, Director of Development, and Vice President of Affordable Housing. In his current position, Mr. Thompson serves as the team leader for Model Property Development’s affordable housing development efforts in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana and oversees Model’s project managers on all LIHTC transactions. Mr. Thompson has a long history of working to help create healthy urban neighborhoods with a variety of housing options for all types of people. In his time at Model Group, Mr. Thompson has been responsible for closing over $400 million in LIHTC developments and producing or preserving over 2,000 residential units. As the former National Program Director of Mission Year, a non-profit urban service and community development organization, Mr. Thompson brings invaluable expertise to Housing Credit deals in which Model Group partners with neighborhood stakeholders.

Sanyog B. Rathod - AIA

President - Sol design + consulting

Sanyog Rathod is the founder of Sol design + consulting, a Cincinnati-based firm which provides sustainability consulting and design services. His continuing commitment to Architecture, Sustainability and Preservation spans 30 years. Since the inception of his firm in 2006, he has devoted his advocacy towards affordable housing, green-historic preservation, and green building programs. His active involvement in the profession, academia and the community has led to the following awards: the Over-the-Rhine Infill Design Award; Cincinnati Preservation Association Award; Habitat for Humanity Recognition for Service; Cincinnati Business Courier’s Top 20 People to Know in Green Business.

Felicia Sullivan

Director of Family Support Services, Cincinnati Scholar House - HER Cincinnati

Felicia (Fefe) Sullivan is the Director of Family Support Services for the Cincinnati Scholar House, a program fueled by HER Cincinnati. She has been with HER Cincinnati (formerly Cincinnati Union Bethel) for more than 18 years (since 2005). Prior to serving in her current role, she served as the Disabilities and Mental Health Services Manager for the agency Head Start program (2016-2020), following service as Lead Preschool Teacher (2009 - 2016) and Lead Toddler Teacher (2005 - 2009). Felicia is a Licensed Professional Counselor, (LPC). She earned her master’s degree in Community Counseling from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, in 2010 and her Bachelor’s in Psychology at Berea College, Berea, KY in 2004. Felicia is a mother of three amazing children and enjoys spending time with her (extended) family.

Junior Ballroom C

Financial Sustainability for Black-Led Food Cooperatives

The National Black Food & Justice Alliance (NBFJA) Market Study Project emerged from many conversations within Black-led co-op spaces where participants discussed the need for culturally relevant data that can aid Black owned co-ops to obtain funding from a wider range of public and private sources. Our perspective is that the current market research field is heavily reliant on data that diminishes the impact of Black spending and the demand for localized, community-operated food options in our communities. We initiated this effort to develop culturally relevant market study principals, strategies and recommendations. This session will share more about the project, progress, and its findings to date.

Angela Sayles

CEO - Little Africa Food Cooperative

Angela Marie Sayles, Cleveland native, is involved in local, national and global projects addressing land and food rights, cooperative ownership equity, financial sustainability in agribusiness, and social enterprise fund development. She facilitates sustainability training for Cleveland residents with greenspace projects and is currently serving on a community land trust committee with the Vital Neighborhoods working group under the City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Angela holds the position of CEO for the Little Africa Food Cooperative. She advocates for local food systems and cooperatives lobbying within the Ag Noire Coalition and the National Cooperative Business Association. Angela’s work with National Black Food & Justice Alliance Market Study Group Research Facilitator has produced a 40-page summary report on the topic of Rethinking Market Studies for Black led cooperatives. Most recently, Angela hosted the United Nations parallel event focused on Innovation and Technology in Land and Food Rights for Global African Women and Girls at the 67th Commission on the Status of Women.

Mikki Smith

Executive Director - Little Africa Food Collaborative (LAFC)

Makanya (Mikki) Smith born in Chicago, Illinois & relocated to Cleveland, Ohio where she currently resides with her family. She received both her Master's Degree and Bachelor's Degree from the University of Phoenix in Beachwood, Ohio. She retired from Medical Mutual of Ohio after 22 years of service as a Business Systems Analyst working in Information Technology. Makanya received the John Cox Community Leadership award in 2015 from Neighborhood Leadership Institute. Her passion is the community and making sure those who do not have a voice can be heard and if it is not about the people then she will ensure it becomes about the people. She currently spends time mentoring, educating, and collaborating with youth and adults to decrease recidivism. She collaborates with organizations to be the change agent the world needs today. Working in food security, food nutrition, food education as an educator to a plethora of communities. Mikki is a member of Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and local host and speaker for Biodiversity for a Livable Climate.

Julialynne Walker

Market Manager - Bronzeville Growers Market

Julialynne Walker is the market manager for the Bronzeville Growers Market, entering its fifth season, the principal facilitator for the Bronzeville Agricademy, an online gardening community with over 200 participants, the Bronzeville Urban Growers, a corridor of backyard growers on the Near East Side of Columbus and is passionate about the connections between healthy food, growing healthy food and marketing healthy food, especially within traditionally African-American communities as an outgrowth of her international public health and African Diaspora work. She has been the Certified Market Manager Assistant for the Ohio Farmers Market Network, and is manager of the Bethany Bronzeville Community Garden which services the 15 year old Community Lunch Program at Bethany Presbyterian Church and the site manager of the Mamie Mack and 21st Street Community Gardens under the Growing and Growth Collective.

Dr. Jasmine Jackson (Moderator)

Co-Executive Director - National Black Food & Justice Alliance

Dr. Jas is an applied food systems research and policy-based specialist. She partners with academic research teams, anchor institutions, philanthropic foundations, and community-based organizations to identify root causes of and develop innovative solutions to food system challenges. Dr. Jas received her master’s degree in Community Planning from Auburn University and Ph.D. in Integrative Public Policy and Development from Tuskegee University. As a New Orleans native and farmer, she has developed a unique perspective when it comes to food and the effects that it has on communities. Dr. Jas believes that your zip code should not determine your life expectancy, and building relationships are essential to creating a sustainable and just food system.

Junior Ballroom D

Reimagining the Civic Commons
in Cincinnati and Beyond

Our ‘Civic Commons’ have long been a place where community members convene to share resources, participate in public dialogue, and celebrate together. Through various cultural shifts over time, these places have become increasingly rare. This begs the questions: What is considered public space? What do we get from it? Who has access and who is it for?

In this session we will explore how Green Umbrella’s initiatives and partnerships are creating new opportunities for placemaking corridors for environmental restoration in Cincinnati–the Reimagined Civic Commons. This Commons will allow residents from diverse neighborhoods to collectively meet their needs for safe active transportation, clean air, water, food, and most importantly–a sense of community. Come learn how investment in transformative public spaces in your community can connect people of all backgrounds, cultivate trust, and create more resilient communities.

Wade Johnston - AICP

Executive Director - Tri-State Trails

An avid commuter cyclist and outdoor enthusiast, Wade is working to change people's everyday interaction with the built environment and the outdoors in Greater Cincinnati. Under Wade's leadership, Tri-State Trails has grown from a grassroots coalition to the leading advocacy organization for active transportation issues in the Tri-State region. One of Tri-State Trails’ noteworthy accomplishments has been galvanizing a diverse public-private partnership for the CROWN Capital Campaign, which has raised $11 million in public funds and $10 million in private funds to build out a 34-mile urban trail loop around Cincinnati. Wade earned his Bachelor of Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning with a focus on multi-modal transportation, Geographic Information Science, and public relations. Wade is an active member of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners. He serves on the boards of the Ohio to Erie Trail, Queen City Bike, and the Mt. Washington Community Council.

Tyeisha Cole

Climate Action Coordinator - Green Umbrella

Tyeisha Cole grew up as a frontline community member in the Cincinnati neighborhoods of Bond Hill and Millvale. Growing up in historically marginalized communities inspired her to complete an AmeriCorps VISTA with the local nonprofit, Working In Neighborhoods, to combat food access and walkability issues. Her experiences led her to earn a Master of Science in Environmental Policy with a concentration on Fish & Wildlife Management from the American Public University, and a Bachelor in Arts in Urban & Regional Planning and Environmental Principles & Practices from Miami University. Tyeisha has conducted independent qualitative environmental policy research in East Africa and several U.S cities. Most recently, she completed a NOAA-funded feasibility study for the University of Connecticut to pilot an oyster shell recycling program.

Chris Smyth

Director, Common Orchard Project - Green Umbrella

Chris is an orchardist, facilitator, and educator. After studying Permaculture Design with experts across North America he now teaches at the University of Cincinnati. Core to that teaching craft is a practice; as the cofounder of the Southern Ohio Chestnut Company and the Director of the Common Orchard Project, Chris creates containers for mutual medicine between human and plant communities.

Derrick Feagin

South Cumminsville Community Council - President

Derrick Feagin has lived in South Cumminsvile on and off for 64 years and currently is the President of the South Cumminsville Community Council. In 2022, Derrick got involved in environmental advocacy by participating in the Beekman Corridor Climate Advisory Group. He has since served on the Equity Committee for the Green Cincinnati Plan, acting as the liaison to the Mobility Subcommittee. Derrick graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Communication.

Afternoon Breakout 2
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Grand Ballroom

Decarbonization at Scale - How Aviation is Leading

A panel conversation to discuss how to decarbonize the hard parts of our economy. The aviation sector is seen as one of the more visible industries with an increased difficulty given the 24/7 critical nature of our airports. The panel discussion will focus on the Net Zero target set by two of our nations airports. Both CVG and SFO have set aggressive decarbonization goals. We will discuss the approach both of these airports have taken to address climate change and how these organizations are driving change.

Tim Donovan

Founder and CEO - Donovan Energy

Tim Donovan has dedicated his entire career to energy management and optimization. His expertise spans investment strategy, financial modeling, budget development, planning and corporate structure. Tim has played a key role in several clean energy and sustainability industry “firsts,” including the first net-zero energy aviation facility (LEED Platinum Hangar 25 at Burbank International Airport), the first LEED-rated gas station (BP’s Helios House) and the redevelopment of several buildings incorporating sustainability and clean energy concepts. Tim is the founder of several energy related companies including Donovan Energy, Electrada, Industrious Labs, and Sunflower Fuels. Prior to founding Donovan Energy, he held several global leadership roles in the U.S. and the U.K. with British Petroleum (BP). Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts from John Carroll University and a Master of Business Administration from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Melissa Wideman

Vice President, ESG Initiatives - Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky International Airport

Melissa Wideman is Vice President ESG Initiatives for the CVG Airport Authority. This newly created role oversees the Sustainability Master Plan while establishing an ESG report. This is her second stint at the CVG Airport Authority where she previously served as Senior Manager Government Affairs and Communications. Most recently, Wideman served as Vice President Community Relations for Castellini Management Company where she handled PR, crisis communications for the Castellini Group of Companies, oversaw the Castellini Foundation and managed government affairs and community relations. In her early career, Wideman spent 10 years working in campaigns and olitics at the local, state and national level. Melissa is currently involved with Cincinnati Regional Chamber Government Affairs Executive Committee, City of Cincinnati Economic Inclusion & Accountability Board, Ohio Governor’s Executive Workforce Board, The Port of Greater Cincinnati Board and REDI Cincinnati. She is a former member of the City of Cincinnati Planning Commission.

Erin Cooke

Sustainability Director - San Francisco International Airport

Erin currently serves as San Francisco International Airport’s (SFO) first Sustainability Director, Zero Energy and Resilient Outcomes (ZERO) Committee Chair and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Working Group Chair where she implements the Airport’s Strategic, Sustainability and Climate Action Plans. This includes annual reporting, brokering and implementing high- impact emissions reduction investments across campus-wide and facility- specific projects. Erin previously served the City of Cupertino as its first Sustainability Manager and, next, Deputy City Manager, drafting and activating the City’s first Climate Action Plan, including lead roles in the launch of a countywide community choice aggregation program (Silicon Valley Clean Energy), Silicon Valley Collaborative Energy Procurement (SV-REP) and Silicon Valley’s Climate Adaptation & Resilience Plan. Erin was also a member of stewardship and climate planning teams at the Conservation Law Foundation, Goddard Institute of Space Studies, and National Park Service. Erin is a LEED AP and holds an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University.

Junior Ballroom A

Imagining a Future Without Climate
Disinformation & Misinformation

In order to imagine a future leaning into values of climate justice, we must also imagine a world where facts, information, and data matter in public consciousness and government decision-making. In the present, we have politicians and corporations erroneously labeling natural gas as “green energy,” when it is the exact opposite. Fossil fuel companies continue to fund dark money groups designed to inject doubt into the public’s understanding of climate science. Politicians continue to say they don’t “believe” climate change is caused by humans.

Our workshop will accomplish the following three goals:

1. Education on the historical context of disinformation regarding climate change.

2. Provide skills to identify misinformation, disinformation, malinformation, and

propaganda.

3. Identify ways for participants to callout disinformation in public spheres as well as at work and in their personal lives.

If we want to imagine possible futures, we must all have a shared understanding of the world we live in—and the world we want to create together. We must ensure factual, credible, relevant information is available to everyone. We will prepare attendees to better understand disinformation and inoculate themselves from its effects.

Chris Tavenor

Associate General Counsel & Managing Director of Democracy Policy -
Ohio Environmental Council

Chris Tavenor leads the OEC’s fight for a healthy democracy while providing essential legal support to all sections of the organization. He also coordinates the OEC’s Law Center, including the annual Ohio Public Interest Environmental Law Conference and our legal internship program. Over the past five years with the OEC, Chris has represented the organization before the Ohio Supreme Court, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Power Siting Board, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Review Appeals Commission, and beyond. In working toward a healthy democracy, he led the OEC’s fight for a fair redistricting process as a member of the Ohio Citizens’ Redistricting Commission. Chris studied Philosophy and English at the Ohio State University and graduated from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in May 2017.

Marisa Twigg

Creative & Communications Director - Ohio Environmental Council

Marisa Twigg serves as OEC’s Creative & Communications Director, creating content across platforms for the OEC family of organizations. A native of Tiffin, located in Northwest Ohio, she moved to Columbus in 2014 and now lives in the Hilltop neighborhood. Marisa is passionate about environmental communication, creating impactful content by weaving still visuals with written narratives to immerse people in stories. Focusing on journalism and environmental justice, Marisa earned a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Decision Making from the Ohio State University in 2018, where she became the student newspaper’s first environment reporter and launched the outlet’s first sustainability podcast. That same year, Marisa co-founded Grey Matter Media, Columbus’ only women and LGBTQ+ founded nonprofit media outlet dedicated to evolving the city’s local news, and launched the nonprofit’s first media publication, Matter News, which investigates Columbus development and policing.

Tatiana Rodzos

Campaigns Organizer - Ohio Citizen Action

Tatiana got her start in 2019 organizing on clean energy and consumer rights issues with Ohio Citizen Action as a Field Canvasser and later, Phone Canvasser. For the last two years, she has worked as OCA’s Campaigns Organizer, aiding campaign development, creating campaign materials, and liaising with the Field and Phone Canvasses to effectively disperse OCA’s message to Ohioans. Tatiana graduated with a BA in 2019 from Bowling Green State University, where she studied French, International Studies, and Environmental Policy.

Junior Ballroom B

Technical Workforce and the Education Gap

The move towards decarbonization is generating unprecedented investment in advanced technology in our eco-conscious economy. Locally, manufacturers are spending billions on the construction of micro-chip and EV battery plants, which will require a career-ready workforce with skills that go beyond traditional learning. Learn how global manufacturers and nonprofit organizations are partnering to develop programs and certifications that meet these needs by addressing the knowledge gap, and the local effort to enlighten, engage, and empower K-12 and post-secondary students.

Marni Durham

Assistant Superintendent - Butler Tech

Marni Durham currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Butler Tech, the second largest Career Tech Center in the state of Ohio. A career technical school, arts school, natural science center, bioscience campus, and a public safety education complex make up the five campuses and serves 11 school districts in southwest Ohio serving over 18,000 secondary students each day. Butler Tech also has an Adult Education division serving over 2,000 students each year. During her tenure as Assistant Superintendent, enrollment has been its highest in Butler Tech history, yielding a 100% graduation rate, 95% placement rate and has forged partnerships with business and industry in a variety of unique ways to develop an employee base as well as spur economic development. Marni leads a newly created Workforce Services Office, yielding 200 active business partners, that focuses on the development of public private partnerships. Butler Tech is poised for significant expansion.

Matthew Janisin Ed.D. Vice-President - Business & Workforce Solutions, Gateway Technical

Matthew E. Janisin, Ed.D

Vice President, Business & Workforce Solutions - Gateway Technical College

Matthew E. Janisin is the Vice President of the Business & Workforce Solutions at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he oversees outreach to business and industry, apprenticeship, customized contract training, and student support. His work connects the college and its mission to business and industry and facilitates deeper relationships. By developing customized training relationships with local employers, Matt connects them with current students using placement services at the college. Through Gateway’s Fab Lab, Matt connects local K12 schools and academies with both the college and with prospective employers. Dr. Janisin has served as Gateway’s NC3 Instructor/Coordinator where he collaborated with local, state, and national industry partners to develop industry credentials to help fill the skills gap. Dr. Janisin holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Industrial & Technology Education and a doctorate in Career and Technical Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Michael Hines

Director - Educational & Workforce Initiatives - Trane Technologies

Mike Hines is responsible for leading Trane’s educational and workforce offerings and initiatives for the United States and Canada. This includes providing pathways for students to help provide awareness and skill acquisition for all students in secondary and post-secondary education. Mr. Hines manages strategic educational offerings and initiatives, helping school districts meet their goals of providing a quality education for all students which will allow all students to thrive in the workplace and their community. Mike has spent over thirty years serving education leaders trying to help optimize the learning experience for students and teachers. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wyoming and a MBA from the University of Nebraska. Son of a career educator who instructed the hearing impaired.

Jerry Schmits, CEM

Comprehensive Solutions Manager - Trane Technologies

Jerry Schmits currently leads Comprehensive Solutions for Trane Technologies’ in the Great Lakes Region, where he supports Local Governments, Universities, Healthcare Systems and K-12 Districts in capital planning, energy efficiency and sustainability projects and financing. Jerry is the former President & CEO of the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance and has served in various roles with start-up phase companies, such as Cadence Network, LLC, CBRE’s Global Energy & Sustainability Division, and KLH Energy Solutions. As a Certified Energy Manager, Jerry has spent his entire career improving the net operating income and operational performance of commercial buildings through the implementation of energy efficiency and sustainability projects. Jerry is a graduate of Thomas More College and resides in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Junior Ballroom C

Radically Reimagining Community Through Collective Care

To create a new way forward in the uncertain times of climate change and the Anthropocene requires all us who care about our shared future to “radically reimagine” the way in which we relate to one another. It requires us to unlearn the ways of a capitalist and colonial based system of relation and exploitation and to look at those communities who have survived this global paradigm through networks of care with human and non-human species alike.

The workshop facilitators will first present from their owned lived experiences examples of how to’s for safe (legal) “guerrilla gardening” in abandoned urban landscapes, de-capitalizing lawns, creating food is free communities, free food mapping & food sharing, and seed saving & starting, and sharing. This workshop is hands-on think tank leading to a list of tangible affective and effective actions co-created with the attendees to take back in our respective communities to create collective care networks.

Jennifer Thomas

Cincinnati Gardening Collective

Jennifer Thomas is a Cincinnati native who has a passion for gardening and sustainability education. She works in economic development as a researcher and enjoys working on the cusp of innovation and change. She believes that her passion for climate education and environmental protection call for her to be innovative and advocate for policies that will make long lasting positive change. Jennifer has been practicing gardening and adaptation to low waste alternatives for a decade now and continues to find room for growth. This search for more sustainable ways of doing have led her to learn lifelong skills in and out of the garden. Jennifer is excited to share some of that knowledge and best practices through the Cincinnati Garden Collective.

Olivia Nava

Manager - The Welcome Project

Olivia Nava is a Cincinnati native currently serving communities in Camp Washington and surrounding areas. Food accessibility, advocating for marginalized communities, fair wages and sustainable land management practices have been the foundation of their work. Their efforts since 2022 have been focused on connecting immigrant, refugee and local creatives to various organizations and institutions through art and food programming at Wave Pool Art Center’s: The Welcome Project. Olivia considers herself fortunate to have been able to use her love of food production, social justice and her personal connection to the immigrant community in her day to day with Wave Pool.

Rosa Christophel

Cincinnati Gardening Collective

Rosa Christophel grew up on a small family crop and livestock farm at the edge of Appalachia. Her childhood resembles stories from Wendell Berry of a bygone farming era. Her upbringing is more akin to that of 80 year old rural folk than mid-30 somethings from urban America, wood burning stove and all. Those formative years have strung a moral thread through her life that is evident in everything she does today; a sense of responsibility for the Earth and fellow humans, community building and reliance, and sharing in times of abundance and need. Just as she was taught how to grow and preserve food through embodied knowledge passed on through the hands of her family, Rosa hopes to continue to create community and care between neighbors with food through intentional gatherings and skill sharing with the Cincinnati Gardening Collective.

Junior Ballroom D

Missed Connections:
A Love Letter to Transit Oriented Development

Sometimes good relationships are right under our noses – This panel considers Transit Oriented Development (TOD) as a way to seek interconnections and transformative opportunities for reciprocal growth in existing transit, community, and ecological networks.

Panelists will share their vision for TOD, centered on NEST’s/OTRCH’s/Urban Sites’ in-progress affordable housing development in Cincinnati’s Northside Neighborhood near the Northside Transit Center.

Vision of transit oriented development as a poetic expression of time, place, and culture (Mary Jo Minerich)
Vision for development of bike and bus networks as preferred methods of public transportation that are “better together” (Cam Hardy and Nathan Kemphues)
Vision for development of inclusive communities providing opportunity for all (Sarah Thomas)
Vision for how it could be possible and how local policy makers/funders can support these visions… because sometimes we show our love with $!

Mary Jo Minerich

Associate - GBBN Architects

Whether the project is a new arts venue, a tiny café in a historic building, or envisioning how affordable housing can improve communities, Mary Jo’s approach to design at GBBN is rooted in empathy and research. A lover of big ideas and the deep conversations they generate, she works with clients and stakeholders to unearth possibilities and articulate project goals that positively impact community equity and resilience. Calling Northside home since 2009, she admires the local knowledge, imagination, care, and passion, that her neighbors bring to every community conversation.

Cam Hardy

Community Engagement Coordinator - Cincinnati Metro

Cam Hardy aka MetroMan is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Cincinnati Metro/SORTA. Prior to coming to Metro, Cam was the President and co-founder of the Better Bus Coalition, a grassroots organization that led the charge to pass Issue 7, the biggest tax increase for public transportation in our country's history. At Metro, Cam travels around the County teaching people how to ride the bus as well as about our exciting new services. Cam spends a lot of time at the University of Cincinnati where he is laser focused on increasing awareness about our system as well as ridership.

Sarah Thomas

Executive Director - NEST (Northsiders Engaged in Sustainable Transformation)

Sarah Thomas is the Executive Director of NEST, Northside's non profit community development corporation. Her passions meet at an intersection of urban density, historic preservation and the idea that thoughtful development bolsters great communities. When Sarah isn’t working for NEST she is running Grey Rock Development with her partner, Chris, and serving on the boards of the Northside Business Association, HURC: Homesteading and Urban Redevelopment Corporation, Homebase Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United. You can often find her walking her dog through Northside’s historic alleys, at home cooking Lebanese food or listening to Sunday bluegrass at The Comet. She strives to use her work to further Northside as a thriving neighborhood that welcomes others to discover the same sense of community she has found.

Nathan Kemphues

Lead Mechanic-Educator - MoBo Bicycle Co-op

Nate has spent much of the past two decades on bikes - riding them, fixing them, and as a volunteer mechanic teaching others about the joy of repairing them. During the week as a transit scheduler he works with operators and planners to ensure Cincinnati's buses make multimodal transportation possible. Prior to joining Metro he mapped sewers as a geospatial analyst for a local stormwater/wastewater utility. He and his wife Katie are long time Northsiders where they live with their flock of chickens.

2023 Breakout Sessions

Morning Breakout 1 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Grand Ballroom

For Us, By Us: Collective Hope for Neighborhood Resilience

Anthony Smith

Green Corps Crew Lead - Groundwork Ohio River Valley

Darryl Franklin

Resident Leader - North Fairmount Neighborhood

Darlene Capell

Resident Leader - North Fairmount Neighborhood

Marisha Davis

Resident Leader - Lower Price Hill Neighborhood

Kelsey Hawkins-Johnson (Moderator)

Community & Climate Resilience Program Director - Groundwork Ohio River Valley

Junior Ballroom B

Food Waste Solutions and Strategies Across Ohio

Tony Staubach

Food Waste Diversion Coordinator - Hamilton County R3source

Robin Henderson

Program Manager, Office of Sustainability and Environment - City of Cincinnati

Karima Samadi

Policy Analyst, Food Systems - Center for Public Health Innovation, Columbus Public Health

Andrew Booker

Programs Manager - SWACO

Madeline Keating (Moderator)

Food Matters Initiative Lead, City Strategist - NRDC

Junior Ballroom A

Leadership in Electrification: The City Perspective

Mo McReynolds

Senior Project Manager, Office of Sustainability - City of Indianapolis

Rob McCracken

Energy Manager, Office of Environment and Sustainability - City of Cincinnati

Bethany Bella

Building and Energy Coordinator - City of Columbus

Jessica Stoll (Moderator)

Program Associate - Electrification Coalition

Junior Ballroom C

Taking Sustainability Within Companies to the Next Level Through Worker Ownership

Flequer Vera

CEO - Sustainergy Cooperative

Trisha Hay

Founding Worker Owner - Shine Nurture Center Cooperative

Julia Marchese

Co-Founder - Queen City Commons

Mona Jenkins

Co-Founder - Queen Mother's Market

Kristen Barker (Moderator)

Co-Director - Co-op Cincy

Junior Ballroom D

Corporate Real Estate Decarbonization - From Strategy to Action

Doug Sitton

Sr. Principle - IMEG

Steve Winbigler

Global Technical Director, Facility Systems - Procter & Gamble Company

Christina O’Keeffe

Executive Director - Ohio Air Quality Development Authority

Joshua Brugeman

Co-Founder and Managing Partner - Fresh Coast Climate Solutions

Morning Breakout 2 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Grand Ballroom

Connecting the Dots: Linking Housing and Environmental Justice

Mark Jeffreys

Council Member - City of Cincinnati

Reggie Harris

Council Member - City of Cincinnati

Pete Metz

Vice President, Civic & Regional Partnerships - Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

Elizabeth Blume

Principal - Blume Community Partners

Junior Ballroom A

Bolstering Climate Resilience: The Cincinnati Biochar Project

Sam Dunlap

Founder - Carbon Harvest LLC

Stephanie Bacher (she/her)

Sustainability Coordinator - Great Parks of Hamilton County

Amy Townsend-Small

Professor, Department of Geosciences - University of Cincinnati

Crystal Courtney

Division Manager, Natural Resources Division - Cincinnati Park Board

Junior Ballroom B

Morning Breakout 1
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

For Us, By Us:
Collective Hope for Neighborhood Resilience

Taking Sustainability Within
Companies to the Next Level
Through Worker Ownership

Morning Breakout 2
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Connecting the Dots:
Linking Housing and Environmental Justice

Bolstering Climate Resilience:
The Cincinnati Biochar Project

2023 Farm Bill:
What Is the Impact at the Regional Level?

Honoring Pain:
A Strengths-Based Approach to Resilience

Chief Love Officer, Therapist, Liberatory Coach, Consultant -
Labors of Love Counseling and Consulting, LLC

Afternoon Breakout 1
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Navigating Federal Funding:
How to Leverage IIJA and IRA

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty –
Two Generations at a Time

Reimagining the Civic Commons
in Cincinnati and Beyond