GreenTown Will County Agenda
KEYNOTE - Sustainable Economic Development: The Future of Will County
Debra Rowe, Ph D.
Dr. Debra Rowe, a leading advocate in sustainability and education for sustainable development , will address the national trends and local actions for a sustainable future. Dr. Rowe, a professor at Oakland Community College in Detroit, will discuss the aspects of sustainability in both higher education and in the community. She will focus on sustainable economic development and the impact it will have on the future of Will County, its employees and residents. This presentation will have an emphasis on resilience and on the leadership from the business sector while also including government and nonprofits. Attendees will learn how they can help create and benefit from a more sustainable Will County.
Where and When
Where
Joliet Junior College
Renaissance Center
214 N Ottawa St, Downtown Joliet
When
Friday, October 26 from 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM,
Craft Beer and Networking Social 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
Schedule
7:30am-8:30am Mayors and Elected Officials Breakfast
8:30am-9:00am Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00am-9:30am Welcome Addresses
9:30am-10:20am Keynote
10:20am-10:30am Break
10:30am-11:45am Breakout Session #1
11:45am-12:45pm Lunch
11:50pm-12:10pm Optional Anaerobic Digester Tour
12:45pm-2:00pm Breakout Session #2
2:00pm-2:15pm Break
2:15pm-3:30pm Breakout Session #3
3:30pm-3:45pm Break - Snacks provided by University of St. Francis
3:45pm-4:15pm Will County Regional Sustainability Network/Event Closing
4:15pm-5:30pm Craft Beer and Networking Social
Topics and Sessions
ENERGY AND ECOSYSTEMS
Energy Efficiency - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
MODERATOR: Sam Bluemer, Energy & Conservation Specialist, Will County
Jeff Hettrick, External Affairs Manager, ComEd
Amy Jewel, Senior City Advisor, City Energy Project, IMT
Lindy Wordlaw, Senior Manager, Public Sector Programs, Elevate Energy
Solar Energy - 12:45 - 2:00 p.m. | Breakout Supporter - Illinois Solar Energy Association
MODERATOR: Mark Burger, Community Solar Consultant
David McEllis,Government Affairs Rep, Environmental Law and Policy Center
Sarah Wochos, Director of Policy and Business Development, Borrego Solar Systems
Tim Montague, Solar PV Sales & Business Development, Continental Electrical Construction Co.
Sam Bluemer, Energy & Conservation Specialist, Will County
Sustainable Development - 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
MODERATOR: John Harris, a5 Inc.
Edith Makra, Director of Environmental Initiatives, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Jim Rickert, Commissioning Manager, Farnsworth Group, Inc.
Lois Vitt Sale, Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, Wight & Co.
Lisa Dorothy, Civil Engineer, City of Joliet
LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE FOOD
What does Farm to Table Really Mean? - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
MODERATOR: Kathy Pecora, Program Manager, We WILL Grow, Will County Land Use
Joe Pecora, President, Heroes West Sports Grill
Tom Schoenbeck, Schoenbeck Farms, Heart and Soil Heirlooms, Inc.
Joe Cokinis, Chef, Heroes West Sports Grill
Jerry Hauert, Omega Beef
Defining a Local Food System - 12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
MODERATOR: Kathy Pecora, Program Manager, We WILL Grow, Will County Land Use
Janice Hill, Farmland Protection Manager, Kane County
Matt Tansley, Land Use Planner, Kane County
Emily Weber, Liberty Prairie Foundation
Karen Lehman, Artisan Grain Cooperative
Farm to School - 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
MODERATOR: Kathy Pecora, Program Manager, We WILL Grow, Will County Land Use
Diane Chapeta, Program Manager, Seven Generations Ahead/Illinois Farm to School Network
Linda Mallers, Founder, Farm Logix
Misty Soderholm, Vice President, William E. Young School and Volunteer Coordinator of its Garden Club, Homer Glen Parent Teacher Organization
WATER
Regional and Local Water Issues (Joliet, Great Lakes) - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
MODERATOR: Janine Hicks, Sustainability Coordinator, University of St. Francis
Tom Weisner, Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Planning Council
Danielle Gallet, Manager, Metropolitan Planning Council
Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities, City of Joliet
Nick Gornick, Plant Operations Superintendent, City of Joliet
Water Quality Protection and Agriculture - 12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
MODERATOR: Gary Cuneen, Executive Director, Seven Generations Ahead
Trevor Sample, Coordinator, Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, Illinois EPA
Larry Thurow, Special Projects Coordinator, Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District
James Isermann, Illinois Field Manager, Soil Health Partnership
Practices and Products for Water Savings - 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
MODERATOR: Sam Bluemer, Energy & Conservation Specialist, Will County
Cary McElhinney, WaterSense Coordinator, US EPA Region 5 (Chicago)
Rebecca Raines, Manager of Outreach and Public Education, CNT RainReady
Jeff Freeman, Vice President, Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
TRANSPORTATION
Community Mobility - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
MODERATOR: Mike Schwarz, Planning Director, City of Joliet
Maggie Melin, Advocacy Manager, Active Transportation Alliance
Ed Barsotti, Chief Programs Officer, Ride Illinois
Will County Community Friendly Freight Mobility Plan and Transportation Issues and Solutions - 12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
MODERATOR: Elaine Bottomley, Director of Transportation, Will County Governmental League
John Greuling, President & CEO, Will County Center for Economic Development
Elizabeth Irvin, Senior Transportation Planner, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Justine Reisinger Sydello, Deputy Secretary, Illinois Department of Transportation
Will County Public Transportation and Bikeable, Walkable Community Initiatives - 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
MODERATOR: Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist, Will County
Cori Crawford, Planning and GIS Coordinator, Forest Preserve District of Will County
Elizabeth Gonzalez, Community Relations Representative, Pace Suburban Bus
HEALTH - Sponsored by Silver Cross HOSPITAL
Community Health Assessment, the MAPP Collaborative, and Food Recovery - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
MODERATOR: Chuck Colley, Director of Business Development, a5 Inc.
Shannon Jermal, Regional Director of Community Health Integration, Presence Health
Hester Bury, Director of Foundations and Grants, Northern Illinois Food Bank
Jennifer Lamplough, Director of Nutrition Programs & Exec. Chef, Northern Illinois Food Bank
Opioids and Issues Around Health, Water Quality and Waste – National, Local, Barriers, Solutions - 12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
MODERATOR: Dr. Kathleen Burke, Director of Substance Use Initiatives, Will County Executive Office
Terry Lemming, Police Chief, Village of Lockport
Nick Ficarello, Police Chief, Braidwood
Jim Vehrs, Mayor, Braidwood
Dr. Kathleen Burke, Director of Substance Use Initiatives, Will County Executive Office
Food is Medicine: Links Between Sustainability and Health - 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
MODERATOR: Sharon McNeil, Manager of Healthy Community Programs, Northern IL Food Bank
Martha Clare Morris, Professor and Director, Rush Hospital, author of Diet for the Mind
Bettye Gavin, Executive Director, Forest Park Community Center, Joliet City Councilwoman, District 4
WASTE DIVERSION, COMPOSTING, RECYCLING and FOOD RECOVERY
Legislation, Ordinances and Planning: Recycling, Waste Reduction and Composting Initiatives - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
MODERATOR: Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist, Will County
Lisa Disbrow, Public Affairs Manager, Waste Management
Jen Walling, Executive Director, Illinois Environmental Council
Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist, Will County
Infrastructure and Programs Driving Waste Reduction and Composting - 12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
MODERATOR: Dean Olson, Resource Recovery & Energy Director, Will County
Debra Shore, Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
John Trelo, Commercial Account Manager, Organix Recycling
Stephanie Katsaros, Founder & President, Bright Beat
Composting, Waste Reduction and Recycling at Educational Institutions - 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
MODERATOR: Joan O’Keefe, Environmental Educator, Will County
John, Lerczak, Sustainability Coordinator, Lewis University
Kate Caldwell, Interpretive Naturalist, Plum Creek Nature Center
Joan O’Keefe, Environmental Educator, Will County