Join us for an informational and interactive panel discussion of strategies to successfully implement green initiatives that will not only benefit our community, but your individual business as well. Have all of your questions answered and meet our guest speakers in person at the complimentary reception following the panel.
»»» Complimentary Happy Hour following Green Forum «««
GUEST SPEAKERS
Director of Texas Green Network and Radio Host of KOOP’s Green Business weekly talk show, “Shades of Green”
Reed is co-founder and “idea guy” behind the Texas Green Network and a passionate organization builder, community builder and environmental advocate. Reed’s professional career includes twelve years in technology sales and marketing and, more recently, five years in small business banking and commercial lending. Reed enjoys the water and life in central Austin with his wife Lisa and two children Zac and Lucy.(Business Development) Co-Chair, networking with regional and national corporations to connect their employees to environmental causes that they care about.
Executive Director, Ecology Action of Texas
As Executive Director of Ecology Action, Joaquin has overseen an expansion of the organization’s programs and services that have resulted in increased access to landfill diversion and resource conservation opportunities for Austin residents and small businesses. Under his leadership, Ecology Action has initiated collaborations with a range of stakeholder groups including the local business community, City of Austin Departmental staff, recycling industry leaders, and environmental activists to identify highest and best use of waste materials, including hard-to-recycle items and brownfields to help Austin achieve its goal of 90% landfill diversion by 2040. Joaquin is currently the Chair Elect on the Earth Share of Texas governing board and serves as the Vice Chair of the Central Texas Recycling Council.
Strategic Initiatives Division Manager for Austin Resource Recovery
The Strategic Initiatives Division is responsible for Zero Waste program development, commercial waste reduction assistance, education and outreach, marketing, and long-range planning to implement the City of Austin’s Zero Waste Strategic Plan. After graduating from Trinity University with a Bachelor in Political Science and a minor in Environmental Studies, Jessica worked as a legal assistant in the Litigation Division of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In 2002, she received her Master in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas and turned her attention to local environmental policy.
Environmental Program Coordinator, Office of Sustainability
Marc is an Environmental Programs Coordinator with the Office of Sustainability, where he helped create the Austin Green Business Leaders and the local carbon offsets Challenge Grant. Before moving to Austin in 2009, Marc was an urban planner and intern architect in Upstate New York and California where he helped local officials, developers and citizen groups achieve common sustainable goals. Along the way, Marc has incorporated environmental issues into his professional and extracurricular activities. He organized the Green Material Expos in Troy, New York with the American Institute of Architects and lectured on issues of sustainable urban design as an adjunct professor at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture.
Director of Small Business & Event Operations, Balcones Resources
After attending college in San Francisco, Bob found his way to a career in Media and Advertising, which eventually led him back to his native state of Texas for a job in Public Radio at KUT. It was during his time at KUT that Bob saw first-hand the need for more non-industrial recycling options in the Austin community. Inspired by the scale and success of the recycling program he saw in San Francisco, Bob started Wandering River recycling company in 2008. He focused on providing SingleStream recycling services for smaller businesses and events around Austin until, in 2012, Wandering River was acquired by Balcones Resources. Bob now serves as the Director of Small Business and Event Operations, effectively running his own division within Balcones. This role gives him the ability to continue serving his niche customers, while expanding his outreach and utilizing all of the resources of Balcones’ state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility.
REGISTRATION
Reed is co-founder and “idea guy” behind the Texas Green Network and a passionate organization builder, community builder and environmental advocate. Reed’s professional career includes twelve years in technology sales and marketing and, more recently, five years in small business banking and commercial lending. Reed enjoys the water and life in central Austin with his wife Lisa and two children Zac and Lucy.(Business Development) Co-Chair, networking with regional and national corporations to connect their employees to environmental causes that they care about.
As Executive Director of Ecology Action, Joaquin has overseen an expansion of the organization’s programs and services that have resulted in increased access to landfill diversion and resource conservation opportunities for Austin residents and small businesses. Under his leadership, Ecology Action has initiated collaborations with a range of stakeholder groups including the local business community, City of Austin Departmental staff, recycling industry leaders, and environmental activists to identify highest and best use of waste materials, including hard-to-recycle items and brownfields to help Austin achieve its goal of 90% landfill diversion by 2040. Joaquin is currently the Chair Elect on the Earth Share of Texas governing board and serves as the Vice Chair of the Central Texas Recycling Council.
The Strategic Initiatives Division is responsible for Zero Waste program development, commercial waste reduction assistance, education and outreach, marketing, and long-range planning to implement the City of Austin’s Zero Waste Strategic Plan. After graduating from Trinity University with a Bachelor in Political Science and a minor in Environmental Studies, Jessica worked as a legal assistant in the Litigation Division of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In 2002, she received her Master in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas and turned her attention to local environmental policy.
Marc is an Environmental Programs Coordinator with the Office of Sustainability, where he helped create the Austin Green Business Leaders and the local carbon offsets Challenge Grant. Before moving to Austin in 2009, Marc was an urban planner and intern architect in Upstate New York and California where he helped local officials, developers and citizen groups achieve common sustainable goals. Along the way, Marc has incorporated environmental issues into his professional and extracurricular activities. He organized the Green Material Expos in Troy, New York with the American Institute of Architects and lectured on issues of sustainable urban design as an adjunct professor at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture.
After attending college in San Francisco, Bob found his way to a career in Media and Advertising, which eventually led him back to his native state of Texas for a job in Public Radio at KUT. It was during his time at KUT that Bob saw first-hand the need for more non-industrial recycling options in the Austin community. Inspired by the scale and success of the recycling program he saw in San Francisco, Bob started Wandering River recycling company in 2008. He focused on providing SingleStream recycling services for smaller businesses and events around Austin until, in 2012, Wandering River was acquired by Balcones Resources. Bob now serves as the Director of Small Business and Event Operations, effectively running his own division within Balcones. This role gives him the ability to continue serving his niche customers, while expanding his outreach and utilizing all of the resources of Balcones’ state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility.