1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Energy Efficiency and Green Power Purchasing

Panelist will discuss ways for businesses to save money through energy efficiency and topics such as green power purchasing, renewable energy credits, and available rebates, incentives, and grants for clean energy projects. Businesses can save money while reducing their carbon footprint.

John Filippelli has been with U.S. EPA for over 30 years and is currently the Chief of Region 2's Strategic Planning and Multi-MediaPrograms Branch. He is responsible for the Region's National Environmental Policy Act , pollution prevention, and energy programs as well as various planning and grants actions. John previously held management positions in the Region's air pollution control program with responsibility for state air quality plans, mobile sources and air monitoring. He was also Region 2’s solid waste management team leader with responsibility for the landfill, waste transfer station, recycling and source reduction programs. Prior to joining EPA, he worked in comprehensive transportation planning for the New York City Department of Transportation and land use planning for Jersey City, New Jersey. At the community level, he also served on the North Arlington, New Jersey Zoning Board and Board of Education. John holds B.A. and Master of City and Regional Planning degrees from Rutgers University.

Elyssa Rothe joined Courtney Strong Inc.’s Energy $mart Communities Program in 2008, after working as the Energy $mart Communities Coordinator for Northern Manhattan, Bronx, and Queens. This energy efficiency community outreach program has Elyssa traveling across Westchester, helping communities take advantage of the assistance available from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA.) Before becoming part of the team at Courtney Strong Inc., Elyssa was a communications associate at the Coro New York Leadership Center, working to encourage ethical and effective leadership in New York City. She has written and reported for several Westchester newspapers and publications, after graduating from New York University with a degree in Social Entrepreneurship and Writing.

John Urbanowicz, Founding Partner, Green Tree Energy

John Urbanowicz is the founding partner of Green Tree Energy. Green Tree Energy is one of Westchester largest energy solutions company. John has extensive training with NYSERDA, BPI and EnergyStar as well as being one of the first green builders in the county. Green Tree uses the latest technology like infrared thermal imaging to determine energy loss and retrofits both commercial and residential properties with utilizing air sealing and insulation. Green Tree Energy also provides all paperwork for both the state and federal rebates and tax credits.

If you'd like to see Johny in action- check out the facebook Green Tree Energy page for New York Times report:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Mount-Kisco-NY/Green-Tree-Energy/88472063309?ref=ts

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Finding Private Sources of Capital and Developing Green Ventures

This panel will discuss what angels, banks and venture capital firms look for in new business ventures. Panelists will discuss financing and developing green business ventures

Presented by: Diego Belmonte, Senior Vice President, East Coast Region, Renewable Ventures

Mr. Diego Belmonte is currently acting as senior advisor (Vice President) to Renewable Ventures (RV), a Fotowatio Company, one of the world’s leading solar energy companies. He is in charge of all East Coast operations in RV. Mr. Belmonte is the former President and CEO of Fotowatio USA, Inc; he has been responsible for company’s integration efforts into the renewable energy US market space. Mr. Belmonte is now supporting expansion and development efforts of RV Fotowatio’s current plan. He has advised and actively participated in many ventures, among others, bringing General Electric Financial Services into Fotowatio’s shareholding structure and the M&A process of forming Renewable Ventures, a Fotowatio company

Previously, Mr. Belmonte was at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a Washington DC based international financial organization. At IDB, he worked on public and private project development, specifically designing, granting and financing infrastructure projects, particularly in the renewable energy sector. He has pioneered developmental projects and promoted sustainable development around the Americas, with more than 10 years of international project development experience.

Mr. Diego Belmonte holds a Master's in Science degree in Environmental Engineering, Spain, and holds a bachelor degree B.S. Environmental Sciences, from the University of California, in United States.

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm Socially and Environmentally Responsible Business

Many companies are realizing the need to take responsibility for their effects on their community and the environment. Panelists will discuss the importance of taking on this challenge and aligning business priorities with social and environmental accountability.

Moderated By: Steven Salsberg, Vice Chairman, Council on the Environment of NYC

Steven P. Salsberg is founder of the Salsberg Group of companies (www.salsberggroup.com) and is Vice Chairman of the Council on the Environment of New York City (www.cenyc.org) appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

He is active in diverse entities including technology and shipping. He is an attorney and member of the Bars of New York and New Jersey. Steven splits his time between public interest work and technology related to mobile payments and transparency in banking and government financed construction projects

He is a member and active director of numerous boards including the Board of Visitors of the CUNY School of Law (www.law.cuny.edu) and The Friends of Hudson River Park (www.fohrp.org), and the Social Venture Network (www.SVN.org).

Much of Steven’s entrepreneurial work is social policy in action, rooted in his well-known dedication to expanding opportunities for underserved populations and his commitments to Corporate Social Responsibility. Steven often speaks about Attainable-Measurable-Sustainable ™ business practices. He and his wife Orly Natan Salsberg, CEO of Salsberg Group, own a sustainable wine bar in New York called Café Notte (www.NotteWineBar.com).

Steven enjoys creating new businesses and advising young socially responsible entrepreneurs.

This panel will address emerging trends in sustainable design, low hanging fruit for cost effective design improvements, basics of LEED certification, and standards which can affect your business.

Panelists Include: Justin Green, Program Director,

Build it Green! NYC

Moderated By: Jim Holiber, CEO/President, General Manager, Green Depot

Justin has overseen the development of BIG!NYC from inception. Justin managed the 2 deconstruction projects for the Durst Organization that generated the materials that launched BIG!NYC. Before BIG!NYC, Justin worked on Community Environmental Center’s efforts to establish a statewide loan fund for the installation of energy efficiency measures. Justin’s previous experience managing construction crews in residential development prepared him for his work at BIG!NYC. He also previously worked as Loan Associate with Low Income Investment Fund monitoring loans to non-profit housing developers and for an educational Internet company during the first Internet boom. He owns the cute white Jack Russell named Lucy. Justin loved dumpster diving so much that he decided to make it into a full blown career. To the ongoing distress of Christine, all of their home furnishings and most of his clothes consist of found items and materials (except their mattress – not his choice.)

Jim is a dedicated “Green” business advocate and business leader, who in recognition of this commitment has been elected to the Board of Directors of the United States Green Building Council’s New York Chapter. He is chairman of the Expo Committee, USGBC New York Chapter’s major fund raising event. He also Co- Chairs and is a Founding Member of the CEO Trust – Quovis, a small business leader forum. Jim is a member of the Advisory Board of the DBM, International Center for Executive Options, a premier U.S. Human Capital Consulting firm.

In his twenty plus year business and legal career Jim has worked in media, practiced law with a leading New York City law firm, and lead the turnaround of a multi-state real estate and commercial building products distributor. Most recently Jim has turned his attention to his passion for the “Green Building Products” markets. In 2006 he joined the Northeast’s leading commercial and residential “Green” building products marketer & distributor in order to lead its aggressive retail growth initiative into the
eleventh state in just 3.5 years.

As Green Depot’s General Manager, Jim Holiber is responsible for ensuring that each new center and all facets of Green Depot’s operations are optimized for peak efficiency, maximum sales growth, business plan execution, best practices and superior customer relations. This role extends not only to multi-branch operations and sales, but to the successful launch of new locations and vendor lines. In addition, Jim is responsible for ongoing staff training and mentoring, is a member of Green Depot’s Internal Product Assessment committee, and oversees in-house legal affairs.
Prior to joining Green Depot in 2006, Jim was President and CEO of The Bay Ridge Companies, a multi-location building material distribution company, where he had spent 18 years in various leadership roles in operations, sales and finance, and as the firm’s General Counsel. Early in Jim's career, he held leadership roles at the National
Broadcasting Company (NBC), involved in corporate strategic planning and the management of in-house TV production. While at NBC, Jim earned his law degree at night and went on to work at a New York law firm handling corporate, real estate and immigration law matters before entering the lumber distribution business.
Jim resides with his wife and two children in Westchester County, New York and enjoys skiing, traveling and spending time with his family.

 Kris Shaw, LEED AP, Cresent Energy Consulting

Kris eight years of project leadership experience spans high-rise construction, infrastructure, sustainable design and renewable energy. He has forged partnerships with investors, clients, suppliers, regulators, contractors and employees.

Kris is Director of Sustainable Design & Administration at Crescent Energy; he manages all aspects of company operations, contract negotiations, construction, and project oversight. He has promoted and monitored the LEED Rating System across a multitude of projects in the Northeast; the focus of his work was the design and implementation of the LEED Rating System and other Energy Programs for Commercial, Residential and institutional facilities, which integrated innovative workplace concepts with sustainable architecture, interior design and site planning.

As Senior Director of Renewable Energy and Fuels, Kris leads all aspects of research, production and distribution of biodiesel. He is a leading mind in the field of Green Engineering and Construction. His résumé includes work with JPMorgan Chase, Herman Miller, Trump National, 1400 Fifth Avenue New York, and BAM LDC.

He is also President of Project Strategix, LLC, a project management consultancy, and chairman of Think! Biofuels Group, LLC, a distributor of high-quality biodiesel blends.

Kris’ formal training was in architecture and mechanical engineering.

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Job Opportunities in the Emerging Green Economy

Panelists will discuss the Green Jobs Act, employers hiring requirements, where to find jobs in the Hudson Valley, incentives from the Stimulus Act, and how knowledge of sustainable business practices is an added value.

Donnovan Beckford, Director of the Westchester County Office of Workforce Investment and Westchester Putnam Workforce Investment Board has over twenty years in the field of workforce development with expertise in developing and managing collaboratives. Mr. Beckford has worked with workforce development stakeholders including higher education, economic development, and businesses. His leadership has resulted in generating public funding for several local and regional workforce and economic development projects. His career includes education, not for profit, and public sector management. He holds a MBA from CUNY-Baruch College, Zickin Business School and a BA in Computer Science from Lehman College.

During the past year, he has provided leadership to the Hudson Valley Workforce Partnership which has resulted in over $1 million funding for two NYSDOL projects: 12N (Vocational English as a Second Language and Contextual Learning in the Workplace) and 13N (Regional Strategies for Economic Development through Sector Strategies). Mr. Beckford is also providing leadership with NY-CT WIRED partnership with the Southern Connecticut WIB and Yonkers WIB.

Lou Kirven serves as Commissioner and is responsible for the leadership and overall direction of the City of Yonkers Department of Planning and Development. Lou oversees business/economic development and attraction, residential and public facility development activities, strategic master planning, financial and real estate portfolio management and intergovernmental relations. Lou is a graduate of Simon’s Rock, Tufts University and Georgetown University Law Center. Lou serves on the Boards of the Westchester Community College Foundation, the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Minority and Woman Owned Businesses pioneered social responsibility long before it was mainstream. This panel will also address grants and incentives available in New York.