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Plenary Speakers

The SRI in the Rockies Conference organizers are delighted to welcome the following confirmed speakers to our 22nd annual event. You may browse the speakers below, listed alphabetically.

We appreciate the contribution that these and all of our speakers make toward a successful conference!

Doug Arent PhD

Doug Arent is Executive Director of the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA). He specializes in strategic planning and financial analysis competencies; clean energy technologies and energy and water issues; and international and governmental policies. In addition to his JISEA responsibilities, Dr. Arent is Senior Visiting Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and an author and expert reviewer for the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy, a member of the US Government Review Panel for the IPCC Reports on Climate Change and was recently appointed as a Coordinating Lead Author for the 5th Assessment Report. In addition, he serves on the National Academy of Sciences Panel on Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change, and on the Executive Council of the U.S. Association of Energy Economists.

Ellen Brown

Ellen Brown, J.D., developed her research skills as an attorney practicing civil litigation in Los Angeles. She is the author of 11 books. Her book on public banking is to be released in 2011. In "Web of Debt", her most recent book, she traces the history and evolution of the current private banking system. She shows how it has usurped the power to create money from the people themselves, and how we the people can get it back. Ms. Brown has written nearly 100 articles on this subject since "Web of Debt" was first published. She is the inspiration and thought leader behind the Public Banking Institute, where she serves as Chairman and President.

Rinaldo Brutoco JD

Rinaldo Brutoco is the President of the World Business Academy which he founded in 1986 to educate, inspire, and assist business leaders to take responsibility for the whole of society. The Academy is a preeminent publisher of new paradigm business literature. Mr. Brutoco was a Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the nation's first pay cable television operation, CHANNEL 100. He was also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of one of the first companies to offer over-the-air television transmissions of major motion pictures, Universal Subscription Television. He is the Principal and CEO of the ShangriLa Group, a consulting firm and commercial group of companies with investments in various enterprises. He consults on the leading edge of business, renewable energy, international micro and macro-economics, technology, and finance, among other things.

Kenneth Cohen

Kenneth P. Cohen is the Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for Exxon Mobil Corporation. He has worldwide responsibility for the Company's government relations, communications, media relations, global community relations and corporate brand activities. Mr. Cohen joined the Company's legal department in 1977 after serving as an Assistant Professor of Law at Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis. He held a variety of staff assignments and, in 1985, he became Chief Attorney, Refining, Environment and Health. In 1989, he was named Assistant General Counsel, Exxon Company International; in 1991, he became Senior Counsel and Coordinator, Exxon Corporation Law Department. In 1995, he became General Counsel, Exxon Chemical Company; and in November 1999, he was named to his current position. Back To Top

Robert Corell PhD

Dr. Robert W. Corell is a Principal for the Global Environment Technology Foundation and its Center for Energy and Climate Solutions, and an Ambassador for ClimateWorks,. He is a Partner of C-ROADS Climate Interactive Initiative, Head of the U.S. Office for the Global Energy Assessment and Chair of the Global Climate Action initiative established to assist international negotiators in the COP15 and beyond processes. In 2010, Dr. Corell founded the non-profit Global Science Associates, an interdisciplinary nucleus for the world's best science experts and collaboratories. Dr. Corell is actively engaged in research concerned with the sciences of global change and the interface between science and public policy, particularly research activities that are focused on global and regional climate change, related environmental issues, and science to facilitate understanding of vulnerability and sustainable development.

Philippe Cousteau

Philippe Cousteau is the son of Jan and Philippe Cousteau Sr., and the grandson of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. He is the CEO of EarthEcho International, co-founded with his sister and mother. In addition, he is co-founder of Azure Worldwide, a strategic environmental design, development and marketing company. Mr. Cousteau is the Chief Ocean Correspondent for Discovery's Animal Planet, a special correspondent for CNN International, Chief Spokesperson for Environmental Education for Discovery Education, and a frequent contributor to CNN.com, the Huffington Post and TreeHugger.com. Philippe Cousteau has lectured at such institutions as The United Nations, Harvard University, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He has also testified to Congress on issues of ocean management and off-shore drilling. Most recently, he founded and is co-chair of the Gulf Action Network for the Clinton Global Initiative.

Bennett Freeman

As Senior Vice President for Sustainability Research and Policy, Bennett Freeman has led Calvert's Sustainability Research Department and its social, environmental and governance research analysis, shareholder advocacy and public policy work since 2006. Through its SAGE enhanced engagement, Calvert has advanced sustainability objectives with ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell among other major oil/gas companies and taken the lead among investors in developing and supporting disclosure of extractive revenue enacted in 2010 as Section 1504 of the landmark Dodd-Frank legislation. Mr. Freeman has been an innovator and leader for over a decade on issues relating to extractives, corporate responsibility and human rights. As Principal of Sustainable Investment Strategies, he co-authored the first-ever human rights impact assessment of a large extractive project. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Freeman led the development of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

Jeff Fulgham

Jeff Fulgham recently joined Banyan Water as the CSO (Chief Sales, Service, Strategy and Sustainability Officer). Banyan Water is a private equity-backed firm building an enterprise water management platform—addressing water scarcity and infrastructure damage—for private customers at the end points of the water grid. Banyan is accelerating its go-to-market efforts by aggregating an existing pipeline of acquisition targets, predominantly technology-enabled water service businesses. Prior to Banyan, Mr. Fulgham was the Chief Sustainability Officer and ecomagination Leader for GE Power & Water. He has spent the last 30 years working to help solve the world's energy and water crises' and create a more sustainable future. He is a salesman, marketer, strategic planner, technologist, thought leader and entrepreneur with a passion for proving that "Green is Green" - that doing what's right for the environment is also economically smart. Back To Top

Donna Gambrell

Donna J. Gambrell has served as Director of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund since 2007. The CDFI Fund expands the capacity of financial institutions to provide credit, capital, and financial services to underserved populations and communities in the United States. Prior to the CDFI Fund, Ms. Gambrell served as a Deputy Director at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Previously, at the request of former FDIC Chairman Donald E. Powell, she served 18 months on temporary assignment in the Gulf Coast Region working on rebuilding initiatives in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Ms. Gambrell began her career with the FDIC in 1991 serving in increasingly responsible compliance and consumer protection positions until her promotion to Deputy Director in 2000. In 2004, she received a National Public Service Award for her innovative work in formulating public-private partnerships.

George R. Gay CFP, AIF

George R. Gay is Chief Executive Officer of First Affirmative Financial Network and chairs the First Affirmative Investment Committee. He joined the company that was to become First Affirmative Financial Network as a financial planner in 1986. The company was sold to Walnut Street Securities, and then became independent in 1999 at which time he became CEO. He was the recipient of the industry's 1997 "SRI Service Award." Mr. Gay is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served on active duty for nine years in various command, staff and faculty assignments as an Armor officer. His final assignment on active duty carried over for three years as a civilian. Upon his departure, he was awarded the Department of the Army "Commander's Award for Civilian Service." Back To Top

Tom Hicks

Tom Hicks is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy. He serves as the Secretariat focal point on all matters pertaining to the Department of Navy's energy conservation, energy efficiency, energy resources, and green initiatives. Previously, Mr. Hicks held several executive roles at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Most recently, he spearheaded a new strategic venture on behalf of USGBC - the Building Performance Initiative - to ensure that all green buildings meet or exceed their energy and environmental performance goals. As Vice President of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, he led the development and implementation of all LEED rating systems. He also served as Vice President for International Programs. Prior to USGBC, he was a Senior Program Manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency within the Energy Star for Buildings program. Back To Top

Steve Kretzmann

Steve Kretzmann is the Executive Director of Oil Change International which he founded in 2005 in order to educate about the true impacts of fossil fuels, and to conduct research, education, and organizing to hasten the transition to clean energy. His dedication to this struggle began in earnest after campaigning with the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni of Nigeria. Since that time, Mr. Kretzmann has worked to engage often reluctant corporations in dialogue about human and environmental rights, expose troublesome examples of oil industry current practices, and change patterns of public and private finance around the energy industry. He maintains relationships with a global network of energy industry analysts and investors, and is widely considered to be one of civil society's key advocates for reform in the energy sector. Back To Top

Dina Kruger

Dina Kruger is President of Kruger Environmental Strategies, a firm focusing on clean energy and environmental issues. From 2004 to 2011, she was the director of the Climate Change Division at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). At EPA, she was responsible for a comprehensive suite of programs and analyses dealing with clean energy and climate change regulation, policy, economics, mitigation technologies, science, impacts, and communication. Ms. Kruger led the team that developed EPA's historic 2009 Endangerment Finding, thus setting the stage for Clean Air Act regulation, designed and implemented EPA's Greenhouse Reporting Program, and worked with Congress on technical and policy issues related to climate and clean energy legislation. Before joining EPA in 1989, she worked at ICF, Inc., the Investor Responsibility Research Center, and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

Joel Makower

Joel Makower is chairman and executive editor of GreenBiz Group, Inc., creator of GreenBiz.com and other acclaimed web sites, research, and events on the greening of mainstream business. He hosts GreenBiz.com's annual State of Green Business Forums, and is author of the annual State of Green Business report. For more than 20 years, Mr. Makower has been a well-respected voice on business, the environment, and the bottom line. A former nationally syndicated columnist, he is author of more than a dozen books, including his latest, Strategies for the Green Economy (2008). Previous books include Beyond the Bottom Line: Putting Social Responsibility to Work for Your Business and the World; The E-Factor: The Bottom-Line Approach to Environmentally Responsible Business, and The Green Consumer. The Associated Press has called him "the guru of green business practices." Back To Top

Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn (ret.)

Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn (ret.) became President of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) in 2011. ACORE is dedicated to moving renewable energy into the mainstream of America's economy, ensuring the success of the renewable energy industry while helping to build a sustainable and independent energy future for the nation. Admiral McGinn is actively engaged in efforts at the national level to highlight the close link between energy, climate and national security. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on the national and economic security implications of climate change and our dependence on fossil fuels, has interviewed with major news networks and national journalists, regularly participates in public forums, and has been published in print media. Admiral McGinn also serves as Chairman and CEO of RemoteReality, a high technology optical and software research firm. His current work follows a 35 year career with the U.S. Navy where he served as a naval aviator, test pilot, aircraft carrier commanding officer, and national security strategist.

Mel Miller CFA

Mel Miller is Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. His primary responsibilities include the investment portfolios, asset/liability management, and funding issues of Heartland member banks. Mr. Miller heads the economic research and forecasting functions for all of Heartland Financial. He also participates in establishing the strategic asset allocation for Wealth Management clients. He initiated the establishment of social responsibility investment services shortly after joining Dubuque Bank &Trust (DB&T) in 1984. Prior to joining DB&T, Mr. Miller taught at the college level in the areas of investments and portfolio management, and was chair of the department of Accounting and Business at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Back To Top

Robin Newmark PhD

Robin L. Newmark is Director of the Strategic Energy Analysis Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Prior to joining NREL, Dr. Newmark was at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), where her research focused primarily on energy, environment and national security. In recent years, she has led or contributed to programs involving energy, climate and water issues, including the interdependence of water and energy systems. Dr. Newmark is an active member of the multi-national laboratory Energy-Water Nexus working group, the World Resources Institute Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) Stakeholder Group and the U.S. - China Expert CCS Steering Committee. She is an author of over 50 papers, reports and patents, and a Fellow of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Back To Top

Lincoln Pain CFP, AIF

Lincoln Pain is the founder and President of Effective Assets™, a financial planning firm in Berkeley, California. He has been a financial planner specializing in socially responsible investing (SRI) since 1986, and is currently the Chair of the Northern California Social Investment Forum Chapter. He has been a member of the First Affirmative Financial Network since 1988, and is a registered principal and the manager of a Cambridge Investment Group branch office in Berkeley. Mr. Pain is an original sponsor of the Community Bank of the Bay in Oakland, and is the investment consultant to MoveOn.org. As a representative of First Affirmative Financial Network, he serves as the Investment Consultant for Amnesty International, USA, and other institutions, and labor union locals. From 1983-1985 Mr. Pain was the West Coast Correspondent for the PBS Nightly Business Report.

Betsy Sanders

As the Principal of The Sanders Partnership and the Senior Research Advisor for Aletheia Research and Management , Inc., Betsy Sanders enjoys a multi-faceted relationship with the global business community. A director, consultant, mentor, speaker and writer, she partners with senior executives committed to transformative practices focused on growing their businesses coherent with their values. A two decade career with Nordstrom, culminating in developing the company's first billion dollar region, gave Ms. Sanders her foundation in conscious leadership. In 1990, she left the company to create The Sanders Partnership. Since 1981, Ms. Sanders has distinguished herself as a corporate director, serving a number of publicly held and privately held companies. Her leadership handbook, Fabled Service, has been a sustained top-seller since its first printing in 1996. Back To Top

Ian Simm

Ian Simm is the Chief Executive Officer of Impax Asset Management Group, based in London. He joined Impax in 1996. Initially working as corporate finance adviser in the waste and power sectors, he established Impax Asset Management (IAM) in 1998. Since then, he has been responsible for building the business, particularly the development of the firm's long-only, venture capital and infrastructure teams and investment products. In addition to his role as Chief Executive, Mr. Simm heads the firm's investment committees. Prior to Impax, he was a project manager at McKinsey & Company in the Netherlands where he led teams to provide advice to clients in a range of environmentally sensitive industries.

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