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GC3 Innovators Roundtable

Keynote Speakers

David GOlden

DAVID GOLDEN

Vice President, Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary
Eastman 

David A. Golden is Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer, and Corporate Secretary for Eastman. Golden has responsibility for Eastman's Legal, Sustainability, Corporate HSES, and Global Public Affairs and Policy Departments, which has personnel in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia. He also has overall responsibility for Eastman's Ethics & Corporate Compliance program. Immediately prior to this position, he was Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary with overall responsibility for Eastman’s Legal Department.

Golden joined Eastman in 1995 as an attorney and has held positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as the company's Director of Internal Audit from 2005 to 2007 and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel in charge of the company’s Commercial and International Law groups from 2007 to 2010. Golden assumed his current role in January 2013. 

Nate Herman 

NATE HERMAN

Vice President, Supply Chain
American Apparel & Footwear Association

Nate Herman oversees AAFA’s government relations department, managing the association’s lobbying, policy, and regulatory affairs activities. Nate leads AAFA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, formulating and implementing CSR policy and representing AAFA and the industry on CSR issues before governments, NGOs, and other key stakeholders. Nate also leads the association’s work on sustainability, transportation, logistics, and customs issues. In addition, Nate develops all apparel and footwear industry data and statistics as AAFA's resident economist. Prior to joining AAFA, Nate worked for six years at the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration assisting U.S. firms in entering the global market. Nate spent the last two years as the Department's industry analyst for the footwear and travel goods industries. Nate received a Masters of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Economics from the University of Delaware in 1992.

Richard Northcote

RICHARD NORTHCOTE

Chief Sustainability Officer
Covestro LLC

Richard Northcote is Chief Sustainability Officer at Covestro, a global leader in high performance polymers. He is a passionate advocate of the triple-bottom line and the UNGC Sustainable Development Goals as strategic tools for business and economic growth. Prior to taking this role, Richard has worked in civil engineering, journalism and the chemical sector in a number of European countries, the Middle East and Asia.

Richard is Chairman of the Oxford University Business Economics Programme Steering Committee and a member of the Advisory Boards of Tongji University Sustainability Development Council and Leeds University Business School's Research and Innovation Programme.

 

Session Speakers, Panelists, and Moderators

Monica Becker

MONICA BECKER

Co-Director and Innovation Project Lead
Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3)

Monica co-leads and manages the GC3 as well as leading the GC3 Innovation Group, including the Collaborative Innovation Project on Preservatives. Monica is also the Principal of Monica Becker & Associates Sustainability Consultants, a multi-disciplinary provider of sustainability solutions for businesses, trade associations, universities, governments and NGOs, with a particular focus on chemicals. Prior to starting MB & Associates, Monica held management positions at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability, the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction and Tellus Institutes, and Eka Chemicals (now AkzoNobel). Monica has masters’ degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering and Technology & Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

JAMES BOHLING

Fellow, Dow Coating Materials

The Dow Chemical Company

James Bohling is currently a Fellow in Dow Coating Materials. Jim earned his BS in Chemistry from Hope College in 1992,  Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Boston College in 1997 and completed post-doctoral research at the University of Utah.   Jim joined Rohm and Haas in 1999 (now The Dow Chemical Company) performing research in the Ion Exchange Resins business before joining the coatings business in 2005.  He has experience in developing products for a range of markets including low odor coating materials and high performance paint binders, bioprocessing and water purification media as well as supports for biocatalysts and solid phase synthesis. His recent responsibilities include polymer synthesis team leader for Dow Coating Materials hiding program which won external recognition including an R&D100 Award, EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award and ACS Heroes of Chemistry.   He has spoken on coatings and industrial chemistry around the world and is an inventor on >50 granted US patents.

Scott Boito

SCOTT BOITO

Product Stewardship & Advocacy Rep
Eastman 

Scott was raised in Akron, OH.  He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Ohio State then obtained graduate degrees in Organic Synthesis at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Arizona.  He worked as a chemistry librarian for more than 10 years before moving into the product stewardship and regulatory arena 10+ years ago.  Scott joined Eastman Chemical in 2012 where his role has since expanded to include Eastman’s chemical intermediates and copolyester resins business units.

bart campbelle

BART CAMPBELL

Carpet Fiber Application & Development
Ascend Performance Materials

Bart Campbell is responsible for new product application/development and technical support for the Carpet Fibers Division of Ascend Performance Materials.  He joined Solutia, now Ascend in 1999 as Carpet R&D Manager.  Prior to that he was a managing partner in a recycling startup for 10 years and began his career with Shaw Ind. Inc. holding various positions including Director of Product Development for Shaw’s Philadelphia residential division.  Bart holds a BS in Textile Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Chris Cassell 

CHRIS CASSELL

Director of Corporate Sustainability
Lowe’s Inc.

Chris Cassell was named director of corporate sustainability in January 2017 and is responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies across the organization.  Chris joined Lowe’s in 2011 and has more than 17 years’ experience in strategy, program management, and process design. Prior to Lowe’s, Chris held positions with Accenture and North Highland.  Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a master’s degree in international business from the University of South Carolina.

Stephen Crawford

STEPHEN CRAWFORD

Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Eastman 

Stephen (Steve) G. Crawford is a Senior Vice-President and the Chief Technology Officer for Eastman Chemical Company.

Crawford is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee. Crawford joined Eastman in 1987. He has held several leadership positions of increasing responsibility in both Manufacturing Operations and Technology. Prior to the CTO position, he has held positions of Vice- President of R&D for the Advanced Materials group and the Vice-President of R&D for our Additives and Functional Products Business group. He has also had direct responsibility for the Asia Pacific and EMEA Technology Organizations.

Crawford is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Industrial Research Institute. He is on the Board of Directors of both Launch Tennessee (Tennessee Technology Development Corporation) and the Eastman Credit Union. He is also on the University of Tennessee’s Chemical and Bio-molecular Engineering Board of Advisors.

Stephen Croskrey

STEPHEN CROSKREY

Chief Executive Officer; Member, Board of Directors
Danimer Scientific

Stephen oversees the strategic direction and operations of the company. He brings to the table more than 20 years of experience in providing leadership to companies that manufacture and market products such as industrial fibers, medical devices and law-enforcement gear.

Stephen received his MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his BS degree in engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Shortly after, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served as a company commander, attaining the rank of captain during his six years of active duty.

Sally Edwards

SALLY EDWARDS

Retail Project Lead
Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3)

Dr. Sally Edwards has many years of experience in engaging a wide range of stakeholders to promote the environmental health of communities and develop safer and greener products. She facilitates the work of the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council’s Retailer Leadership Council, whose mission is to promote safer chemicals, materials and products across retail supply chains. Sally is a co-founder of the Chemical Footprint Project, which is designed to recognize corporate leadership in the use of safer chemicals. Sally holds a MS in Environmental Health Science from Harvard University and a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University. She completed her doctorate in Work Environment at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her book, Beyond Child’s Play: Sustainable Product Design in the Global Doll-Making Industry, was published in 2009.

paul ellis

PAUL ELLIS

Head of Sustainable Chemicals Management  
Kingfisher

Paul has a vast and varied experience within the Retail Industry, in food, general merchandise and DIY , progressing through the business into his current role as “Head of Sustainable Chemicals Management” at  Kingfisher Plc, parent company to brands , B&Q, Castorama, Brico Depot and Screwfix all DIY business not unlike Lowes or Home Depot

He is passionate about chemistry, although does not hold any formal qualifications, but has educated himself in the last 10 years as a recognised REACh expert in Europe and sits on the ECHA expert group representing European Retailers

Paul is leading on the Kingfisher target of phasing out all substances Kingfisher has defined hazardous and either found in the supply chain at the factory level, found in the final product or is damaging to the environment, by 2025. Kingfisher is also looking to introduce 5 new Green Chemicals by 2025.

Paul sees transparency within the supply chain as a critical issue that needs to be addressed collectively and would like to see further engagement with achieving transparency across all supply chains.

James Ewell

JAMES EWELL

Director, Sustainable Materials
GreenBlue Institute

As a member of the original team that founded GreenBlue in 2003, James re-joined the organization in 2011. As Director of GreenBlue’s Sustainable Materials program, he is responsible for managing the development and practical implementation of its sustainable materials management framework. James has extensive knowledge and experience in sustainable product design and manufacturing, chemical transparency and supply chain issues. As Director of Consulting for McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), James developed and implemented Cradle-to-Cradle criteria for designing and manufacturing sustainable products and improving corporate practices. He has worked with numerous corporate clients from a diversity of industrial sectors.

TESS FENNELLY

CEO

REMOOBLE

Tess Fennelly co-founded REMOOBLE in 2017. The focus of the remooble team is to bring products direct to the consumer based on safe and sustainable chemistry. The remooble products work fast to remove ink, adhesive, paint and polymers and give consumer confidence they are bringing safe products into their homes and workplace. Tess brings a strong background in green chemistry and commercialization to her work. She was instrumental in commercializing green raw materials at two start-ups: GFBiochemicals and Segetis. Tess began her career in sales and learned different facets of the chemical industry at industry giants like Stauffer, Air Products & Chemicals and American Cyanamid (now Cytec/Solvay) with roles in business and market development, strategic planning and mergers & acquisitions. She consulted for many industry leaders when successfully running her own consulting firm for 10+years. Her extensive background in traditional and sustainable chemistry includes adhesives, coatings, plastics, specialty fibers and specialty chemicals in many industries ranging from transportation to personal care. She is an advisor to the GC3, GreenBlue and several other organizations. Tess has a B.S. in Chemistry from Purdue and an MBA from Lehigh University.

stacy glass

STACY GLASS

Executive Director
MaterialWise

Stacy joined the Cradle to Cradle Production Innovation Institute in 2012 as VP of the Built Environment.  Her efforts to advance the understanding of material health and safer chemistry have contributed to a revolution in the building products industry. In 2015, she was recognized by GB&D magazine and the USGBC with the Women in Sustainability Leadership Award.

Her work in Material Health highlighted a clear and specific need to create better, more accessible material health knowledge for manufacturers across all industries. Stacy is currently leading the MaterialWise pilot project alongside partners from Target, Google, Nike, Levis, Method, Steelcase, Environmental Defense Fund, and C&A Foundation. 

Stacy has been successfully turning great ideas into reality for 25 years working with private industry, the non-profit sector, and government organizations to develop and execute start-up strategies for businesses and social enterprises.

brian glassbrenner

BRIAN GLASBRENNER

Global Commercial Manager
NatureWorks

As the Global Commercial Manager for the Performance Chemicals Business within NatureWorks.  He is responsible for sales and marketing strategies in North America, Europe and Japan today for the Vercet™ line of products based on lactides.  These chemistries deliver performance to coatings and adhesives in the C.A.S.E. market, toner, and surfactant markets offering the ability of Vercet™ products to be customized for the application.  Brian, early in his career has held positions as Senior Chemist in the Adhesives and Coatings Industry making him well suited for this role.  Brian also works closely with the Performance Chemicals technical team to pair NatureWork’s deep chemistry, polymer, materials, and applications expertise, helping customers harness the versatile, tunable properties of the Vercet™ performance chemicals technology for a variety of applications, addressing critical challenges in the market. 

Phil Hindley

PHIL HINDLEY

Head, Global Marketing Preservation and Laundry
Lonza, Inc.

After graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in Chemistry, Phil has worked within Lonza and its predecessor companies (Arch, Avecia, Zeneca and ICI) for 30 years.  His career has seen a gradual transition from Technical positions within surfactant chemistry and formulation development, through Application Specialist roles in Wood Treatment, Transport Hygiene and Food Safety, finally arriving into the Marketing arena, most recently to the position of Head of Global Marketing for Preservation and Laundry within Lonza’s Consumer Product Ingredients business.  In this current role, Phil has responsibility for developing, implementing and managing the global strategy for the Home Care and Personal Care businesses within Preservation as well as that for the Consumer Laundry business. 

IRENA JEVTOV

Irena Jevtov Research & Innovation

Irena Jevtov works with clients from the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and food industries, supporting their research and innovation programs. She is a biotechnology entrepreneur and has also won multiple open innovation challenges. Trained in molecular biology, she holds a Doctor of Sciences degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and has completed a postdoctoral position in biological engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

bob kerr

BOB KERR

Co-founder and Principal
Pure Strategies

Bob Kerr, Co-founder and Principal of Pure Strategies, has worked to promote environmental sustainability for over three decades.  Bob has focused on sustainability strategy, sustainable chemical programs for consumer products, and emissions trading & reduction programs.  Recent work includes support for retailers and brands in the development of safer-chemical initiatives, beyond-regulation RSLs, and supply-chain sustainability assessments and initiatives.  He has also worked with companies on climate policy and roadmaps, and supported design and evaluation of emissions trading programs.  In 2016, Bob was appointed by EPA’s Administrator to a third term on EPA’s National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology, focusing on approaches to strengthen collaboration between U.S. private and public sustainability initiatives.  Prior to consulting, Bob spent a decade working on environmental, energy and public health legislation on House and Senate Congressional staff. He also managed oversight of the implementation of environmental laws by executive agencies.

Anna Lennquist

ANNA LENNQUIST

Toxicologist
ChemSec Marketplace

Anna Lennquist holds a PhD in ecotoxicology from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. She holds also degree in journalism from the same University and has a strong interest in communicating scientific findings to a wider audience. Anna joined ChemSec in 2011. She has since focused on substitution, first in the development of the SUBSPORT project and since 2013 as project manager of the SIN List.  2016-2018 she was also in charge of developing ChemSec Marketplace. 

Roger McFadden

ROGER MCFADDEN

Vice President of Innovation and Sustainability
Canberra Corporation

Roger is currently Vice President of Innovation and Sustainability at Canberra Corporation where he works with chemical producers and the Canberra R&D, Business Development and Leadership teams to create innovative, high performance products that are safe and sustainable for consumers, brands and retailers. Roger is also Chief Science Officer at McFadden and Associates LLC, a professional consultancy focused on green chemistry, green engineering, safer chemicals/materials/products, green engineering, sustainability, and formulation of consumer products. Before joining Canberra, Roger served as Vice President and Senior Scientist at Staples, a position he held from June 2009 until February 2016. Before joining Staples, Roger was Chief Science Officer for Corporate Express, a position he held from May 2006 until July 2009 when Corporate Express was acquired by the office supply retailer Staples. Before joining Corporate Express, Roger served as Vice President, Product R&D at Coastwide Laboratories a position that he held from 1988 until 2006 when Corporate Express acquired Coastwide Laboratories.

Teresa McGrath

TERESA MCGRATH

Environmental Regulatory Toxicologist
The Sherwin-Williams Company

Teresa represents The Sherwin-Williams Company, a global paints and coatings manufacturer and is based in Minneapolis, MN.  She manages S-W’s Chemical Management Program, focusing on hazards reduction and transparency. She also assists each business unit and their customers in meeting their specific sustainability and green chemistry goals. 

RENE MOLINA

Global Business Planning & Project Manager

Dupont Industrial Biosciences

René Molina, Global Business Planning and Product Manager for Biomaterials, manages the day to day business operations of DuPont’s Sorona® enterprise, and designs the Global Strategy for Biomaterials in Industrial Biosciences. He has experience in licensing, marketing, project and business development for biofuels and biomaterials, and sales and trading for agricultural commodities and pulp and paper products.

René holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City with complementary biotechnology studies from the University of Cambridge, UK, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Amy Perlmutter

AMY PERLMUTTER

Principal, Perlmutter Associates
Project Lead, Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3)

Amy Perlmutter is an independent consultant whose practice includes strategy, stakeholder engagement, communications, and facilitation to build the green economy. She has been part of the GC3 Team since before its inception, helping to organize the initial Roundtable that led to the formation of the GC3,  and she manages various GC3 projects including Mainstreaming Green Chemistry. Amy was the founding director of the Chelsea Center for Recycling and Economic Development, working with businesses, researchers, and government to increase the use of recycled materials in manufacturing processes in Massachusetts, and she served as the Director of Recycling for the City of San Francisco.

Babette Petersen

BABETTE PETTERSEN

Bioeconomy Executive

Babette was most recently Chief Business Development Officer at Capricorn
Venture Partners, a European manager of venture capital and equity funds,
where she helped raise a new venture capital fund, the Capricorn
Sustainable Chemistry Fund (CSCF) for next generation feedstocks,
chemicals and materials.

Before joining Capricorn, Babette was the Chief Commercial Officer for
BioAmber Inc., a market leader in bio-based succinic acid and a pioneer in
renewable chemicals. Prior to BioAmber, Babette led new business
development for Performance Materials at Royal DSM, before which she
held Marketing & New Business Development roles in different industry
groups for over 20 years at Dow Corning. Babette started her career in the
Healthcare Industry with Baxter Travenol.

PRIYA PREMCHANDRAN

Real Estate Workplace and Services

Google

Priya Premchandran is part of the Google Real Estate Workplace and Services (REWS). She is responsible for the development of solutions that support Google’s values and priorities around sustainability, user experience and human health. With over a decade of experience, Priya brings a strong technical background and an in-depth understanding of critical issues related to indoor environmental quality impacting both building performance and human health in the built environment. Priya has a bachelor's degree in Architecture and masters degree in Architectural Engineering. She is also involved with numerous professional organizations such as Health Product Declaration Collaborative, US Green Building Council and Living Building Collaborative advocating for policies and initiatives supporting a healthy and restorative built environment for the future.

OLIVER PRICE

Global Sustainability

Reckitt Benckiser

Oliver currently works for Reckitt Benckiser in the Global Sustainability team. He has 20 years' experience of working across a diverse group of industries (multinational, consultancies and contract research organisations). This experience has provided strong insights into environmental science needs for the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and chemical sectors. 

He has a strong background in chemical risk assessment and exposure science. He has led a number of research programmes to develop the scientific approaches to support chemical risk assessment, interacting with industry trade groups, government scientists and academics across the globe. He has a keen interest in developing, translating and embedding new environmental science into policy and decision making to help steer industry uptake of safe and sustainable chemicals for use in commerce.

In his current role he works closely with R&D colleagues to support the development of safe and sustainable brands assuring safety of consumers, employees and the environment.

 

BRAD RODGERS

R&D Director for Discovery & Sustainability

PepsiCo Global Foods Packaging

Having earned his degree in Polymer Chemistry at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Brad Rodgers is a veteran of the plastics and packaging industry, who has dedicated 30 years to its innovation and improvement.

Brad spent the first half of his career working for major polyolefin manufacturers in Texas and Delaware, where he developed polymers for use in numerous packaging applications. He is currently the Research & Development Director of Foods Packaging Discovery and Sustainability for PepsiCo where his responsibilities include the development for the next generation of packaging materials with a better overall impact on the environment.

Brad currently holds 14 patents for various packaging applications and has written and co-authored several papers and published articles about food packaging, and is currently working to develop advanced barrier technologies for bio-based packaging.

MYRON SHAFFER

Product and Technical Service

Covestro LLC

Myron received his BA in Biology from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, followed by a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from The Ohio State University.

Myron began his career at Mobay in 1988 developing Automotive Plastic Coatings in the Technical Marketing group. In 1994 he transferred to the Coatings Research Group where he worked on a variety of high solids and waterborne technologies. He was part of a team that was awarded the 2000 President’s U.S. EPA Green Chemistry Challenge Award for his work in the area of two-component waterborne polyurethane coatings. In 2012 he became Director of the Product and Technical Service group. In 2015, Covestro was formed as an IPO out of the Bayer group.

Mario Stewart

MARIO STEWART

Chemist
Earth Friendly Products

Mario Stewart grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and graduated with a bachelors degree in biological science from Campbell University then obtained a masters in chemistry from the University of Florida. He is passionate and dedicated to bringing scientific discoveries and commercial applications to meet societal and consumer needs. As a chemical engineer at Earth Friendly Products for the last 5 years, Mario has participated in the economical solutions to technical problems, and to help meet society's ever changing demand of critical needs as well as wants, and desires. Mario played a key role in the successful development of well-known Earth Friendly brands. His experience in the HI&I market has been marked by the achievement of several product certifications by the Safer Choice, USDA and Whole Foods.

Homer Swei

HOMER SWEI

Director Product Stewardship
Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc.

The Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies offers the world’s largest range of consumer healthcare products. Our baby care, skin care, oral care, wound care, over-the-counter and women’s health products feature brands trusted by consumers and healthcare professionals worldwide. By anticipating needs and creating solutions and experiences, we help people live healthy, vibrant lives. As Director Product Stewardship, Homer manages ingredients for Johnsons & Johnson consumer products worldwide across their life cycle.  He has worked with Johnson & Johnson for 15 years in various roles from technical service, material innovation, to strategic sourcing across the different consumer businesses.   Prior to J&J, he was responsible for polymer research and development with Exxon Chemical, Union Carbide, and Dow Chemical.  Mr. Swei received a Chemical Engineering PhD from Northwestern University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from University of California/Berkeley.  Homer is an engineer, artist, and consumer advocate.

Joel Tickner

JOEL TICKNER

Director
Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3)

Dr. Joel Tickner is Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell where he also directs the Chemicals Policy and Science Initiative at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. He is founder and Director of the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council.  He is a leading expert on chemicals regulation, regulatory science, and application of green chemistry and alternatives assessment in science and policy. He has served on a number of EPA and National Academy of Sciences advisory committees and advises government agencies around the world. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana and a Doctor of Science Degree from the Department of Work Environment at University of Massachusetts Lowell and was an Environmental Protection Agency STAR Fellow.

AUDRA WENDT

BioIndustrial Senior Marketing Manager

Cargill, Inc.

 

Audra Wendt is the BioIndustrial Senior Marketing Manager at Cargill, Inc.  The company has 155,000 employees globally and serves markets in food, agriculture, finance and industrial. Her responsibilities include the marketing of Cargill’s bio-based products in various industrial market segments including packaged goods, paints, asphalt, oilfield, energy, coatings and bedding.  During her tenure at Cargill, she was on the global dielectric fluids leadership team where she co-authored the entry for Cargill’s FR3™ natural ester fluid that received the 2013 EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Award.  As the marketing lead for the Industrial Specialties business unit, she oversaw value proposition development, customer segmentation as well as the planning and execution of the global communications program.   Prior to joining Cargill, she spent 20 years in brand management at Minneapolis-based advertising agencies.