PAUL ANASTAS

Director, Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, Yale University

Professor Paul T. Anastas holds the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Chair in Chemistry for the Environment and is appoint across five Schools at Yale University (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Management, School of Medicine.) He also serves as the founding Director of the Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. Paul Anastas has co-founded four companies  (P2 Science, Catalytic Innovation, Inkemia Green Chemicals,  Sustainability A to Z) and serves as science advisor to several venture capital and private equity investment firms.  Paul Anastas has served in the Clinton, Bush, and Obama Administrations including most recently as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Administrator for Research and Development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  His research focuses on molecular design, chemical synthesis,  catalysis, and biofeedstocks and transformations.  He has published thirteen books and has been recognized with awards including the Heinz Award, the Rachel Carson Prize, the E.O. Wilson Award, and the John Jeyes Medal.

NEIL HAWKINS

Corporate Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, The Dow Chemical Co.

Dr. Neil C. Hawkins serves as the Chief Sustainability Officer and Corporate Vice President for Environment, Health & Safety for The Dow Chemical Company. Hawkins is a global leader in sustainable business practices, EH&S management, and public policy platforms for global sustainable development. He led Dow’s 2025 Sustainability Goals development, which aim to help chart a new course for business in global sustainable development. He is the architect behind many groundbreaking collaborations, including the Dow/Nature Conservancy Collaboration on valuing nature in business decisions, as well as the innovative Dow Sustainability Graduate Fellows Program at the University of Michigan.

Hawkins lends his leadership to several organizations: the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Olympics Committee Sustainability and Legacy Commission, and the CEO Advisory Board for Procter and Gamble, among others. He was appointed by the United Nations Environment Programme to the High Level Group of the GEO-6 global environment assessment. He serves as one of the few industry executives on the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

FRED KELLER

Founder and Chair, Cascade Engineering

Fred Keller founded Cascade Engineering in 1973 with the belief business can complement financial performance with important work in the social and environmental arenas. Driven by Fred’s belief, a small team of six employees has grown to be a company of 1,600 people serving a worldwide customer base.

From the very beginning, Fred Keller emphasized the key role business can play in building financial, social and ecological capital, often through partnerships with government and community agencies. His innovative management approach and work in advancing sustainability are featured regularly in business and industry publications.

With a passion for making a positive impact, Fred has served on the boards of the Meijer Corporation and Fifth Third Bank, West Michigan. He was formerly the board chair of the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council and is a past chair and current member of the Board of Trustees for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Fred is also a trustee for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. In addition, Fred has been part of many community organizations and change initiatives including Talent 2025 and K-Connect.

ANGELA NAHIKIAN

Director, Global Sustainability, Steelcase Inc.

Angela Nahikian is the Director of Global Sustainability at Steelcase. She leads the development of sustainable business strategy and corporate competency development. Her role encompasses a broad spectrum of responsibilities. These include the development of program, process and technical infrastructure as well as brand integration and research collaborations. She is also responsible for Circular Economy business model development and road mapping. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a background in architecture, her career path has encompassed diverse roles in architectural systems design, product, business and strategy development, futures exploration, and technology licensing. She has been with the Steelcase family of companies since 1990 and was named to her current position in 2005. Angela represents Steelcase on the educational curriculum board and sector advisory council for the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Certifications Standards Board, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100 Advisory Board. In 2014, she was named one of the most powerful women in sustainability by Green Building and Design magazine.

HAL AMBUTER

Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager, US Home & Hygiene Brands, Reckitt Benckiser

Hal was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts and has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University. His first job was with The Procter & Gamble Company, in Product Development, for Era Laundry Detergent and Cascade Dishwashing Gel. After 7 years he moved to B.F. Goodrich Company, in their Specialty Chemical division, developing polymer thickeners and emulsifiers (under the Carbopol and Pemulen brand names) for household cleaning products.

In 2000, he moved to Reckitt Benckiser, a global consumer products company, working in their US R&D regional development center, then Regulatory Affairs for RB’s North American products, with primary focus on the Lysol brand. He is presently the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager for the US Home & Hygiene Brands, ensuring that the company’s products are in full compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations. Hal is quite active with the main consumer product’s trade associations and holds several leadership positions.

JEREMY AUSTIN

Director of Business Development, Renmatix 

Jeremy Austin is a Director of Business Development at Renmatix. He is charged with defining the technical roadmap for valorization of Plantrose® Process co-products. Renmatix is widely recognized as the leader in affordable cellulosic sugars; however those initial bio-building blocks illustrate only part of Renmatix’s supercritical hydrolysis conversion story. Jeremy is helping to develop complimentary markets for Renmatix’s proprietary lignin under the Omno™ polymers brand. He is also working with technical leaders in a parallel effort to characterize and promote cellulose fractions.

With a wealth of experience in the materials business, working at multinational players like GE Plastics, TOTAL, and INVISTA, Jeremy has leveraged his technical background in new product development, and utilized his commercial acumen in accelerated market development. This unique perspective allows him to quickly recognize sustainable substitution opportunities within existing markets, and for new biobased solutions.

TAMMY AYERS

Manager, Global Sustainable Design and Development, Steelcase Inc.

Tammy Ayers is the Manager, Global Sustainable Design & Development as part of the Global Sustainability team at Steelcase Inc. The global leader in the office furniture industry, Steelcase delivers a better work experience to its customers by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. Its portfolio includes architecture, furniture and technology products. She joined the Steelcase family of companies in 1995 and has held various roles since then. In this current role, Tammy leads a cross-company effort to ensure the company achieves its global sustainability goals, with an emphasis on eco-design principle integration, understanding the materials used and the lifecycle implications in product development and production.

DAVE BARTOS

Director, Regulatory Compliance, Canberra Corporation

David Bartos is Director of Regulatory Compliance, Canberra Corporation. He earned a BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Toledo (1988) and has worked at Canberra Corporation since 1995. David has held a number of key positions including Product Development Manager, Plant Chemical Engineer, Director of Research and Development, Director of Regulatory Affairs, and Director of Laboratories at Canberra Corporation. His responsibilities include new product development and product reformulation based on requests by customers and marketing. He investigates and recommends new and novel ingredients that may be used to enhance current product lines, design, implementation and maintenance of various plant equipment and processes and directs regulatory affairs for his organization. Prior to working at Canberra Corporation, David was Quality Laboratory Manager at Lehn & Fink, in charge of the laboratory at Toledo plant that manufactured Lysol Brand products, National Labs products, and Por-Rok concrete products.

MONICA BECKER

Co-Director and Innovation Project Lead, GC3
Principal, Monica Becker & Associates Sustainability Consultants

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.

STEVE CRAWFORD

Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Eastman Chemical Co.

Stephen G. Crawford is a senior vice president and the Chief Technology Officer for Eastman Chemical Company. Crawford was previously Vice President, Functional Products Technology for Eastman Chemical Company. In that position he had responsibility for Coatings, Adhesives and Plasticizers, Fibers and Rubber Additives Technology development. 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 and Technology. Prior to this position, he was Vice President, Specialty Polymers and Coatings Technology supporting New Offering Innovation in Specialty Plastics and Coatings. He also had direct responsibility for the Asia Pacific Technology Organization.

SALLY EDWARDS

Sc.D Senior Research Associate, GC3, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell

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 is a senior research associate at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She is a co-founder of the Chemical Footprint Project, which is designed to recognize corporate leadership in the use of safer chemicals. Sally 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 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.

TIM GREINER

Co-founder and Managing Director,  Pure Strategies 

Tim Greiner, a Pure Strategies Co-founder and Managing Director, has pioneered approaches to building environmental and social integrity into products, brands, and businesses. His experience includes developing corporate strategy, designing product sustainability programs, transforming client supply chains and fostering collaborative mechanisms to lift the sustainability performance of entire industries. He is currently working with several progressive businesses on developing science-based targets and comprehensive chemicals strategies. He is a co-founder of the Chemical Footprint Project and has guided chemicals management strategies for companies across diverse industries. Current and former clients include Annie’s, Walmart, Seventh Generation, Ben & Jerry’s, The North Face, Stonyfield Farm, MilliporeSigma and U.S. EPA.

Tim holds masters’ degrees in Environmental Policy and Business from MIT and a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science Engineering from RPI. He is a founding member of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Planners Association and a former Board member and President.

KARL HAIDER

Research Fellow & Head, Business Growth Services, Covestro 

Karl Haider leads the Business Growth Services Group at Covestro LLC.  He is responsible for open innovation activities supporting the North American BUs and the global New Technologies Group. 

Karl began his career in R&D at Bayer in 1991, where he developed technology for the Polyurethanes and CAS Groups.  He is a co-inventor on 25 issued U.S. Patents and has contributed to the development of products in elastomers, optical materials, binders, rigid foam, and polyols – including Covestro’s CO2 based cardyon® products.   Karl led university relations for 7 years prior to leading the newly formed Business Growth Services Group in 2014.

Karl is an active volunteer for the American Chemical Society, serving most recently as the 2016 Chair of the Division of Polymer Chemistry. He also serves on several university external advisory boards.

Karl holds a BS in Chemistry from Juniata College, and M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees in Organic Chemistry from The Ohio State University.

KIM HOLMES

VP, Sustainability, Plastics Industry Association

Kim Holmes is the VP of Sustainability for the Plastics Industry Association. During her time at PLASTICS she has launched the Recycling Committee, which initiated a number of truly novel and collaborative supply chain efforts to identify untapped feed streams, and unlock new end market opportunities for recycle plastics. When not working, she and her family enjoy all of the adventures that the Pacific NW has to offer. 

BOB ISRAEL

Vice President, Stewardship & Sustainability, Valspar Corporation

Robert (Bob) J. Israel is Vice President of Stewardship & Sustainability, Valspar Corporation. Dr. Israel has had nearly 30 years of experience in product stewardship, regulatory affairs and corporate sustainability strategy. He directs Valspar’s Global Product Stewardship function ensuring that products meet or exceed regulatory requirements in countries throughout the world. He also develops and implements strategic initiatives to position Valspar as a leader in continuous improvement and product sustainability. Prior to joining Valspar four years ago, Bob spent 14 years at Diversey where he was instrumental in the development of their sustainability and stewardship programs globally. Bob was received Diversey’s first environmental stewardship award, the Samuel C. Johnson Environmental Stewardship Award. Dr. Israel has held management positions at the US EPA in the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. He has also served as a regulatory consultant to the chemical industry. Bob holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Delaware.  

FREDERIC ISSENHUTH

Managing Director,  IMD Natural Solutions

Mr. Frederic Issenhuth studied Chemical Engineering at University of Suttgart (Germany) in 1993 and got his executive MBA at University of Strathclyde (UK) in 2005. After completion of his master-thesis at the company F. Hoffmann La Roche in 1993, he started his professional career at Roche Vitamins (today DSM) in Chemical and Biotech process development in Basel (CH). In 1997, he engaged with commercial activities at Dolder (AG) in distribution of fine-chemicals. Followed by Novozymes (Denmark) in 2000, leading in various roles the global industry management activities in enzymes for Baking and Beverages, and bringing 13 products to market. In 2010, Frederic joined AB Enzymes (Germany) to build and lead the business operations for enzymes used in Food&Beverages, and bringing 3 products to market.

In 2016, Frederic decided to join IMD Natural Solutions, in his role of Managing Director to develop and launch the glycolipid technology into anti-microbial preservation of Cosmetics, Food/Beverages and Technical Specialties.

MICHELE JALBERT

Founder, Effective Advocates, LLC

As Chief Operating Officer of the Renewable Chemicals and Materials Alliance (re:chem®), Michele Jalbert spearheads initiatives that bring together leading international renewable chemical companies. Re:chem® promotes federal policy priorities  to catalyze US renewable chemical sector growth, including expansion of funding opportunities, as well as relevant tax and regulatory policies. Michele Jalbert also founded the Effective Advocates Collaborative to offer an alternative to the traditional practice of government affairs, drawing on her lobbying, communications and organizational behavior experience. Her approach emphasizes analysis of the environment in which decisions are made, identification of opinion leaders/decision-makers and development of effective strategies to influence outcomes. Michele brings decades of experience, along with expansive political, corporate and non-profit connections.  An attorney, she has an extensive policy background informed by her work as Director of Congressman Bill Delahunt’s Washington, DC office and as Chief of Staff and General Counsel for the New England Council, the nation’s oldest regional business association.

ALPER KIZILTAS

Research Scientist, Sustainable Biomaterials and Plastics, Ford Motor Company

Alper is a Research Scientist with the Sustainable Biomaterials and Plastic Research Group at Ford Motor Co, where his particular interests lie in sustainable materials such as bio-based and recycled resins, natural fiber composites and nanofiller-reinforced foams. He is a graduate of the University of Maine, where he received his Master’s and PhD degrees from the School of Forest Resources. He has published over 50 papers and presentations in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and hold five patent disclosures.

REBECCA LUCORE

Head of Sustainability and CSR, Covestro LLC

Rebecca L. Lucore is Head of Sustainability and CSR for Covestro LLC’s America’s region, responsible for innovating new approaches to social programs, philanthropy and donations, community relations and partnerships and sustainability initiatives in North and South America.

Lucore oversees i3 (ignite, imagine, innovate) Covestro’s companywide CSR program that aims to spark curiosity, to envision what could be and to help create it. Its three focus areas, i3 STEM, i3 Engage and i3 Give, leverage the company’s current and future workforce, the communities in which it operates, and its partners and collaborators – all to create sustainable and lasting impacts.

A.J. (SANDY) MARSHALL

Executive Director, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada

Sandy was raised on a farm near Blyth Ontario before graduating with Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree (MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.   He started his professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc., a Canadian rubber manufacturer. Over his 30 year career in the chemical and polymers industry, he worked in research and process, product development and market development before moving into Operations and General Management.  Sandy had two international assignment, one in Germany and a second in Cincinnati USA.  Sandy finished his corporate career as President and Managing Director responsible for Canadian Operations of Lanxess Canada.

Sandy is Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC), President and CEO of Sustainable Chemistry Alliance, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Lambton College, Chairman of the External Advisory Board for the Biorefinery Research Institute at Lakehead University and is also member of the Boards of BIOTECanada and Soy20/20. 

Sandy has been recognized as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and environmental sustainability in Canada

ROGER MCFADDEN

President and Senior Scientist, McFadden and Associates, LLC

Roger McFadden is President at McFadden and Associates LLC, a professional consulting firm focused on green chemistry, safer materials, green design, sustainability, and formulation of safe and sustainable consumer products. Roger advises a number of high profile clients related to the retail, consumer brand, professional brand and chemical industry sectors. Roger was Vice President/Senior Scientist at Staples from 6/2009 -2/2016. Prior to Staples, Roger was Chief Science Officer for Corporate Express. Before joining Corporate Express, Roger was Director of Product R&D at Coastwide Laboratories. At Coastwide, Roger and his team formulated over 200 professional, high performance cleaning and surface coatings products. A highlight of Roger’s career was the innovation and formulation of Sustainable Earth® a broad line of professional cleaning and coatings products made with safer and more sustainable chemistries. Prior to Coastwide Laboratories, Roger worked as a formulating chemist and product engineer for several consumer chemical product manufacturing companies in both the U.S. and Canada.

DALE MCINTYRE

Vice President, Innovation and New Product Development, Behr Process Corporation

Dale McIntyre is the Vice President of Innovation and New Product Development for Behr Process Corporation. Behr Process Corporation is a leading supplier of architectural paint and exterior wood care products to the United States and Canadian markets under Behr, Kilz and other brands. Behr Process is a division of Masco Corporation, one of the largest home hardware companies in North America. Dale has been employed by Masco Corporation Companies for the last 16 years and Behr Process Corporation for the last 10 years. Prior to joining Masco Corporation, Dale was employed in various roles in research and development, business development and product development in the Department of Energy, high-tech start-up companies and a venture capital firm.

BRAD MILLER

Director, Advocacy and Sustainability, Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) 

Brad Miller is Director of Advocacy and Sustainability for the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA), a not-for-profit organization of businesses engaged in the design and development of office and institutional furniture products. He coordinates the organization's government affairs and sustainability initiatives. Brad served as Regional Representative for U.S. Senator Donald Riegle from 1985 to 1994 and worked for U.S. Representative Donald J. Albosta, for six years prior to that. He began his government experience in 1977 working with the Michigan State Legislature and is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a degree in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts.

JIM MILLIS

Chief Technology Officer, BioAmber Inc.

Jim Millis has served as Chief Technology Officer for BioAmber Inc., a bio-based chemical company since 2010, during which time the company completed a successful IPO in 2013, and built and is now operating the world’s largest succinic acid manufacturing plant in Sarnia, Ontario. Mr. Millis has worked in the field of industrial biotechnology for over 30 years. Prior to joining BioAmber, Mr. Millis served as CEO of Draths Corporation from 2007-2009 and as Technical Director for Cargill's Industrial Bioproducts business unit from 2001-2007. Earlier positions included business and technical leadership roles at Maxygen (now Codexis) and Bio-Technical Resources. Mr. Millis has been involved in the commercial development and scale-up of several technologies, spanning fermentation and chemical catalysis, and has more than 20 issued U.S. patents.

KEVIN MULVANEY

Kevin Mulvaney is Senior Director of Value Chain Outreach at the American Chemistry Council. There he works to provide strategic direction to a growing initiative in the chemical industry which seeks to build relationships with decision makers throughout the chemicals value chain. The goal being that industry is seen as a constructive resource and solutions provider to chemical management discussions and that value chain chemical practices, standards, policies, tools, and decisions based on science, safety, and lifecycle approaches.

Above all, he is committed to good design and to ensuring decision makers have what they need to make informed material choices.

MICHAEL PARR

Founder and Principal, Parr Policy Group LLC

Michael is the founder and principal of the Parr Policy Group LLC, a consultancy providing policy, advocacy and communications services to companies, associations, non-governmental organizations and academia. Areas of expertise include environmental, energy, sustainability, agriculture and manufacturing policies. Prior to founding the Parr Policy Group Michael held a variety of corporate roles for DuPont over 30 years, including 15 years leading DuPont’s federal policy advocacy efforts on environmental, energy and sustainability policy. Example activities include:
– Successful reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
– Secured more than $100 million in funding from the Department of Energy to support the development and commercialization of advanced biofuels and bio-chemicals technologies.
– Secured $60 million in construction tax credits for solar energy advanced energy manufacturing facilities.
– Supported corporate CEO on President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Led development of proposals for STEM education reforms and extensive energy policy reform proposals.

CHAD PASTOR

Business Development Manager, Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute

Chad Pastor is the Business Development Manager for the Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute (MSU-BI), formerly part of the Corporate Services group within MBI, which joined Michigan State University as of April 2016. For the past three years, Chad has worked with the Corporate Services’ highly dedicated and talented team, leading the group’s efforts to collaborate with organizations seeking expertise to accelerate their biobased technologies to commercialization. MSUBI’s experienced team takes a disciplined approach to derisking and scaling biobased and chemical technologies and has helped many companies succeed in those goals, including (but not limited to): Bolt Threads, Genomatica, Verdezyne, Bolt, Amyris, and Tepha Medical Devices.

Chad holds a M.Sci. degree in Entomology from Michigan State University and a B.A. in Biology from Kalamazoo College. His graduate school research focused on biotechnologies related to pheromone-based mating disruption, the use of novel semio-chemicals as attractants, and sustainable agricultural practices.  

AMY PERLMUTTER

Principal, Perlmutter Associates

Amy Perlmutter is an independent consultant whose practice includes strategy, stakeholder engagement, communications, and facilitation to build the green economy. Prior to consulting, 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. She has served as the Director of Recycling for the City of San Francisco.

ANTONIO QUINONES-RIVERA

Product Safety and Sustainability Manager, GOJO Industries 

Antonio Quinones-Rivera is the Product Safety and Sustainability Manager for GOJO Industries, a global leader in hand hygiene and healthy skin and the inventor of PURELL® Hand Sanitizer. Antonio joined GOJO in 2014. At GOJO, Antonio provides product safety, sustainability, and toxicology support for both on-going business and new product development. In addition, he leads the sustainable chemistry implementation team. Antonio has a broad range of professional experience in regulatory toxicology and environmental science. He served as an environmental scientist at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, GA, where he conducted human exposure assessments for communities impacted by environmental contaminants. At Ashland Chemical, he conducted chemical risk assessments to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance. Antonio holds a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in environmental science from the University of Puerto Rico. He graduated from Cornell University with a Ph. D in environmental toxicology.

MARK RICHARDSON

Mechanical Engineer, Series One, LLC

Mark Richardson is a mechanical engineer with a master of science in manufacturing engineering. He has spent his entire career in plastics, beginning as an advanced product engineer of interior systems in the auto industry. Later, he worked as a plastics manufacturing engineer in the chemical industry. Recently, Mark was faculty at Kettering University in Flint, MI in the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department. During his time there he built a plastics manufacturing lab and taught coursework in plastics processing with a focus on recycling. Currently, Mark is an engineering consultant that specializes in plastics processing, recycled materials, and process optimization. He is also in collaboration with Oakland University to build an advanced plastics processing lab and curriculum within the School of Engineering and Computer Sciences.

BRUCE SMITH

Global Director Design, Steelcase Inc. 

Appointed to his present position in 1999, Bruce is responsible for directing the design of Steelcase’s global seating products and for the design of the Steelcase global surface materials portfolio. In this leadership capacity works closely with multidisciplinary teams and consultants located in all regions where Steelcase does business. In 2016 design for Steelcase Health, Turnstone, Worktools and Education became part of Bruce’s responsibility.

Since 1999, notable seating solutions include: Gesture, Think, Amia, Cachet, Cobi, i2i, Leap V2, Leap Work Lounge, Move, QiVi, Reply, and Siento.

From 1995 to 1999, Bruce was director of design for Pathways® architectural products, furniture and worktools. From 1991 to 1995, Bruce served as the manager of design for systems furniture. Between 1989 and 1991, Bruce was a senior industrial designer, focusing on design of solutions for seating. He joined the seating design team in 1988 as an industrial designer and served as an industrial designer for solutions on the Series 9000 and Elective Elements product lines from 1986 to 1988.

Prior to joining Steelcase in 1986, Bruce worked at Gates Lear Jet Corporation in Tucson, Ariz., from 1978 to 1986 as a senior industrial designer. His work included the design of private jet interiors for custom orders, cabinets, seating, exterior graphics and corporate graphics design. 

JOEL TICKNER

Director, Chemicals Policy & Science Initiative and GC3, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Dr. Joel Tickner is Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health and Sustainability 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 a leading expert on chemicals regulation, regulatory science, and application of the alternatives assessment in science and policy. He has served as an advisor and researcher for several government agencies, international agencies, non-profit environmental groups companies, and trade unions both in the U.S. and abroad during the past businesses years. He served on the EPA’s National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee as well as the National Academy of Sciences Panel on the Future of Science at the Environmental Protection Agency. He also directs the undergraduate environmental health BS program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 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 for three years was an Environmental Protection Agency STAR Fellow.

SASKIA VAN BERGEN

Green Chemistry Scientist, Washington State Department of Ecology

Saskia started working for Ecology in 2013 as a Green Chemistry Scientist where her main focus has been to help establish a technically strong and vibrant green chemistry program in Washington State. She is also serving as the Project Lead for the Advancing Green Chemistry Education Project as part of the Green Chemistry in Commerce Council and the Washington state member for the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse.

Previously, after working at Madis Botanicals and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Saskia worked as the research organic chemist at East Bay Municipal Utility District. There she researched regulated and unregulated contaminants in drinking water, wastewater and San Francisco Bay sediments and served on the Emerging Contaminant Workgroup for the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in the San Francisco Estuary. She also worked at Green River Community College where she developed and implemented ways to incorporate the principles of green chemistry into the chemistry department.

WENDY VITORRI

Executive Director, Health Product Declaration Collaborative 

Wendy Vittori is Executive Director of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative, a not-for-profit, member organization committed to transparency, openness and innovation in building products. Prior to assuming this position in May 2015, Wendy has served as a leader in business, academic and civic contributions for over thirty years. Beginning her career as a software engineer, she led technology businesses at both Intel Corporation and Motorola, Inc. In 2007, Wendy founded Vittori Consulting LLC, a strategy and organization consulting firm. She is a faculty associate at the ASU Nonprofit Management Institute, and was previously assistant professor at Northeastern University College of Business in Boston, Massachusetts. She received an A.B. from Harvard College, an MBA from Northeastern University, and was a doctoral candidate and Arthur D. Little fellow at the Harvard Business School in the field of strategic management and entrepreneurship.

KRIS WEIGAL

Chief Commercial Officer and Business Director, Resinate Materials Group, Inc. 

Kris Weigal joined Resinate Materials Group, Inc. in 2015 as Chief Commercial Officer and Business Director. Kris is responsible for directing the commercialization, sales/marketing and supply chain for the organization.

Prior to joining Resinate, Ms. Weigal held executive positions at Chemcentral/Univar, Nanophase Technologies, and BioAmber, Inc. In addition, she served on the Board of Directors at Continental Chemicals.

Kris holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Business and an M.B.A. in Operation and Production Management from the University of Wisconsin.

MEREDITH WILLIAMS

Deputy Director, Safer Products and Workplaces, California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Meredith Williams joined the Department of Toxic Substances Control in 2013 to oversee implementation of California’s Safer Consumer Products program. She has expertise in research and development and product management for semiconductor, consumer product, and chemical companies including Applied Materials and 3M. After nearly 20 years of corporate work, she held a number of positions at the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), a nationally-recognized center for science in support of aquatic resource management. She holds B.S. from Yale University and a Ph.D. in physics from North Carolina State University.

MARTIN WOLF

Director, Sustainability & Authenticity, Seventh Generation

Mr. Wolf is responsible for ensuring the design of sustainable products at Seventh Generation, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of ecological household and personal care products. Mr. Wolf has developed frameworks for environmental product design, helped educate his coworkers, customers, and consumers about the environmental impacts of consumer products and the industries that produce them, successfully lobbied for passage of phosphate bans in a number of states, helped develop standards for voluntary ingredient disclosure, and brought change to the cleaning products industry through more sustainable product designs.

In addition to his work for Seventh Generation, Mr. Wolf serves as the Co-Chair of the Research, Technology, and Regulatory Committee of the American Cleaning Institute (formerly the Soap & Detergent Association), and has served as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Sustainability Committee (2010-2015), and as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Strategic Advisory Committee (2007-2011).

Mr. Wolf holds an M.A. in Chemistry from Yeshiva University (New York) and a B.S. in Chemistry from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts).