GUEST SPEAKER BIOS
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AMBER HAUKEDAHL - Tare Market
Amber attended college in her home state of California and is a Conservation Biologist by trade and education. Post-graduation, she traveled the U.S. teaching environmental education to urban youth and children with special needs. She also managed biological field stations in Ecuador and Paraguay before meeting her husband and settling in Minnesota. She has been living zero waste since 2017, and started Tare Market in 2018 as a way to bring sustainable living to the Twin Cities. Amber enjoys hiking, camping and being outside with friends, their chocolate lab and daughter. BEN SCHLEIFER - Center for Environmental Health
Ben works as the EDC Food Program Coordinator for the Center for Environmental Health. He works closely with K-12 schools around the country to help them get safer food service ware to the youths of the US. Ben formerly was an Environmental Educator with StopWaste working with schools to transform the cafeterias to accommodate composting and food share in Alameda County. Ben came to CEH with a Master of Science Degree from Goldsmiths College, University of London in Cognitive Neuroscience and plethora of teaching, research, and work experience. DIANE COHEN - Finger Lakes ReUse Diane Cohen is executive director of Finger Lakes ReUse - a nonprofit organization located in beautiful Ithaca, NY, and has more than 20 years running reuse and salvage operations. Taking a collaborative approach from the early planning phases 15 years ago and now operating two Community ReUse Centers employing more than 80 people and paying a living wage, Diane is working with various multi-sector partners in NYS to design a more effective materials management system for reusable and repairable materials. Diane was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by NYSAR3 (the NYS Association for Reduce Reuse and Recycle) in 2021, loves cats and trees and plans to travel to Minnesota from New York by train. ELLEN GURROLA - Macalester College Ellen was a public school science educator for ten years. She recognizes the importance of working together within communities to achieve sustainability. She is currently pursuing her masters from Hamline University in Natural Science and Environmental Education. Ellen is the Sustainability Coordinator at Macalester College where she works with students and helps oversee environmental projects and initiatives on campus. Ellen recognizes the importance of intersectionality between environmental activism and social justice. She believes the pursuit of sustainability requires taking care of both the planet and people in it. Ellen has worked as a Racial Equity Advocate for Education Minnesota and on the Welcoming and Inclusive Committee with the White Bear Lake City Council. Ellen enjoys being outdoors and lives in White Bear Lake with her spouse and two children. EVA BUGG - REUSO Eva Bugg is the Co-Founder and CEO of REUSO, a reusable packaging platform. Eva holds a Bachelor's of Science in Health Administration from Ohio University and has three years of experience in the reuse sector. She has launched reuse systems in festivals, restaurants, conferences, and is currently leading a global team of developers to build out a solution for Major League Baseball stadiums and beyond. In her spare time, Eva likes hiking with her fiancé and dog, and traveling to new places. GRANT DAWSON - Keys 4/4 Kids Grant Dawson is the Executive Director of Keys 4/4 Kids. He has a long professional history in entrepreneurial ventures in the for-profit world, and has now led the non-profit Keys 4/4 Kids for four years. He's a pianist and song-writer, a children's book author and big fan of the outdoors. He lives in Roseville with his wife and cat. HANNAH BOHN - Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation Hannah Bohn is a Senior Sustainability Specialist with Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce that assists businesses and organizations with waste reduction, recycling, and energy conservation initiatives. Hannah is currently leading a new campaign called MNimize, a tiered recognition program to encourage, support, and celebrate businesses as they work toward achieving their sustainability goals. MNimize is officially launching this month, and will focus on helping food service businesses in Hennepin County reduce single-use plastic through the support of a $500 rebate program. When not talking trash with business owners, Hannah loves to find ways to get outside - whether visiting the dog park, playing beach volleyball at Memory Lanes, or taking a walk around the lake. JESSICA MARSCHALL - The Green Mission Inc. Jessica is a CPA of 21 years and an IRS Qualified Appraiser with credentials from ISA and AAA. She is President & CEO of Marschall Accounting Services LLC, Probity Appraisal Group, and The Green Mission Inc. The Green Mission Inc specializes in deconstruction appraisals to substantiate the tax deductions for donated materials and property. Jessica and the team ensure appraisals follow IRS requirements, personal property appraisal organization guidance, USPAP, and relevant case law and regularly attend industry conferences. Jessica began Suzuki piano training at age 3 and was a trained concert pianist by age 17. She broke the heart of her piano teacher and mother when she pursued education in mathematics, statistics, and accounting. Around April 1-15th of each year, she seriously questions her career choices. She also has five children and never questions that choice - at least not more than once or twice a day. |
KARINA VALERIANO - AmeriCorps VISTA working with the City of Austin
KATIE KANGAS - Pasque Architecture
Katie Kangas, AIA founded Pasque Architecture in March of 2020 to provide story centered architecture and design. Katie is building a process centered practice to provide simple functional design that is beautiful and inspires. She recently completed Phase 1 of the Robinson-Stanton House Museum for the Benton County Historical Society - where layers of history were mindfully revealed to connect Sauk Rapids with their local history.
KELLY FISCHER - Rethos: Places Reimagined
Kelly Fischer is the Outreach & Education Coordinator at Minnesota-based nonprofit Rethos: Places Reimagined. Kelly helps coordinate Rethos' Education program, which specializes in homeowner and real estate continuing education, as well as deconstruction, salvage, and sustainability practices. Before Rethos, Kelly worked as an underground storage tank inspector at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. She plays violin and loves canoeing and portaging in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness!
KRISTEN McCOY - RETHINK Tailoring
MADDIE MORGAN - City of Austin
MARCEL HOWARD - Upstream
Marcel Howard is the Policy Analyst & Coordinator with Upstream. He holds a Master's degree in Environmental Policy with a concentration in Environmental Justice from The New School. Marcel specializes in climate change and environmental justice with a focus on dismantling white supremacy culture and concepts throughout the larger environmental movement. He is based in the beautiful neighborhood of Harlem, NYC and loves going on long bike rides with beautiful views of the City. His pronouns are he/him.
MAYUR DANKHARA - The Green Mission Inc.
Mayur has an MS in Construction Management and is a LEED AP. He is the COO of Probity Appraisal Group and The Green Mission Inc. Mayur has been in both the Construction Management and Deconstruction Management industries for over a decade. He is also an IRS Qualified Appraiser with credentials through ISA. He leads the Green Mission team in reviewing and breaking down building materials into and researching current valuations for appraisals. Mayur speaks four languages and began his undergraduate engineering degree at University of Mumbai in English...before he spoke or read English. With the aid of a thesaurus, he graduated top of his class and earned a scholarship to Texas A&M. He is the proud father of an adorable first grader, who also speaks two languages and brings home American slang much to the horror of her parents who learned the Queen's English.
MELISSA WENZEL - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Melissa Wenzel has worked for the MN Pollution Control Agency for nearly 2 decades, and currently works as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Built Environment Sustainability Administrator. Her current focus is on creating system-wide change within the building material management system. With key stakeholders across the state, Melissa is working to prevent C&D materials going to landfills by encouraging preservation, reuse, repair, and recycling of building materials. Over the years, she coordinates project-specific sustainability efforts within the agency and as a volunteer, within her community. She lives by her work motto: "human being first, government employee second." Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaawenzel
MICHAEL MARTIN - r.Cup + Effect Partners
Michael Martin is the founder and CEO of Effect Partners and r.Cup, two purpose-driven organizations committed to creating global awareness of and meaningful change in environmental sustainability. In 2017, Michael founded r.Cup - the #1 global reuse platform. r.Cup is catalyzing the Reuse Movement using cultural campaigns, grassroots organizing, community partnerships, logistics, and technology, and made its debut with the support of artists and musicians including U2, Dave Matthews Band, Rod Stewart, Jack Johnson, Maggie Rogers and Rolling Stones.
As part of the Reuse Seattle coalition, r.Cup is partnering with Seattle Public Utilities, PR3, The Washington Nightlife Music Association (WANMA), and a growing list of Seattle restaurants and entertainment venues, to design the nation's first municipal reuse system - building the infrastructure and services needed to create reuse at scale while delivering a blueprint for other cities and municipalities.
Michael sits on the Boards of MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, and People's Organic Cafe. He is a 30-year member of the American Sustainable Business Network. Michael lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
OLIVIA CASHMAN - Hennepin County
Olivia Cashman is an environmental protection specialist with Hennepin County Environment and Energy Department where she works to promote reuse and recycling of construction and demolition materials and ensure proper disposal of hazardous building materials. Olivia manages Hennepin County's building reuse grant and pre-demolition inspection programs, working to promote deconstruction and incentivize the building community to rethink management of materials. Olivia has a Bachelor of Science in environmental science from the University of Minnesota and has prior work experience in environmental, health, and safety in manufacturing industries.
ROSELINE FRIEDRICH - Roseline's Candles
Roseline is the founder & CEO of Roseline's Candles (wholesale & e-commerce) and Roseline Place (brick & mortar stores located in NE Mpls & St. Paul). Roseline is the creative genius behind all of our 100% soy candles that are hand-poured in recycled glass vessels. Roseline's Candles & Roseline's Place are sustainable businesses and strive to be eco-friendly from production to packaging. Roseline is an African immigrant, born & raised in Douala, Cameroon, and moved to the United States when at 14.
SHARI HANSEN - Heartstone Decluttering
Shari Hansen is a Dakota County Master Recycler and Decluttering Coach. She shares her expertise in talks about decluttering and recycling around the Twin Cities. She also helps individuals and families unburden their lives of things they no longer need by helping them find people and places that DO need them. Shari, her husband and 3 children have moved internationally three times - they know about accumulating ""stuff"" and the relief that comes from letting things go.
SONYA BETKER - Stantec
With a firm commitment to leaving a better planet for future generations, Sonya has translated her passion for sustainability into a career assisting public and private clients achieve triple bottom line objectives. Sonya has more than 20 years of experience with solid waste management strategy and planning, sustainability and waste minimization studies, organics management, waste diversion analysis and alternatives, rate studies, and creating and implementing outreach programs. She is a TRUE Advisor, a credential focused on creating and certifying zero waste policies and plans. Aligned with the UN sustainable development goals, Sonya is currently completing the Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) certification. Always looking for new technologies that challenge the status quo, Sonya takes creative approaches to responding to waste management and environmental challenges.
SYDNEE GRUSHACK - Eunomia Research & Consulting
Sydnee Grushack is a Senior Consultant at Eunomia Research & Consulting, a waste and resource management consulting firm. Sydnee works with clients across North America, specializing in delivering strategic execution across sectors to drive innovative and impactful policy and strategy around the development of the circular economy. Sydnee's recent work has focused on extended producer responsibility (EPR), deposit return systems and plastics management. Her clients range from state and local governments to Fortune 50 organizations. Sydnee received an MBA from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a BS in Environmental Studies from Emory University.