KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Christine Ervin
Christine Ervin’s career as an environmental leader spans executive positions across national, state and nonprofit sectors. She is widely credited for being a major force in today’s vibrant green-building markets.
As first President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, Ervin led its growth from 200 members and three staff in 1999 to become a highly influential coalition of 4,500 companies and organizations, 50 staff and 70 local chapters and affiliates. During her five-year tenure, the Council launched the LEED® green-building rating system, the Greenbuild™ Conference and Expo which drew 12,000 attendees in 2006, and numerous governance enhancements to help reach mainstream markets.
In 1993, Christine was appointed by President Clinton to serve as Assistant Secretary of Energy for the nation’s $1 billion portfolio of clean energy technologies for transportation, buildings, major industries and power systems. Initiatives during her tenure included: EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR™ partnership; national center on sustainable communities; a streamlined appliance standards program; high performance buildings; and voluntary market-based programs ranging from Million Solar Roofs to private sector financing for energy retrofits. Her office played a key role in the President’s Climate Change Action Partnership.
In 1991, Christine was appointed by Governor Barbara Roberts to direct the Oregon Department of Energy and to lead a state task force on livable communities. Her portfolio included state programs to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, oversight of the Trojan nuclear power plant, Hanford Waste Reservation policy and citing of new energy facilities.
Christine’s interest in market-based programs took root at the World Wildlife Fund/ Conservation Foundation in 1989–91 where she focused on eco-labeling, life cycle assessments and consensus recommendations for pollution prevention. Previously, she directed budget policy for the State of Missouri, advising Governors and the legislature on statewide program and policy issues.
Christine’s Portland-based firm, Christine Ervin/Company, focuses on speech engagements for a wide range of audiences on green markets, climate change and strategies for ushering in a new industrial economy. She also consults on selective projects, serves as an Editor-at-Large with GreenerWorld Media and serves on numerous public and private Boards including the American Council for Renewable Energy (ACORE), Turner Construction’s Sustainability Advisory Board and Oregon’s Climate Change Integration Group. Her upcoming book, Certified Green, explores the dynamic world of green market transformation.
PANELISTS
Robert (Robbie) Alm has been Senior Vice President, Public Affairs of Hawaiian Electric Company since July 2001. He spent 11 years with the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs including six as director of that department. Before joining HECO, he was the Executive Vice President and Manager of the Financial Management Group at First Hawaiian Bank where he worked for eight years. Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Robbie is a graduate of University High School and the University of Hawai‘i and he received his law degree (with distinction) from the University of Iowa. He also spent three years on the Washington, D.C. staff of Senator Dan Inouye. He has served as a board member for numerous community organizations, and may be best known as one of the lead organizers in the Live Aloha campaign. He has been named Volunteer of the Year 2000 by the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of Honolulu; Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE); Honorary Ali‘i by the Royal Order of Kamehameha I; recipient of the Hawai‘i Public Administration Award from the American Society of Public Administration; and winner of the Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Will Boudra is the Vice President of Development for the ‘Ohana Military Communities, LLC, (OMC) a public-private partnership between Forest City Military Communities and the Department of the Navy. Will has operational oversight of the ongoing management and redevelopments for the Navy and Marine Corps housing neighborhoods which includes over 3000 new homes and the renovations of 250 historic homes. Additionally, Will is leading the development of renewable energy sources and projects within the ‘Ohana partnership. This effort has resulted in the completion of a 107 kW solar voltaic power array atop two buildings comprising the community center for the Halsey Terrace neighborhood. Other projects in development include a 650 kW solar voltaic power array in the OMC neighborhood at Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua‘i, DOE- and DOD-funded demonstration wind turbine projects at both Navy and Marine Corps neighborhoods, and a DOE-supported Smart Grid demonstration project within the housing neighborhoods at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i. Will is a registered professional engineer in the State of Florida, a Fellow in the Society of American Military Engineers, and is active in the Urban Land Institute and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He joined Forest City after a 28-year career in the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps.
Pete Cooper is a member of the global development team for Better Place, a sustainable transportation company that is building electric vehicle recharge networks around the world. He supports business development activities in North America and Asia-Pacific regions and is responsible for building the business in Hawai‘i. He is the primary contact between the Hawai‘i engagement and all Better PLC entities/key contractors. Prior to joining Better Place, Pete spent over 20 years managing various technology development and manufacturing organizations in the high frequency communications industry. He has an extensive background in technology, project and business management, as well as product/process development, scaling and validation. Pete’s focus on renewable energy is directly related to sustainable transportation and the possibility of ending our addiction to fossil fuels. Pete received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University and a Masters Degree in Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Mark Duda is President of the Hawai‘i Solar Energy Association, a board member of the Hawai‘i PV Coalition and a member of the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum and the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative Energy Efficiency Working Group. In these roles he is a participant in legislative and regulatory efforts to expand the supply of renewable energy in Hawai‘i. Mark has also worked as a consultant specializing in housing and mortgage market issues, and as a research analyst at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
Michael P. Hamnett has worked on ocean and coastal resource management, energy development and climate change issues in Hawai‘i for over 20 years. He is Executive Director of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i; Program Director for the Hawai‘i Coral Reef Initiative Research Program, a joint venture between the University of Hawai‘i and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources; and Director of the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum, a collaborative forum for sharing ideas and information, recommending and advocating policies and initiatives, and promoting civic action to achieve Hawai‘i’s preferred energy future. The Forum has commissioned studies, developed a vision of Hawai‘i’s Energy Future, held an Energy Policy Summit, published an Energy Strategy, initiated a public education campaign, and submitted to the Hawai‘i State Legislature proposed legislation on renewable energy, energy efficiency, regulatory reform, and long-term energy security. Dr. Hamnett has an M.A. and Ph.D. in Socio-Cultural Anthropology with an ethnogrphic focus in Oceania.
Darren Kimura is the President and CEO of Sopogy, Inc., a company that developed a new way to concentrate solar power to create electricity. Kimura, originally from Hilo, began his career in renewables and efficiency in 1992 working as an EPA Green Light Surveyor. He went on to found Hawai‘i's own national energy company "Energy Industries" in 1994. Over his career he created numerous companies, created hundreds of green collar jobs and traveled the world presenting energy savings tips for consumers and businesses. As President & CEO, Darren led his companies to many distinctions including Innovation Company of the Year 2008 and finalist for Global Energy Awards 2008. Darren's entrepreneurship accolades include Technology Leader of the Year 2006 and Green Entrepreneur of the Year 2007. Darren serves on many boards and energy advisory groups, has spoken on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies, and alongside his staff, has designed innovative technologies and systems. Darren has a BA from the University of Hawai‘i and attended Portland State University where he studied electrical engineering.
Kelly King is the Vice President of Pacific Biodiesel, Inc., having co-founded the renewable energy company with her husband Robert King in 1996. Well known as an industry pioneer, Pacific Biodiesel was created to help alleviate the disposal of waste cooking oil at Maui's landfill and became the first commercial biodiesel company in the U.S.
James Koshiba is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kanu Hawai‘i, a movement of people drawing on island strengths to model environmental stewardship, compassionate community, and local self-reliance for the world, starting with personal change. Kanu combines grassroots outreach with an online community and Web 2.0 tools that encourage people to declare and share public commitments to action. Prior to founding Kanu, James was Founding Partner at 3Point Consulting – a public interest research and consulting group that worked with nonprofits, schools and social enterprises and Special Projects Manager for Boston Community Capital where he helped finance small businesses in inner cities. A former faculty member of the University of Hawai‘i and Chaminade University, James graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University and earned a Masters Degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Ted Liu is the Director of the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT). In that role, he provides the leadership and direction to fulfill DBEDT's mission: to support business, create jobs, and improve Hawai‘i's standard of living by diversifying the economy, expanding existing businesses, and developing new economic activity. Ted has spent his life in law, finance and investments. From 1983 to 1993, Ted practiced corporate and international law with the New York law firms of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. In 1993, Ted joined Morgan Stanley & Co. as a Managing Director of Investment Banking for Non-Japan Asia, based in Hong Kong. Ted moved to Hawaii and in 2000 was a co-founder of PacifiCap Group, a private equity firm.
Jeffrey Mikulina is the executive director of the Blue Planet Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to end the use of carbon-based fuels on Earth. Prior to working with the Foundation, Jeffrey served for ten years as the director of Hawai‘i’s largest environmental advocacy organization, the Sierra Club, Hawai‘i Chapter. His accomplishments in environmental advocacy include passing legislation that sets a binding cap on Hawai‘i's greenhouse gas emissions, requires that all new homes use solar water heaters, requires returnable deposits on all beverage containers, provides incentives for renewable energy use, establishes curbside recycling on O‘ahu and increases the funding of natural resources through tourism taxes. Jeffrey earned a Master's of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying Decision Theory.
Hermina M. Morita was elected to the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives in 1997, representing East and North Kaua‘i. Representative Morita chairs the Energy and Environmental Protection Committee. She is a member of the Advisory Committee on Energy of the National Conference of State Legislature's Energy Project and National Committee on Electricity Policy. In 1997, she was awarded the prestigious Arthur S. Flemming Fellowship given to emerging political leaders in the United States. In June 2002, she received an honorable mention as a finalist for the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government. She received the EPA’s 2003 Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award, Region IX, for her work on environmental issues. She received a fellowship from the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Leadership Institute as one of 12 state legislators selected for a study tour of China focused on environmental, energy and trade issues.
Carilyn O. Shon is the Energy Conservation Program Manager in the Strategic Industries Division of the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Ms. Shon has extensive experience working on a number of energy programs. These programs include utility integrated resources planning and demand-side management program development and intervention before the Public Utilities Commission; renewable industry support and coordination to promote renewable energy use in Hawai‘i; legislative initiatives for efficiency and renewable programs; sustainable/energy-efficient building programs for commercial and residential buildings; and partnership programs with the private sector, federal entities, county entities, and other state agencies to promote efficiency and renewable energy programs.
H. Ray Starling joined Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as Program Manager for the Hawai‘i Energy Efficiency Program (HEEP), charged with designing and implementing energy efficiency measures to enhance the expansion of renewable energy under the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, thereby reducing Hawai‘i's dependence on fossil fuel. Prior to SAIC, Mr. Starling was managing principal of Hawai‘i Energy Group, LLC (HEG), an energy consulting and development firm focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. He is involved in ice thermal storage technology projects through Off-Peak Energy International, LLC. Of his 25 years in the electric power and energy industries, Mr. Starling has worked for the last decade as a consultant and developer of energy conservation and renewable energy projects in Hawai‘i. From 1995-1998, Mr. Starling served as President of HEI Power Corp., developing independent power projects throughout the Asia-Pacific region. For three years, he served as Senior Attorney at Hawaiian Electric Company. Thoroughly familiar with the technical, legal and business issues impacting power supply and energy use decisions for energy suppliers and consumers, Mr. Starling has counseled and represented various Hawai‘i businesses in their power supply and energy matters. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from N.C. State University and a JD degree from Wake Forest Law School.
Gary A. Wassel is Vice President and General Manager of Cycle City Ltd., a purveyor of Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki and Buell motorcycles, Vespa scooters and Kawasaki industrial vehicles. Cycle City is housed in an energy efficient building with wind power, photovoltaics, a green roof and “ambient air conditioning.” Prior to joining Cycle City, Gary was President of Jardine Hawai‘i Motor Group and Shelly Automotive Holdings, Inc. He was Vice President at Budget Rental Car Systems, Inc., and earlier worked at Peat, Marwich, Mitchell & Co., CPAs. Born in Monongahela, Pa., Gary has a B.S. in Accounting from Sacramento State University and served in the U.S. Air Force.
Wren Wescoatt is a Development Specialist for First Wind, an independent wind energy company. Raised on the island of Moloka‘i, Wren attended Kamehameha Schools, received a B.A. in Communication from Stanford University and a M.A. in Education from the University of North Carolina. The founder of College Connections Hawai‘i, he spent the past eight years managing a statewide nonprofit organization. Wren now lives on O‘ahu and facilitates community outreach and communications for First Wind's new projects to provide clean, renewable energy in Hawai‘i.
