ROCHESTER GREEN BUSINESS NETWORK
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Keynote speaker
Edwin Piñero is the Director of the Pollution Prevention Center, Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS), Rochester Institute of Technology. The P2 Center provides cutting edge technology research and development and assistance with sustainable practice for industry. Prior to coming to GIS, Piñer served in the Bush White House as the Federal Environmental Executive, where his responsibility was to promote sustainable environmental stewardship throughout the federal government.
Prior to this appointment, Piñero was the President of Piñero Consulting, specializing in environmental management and environmental performance services. From 1998 to 2001, he was the Director for the Bureau of Environmental Sustainability for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the State Energy Director. Piñero has taught environmental courses as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University. He has his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the State University of New York at Brockport, and his Master’s Degree
in Geology from Texas A&M University.
Lunch speakers
Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Executive has earned a reputation as a dedicated and effective leader since she was sworn in as Monroe County’s fifth County Executive in January 2004. The first woman to hold this position, she was re-elected to a second term in 2007 by an historic 74 percent of the vote.
Maggie is well-known in the Greater Rochester area from her many years as a local television news anchor and radio reporter. She previously served as Monroe County Clerk and as Monroe County Legislator for the 17th District.
Her inclusive, collaborative leadership style has brought about a new era in County government. Maggie has established positive and cooperative relationships with the City of Rochester, local towns and villages, businesses and community organizations.
Maggie’s top priority is strengthening the local economy through job creation. At the start of her Administration, she convened an Economic Development Strategy Team to work with her. She was instrumental in establishing the County and City partnership with Greater Rochester Enterprise to streamline local economic development efforts and attract new business investment. Shortly after taking office, Maggie established the requirement that any company receiving county financial incentives must use local labor for new construction or expansion. She also increased the incentives available under the County’s GreatRate and GreatRebate programs to encourage companies to purchase equipment and supplies locally. In 2006, Maggie launched The Entrepreneurs Network to grow the region’s innovation economy. Under her leadership, the County has assisted hundreds of companies in improving and expanding their operations, retaining and creating thousands of local jobs.
Also under Maggie’s leadership, Monroe County has become a statewide leader in the development of green energy resources and the promotion of renewable energy. Her environmentally-friendly initiatives include establishing a green building policy for all new County facilities of more than 5,000 square feet, constructing an electricity-generating facility at the Mill Seat Landfill, installing LED bulbs on all County traffic lights, and installing solar panels on the roof of the County Office Building.
Recognizing that a key to economic strength is community vitality, Maggie has been the driving force behind Renaissance Square, a unique and exciting joint development project that combines a transit center, an urban college campus and a performing arts center in the heart of downtown. Renaissance Square will re-create Rochester and be a catalyst for private investment and jobs.
Maggie has brought an energizing new vision to County government, making it her priority to involve the entire community in shaping the future of Monroe County.
She is a graduate of Ithaca College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Mayor Robert J. Duffy took office in January, 2006 after a nearly 30 year career in the Rochester Police Department, serving as Chief of Police from 1998-2005. Born and raised in the City of Rochester, Mayor Duffy has had a lifelong passion for the city and its people.Mayor Duffy has proven himself to be a leader both at home and on the state and national level. He chairs the Public Safety committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is on the Executive Committee of the Great Lakes Alliance, and and works actively with our State and Federal legislative delegations to fund our priorities of public safety, economic development and education.
He’s also been proud to see Rochester garner much-deserved recognition, rated #6 on the Places Rated Almanac Best Places to Live in America out of 379 communities in America, and by receiving Honorable Mention from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for its “Clean Sweep” community beautification program.
Mayor Duffy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University in addition to two associates degrees from Monroe Community College. He and his wife Barbara have been married for more than 20 years and have two college-aged daughters.
Jodi Smits Anderson is the Director of Environmental Programs for the Dormitory Authority, State of New York. She is an architect, a member of the Upstate Chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in NY, and a secretary of the American Institute of Architects Eastern NY Chapter. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and has completed the High-Performance Schools on-line training course offered by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) and the USGBC. She is the Chairperson of the AIAENY COTE (Committee on the Environment), planners of the successful Green Material Expo recently held in Troy, NY. Her goal is to incorporate sustainable practices into as many elements of design, construction and living as possible, and to share whatever she has learned with whoever will talk with her.
John Billone Jr., President of Flower City Management and Development, a second-generation family business which his parents founded over 30 years ago. After graduating high school, John attended Clarkson University to pursue an engineering degree. He transferred to Alfred State in his second year where he acquired two associate degrees, one in business and one in Air Conditioning Engineering Technology. John also earned his Associates Real Estate license after graduating college. He continued to work in the family plumbing business after college and received his Master Plumbing license from the City of Rochester in 1990. John and his two brothers owned and operated the Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchise for Western New York from 1992 - 2002. Upon selling the business, John’s brothers continued to operate Billone Mechanical Contractors while John focused on the family real estate development business.
Today, Flower City manages approximately 400 residential units in Rochester and is currently developing over 12 million dollars in residential and mixed-use development.
Sandra L. Frankel, Brighton Town Supervisor,
Monroe County, New York - Ms. Frankel was elected Supervisor in 1991. Despite a larger Republican than Democratic voter registration, she became the first Democrat and first woman to hold the office of Elected Executive/CEO in the town’s 177-year history.
Sandy Frankel has created an impressive record of accomplishments during her tenure as the Elected Executive of the Town of Brighton.
Here are just a few of these accomplishments:
- Sandy’s administration fixed a major fiscal problem inherited from the prior administration, stabilized Brighton's finances and cut taxes in four budgets,
- created a new town-wide park system of more than 400 acres, including Corbett's Glen Nature Park and Buckland Park, doubled recreation programs, protected environmentally sensitive areas, and passed an $8 million parkland acquisition and development referendum by four-to-one
- adopted an economic development and design guideline plan that revitalized the town’s main retail/commercial corridor, filling vacant storefronts; created a Business Improvement District to reduce the cost of exterior renovation for businesses; supported the establishment of Empire Zones; beautified the town center; and initiated a cooperative plan and program for Monroe Avenue in partnership with the City of Rochester and the Town and Village of Pittsford
She earned her Bachelors of Science Degree with Distinction from Newcomb College of Tulane University and a Master of Arts from Northwestern University.
Mike Garland, Deputy Director, Monroe County Department of Environmental Services. He manages the Engineering & Facilities Division and oversees $200 million in capital projects as well as maintenance of over three million sq. ft. of County owned and leased facilities. Mike first joined the County in 1996 where he served for seven years as Special Assistant for Capital Projects under former County Executive Jack Doyle and managed various capital projects including the $26-million Public Safety Training Facility and Monroe Community College’s $27-million Campus Center. Prior to joining the County in 1996, he served as an environmental engineer for consulting firms and was involved in water and wastewater design for municipal and international clients. Mike is a graduate of Villanova University (BS Civil Engineering) and University at Buffalo (MS Civil Engineering) and is a licensed Professional Engineer in NYS.
Jim Gerek is a Technical Associate for the Eastman Kodak Company based in Rochester, New York. He spent the early part of his career working in various technical and managerial assignments in Kodak's Synthetic Chemicals Division. For the past 20 years, Jim has been a staff member in Kodak's Health, Safety and Environment organization working primarily on various aspects of environmental regulations. His particular emphasis has been on air compliance programs, hazardous waste issues, the public perception of toxic chemicals in the environment, and environmental auditing. His most recent assignment over the past two years has been the HSE Manager for Kodak’s Footprint Reduction Program where he has managed overall HSE issues for the major demolition and renovation program at the Kodak Park facility.
Jim is a RAB-QSA certified Environmental Auditor and has performed assessments on Kodak facilities around the world. He is also a member of the Genesee and Finger Lakes Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association, and of the American Chemical Society. Jim has both chaired and participated in a variety of trade association committees at both the state and national levels, including the American Chemistry Council, The Business Council of New York State and the Alliance of Chemical Industries of New York State. He has also presented numerous seminars on environmental regulations both inside and outside his company.
Reinhard Gsellmeier, Associate Engineer, Monroe County Department of Environmental Services – manages County capital improvement projects from planning through completion of construction. As the County’s project manager he has worked with a number of consulting firms and contractors on a variety of diverse projects, ranging in size and complexity from the County’s $54 million expansion of the County Jail Addition to smaller Parks trail development projects. Green Building Projects he is currently managing include MCC’s Wolk Nursing Addition Project and MCC’s Athletic Field House project. Prior to joining the County, Reinhard served as a project engineer, project manager, and principal-in-charge of projects for a local consulting Architecture and Engineering firm. He is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BS Civil Engineering) and Lehigh University (MS Structures), and is a licensed Professional Engineer in NYS.
Mary Ellen Heyman, Supervisor of the Town of Irondequoit – she immediately began establishing policies and initiatives to improve the quality of life for all Irondequoit residents.
Many of her actions are guided by three important principles, first, honest accountable government, second, fiscal responsibility and transparency, third, making decisions that will make Irondequoit a better place.
Mary Ellen has restored the Town’s financial position by cutting spending, implementing fiscal controls, creating efficiencies, and securing grant funds.
Mary Ellen adheres to a philosophy of “practical environmentalism,” taking steps that preserve our environment for the future, while enhancing our economy and quality of life now. Hence, Irondequoit has the most comprehensive energy and environmental policies of any municipality in the state.
Mary Ellen has implemented an ambitious program to modernize the Town’s infrastructure (sewers, drainage areas, sidewalks, streets); protect the fragile and unique steep slopes along Irondequoit Bay; reduce energy usage; and attract well-planned development.
Carolyn S. Kaplan, Counsel, Chief Sustainability Officer, Nixon Peabody LLP Carolyn Kaplan concentrates her practice on federal, state, and local land use and environmental matters. She co-chairs Nixon Peabody’s Renewable Energy team, which is comprised of experienced attorneys involved in the development, construction, financing, and operation of renewable energy facilities. Carolyn has assisted clients on a variety of renewable energy projects, including siting of land-based and offshore wind energy facilities. She is an active member of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), serving on AWEA’s Siting and Legislative committees and Offshore Wind Working Group. She currently has a lead role in revising AWEA’s Siting Handbook. She also participates in several state wind energy working groups.
Carolyn Kaplan has been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in Environmental law based on a peer-review survey by Massachusetts Super Lawyers magazine (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007).
She is a member of the Environmental Law Section of the Boston Bar Association, and the Energy and Natural Resources Section of the American Bar Association (ABA). She coauthors the renewable energy section of the biannual report for the ABA’s Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law (PUCAT).
Brian Platt is NYSERDA’s Energy Efficiency Program Manager for FlexTech, CHP, Water, and Industry. He has worked 20 years in the energy field for New York State.
Previously, Brian worked for Shell Oil Company as a project manager for offshore process facilities and cogeneration plants. Brian is a New York State licensed professional engineer. He has a B.S. in chemical engineering from Cornell University.
Anne Stocum, Manager, Environmental Market Support, Xerox Corporation. Anne oversees all customer communications related to the environmental program, including Xerox’s sustainability report and website. In addition, she develops leadership programs such as Xerox’s environmental paper sourcing initiative and greenhouse gas reduction programs. She also tracks public policy and regulatory issues and contributes to environmental strategy development and planning.
Anne joined Xerox in 1987 working in occupational health and regulatory affairs before her current position. She earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the State University of New York at Geneseo and later attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where she completed her master of science degree in ecology.
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