Keynote Speakers
President & Founder, Natural Captialism Solutions
L. Hunter Lovins is the President and Founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions(NCS), a non-profit formed in 2002 in Longmont, CO. A renowned author and champion of sustainable development for over 35 years, Hunter has consulted on business, economic development, sustainable agriculture, energy, water, security, and climate policies for scores of governments, communities, and companies worldwide. Within the United States, she has consulted for heads of state, departments of defense, energy agencies and hundreds of state and local agencies.
Hunter believes that citizens, communities and companies, working together within the market context, are the most dynamic problem-solving force on the planet. She has devoted herself to building teams that can create and implement practical and affordable solutions to the problems facing us in creating a sustainable future.
Hunter has co‐authored fifteen books and hundreds of articles, and was featured in the award‐winning film, Lovins On the Soft Path. Her best‐known book, Natural Capitalism, Won the Shingo Prize. It has been translated into a more than three dozen languages and summarized in Harvard Business Review. Its sequel, The Way Out: Kickstarting Capitalism To Save Our Economic Ass, won the Atlas Award. Her book, Creating a Lean and Green Business System again won the Shingo Prize. Her latest book, A Finer Future won the Silver Nautilus Award.
Tez Steinberg, Entrepreneur, Record-Setting Endurance Athlete
Tez Steinberg is an entrepreneur and record-setting endurance athlete who explores the edges of human potential to drive social and environmental change.
In 2020, Tez became the first person to row solo from California to Hawaii — despite having no prior rowing experience. Three years later, he completed another world-first: a nonstop solo row from Hawaii to Australia. Across both expeditions, Tez spent 197 days alone at sea, rowing 8,500 miles and sharing the journey with a global audience. His campaigns raised over $160,000 for education and ocean-conservation projects, funding three peace and sustainability scholarships and preventing 88,000 pounds of plastic from entering the ocean.
Tez earned his MBA from London Business School and completed undergrad at Oxford University and Macalester College. Alongside his ventures — United World Challenge and Life Beyond Comfort — Tez spent six years with Deloitte Consulting, specializing in learning and leadership for Fortune 100 clients.
His work and leadership have been recognized by The Explorers Club, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, NEXUS, Summit Series, and the World Economic Forum, which named Tez among the 50 Best Young Minds in the World.
Panelists for Smarter Sustainability: Harnessing AI to Optimize Operations and Drive Strategic Insight
Deon Glaser, SVP of Sustainability, Social Impact & ESG, The Uplift Agency
Deon is a global leader in sustainability and social change with two decades of experience. At Uplift, she leads the sustainability, human rights, and ESG consulting teams, overseeing the design, development, and implementation of strategies across clients’ value chains.
Deon’s experience is marked by successful creation and execution of large-scale sustainability frameworks through strategic and policy thinking, innovative solutions, and transformative stakeholder engagement. Through private sector consulting and senior positions at market transformation institutes, she has helped many companies set, pursue, and achieve sustainability goals.
In previous roles, Deon led multi-disciplinary teams to assess and improve building operations for clients across commercial real estate, healthcare, retail, and education sectors. During her time at the U.S. Green Building Council, Deon led the improvement and expansion of the LEED green building rating system to better meet the needs of projects around the world. At Green Seal, she established a green facilities and operations program for educational institutions and enhanced their green services certification program. Deon holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in public policy from The George Washington University.
Deon’s passion for the planet extends to her home life in Colorado, where you can find her hiking through the aspen groves of the Rocky Mountains or harvesting fresh peaches from her backyard. Be sure to ask about her adventures living in a 1890 Victorian home, built before electricity came to Denver.
Sydnei Creel, Sustainability Specialist, Cisco
Sydnei Creel is a Sustainability Specialist at Cisco, where she helps organizations harness technology to accelerate their sustainability goals. With over six years at Cisco, Sydnei serves as a subject matter expert on the intersection of technology and sustainability, advising customers on how Cisco’s products and digital solutions can not only become more energy-efficient and circular, but also enable entirely new pathways to environmental progress.
Her work focuses on translating complex sustainability ambitions into actionable technology strategies, empowering companies to make measurable advances in areas such as carbon reduction, resource optimization, and responsible innovation. Sydnei holds a master’s degree in Corporate Sustainability from Harvard University, where her research centered on circular economy principles and business transformation. She brings her expertise to the discussion on exploring how digital innovation can drive operational efficiency while balancing the environmental footprint of emerging technologies.
Litsa Adamov, Manager, Digital Experience, CDW
Litsa Adamov is a seasoned leader in Business Development & Strategic Partnerships with over 15 years of experience advising senior management on leveraging technology to enhance competitive advantage and business value. Currently, Litsa leads a technology team that supports corporate mid-market customers in achieving higher productivity, employee engagement, and future-proofing workspaces. Her work often involves integrating AI to drive long-term sustainability.
Litsa is dedicated to accelerating the renewable energy transition, focusing on net zero, circularity, and carbon capture. She is a member of CDW’s Climate Taskforce and serves on an advisory workgroup for the sustainability of client device business. Under her leadership, her team excels in IT Asset Disposition solution sales, emphasizing circularity-centered solutions.
Additionally, Litsa has served as a board member of the Tri-Taylor Community Association, advocating for over 32,000 residents and the local environment. She has collaborated with civic leaders and the Chicago Zoning department to keep a key business district free of new fossil fuel industries. Litsa is also a member of the Illinois Environmental Council and the Illinois Steward Alliance.
Miranda Gardiner, Executive Director, iMasons Climate Accord
Miranda Gardiner is the Executive Director of iMasons Climate Accord — a groundbreaking trade association focused on emission reductions and sustainability in data centers. Under her vision, it has emerged as the premier arena for digital infrastructure’s commitment to ambitious climate goals. With 30+% of members on ICA committees, her approach is “for the members, by the members”.
She has presented at Climate Week NYC and Datacloud Global Congress, contributing to publications like PERE’s 2024 Data Centers Report. In 2020, she received LEED Fellow status from USGBC, and in 2025, was recognized in Data Centre Magazine’s inaugural “Top 100 Women in Data Centers”.
Panelists for Scaling Impact: Creating Innovation eco-system of Startups and Climate Tech Innovators to Reach Ambitious Goals
Robert Grey, Director, Sustainable Future, Plug and Play Tech Center
Robert Grey is a sustainability-focused innovation leader driving ecological and technological advancements at the intersection of business, society, and natural systems. He is the Director of Sustainable Future, P&L owner for five business units at Plug and Play Tech Center: Agtech, Animal Health, Food & Beverage, New Materials & Packaging, and Sustainability.
In this role, he leads a cross-functional team of industry experts including new business development, partner success, accelerator program operations, and venture investors. With a rich international background spanning South Korea, China, Thailand, Denmark, and the US, Robert brings a global perspective to his work. An entrepreneur at heart, he has successfully built a $1MM ARR spin off using AI to allow fire service and the world’s largest utilities to identify risks of catastrophic wildfire faster, ultimately taking the startup public.
Over the course of his career, he has tackled large-scale challenges in human health, alternative proteins, water efficiency, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem resilience, gaining a deep understanding of corporate innovation through cross-border business development.
Dennis Wilson, VP, ESG & Managing Director, Circular Economy Solutions NA, Saint Gobain
Dennis is the Vice President of Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) for Saint-Gobain in North America, the parent company of CertainTeed and also the Managing Director of Saint-Gobain Circular Economy Solutions, a venture focused on circularity in the built environment. Dennis joined CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain in 2007 and has since worked in a variety of operational EHS, product stewardship and sustainability roles. Dennis’ teams manage Saint-Gobain North America’s ESG programs as well as process & product sustainability efforts including waste, water, energy, greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy and product life cycle assessments.
Dennis holds a BS in Applied Environmental Health & Safety Sciences (Safety Sciences) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Environmental Protection & Safety Management from St. Joseph’s University, an MBA from LaSalle University, and a certificate in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University. Prior to his time at CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain, Dennis held a variety of operations, quality, and regulatory positions in the pharmaceutical, and paper and plastics industries. Dennis is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC), Circular Philadelphia and ecomedes
Amlan Mukherjee, Senior Director of Sustainability & Intelligent Construction, National Asphalt Pavement Assoc.
Amlan has experience across academia, agency and consulting. He started as an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at Michigan Tech where he served for 18 years through tenure and promotion to Professor. During that time, he served as a Life Cycle Assessment Specialist at the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) for two years supporting the Climate Challenge team. He founded Trisight, LLC in 2013 that pioneered EPD software tools for the construction materials industry, implementing platforms such as the Emerald Eco Label EPD software. Trisight was eventually acquired by WAP Sustainability Consulting where he served for a year and a half as Director of Sustainability before coming to NAPA.
In his consulting role he worked with various sectors of the construction industry including the asphalt recycling and preservation, aggregate, flooring and concrete industries.
He has also served as a subject matter expert for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minnesota Buy Clean Task Force, and as a member the General Services Administration’s Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee (2022 – 2024). He also served on the Board of the Green Building Initiative (GBI) (2017 – 2024), presiding as the Chair of the Board in 2023. Amlan currently holds professional memberships with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Michigan and Maryland
Anna Reves, Supply Chain Sustainability Program Manager, Xcel Energy
Anna leads the Supply Chain Sustainability program for Xcel Energy, a $47B US electric utility that operates across eight states. Anna built Xcel Energy’s program in 2024, and is beginning to expand the program from supplier assessment and development into innovation research and implementation. She brings insights from a corporate perspective, seeking to leverage the startup ecosystem for sustainability innovations.
Anna has an MBA and Certificate in ESG Strategy from University of Colorado Boulder (Go Buffs!). Prior to this role, Anna served 20 years as a Marine Corp Officer, deploying 3 times to Iraq, earning a Combat Action Ribbon, and serving on the staff of the Commandant of the Marine Corps before retiring in 2021.
Panelists for Change as a Catalyst: Embedding Change Management for Lasting Sustainability Transformation
Corinne Graper, Founder & CEO, The Uplift Agency
Corinne Graper leads Uplift, a sustainability and social impact consulting firm that accelerates business to be more sustainable and just.
With deep strategy, change management, and sustainability experience, she helps Fortune 500 business leaders drive sustainable and responsible business transformation. Whether her team is conducting assessments, building custom strategies or helping to execute action plans to drive environmental and social goals, they pair inspiring vision with practical experience.
Corinne’s passion for helping businesses drive positive change grew from her time at Fortune 100 corporations, the United Nations, global nonprofits, and grassroots organizations. She led various social responsibility, change management, and communications initiatives at Northwestern Mutual, Allstate Insurance Company, and Kellogg Company.
She was also part of a small team that launched the United Nations — Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund, an innovative fund that brought together governments, NGOs and the private sector to support local nonprofits that build peace in 41 countries experiencing severe crises.
She has also served on the board of advisors of NeedsList, a technology company that brings efficiency to the global humanitarian aid system.
Corinne has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in communications from Western Michigan University. She and her husband have three children, and a golden doodle named Strudel.
Suzette Carty, Head of Global ESG, CDW
Suzette Carty is Head of Global ESG at CDW, where she leads the development and execution of the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance strategy—aligning operations, portfolio and partnerships to drive sustainable growth. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment (2004) and an undergraduate background in Chemical Technology and Industrial Management.
Previously, Suzette built strategic sustainability programs and led stakeholder engagement efforts at companies including Brown‑Forman Corporation. Her expertise spans change management, corporate culture, performance improvement and cross-functional leadership, enabling organizations to embed ESG principles throughout the enterprise.
A strong advocate for leveraging business influence to advance societal and environmental progress, Suzette also serves on the Board of Trustees for Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest. She brings to the panel a deep understanding of how to mobilize teams, systems and metrics to drive meaningful change.
Jeff Wilzbacher, Senior Director, Energy & Sustainability, DaVita
Jeff Wilzbacher serves as DaVita’s Senior Director leading Energy, Sustainability, and ESG strategies for DaVita. DaVita is a leading provider of kidney care services committed to improving the quality of life for patients around the globe. He is responsible for architecting DaVita’s long-term sustainability vision and spearheading the corporate initiatives that bring that vision to life.
With a focus on finding opportunities that benefit communities, the environment and the business, Jeff seeks to align DaVita’s sustainability performance with its mission to be a community-first, patient-centric organization. His work involves implementing programs that create positive impact while also delivering operational efficiency and financial value.
Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Science in Environmental Management & Sustainability from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Outside of work, Jeff is most comfortable with a backpack on and has completed the trek from Mexico to Canada twice