5th Annual Babson Energy & Environmental Conference – 2011
Entrepreneurship for a Sustainable Future

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Panels Information

Deploying Innovations in Cleantech

This panel brings together companies at the forefront of innovations in energy-efficiency, smart grid, demand-response and renewable energy.  As the population grows and global energy demands continue to rise at a rapid rate, the energy industry will need innovative and entrepreneurial solutions in order to keep pace and meet the challenges of tomorrow.  The panelists will discuss how their companies are addressing the looming energy crisis through the latest in cutting-edge technologies and business strategies.

Moderated By:
Clint Wilder, Senior Editor, Clean Edge & Author, The Clean Tech Revolution

• Greg Dixon, Senior Vice President of Marketing, EnerNOC
• Eric Graham, Director, Techbridge – Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems
• Michael Bakas, Senior Vice President of Renewable Energy, Ameresco
• Robert Gough, Founder, Port Meadow Tech

Financing Strategies: Funding Your Green Venture

panel will bring together both business operators and financiers to discuss the state of financing green ventures in today’s economy.  The panel will look at the latest trends and innovations in debt, equity, and project financing in the cleantech space, and discuss both challenges and potential opportunities.  Panelists will discuss where the capital is flowing, how the latest are deals being structured, who the biggest winners and losers are, and how “financial entrepreneurs” can play an integral role in helping the new green economy to grow.

Moderated By:
Mark Donohue, Clean Technology Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Babson College

• Chuck McDermott, General Partner, Rockport Capital
• Sheeraz Haji, CEO, Cleantech Group
• Cary Bullock, CEO, ThermoEnergy Corp.
• Jon Abe, Senior Vice President, Nexamp

New Energy Policy & Implications

This panel aims to give attendees a greater understanding of the policies and incentives available to cleantech companies at the federal, state and municipal levels.  The panel pulls together leaders from the public and private sector that will explain and identify how policies and incentives are helping to create new opportunities in the cleantech industry.  Through a moderated session, the panelists will also explore what policies and government strategies are needed to drive the deployment and development of innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the world’s environmental problems and energy needs.

Moderated By:
David O’Connor, Senior Vice President for Energy and Clean Technology, ML Strategies

• Howard Berke – Co-Founder & Executive Chairman/ CEO, Konarka Technologies; Former Board Director, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
• Patrick Cloney, Executive Director, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
• James Hunt, Chief of Environmental and Energy Services, City of Boston
• Kim Stevenson, Manager of New Technologies, CT Clean Energy Fund

Designing Solutions for Food, Water and Waste

This panel draws together corporate practitioners and local innovators who have helped to shape New England’s food, water, and waste management systems.  Panelists will discuss opportunities and barriers in their particular industries, and speak to the innovative thinking, new designs, and strategic planning behind combating our current resource dilemmas.  While much of the energy debate takes place on less tangible platforms, concerns about food supply, water conservation, and waste management impact each one of us every day.

Moderated By:
Marty Anderson, Professor, Babson College

• Kathy Loftus, Global Leader for Sustainability Engineering, Maintenance & Energy Management, Whole Foods
• Robert MacAruther, Executive-in-Residence, Boston University Business Incubator; Founder, Confluent Energies
• Bob Reese, President/ Co-Founder, Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery
• Jonathan Nash, Director of Business Development, NewStream

New Frontiers in Corporate Sustainability

This panel will explore how corporations both large and small are taking the lead on making key decisions related to sustainable business practices.  Through targeted investments in areas such as energy efficiency, carbon footprint management, and greening of their supply chains, companies are starting to see significant cost savings and increases in shareholder value.  The panel will attempt to identify the areas of opportunity that yield the greatest financial and environmental impact, and will examine current industry best practices.  Panelists will also discuss the biggest challenges that their companies faced in implementing sustainability initiatives, and how they managed to overcome them through innovation and entrepreneurial approaches.

Moderated By:
Cheryl Kiser, Managing Director, The Lewis Institute; Executive Director, Babson Social Innovation Lab

• Cynthia Curtis, Chief Sustainability Officer, CA Technologies
• Rob Pratt, Chairman & CEO, GreenerU
• David Newman, Head of EHS, Sustainability & Facilities, EMD Millipore
• Jeramy Lemieux, Head of Climate Savers, Diversey, Inc.

Entrepreneurs Showcase

This panel will explore how entrepreneurs in the cleantech, energy and sustainability industries made it to where they are. What did it take? What challenges did they face? Did they bootstrap the organization or did they seek external venture funding? Join us to hear real world examples, listen to entrepreneurs’ war stories and gain valuable insight as you think about launching your next startup in this space. Join us for a glimpse of the Babson entrepreneurial tradition.

Moderated By:
Dr. Bill Huss, Professor & Babson Energy Club Faculty Advisor, Babson College

• Frank Zammataro, CEO, Rentricity
• Frank Van Mierlo, CEO, 1366 Technologies
• John Pepper, CEO, Boloco
• Michael Hidary, Managing Director, Samba Energy