Agenda

7:15 – 8:00

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 – 9:15

Welcome – Exhibit Hall B – Opening Remarks

United States Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin

The State of Green Jobs Panel Discussion

Chris Adamo, U.S. Senator Stabenow’s Office;

Kate Gordon, Director, Apollo Alliance; and

Stanley “Skip” Pruss, Director, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

9:15 – 9:30

Break & Exhibit Tour – Exhibit Hall A

9:30 – 10:30

Breakout sessions

Reinventing the Automobile – Banquet Rooms 1 & 3

Hear from General Motors about the company’s advanced propulsion technology strategy to produce vehicles that run alternative energy sources such as E85, hydrogen and electricity and the impact this is having on “green” jobs within the organization. Also learn about the efforts GM has underway to reduce the environmental impact of its’ manufacturing facilities – from the use of renewable energy to reduced waste creation and enhanced recycling efforts. These efforts have already and will continue to affect GM’s manufacturing operations in Michigan.

Mary Beth Stanek, Director, Energy and Environment Policy and Commercialization

General Motors Corporation

Growing Energy – Banquet Rooms 2 & 4

Learn how agriculture and industry can combine in new ways.  Agriculture has the potential to become an increasingly important source of renewable energy and provide significant economic opportunities for farmers.  Renewable energy production stimulates the agricultural and rural economy, improves the environment, and enhances national energy security.

Norma McDonald, Operating Manager Phase 3 Renewables

Dana Kirk, Manager of the Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center (ADREC), Michigan State University

Dave Prouty, President, Heat Transfer International

Green Training through Partnerships – Banquet Rooms 5 & 7

Everyone has heard the adage ‘it takes a village’ during this session you will learn how employers need for a trained workforce were fulfilled by creating partnerships and collaborations.   Hear how Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, and Hemlock Semiconductor are working with Delta College and Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! to fill their needs for highly skilled chemical process operators.

Ed Oberski, CEO, Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!

Dave Herrala, Senior Learning Leader, Dow Chemical

Pat Graves, Delta College

Building a Greener Tomorrow – Banquet Rooms 6 & 8

Hear from experts on what it means to “build green” and some of the techniques that are used during construction in order to reduce carbon footprints.  What is the forecast for apprentices needed to assist in creating energy-efficient homes and buildings, using energy-efficient, cost effective, and low-maintenance products for construction needs.  This session will cover new construction technology, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building credentials.

Lawrence Hidalgo, Training Director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 665

Dave Jackson, Apprenticeship Representative, Office of Apprenticeship, USDOL

John Reilly, Training Director, United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 333

Dirk Powell, Director of Construction Services, T.H. Eifert Mechanical Contractors

Michigan’s Green Jobs Initiative – Meeting Rooms 203 – 205

Across the country people are talking about the economic promise of alternative energy and many states are working to develop policies and resources that support economic development in this emerging sector.  While Michigan is also making investments to support the production and use of alternative energy, the Governor is committed to putting jobs at the heart of this work.  To that end, Michigan is taking the lead by investing in an initiative that links global warming solutions with opportunities to invest in developing the state’s workforce in the growing alternative energy, energy efficiency, and resource conservation sectors.  Come and hear the details of Michigan’s Green Job Initiative.

Diana Carpenter, No Worker Left Behind Team Leader, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

Linda Patrick, Director – Regional & Sectoral Strategies Division, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

10:30 – 10:45

Break & Exhibit Tour – Exhibit Hall A

10:45 – 11:45

Breakout Sessions

Sun to Energy Creating Jobs! – Banquet Rooms 1 & 3

United Solar Ovonics (USO) a leader in building integrated and commercial rooftop photovoltaic, one of the fastest growing segments of the solar power industry.  Hear this exciting speaker explain how thin film solar laminates converts sunlight to energy creating jobs here in Michigan and around the world.  Also, learn of their workforce challenges and successes.

Thomas Schultz, Vice President Human Resources – USO Operations

Green Jobs Training Program – Banquet Rooms 2 & 4

If you want to hear about an exciting new training program focused on developing a “green workforce” in Michigan, then this session is for you.  You will receive information and insight from employers and trainers on the green industry including energy efficiency/renewable systems, deconstruction and decontamination.

Ms. Roshani Dantas, Program Manager, Environmental Technician Job Training Program, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice

Lawrence Muhummad, Marketing Business Development, Hardin-Geotechnologies Inc.

Sam Flannery, President of Michigan Energy Savings, Building Performance Institute Affiliation for State of Michigan

Carla Walker-Miller, CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Savings

Tom Friesen, Executive Director, Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit

“Center of Energy Excellence”; Building New Coalitions for Economic Growth- Rooms 5 & 7
Learn about the feasibility study that was done on a project that will produce alternative energy from waste that has been removed from the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The project is a collaborative effort between Swedish Biogas International, Kettering University, and the City of Flint.  Michael will present the progress on this project and how it will impact Michigan’s Green Industries and the current and future workforce of our state.
Michael Harris, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs, Kettering University

K.J. Berry, PhD., P.E., Professor and Head Mechanical Engineering Department Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integration, Kettering University

Homayun Navaz, Ph.D, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, Kettering University

Neil Sheridan, Director, Kettering University TechWorks

Green for your Advantage – Banquet Rooms 6 & 8

This session will provide an overview of what’s happening around the state in the realm of Green Jobs Manufacturing and incentives that are available to businesses.  You will also hear of a U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored project that involved 10 counties in Michigan’s northwest Lower Peninsula that identified regional assets and gaps towards the creation of an economic development strategy for renewable energy and water resources.

Ron Moffett, Regional Manager, Business Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Matt McCauley, Associate Director, Regional Planning and Community Development, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments

Michigan’s Energy Future Today – Meeting Rooms 203 – 205

Leisl Clark, Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

11:45 – 12:00

Internet café & Exhibit Tour – Exhibit Hall A

12:00 – 1:30

Lunch and Keynote – Exhibit Hall B

Van Jones, Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

1:30 – 1:45

Break & Exhibit Tour – Exhibit Hall A

1:45 – 2:45

Breakout Sessions

Southeast Michigan Leading the Way to New Green Economy – Banquet Rooms 1 & 3

Learn about the green jobs training and incubator project in Southeast Michigan that is taking a historic building within the city of Detroit and retrofitting it to a state of the art green building that houses green job training and business incubation opportunities for southeast Michigan businesses.  During this session you will also get an overview of the green technology they anticipate using in the building and the green job and sustainable development economic initiatives they will offer.

Donele Wilkins, Executive Director, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Build Up Detroit and Sustainability Center

Bill Stough, Executive Director, Southeast Michigan Sustainable Business Forum

Agriculture it’s a Changing Environment – Banquet Rooms 2 & 4

The future of Agriculture, as it relates to Green, not only affects the workforce with the development of new products and technology but it also has an impact on the future of the job force in this industry. Discussion of the affects and the many components of agriculture including plastics, bio degradable chemicals, building materials, fuels, green chemistry, and more will be covered during this session.

Dr. Steve Pueppke, Director, Office of Bio-based Technologies, Michigan State University

Mike Di’Bernardo, Economic Development Specialist, Agriculture Development, Michigan Department of Agriculture

Jim Johnson, Director of Environmental Stewardship Division, Michigan Department of Agriculture

Pieces of the Puzzle – Workforce, Training, Action! – Banquet Rooms 5 & 7

Getting from green ideas to actual jobs requires a lot of steps along the way.  Partnerships provide key information and skills to make a full program happen. Henry Ford Community College has provided workforce education and training programs for over 30 years. WARM Training Center provides education to residents and builders on energy efficiency and green building. The presenters will share steps to green success!  In addition, DTE Energy will present their “energy optimization plans” and discuss funding options.

Larry Kaufman, DTE Energy

Linda West, Director of Workforce Development, Henry Ford Community College

Jacob Stevens Corvidae, Green Programs Manager, WARM Training Center

Generating Wind and Jobs – Banquet Rooms 6 & 8

Hear how Michigan can take advantage of our wind and manufacturing potential. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is the training provider for Entegrity Wind, which manufactures 50 kilowatt wind turbines.   Dowding and Cascade will share the transitions they underwent to take advantage of manufacturing parts for wind turbines.  As well as how they have made their businesses more “green.” Kathy Johnson, Director – Wind Energy Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Michael Ford, Business Unit Leader, Cascade Renewable Energy Solutions

Jeff Metts, President, Dowding Industries

Linking Good Green Jobs to Education – Meeting Rooms 203 – 205

D. Michael Langford, National President, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO

2:45 – 3:00

Sweet Treat Break – Exhibit Hall A & B

3:00 – 4:00

Closing – Exhibit Hall B

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis

4:00- 6:00

Networking Reception – Exhibit Hall A & B