Climate Fast Forward 2022 - Presenters and Leaders
Conference Leaders
Ohe∙láku - Among the Cornstalks is a non-profit cooperative created by Oneida community members. Ohe∙láku grows heirloom Tuscarora White Corn on the Oneida Reservation near Green Bay. Their corn is unique as it cannot be commercially grown. Each cob must be harvested by hand and then husked, leaving 3 leaves to braid.
Wild Bearies is an educational, community outreach nonprofit that strives to bring ancestral foods to communities in a nurturing and nourishing way. With goals of building stronger tribal communities through food, Wild Bearies is also a mentorship program.
Rachel grew up on a 5th generation dairy farm in central Wisconsin. She received degrees in Agronomy and Environmental Science at UW-Madison and took part in the Agroecology Masters Program. She raises grass-fed beef cattle at Bouressa Family Farm in New London.
Antonio Butts, Executive Director, Walnut Way Conservation Corp., is a catalytic leader who is passionate about transforming economically excluded communities into neighborhoods of health and prosperity.
Ann Calhoun works for The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, where she serves as the Baraboo Hills Project Coordinator and is a member of the Land Strategy Team.
Appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in 2019, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Preston Cole directs statewide programs for environmental protection, natural resource management, outdoor recreation and law enforcement with an emphasis on diversity and service excellence.
Matt Dannenberg is the Tribal Liaison for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Energy. He previously served as the Department's Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
As Community Agroforester for Savanna Institute, Barbara Decré works with the Adoption Team to share knowledge about agroforestry practices and develop strong relationships with farmers in southwest Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Alexandria Delcourt (Abenaki and Filipino) is a writer, editor, educator, and storyteller. Her work focuses on travel, generational trauma, and colonialism
Dr. Alison Duff is a research ecologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and leads the Dairy Ecology Lab at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center.
Tom has been at the forefront of business and sustainability for the last twenty-eight years, both teaching classes in sustainability at the University of Wisconsin and founding and serving as the Executive Director of the WI Sustainable Business Council.
Darin Eich, Ph.D. is the founder of InnovationTraining.org. Darin has helped over 100 organizations from Silicon Valley to London apply design thinking workshops for a mindset and culture of innovation.
Dynamite Hill Farms is returning to the production of traditional, clean, and artisan foods. They are incorporating community building, relationship building (both human and more than human), and educational components in all aspects of their operation.
Dr. Jonathan Foley is a leading climate scientist, sustainability expert, educator, and public speaker. He is also executive director of Project Drawdown — the world’s leading resource for climate solutions.
Anna Haines is a professor in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and a land use and community development specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Haines received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.
Darin Harris is co-founder of Living Giving Enterprises, an organizational and leadership development company which houses Journeyofcollaboration.com. He brings energy, curiosity, and inspiration to address complex challenges in today's chaotic times.
John Hitchcock is an artist, musician, and Professor of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Hitchcock has also served as UW’s Faculty Director of The Studio Learning Community and Graduate Chair of the Department of Art.
Nick Hylla is the Executive Director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association where he works in partnership with organizations throughout the Midwest to advance solar energy education and market development initiatives.
John Imes is the Co-founder and Director of the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative (WEI) since 1998. Previously, John was the Environmental Manager for Quad/Graphics, a company long known for its environmental stewardship and social responsibility, garnering a long list of local, state, and national honors.
Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings is a member of the marten clan. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with degrees in Anthropology, Archaeology, Environmental Studies, and American Indian Studies. Jennings completed his Masters degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison Nelson Institute.
Kevin Kane is the Chief Economist and co-founder of Green Homeowners United, a residential energy efficiency union contractor/social-enterprise. We believe it is possible to do right by homeowners, workers and the planet, and we work everyday to prove it.
Dr. Christine Kelly is a leader in transformative learning practices and founder of the Midwest Regional Collaborative for Sustainability Education. As an aspiring educational artist, Christine enjoys using complex systems thinking to design learning landscapes into all facets of our lives.
Alison S. Lebwohl lives in Madison, Wisconsin, where she designs and facilitates strategic conversations for government, business, and not-for-profits. On weekends, she is most likely to be found reading a novel, hiking along Madison's many lakeshore trails, or playing a board game with family and friends.
Gregg is an urban planner with experience in long-range comprehensive planning for communities across several states. He has worked on robust public engagement projects ranging from affordable housing developments to bus rapid transit studies.
Erin O’Brien is Policy Programs Director for the Wisconsin Wetlands Association where she works to strengthen state laws and regulations governing wetland management, integrate wetland conservation priorities into state-sponsored programs, and support communities interested in restoring wetlands to solve problems.
Joe Pater is the Director of the Office of Energy Innovation at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. He started work in the energy efficiency industry in 2009 working as a project manager for Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp implementing lighting and appliance programs.
Friction Quartet, whose performances have been called “stunningly passionate” (Calgary Herald) and “exquisitely skilled” (ZealNYC), exists to modernize the chamber music experience and expand the string quartet repertoire.
Maria serves as the Director of the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy and has worked for the State of Wisconsin for 21 years. Maria is accountable for planning, administration and oversight of statewide energy programs and policies. In addition to helping with the development and implementation of the recommendations from the
Sharon Reilly is currently the Director of Planning & Development at the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC), a Tribal Consortium and Non-profit organization located in Lac du Flambeau.
Sara Smith is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and is the Midwest Tribal Resilience Liaison with the College of Menominee Nation - Sustainable Development Institute (CMN-SDI), in association with the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC).
Daniel Wiggins Jr is a Bad River Tribal Member and the Mashkiiziibii (Bad River) Natural Resource Department’s- Air Quality Technician (AQT). He has worked for the Bad River Tribe for over 10 years as the AQT and has had oversight of the Tribe’s Energy Activities since 2017.
Wisconsin Academy Offices
1922 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53726
Phone: 608.733.6633
James Watrous Gallery
3rd Floor, Overture Center for the Arts
201 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608.733.6633 x25