What To Expect
Breakout Sessions Built Around the Climate Action Plan
Earthrise 815 breaks the day into focused sessions so you can go deep on the topics that matter most to you, from home energy upgrades to funding and policy for local businesses. Each session is led by a subject matter expert and grouped into tracks you can follow throughout the day.
Browse the schedule below by time block, then open a session to see the room, presenters, and what you’ll walk away with. Expect more details as the conference day approaches.
Schedule at a Glance
Sessions are grouped by time so you can plan your day. Select a track below to see the full description, learning objectives, and presenters for that session.
Breakout Sessions - Group 1
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES
How businesses are becoming more energy efficient, using clean energy, reducing material waste recycling and water conservation.
Moderator:
- Angela Larson, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Presenters:
- Sarene Alsharif, Owner, Tad More Tailoring
- Russ Johansson, CEO, Specialty Screw Corporation
Electricity & Grid
What is going on with our electric grid and electricity prices? The impacts of data centers, solar and wind energy, electric vehicles, home, commercial and industrial electrification on our grid and on our electricity bills.
Moderator:
- Doug Scott, Chair, IL Commerce Comm
Presenters:
- Gil Quiniones, ComEd, CEO
- Stephen Bennett, PJM
- Mark Pruitt, Northwestern Univ., Professor
Plants
As our climate changes so do the stresses on the plants around us – the plants that add such beauty and function to the whole world. Plants clean our air, purify our water, preserve our soil and give us joy. Learn more about how we can be better stewards of the plant world – to the benefit of all!
Moderator:
- Rebecca Olson, Lead Ecologist, A3E
Presenters:
- Ann Wasser, Executive Director, Wild Roots
- Joni Denker, Conservation Super., Rkfd Park District
Waste Reduction - Lifestyle
We all know that we waste too much. Fortunately, there are many proven strategies to help us take meaningful action to waste less in nearly all aspects of our households and it all adds up to benefits we sometimes overlook.
Moderator:
- Paula Olson, Chair, Reduce Waste Rockford
Presenters:
- Pam Osborne, Executive Director, Keep Northern IL Beautiful
- Paula Olson, Chair, Reduce Waste Rockford
BUILT ENVIRONMENT - HOUSING
Housing costs are higher than ever – and we are all paying more to operate, maintain and insure them. Hear about the sustainable ways that work to address all these housing challenges.
Moderator:
- Ron Clewer, Executive Director, ZION Development Corp.
Presenters:
- Andrea Hinrichs, Housing & Program Manager, Community & Economic Development Department
- Rudy Moreno, Plans Examiner, Community & Economic Development Department
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
We know that extreme weather and extreme weather events are on the rise. Even in the Midwest we are not immune. Preparation is essential and there are many experts providing ways to do that – in our homes, our businesses, our neighborhoods and communities.
Moderator:
- Mayor Janessa Neal, City of Rockford
Presenters:
- Trevor Hogan, Emergency Services, Rockford Fire Dept.
- Slade Berry, ESDA Coord., Winnebago County
Air
Ours is a highly mobile culture with fossil-fueled vehicles at the center of it. We are making steady progress to employ alternatives: electric vehicles of all kinds, along with biking and walking, continue to transform how we move people and materials.
Moderator:
- Michael Smith, Urban Planner, StudioGWA
Presenters:
- Michael Stubbe, Executive Director, Rkfd Mass Transit Dist.
- Amy McIntyre, Superintendent of Operations, Rkfd Park District
- Dave Simmons, Executive Director, Ride Illinois
Breakout Sessions - Group 2
SOCIAL EQUITY
There are important linkages between climate change, public health and social equity. Learn why front-line communities so often feel the impacts first and what resources there are to help.
Moderator:
- Todd Marshall, Dir. Environmental Health, Winnebago County Health Dept.
Presenters:
- Courtney Geiger, VP Mission Services, Goodwill of No. IL
- Shelton Kay, Executive Director, Rockford Region Health Council
Natural Lands
The vital role of natural lands: Our connection to nature, biodiversity, carbon dioxide sequestration, water management and human health.
Moderator:
- Dan Olson, Executive Director, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County
Presenters:
- Alan Branhagen, Executive Director, Natural Land Institute
- Mark Charles, Featured Speaker
Solid Waste Reduction
Landfills: Reducing emissions, conserving capacity and the impact of recycling. The Winnebago County Landfill is the largest in the state and it is projected to reach its capacity in just 12 years. Learn what that means for us all.
Moderator:
- Joe Chiarelli, Mgr., Chair, Winnebago County Board
Presenters:
- Shreya Mahajan, Conservation and Agriculture Policy Manager, Illinois Environmental Council
- Paul Cooney, Director, Ogle County Solid Waste Management
WATER & OUR AQUIFER
Water: it is so easy to take it for granted – until it’s in short supply or polluted and unhealthy. What are the facts about our water supply and who is doing what to keep our water safe and abundant. This includes, of course, discussing the potential impact of hyperscale data centers.
Moderator:
- Emma Knudson, Water Resources Specialist, Winnebago County Soil and Water District
Presenters:
- Dan Kane, Water Resources Specialist, Boone County Conservation District
- Jamie Rott, Superintendent, Rockford Water Dept.
- Jenna Shelton, State Hydrologist, IL State Water Survey
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
We all have to eat so farmers and farming have to be a top priority for us all. Hundreds of years of working the soil have taught us invaluable lessons in conserving the soil that grows our food. Come and hear how sustainable soil and land management practices have changed over the years and what the future of farming looks like.
Moderator:
- Carol Erickson, Retired, U of I Extension
Presenters:
- Jackie de Batista, Executive Director, Farmers Rising
- Dr. Connor Sible, Research Association, U of I College of Agriculture
ENERGY EFFICIENCY - COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL
Every business pays attention to its bottom line and these days it’s more important than ever to keep expenses down – especially energy costs. Learn how energy efficiency and solar energy can do just that and help us meet our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the process.
Moderator:
- Bill Lewis, Senior Market Outreach Specialist – Energy Efficiency Programs, CLEAResult
Presenters:
- Valeria Lira-Ruelas, Program Assoc, IL Power Agency
- Miranda Wright, Senior Program Manager, IL Green Alliance
- Ed Krembuszewski, Engineering Mgr., ComEd
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Illinois is a national leader in clean and renewable energy. Not only that but our state is growing the CE/RE jobs needed to keep these sectors strong and growing – and doing so by programs designed to focus the jobs growth in frontline communities.
Moderator:
- Isaac Guerrero, Director of Communications, R1 Planning Council
Presenters:
- Nate Keener, Regional CEJA Workforce, IL DCEO
- Pr. Marvin Hightower, Executive Director, Zion West Enterprise
Breakout Sessions - Group 3
Solar Energy
Everyone can ‘get solar!’ Illinois is one of the best states in the US for getting solar affordably – regardless of your income. If you don’t have solar, learn how to get it – for your home, business, church, institution or government buildings. This session will also address the growing use of battery energy storage.
Moderator:
- Litesa Wallace, Owner, Lite Strategies
Presenters:
- Brian Keller, Public Schools Sector Strategist, Energy Solutions
- Hal Sprague, Community Engagement Mgr, Trajectory Energy Partners
OUR MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY
We already are a community that is sustainable in more ways than most of us know. Learn many of those ways and how we could celebrate them publically and proudly!
Moderator:
- John Harris, Principal, a5 Branding & Digital
Presenters:
- this will be a facilitated discussion
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
We can’t change the weather but we can and are impacting the climate. The science is well established and really quite interesting. All seven of the Rockford Region Climate Action Plan are based on climate change science – take a deeper dive into it.
Moderator:
- Deepshikha Shukla, AVP Business Innovation & Dean, Rockford University
Presenters:
- James Marshall, Prof., Chemistry and Biology, Rockford University
- Pablo Toral, Prof., Environmental Policy, Beloit College
- Trent Ford, State Climatologist, IL State Water Survey
Built Environment - Urban Planning
How we build our homes, businesses and communities sets the stage for how we live our lives and how we impact everything around us. As we learn to build more sustainably, we are changing and redesigning the built environment to align with our net-zero, low-waste, healthy, and equity goals.
Moderator:
- Gary Anderson, Founder, Studio GWA
Presenters:
- Doug Farr, Principal, Doug Farr and Associates
- Ashley Sarver, Urban Planner, StudioGWA
WASTEWATER
Down the drain – and gone. It is easy to ignore the critical role of wastewater treatment and how we are doing it more sustainably for the environment and for the health of us all.
Moderator:
- Russ Caveny, Water Dept. Manager, City of Loves Park
Presenters:
- Chris Baer, CEO, Four Rivers Sanitation Authority
- Nicholas Fortsas, Process Engineer-PFAS Solutions, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.
WASTE REDUCTION - COMPOSTING
Hear about how composting is a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gases and divert waste from our landfill. Everyone can do it—and we must
Moderator:
- Mary Kaull, Co-Chair, Reduce Waste Rockford
Presenters:
- Kate Whitacre, Founder, Nettle Compost Collective
- John Lardner, Founder, JPL Environmental Engineering, Patriot Acres
Energy Efficiency - Residential
The cheapest energy you can get is the energy you don’t use! Energy efficiency at home can save you money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the same time! Also learn about your solar energy options and how anyone can get solar.
Moderator:
- Edith Makra, Director, Environmental Initiatives, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Presenters:
- Kara Jonas, Energy Efficiency Specialist, ComEd
- John Dakarian, Income Eligible Program Mgr., Nicor Gas
- Owen Carter, Deputy Dir., Program Ops, Rockford Weatherization Program
Reserve Your Spot
Help Secure Our Future
Join your neighbors, sustainability experts, and local leaders for a full day of action-focused breakout sessions. This event is open to the public.
