Ethan Blumenthal (Keynote)

Regulatory Council

NC Sustainable Energy Association

As Regulatory Counsel, Ethan works to advance clean energy policies at the NC Utilities Commission and other policy-making venues—providing NCSEA with legal analysis of clean energy policy and supporting clean energy’s advancement in the state’s regulatory landscape.

Ethan previously co-founded and ran Good Solar, a 501(c)(3) that creates renewable energy solutions for nonprofit organizations and low- and moderate-income communities. Most recently, Ethan also represented four environmental justice and indigenous rights-oriented organizations before the NC Utility Commission during the development of North Carolina’s inaugural Carbon Plan. Born and raised in Charlotte and the North Carolina mountains, Ethan graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Environmental Studies, and an Economics minor in 2015. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law with Honors in 2018 before working as a year-long fellow at the Center for Climate, Energy, Environment, and Economics (CE3).

Felicia Cordray

Co-Founder & Owner

CORE K9

Felicia Cordray is a three-time entrepreneur and champion of sustainability who created a healthy dog food business as a solution to reducing food waste from her busy catering company.

Originally from Lexington, KY, Felicia has called Charlotte, NC home since 2005. A graduate of Sullivan University in Lexington, she now runs Catering by Cordre alongside her husband and business partner, Manuel. Felicia’s true passion is improving canine wellness, and through CORE K9, she transforms surplus ingredients from their catering operations into nutritious, gently cooked meals for dogs. It’s a win/win business model—reducing food waste while supporting pet health.

Since launching CORE K9, Felicia has sold over 1,600 pounds of gently cooked dog food, repurposing approximately 10% of that volume from ingredients that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Felicia enjoys the research and dedication it takes to launch new ventures. Her third business, currently in development, is a nonprofit called The Mason Foundation, created in honor of her father, Henry Mason. A proud member of EOA Charlotte and a graduate of the City of Charlotte’s Get Up and Grow business accelerator program, Felicia is committed to building legacy-driven businesses that nourish both people and pets.

Geneviève Piché

Head of Sustainable Finance and Advisory

Wells Fargo

Geneviève Piché is the head of Sustainable Finance and Advisory in Wells Fargo’s Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB). CIB delivers a comprehensive suite of advisory, capital markets, banking, and financial products and services to corporate, institutional, and government clients around the globe.

Geneviève oversees a team responsible for delivering thought leadership and a full suite of solutions aimed at helping clients achieve their sustainability goals across Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate, Banking, Markets, and International lines of business. She also leads CIB’s implementation of Wells Fargo’s net zero, sustainable
finance, and climate risk integration efforts. She collaborates with teams across Wells Fargo and external partners to drive a coordinated and innovative strategy that supports client objectives and advances the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and positive social change.

Originally from Montréal, Canada, Geneviève earned her dual bachelor of arts degree in economics and international studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is an avid musician and outdoor enthusiast, and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and son.

Heather Bolick (Keynote)

Chief Sustainability & Resiliency Officer

City of Charlotte

Heather Bolick is the Chief Sustainability & Resiliency Officer at the City of Charlotte. She leads a cross-organizational team tasked with the strategic plan to help the city reach the goal to achieve 100% zero carbon municipal buildings and fleet by 2030 and to be a low carbon city by 2050. Recent highlights include negotiating a green tariff for an 80-MW solar energy project, which is anticipated to offset 100% of carbon emissions from electricity used by city-owned buildings. She led the revision of the Sustainable Facilities Policy which works to make sustainability a priority in the design, construction, and renovation of City-owned facilities. Heather’s experience includes energy management of institutional buildings, residential energy auditing, supervising a workforce development program in the energy sector and managing a neighborhood energy grant. She has a Bachelor of Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Science in Environmental Systems Analysis from UNC-Charlotte.  Heather has held the following certifications: Professional Energy Manager, BPI Building Analyst & Envelope Professional and LEED AP.

Jason Lawrence

Chief Planning Officer

CATS

Jason Lawrence joined CATS in 2000 and has for the past 25 years built a reputation of collaboration across the Charlotte region. Now serving as the Chief Planning Officer he leads a team of transportation planners, and analysts as well community outreach and sustainability professionals. His understanding that transportation and land use must work together, has created a culture of multi-modal and place-making planning within CATS transit programs. He is also a proud graduate of the 2024 Leadership APTA Class.

From 2015 – 2022 he led teams that completed an update of CATS 2030 Transit System Plan, a regional transit vision across 12 counties in North and South Carolina called CONNECT Beyond as well as a comprehensive bus services plan called Envision My Ride that included high frequency bus routes, mobility hubs, and microtransit on demand services.

Recently, Jason has been focused on developing the Better Bus program. Better Bus seeks to develop a customer focused implementation strategy to deploy high frequency service enhancements, microtransit,  and bus stop improvements over a 5–10 year time period

John Thigpen

Climate Advisor

John completed a 3-year grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to serve as the Climate Advisor to the City of Charlotte as part of the American Cities Climate Challenge. In this role, John was responsible for developing policies and projects that accelerated the City’s efforts to equitably and substantively reduce their carbon footprint.  Some of his accomplishments include executing a 35MW offsite solar energy project, developing a workforce training program for careers in clean energy, and updating and implementing the City’s sustainable facilities policy that governs how municipal buildings are constructed and operated. 

Keith Stanley

CEO

University City Partners

Starting this role in January 2023, Keith is responsible for implementing the overall Strategic Vision Plan for University City, released in 2021. In addition, he will focus on building the University City brand, increasing community engagement efforts, and supporting small business and entrepreneurial opportunities in University City.

Keith has over 20 years of community and economic development experience. Among Stanley’s accolades are Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 winner; BizTimes Nonprofit Executive of the Year; Young Alumni Award from the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation; Young American Leaders program of Harvard University, and the Diversity in Business Award from the Milwaukee Business Journal and the 2022 Frank Kirkpatrick Award by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

Kris Steele

Owner

Crown Town Compost

Kris Steele believes in connecting the community and establishing lifelong relationships. He started quickly after graduating from UNC Charlotte. Starting in 2014 by creating the first edible walkway and establishing Crown Town Compost in 2015, he and his colleagues have continued to leverage their creativity and connections to expand composting services from the original two neighborhoods of Plaza Midwood and Wilmore to encompass most of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. In between, he helped lead the launch of Crown Town Landscapes, an environmentally conscious landscape company. He has also served on a number of boards and in various community organizations. And that’s just what he does on the side!

In his regular working hours, he helps serve hundreds of people every year through home financing with his LendScout team at American Security Mortgage Corp. Leading this team allows him the flexibility to give back to the community in other ways. Whether through direct donations or bringing the city together at the Charlotte Dog Jog, Kris is always finding ways to use the resources he has to make positive change. He also commits to free time in his busy schedule to be with his family and close friends, spending as much time outdoors as possible.

Kristen Wile (Moderator)

Founder & Editor

Unpretentious Palate

Kristen Wile is a food journalist and the founder and editor of Unpretentious Palate, a subscription-based digital publication dedicated to Charlotte’s culinary scene. With over a decade of experience covering food, drink, and culture, Kristen is known for her thoughtful, in-depth reporting and dedication to elevating the region’s chefs, restaurants, and hospitality professionals.

Before launching Unpretentious Palate in 2018, Kristen served as the food editor for Charlotte magazine, where she honed her expertise in culinary storytelling. Under her leadership, Unpretentious Palate has become a trusted resource for food lovers and industry insiders alike, offering honest reviews, chef profiles, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Queen City’s vibrant food community.

A passionate advocate for Charlotte’s dining scene, Kristen is also the co-creator of the Charlotte StrEATs Festival, an annual event celebrating the chefs and neighborhoods that shape the city’s culinary identity.

Lisa Phocas (Moderator)

Director of Sustainability

Aalberts IPS

Lisa Phocas is the newly appointed Director of Sustainability at Aalberts IPS, a global manufacturing company with North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. In her previous role as Director of Stewardship at Crescent Communities, Lisa led the company’s ESG strategy, guided portfolio-wide sustainability and wellness initiatives, and managed community engagement efforts across the organization.

Lisa holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Toledo in Ohio. She is currently pursuing a Master of Sustainability at Harvard Extension School.

A lifelong environmental advocate, Lisa served on the board of directors for Sustain Charlotte for six years, including three years as board chair. She currently serves on the board of the Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail. Lisa is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Market Leadership Advisory Board for the Carolinas Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). She holds multiple professional certifications, including Fitwel Ambassador, LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP), and GRESB Accredited Professional (GRESB AP).

Luke Johnson (Moderator)

Sustainability Supervisor

Nucor

Luke is a seasoned Structural and Sustainability Engineer with two decades of comprehensive industry expertise including new building design, existing building investigations, and structural material sustainability. In February 2022, he brought his wealth of knowledge to Nucor’s corporate sustainability team, assuming the role of Sustainability Supervisor.

A proud graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Luke is not only a licensed professional but also an active member of multiple industry groups. Luke’s passion for design, architecture, and sustainability is evident in his pursuit of discussions on how steel can emerge as the sustainable material of choice, aligning with your green design goals.

Lynn Dransoff

Co-Leader

Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Lynn Dransoff is the co-leader for Citizens’ Climate Lobby-Charlotte.  She represents 90 active members and over 200 supporter members in the Charlotte area.  She joined CCL in 2019, and became a chapter leader in 2022.  Environmentalism has been a focus for her since high school.  Now retired, she worked in management in retail, museum, non-profit and academic sectors.  She is a certified Extension Master Gardener and a lead on her church’s Care for Creation Committee.

Maria Delgado (Moderator)

City Editor

CLTtoday

Maria has worked in journalism for more than 10 years. She started her career with Bloomberg TV before moving to Dayton, Ohio to be a local news producer. That path brought her to Charlotte in 2018, working for WBTV until 2022. Taking a break from broadcast, she launched Charlotte’s first, locally-produced LGBTQ+ podcast, Dishing with Buff Faye and Funsize, while working as a Digital Media Producer for Discovery Place, Inc. The news bug did not stay dormant, she’s since returned to journalism as one of the City Editors for Charlotte’s newest daily newsletter, CLTtoday.

Meech Carter

Clean Energy Campaigns Director

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters

Meech joined the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV/F) as the Clean Energy Campaigns Director in August 2023. At NCLCV/F, Meech manages all regulatory and community energy work. Her priority is ensuring folks have access to clean, safe, and affordable energy for the future. She is one of the creators of EnergyFundsforAll.org, a website that empowers residents across the Carolinas to apply for clean energy funding. Before joining NCLCV, Meech completed her Masters of Environmental Management at Duke and worked on mining law and policy at the Southern Environmental Law Center. She also holds a Master of Science in Law from Northwestern and a dual BS in biology and geology from UCLA.

Michael Graff (Moderator)

Founder

The Charlotte Optimist

Michael Graff is the founder of The Charlotte Optimist, a new local nonprofit media venture. He’s the former Southern bureau chief for Axios and former editor of Charlotte magazine. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, ESPN, The Guardian, The Assembly, Garden & Gun, The Oxford American and other places. He lives in NoDa with his wife (Laura), two boys (George and Blair), and a mutt with one brown eye and one blue eye (Gizmo).

Rob Phocas (Moderator)

Director, Corporate Social Responsibility

AvidXchange

Rob is a seasoned leader in sustainability and social impact, currently serving as the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at AvidXchange. He brings a unique blend of legal expertise and environmental leadership, holding both a Juris Doctor and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, as well as a BA from Vassar College.

Prior to joining AvidXchange, Rob made significant contributions to public service as the City of Charlotte’s first Sustainability Director and Environmental Attorney. His career also includes practicing environmental law in both the private sector and at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Deeply committed to community engagement, Rob is the board chair of SHARE Charlotte and serves on the boards of E2D – Eliminate the Digital Divide and the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association.

Rob lives in Charlotte with his wife, Lisa, and their two dogs, Greta and Benny.

Ryan Carter

Director

Piedmont Promise

Ryan Carter is the Policy Director for Catawba Riverkeeper and the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. He also leads an alliance of conservation minded organizations in the Piedmont region of NC called, Piedmont Promise. In these roles, Ryan is responsible for developing and executing efforts to address legislative barriers to the wellbeing of our natural resources and natural spaces at the local, state, and federal levels. Ryan works with members of the public, civic leaders, and elected officials to create systems change to protect and enhance our waters.

Ryan is a Charlotte native and 10th-generation Carolinian. Ryan graduated from Wofford College with a BA in Government and double minors in Business and History. His passion for community advocacy started with his time at United Way in South Carolina and has led him through the Congressional Financial Services Committee and locally with Habitat for Humanity.

Sara Gagné

Department Chair, Associate Professor & Author

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Sara A. Gagné is the author of Nature at Your Door: Connecting with the Wild and Green in the Urban and Suburban Landscape (Stackpole Books, 2023) and associate professor of landscape ecology and chair in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Gagné’s research, teaching, and writing are dedicated to understanding and communicating how people and nature interact in cities. Her recent projects include human-black vulture conflicts, stream salamander habitat modeling, and North American river otter behavior in relation to urbanization. She lives in Sedgefield, where she curates her growing collection of native vines in her yard. She is also Chair of the City of Charlotte Tree Advisory Commission and a member of the Mecklenburg Audubon Society’s Executive Board. 

Sean Bloom

Land Stewardship Director and Biologist

Catawba Lands Conservancy

Sean Bloom is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC) and serves as the staff biologist for the organization. He began working at CLC nearly 15 years ago, starting as the GIS Director and Biologist. During that time, Sean has overseen multiple habitat restoration efforts, inventoried the vegetation and natural communities of 90 properties totaling 7,000-acres, and started the Catawba Grasslands Project. Sean started his career by earning a BS in Environmental Science at Catawba College with a focus on botany. He then worked in the private sector as an environmental consultant and the public sector as a county park ranger.

In his free time, Sean enjoys native plant gardening with his wife and enjoying the outdoors with their two kids. 

Shannon Binns

Founder + Executive Director

Sustain Charlotte

Shannon Binns is the Founder and Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing regional sustainability through smart growth in the Charlotte area. Before moving to Charlotte in 2007, Shannon worked at The Nature Conservancy in Washington, D.C., where he was part of their climate change science and policy team. Shannon served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, in AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps, and helped found a tsunami relief organization in Thailand. He worked as an industiral engineer for Motorola, General Motors, and Trane in the for-profit sector.

Shannon holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University. He has previously served as a supervisor on the Mecklenburg County Soil and Water Conservation Board, an adjunct professor in the Sustainable Technologies program at Central Piedmont Community College and a member of the North Carolina Advisory Board for Enviornmetnal Defense Fund.

Steven Foster

Products & Services Manager

Duke Energy

Steven Foster is a current Products & Services Manager at Duke Energy supporting both the Smart $aver and Findit Duke programs. He has worked with Duke Energy for 3+ years, and has 6 years’ experience in managing programs overall. Steven has been PMP certified since 2019. The Smart $aver program offers HVAC, Heat Pump Water Heater, Pool Pump rebates offerings to incentivize customers who purchase more energy efficient products. Accompanying the Smart $aver program, is the Findit Duke program. This is Duke’s trade ally referral network, where customers can go to find a reliable contractor for their next home improvement project.

Suzanne D’Alonzo

Program Director

Feeding Charlotte

Suzanne D’Alonzo comes to Feeding Charlotte as a sincere community advocate. She has worked in a number of nonprofit animal sheltering organizations in DC, PA, TN, and NC over the past 2 decades. She was instrumental in developing Adopters Welcome while at The Humane Society of the United States. This approach for social change in companion animal adoptions shifted her focus from animal sheltering into community outreach and support. Suzanne initiated and expanded community support programs at each of the organizations she has served. Her work with pet food pantries in Reading and Lancaster, PA, and right here in Charlotte provided her with a strong foundation of knowledge for what works to connect people with what they need. She knows that offering truly accessible resources sets a community up for success. She’s a Clark University graduate, spends time cycling, gardening, and hiking with her family, and delights in working with her Charlotte neighbors to build a stronger community.

Tiffany Fant

Executive Director

Sol Nation

Tiffany Fant is a cultural and climate justice practitioner who wears the banner of being a native Charlottean proudly. As the Executive Director and Visionary Architect of Sol Nation, she oversees their work to facilitate vulnerable and frontline communities, particularly Black communities, to own their own solutions.

As Executive Director, Tiffany is able to operate at the intersection of social justice and environmental justice issues. Floods, extreme cold, tornadoes and other climate events are becoming more prevalent and at the core people are being impacted. Tiffany’s work at Sol Nation centers people and how to implement solutions that help heal not only communities but the Earth as well.

Her ultimate goal is to take the information on why injustices and disparities exist to build necessary infrastructures and systems that facilitate sustainable solutions. Tiffany also serves on a number of local and statewide boards working for justice.

Tim Porter

Chief Urban Forester

City of Charlotte

Tim Porter is Chief Urban Forester and Division Manager for the City of Charlotte’s Community Tree Canopy Preservation Division. He serves as staff lead for the City’s tree canopy policy initiatives, programs, and regulatory efforts. He manages a team of 20 urban & community foresters and conservation professionals. Tim previously held the role of City Arborist for Charlotte, worked as a community forester with the Urban Ecology Institute in Boston, MA, and as a research assistant with the U.S Forest Service’s Norther Research Station. He graduated from ESF, New York State’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry, with a masters in Forest & Natural Resource Management. Tim grew up exploring the forests, streams, mountains, and lakes of Upstate New York as a child and now lives in Fort Mill, SC with his wife and two children.

Zachary Turner (Moderator)

Climate Reporter

WFAE

Zachary Turner reports on climate change and the environment for WFAE, Charlotte’s local NPR affiliate. His reporting has taken him knee-deep in the Watauga River with North America’s largest salamander and in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where mobile solar arrays and satellite receivers helped reconnect communities after Hurricane Helene. He’s curious about all things sustainability, including battery storage, material recycling, and local food systems.