2023 Schedule – MBArk2Boulder

Final Agenda – updated 1/3/23

12:00-1:00 p.m. – arrive at University of Colorado – registration open until 6:00pm

1:00-5:30 p.m. – field trips; destinations include the brand new Colorado State University Spur Center and Agricultural Experimentation Station in Denver, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Eco-Cycle/Boulder County Recycling Center in Boulder, and Celestial Seasonings in Boulder

6:00 p.m.: Carbon-Free Kickoff with best-selling sustainability author Andrew Winston

9:30-10:25 a.m.: sessions 1 and 2
- - “The Future of Food” with John Grubb of Summit Venture Management – ROOM 352
  - “The Market for Impact Jobs” with recruiters Diana Mercer of ForceBrands and Pam McCoy of Creative Alignments – moderated by John Helmers of CU Boulder’s Graduate Career Development Office – ROOM 217
10:30-11:25 a.m.: sessions 3 and 4
- - “The Regenerative Revolution” with Gene Kelly of Colorado State University and organic pioneer Mark Retzloff – ROOM 352
  - Food Entrepreneurship panel with Ben Fenton of BFG Partners, Michele Burchfield of Blume Honey Water, Stephen Cowan of Beyond Microgreens and Paloma Lopez of Future Fit Foods – ROOM 217
11:30-12:25 p.m.: sessions 5 and 6
- - “Logistics and Innovation” with Amy Kirtland of KeHE Distributors – ROOM 352
  - “Wind Energy in Practice” with Eric Lantz of National Renewable Energy Laboratory – ROOM 217
12:30-1:15 p.m.: networking lunch in atrium

1:15-2:30 p.m.: session 7
- - “The Generational Transfer of Well” with Jane Miller of Rudi’s, Paddy Spence of Zevia and founder of SPINS, and Terry Tierney of the Daiya Foods board – ROOM 225
2:35-3:30 p.m.: sessions 8 and 9
- - “Funding Food, Ag and Sustainability” with Andy Whitman of Loft Growth Partners and Mindy Montgomery of CoBank – ROOM 225
  - “With Honest Tea and Just Ice For All” with Seth Goldman (remote), followed by small group Zoom session with Seth – ROOM 352
3:30-3:45 p.m.: break

3:45-4:40 p.m.: session 10
- - “From Soup to Nut Bars: Embedding Sustainability into Everything You Do” with Roma McCaig of Clif Bar – ROOM 225
4:45-5:40 p.m.: sessions 11 and 12
- - “So You Want to Start a Clean Energy Business?” with Drew Torbin of Black Bear Energy – ROOM 217
  - “CPG Sustainability from Soil to Package” with Darcy Shiber-Knowles of Dr. Bronner’s – ROOM 225
5:40-6:30 p.m.: dinner
walk over to CASE Auditorium, 1725 Euclid Avenue in Boulder

7:00 p.m.: keynote address by Stephen Ritz of Green Bronx Machine at CASE Auditorium

9:30-10:25 a.m.: session 14
- - “Finding That Inner Drive: The Latest in Autonomous Transportation” with Luke Schneider (remote) and Ellice Perez McIntosh (in person) of Refraction AI – ROOM 352
10:30-11:25 a.m.: session 15
- - “In Pursuit of Circularity” with Jeannie Renne-Malone of VF Corporation (in person) and Jenn Blazejewski of Timberland (remote) – ROOM 352
11:30-12:15 p.m.: sessions 16 and 17
- - “Packaging Solutions” with Sara Axelrod of Ball Corporation and Paloma Lopez of Future Fit Foods – ROOM 352
  - “The State of Sustainability” with Hunter Lovins of Natural Capitalism Solutions – ROOM 225
12:15-1:00 p.m.: grab a sandwich in the atrium and then sessions 18 and 19
- - “The Celestial Story” with Mo Siegel, owners of Capital Peaks and founder of Celestial Seasonings – ROOM 352
  - “Changing the Narrative: Why Words Matter in the World of Climate Change” with LeeAnn Kittle of Denver Public Schools – ROOM 217

1:00-1:45 p.m.: sessions 20 and 21
- - “2023 Outlook” by Doug Radi of Sweet Loren’s – ROOM 225
  - “The Fairphone Story” with circular economy innovator Sean Ansett – ROOM 352
1:50-2:45: session 22
- - “10 Key Lessons to Help You Invent the Future” with Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Organic – ROOM 22
2:45-3:15: wrap-up with Kathryn Wendell of Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility and Joe Dobrow of MBArk – ROOM 225

3:30pm-5:00pm: optional reception and screening of Generation Growth – documentary about Stephen Ritz – ROOM 225

Here are the full agendas from MBArk2Boulder 2020 and 2019.