2024 Speakers

MBArk is renowned for both the quality and quantity of presentations at our events. Here are some of the dynamic people you will hear from at the 2024 MBArk2Boulder Sustainability & Food Leadership Conference (hover to ID the photo, scroll down for more):

Our sessions are still in development, but will likely include:

• Opening Keynote
  Elizabeth Horvath – Vice President of Marketing, North America, for Kerry Foods, the $9 billion sustainable taste-and-nutrition company that has been on the cutting edge of purpose and clean-label formulations in the food industry, discussing the fascinating behind-the-scenes work Kerry does and their push for clean label and purpose.
• The Convergence of Nourishing Food, Evolved Medical Care, and Precision Wellness
  Betsy Foster – President and Co-Founder of Love.Life!, the fascinating new company created by the original Whole Foods team
• The Secrets of Product Development
  Denis Ring – Founder of OCHO Candy and, as the creator of the 365, O Organic, and many other private label lines, the person who is probably responsible for more product development than anyone else in the natural and organic industry
• A Look Back at Organic Certification, a Look Ahead at Regenerative Certification
  Mark Retzloff – CEO of Natural Habitats and legendary Co-Founder of Horizon Organic, Alfalfa’s Market, and Aurora Organic Dairy, and Kathleen Merrigan – former Deputy Secretary of the USDA and one of the creators of the original Organic Foods Production Act, and current Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State
• Growing Something Greater – The Green Bronx Machine Tower Garden Curriculum
  Stephen Ritz – Founder of Green Bronx Machine and our 3-time MBArk2Boulder keynote speaker!
• The Future of Food
  John Grubb – Managing Partner of Summit Venture Management and keen-eyed industry trend analyst
• Backbone of the Food Industry: The Strategy Behind the Supply Chain
  Amy Kirtland – EVP of Growth & Innovation for KeHE Distributors
• Moving Toward Circularity
  Tom Szaky – CEO of TerraCycle and Founder of Loop
• Plus special presentations by:
• Jane Miller – CEO of Rudi’s, former CEO of Lily’s Sweets, among many others
• Linda Appel Lipsius – CEO of Denver Urban Gardens and Co-Founder/Former CEO of Teatulia
• Dr. Eugene Kelly – Professor of Pedology at Colorado State University, soil and regenerative ag expert, and the runaway star of the 2023 MBArk2Boulder Conference
• Sara Axelrod – Head of Public Affairs at Crusoe Energy, and former executive with Ball Corporation and Land O’ Lakes
• Clint Mickel – Senior Director of Brand Management with Vital Proteins, recently with Savos Brands
• Shelby Layne – former Director of ESG, Strategy, and Communications for Bolthouse Farms
• We are also expecting speakers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the National Center for Atmospheric Research , and the IBM Food Trust. Look for more announcements coming very soon!