2024 Speakers

2024 Speakers

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

Our sessions include:

 

  • Opening Keynote: One Global Company’s Ambition to Deliver Sustainable Nutrition to Billions 
    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.

 

  • From $20 Billion to Startup: Loving Life After Whole Foods Through the Promise of Integrated Health and Wellness
    Betsy Foster – President and Co-Founder of Love.Life!, the fascinating new company created by the original Whole Foods team

 

 

  • The Seven Deadly Mistakes of New 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

 

 

  • WORKING SESSION: A Look Back at Organic Certification, a Look Ahead to Regenerative Certification
    Mark Retzloff – CEO of Natural Habitats and legendary Co-Founder of Horizon Organic, Alfalfa’s Market, and Aurora Organic Dairy; 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; and Jen Berliner – Head of Marketing & Sales at Patagonia Provisions, who is working on Regenerative Organic Certification

 

 

  • Growing Crops and Kids – The Green Bronx Machine Tower Garden Curriculum
    Stephen Ritz – Founder of Green Bronx Machine and our 3-time MBArk2Boulder keynote speaker!

 

  • In the Wake of COP 28: AI, Methane, and the Renewable Energy-Food Axis
    Sara Axelrod – Head of Public Affairs with Crusoe Energy, and formerly a key sustainability director with Ball Corporation and Land O’ Lakes

 

  • Backbone of the Food Industry: The Strategy Behind the Supply Chain
    Amy Kirtland – EVP of Growth & Innovation for KeHE Distributors

 

  • Technology Meets Regenerative Ag
    Dr. Gene Kelly – Professor of Pedology at Colorado State University, soil and regenerative ag expert, and the runaway star of the 2023 MBArk2Boulder Conference
  • Looping into the World Circularity and Upcycling
    Tom Szaky – CEO of TerraCycle and Founder of Loop (joining remotely)

 

 

  • 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
  • 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
  • Jordan Macknick – Energy Engineer and Environmental Analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Morrad Fadel – VP of Innovation with Meati Foods
  • and many more