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Texas Bioneers 2006 Plenary Speakers

Richie Ahuja - Revitalizing Our Oceans
Based in Texas, this international businessman who has worked with industries such as logistics, recycled paper, telecom and banking software, now works with stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico fisheries to explore new ideas for more profitable and ecologically sustainable fishing.  He is currently working to promote catch shares in the state shrimp fishery in Texas.  His work with Oceans Alive and Environmental Defense embraces the belief that a sustainable business is one that strives to create a balance between the environmental, economic and social factors.

Jim Blackburn – Climate Change - What, When and Where
This environmental lawyer and environmental scientist with an active public interest law practice teaches in the civil and environmental engineering department at Rice University.  Current areas of interest include urban mass transit, flooding, climate change, and sustainable development.  Climate change is a fact.  The challenge is what do we do to prepare for it, slow it down and stabilize it.  Blackburn was awarded an honorary membership in the American Institute of Architects for his legal work on urban design issues. His book, The Book of Texas Bays, was published in 2004 by Texas A&M Press. 


Brandi Clark – Tools and strategies for growing the sustainability community and expanding and deepening participation
This President of Environmentality, Inc. and founder of the AustinEcoNetwork, is a master networker, marketer, and community builder.  She is also an award-winning event producer, and inspiring visionary for expanding participation in “green” business and life.  Brandi’s mission is to make it easy for people to do the right thing.  A long-time Austinite and Yale graduate, Brandi is vice-chair of Austin CarShare, and co-chair of the Austin Sustainable Business Council.  Austin Orientation is her newest venture. Brandi we will explore and share ideas about what organizing tools, systems, resources and mechanisms we can put in place to get more people entering the world of “green” and to get those who are already green to deepen their shade.

Shib Nath De - Yoga: The Natural Way to a Better Tomorrow
As a disciple of Buddha Bose, Shibnath De is considered to be one of the 4th generation Yoga Masters in the lineage tree of the Yoga Cure Institute.  Join this teacher of therapeutic yoga for a unique introduction to authentic ancient Indian Yoga practices.  The traditional practice of Yoga is a very personalized one depending on the health condition and need of a patrticular individual.  Yoga has incredible healing power for both physical and mental sufferings.

Gwen Foster, ND – New Solutions for Alternative Healthcare
This Naturopath has found new methods and devices from around the world that are being used in alternative health care, providing better results in improving health.  She practices Energy Medicine with a holistic approach, taking into consideration the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of her clients, using QXCI/SCIO and herbs, homeopathy, and supplements to help balance what the QXCI/SCIO does.  Gwen healed herself of allergies and ill health and also teaches people how to help themselves.  She received a Bachelors degree in Natural Health and Doctor of Naturopathy degree from Clayton College of Natural Health, and is certified in Reiki, IET, Hypnotherapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. 

David Heroy, PhD - Antarctic and Global Warming - What is Going on, Anyway?
This science educator who recently completed his Ph.D. in Earth Science at Rice University studied climate change in the Antarctic Peninsula since the last Ice Age.  He also traveled to Bangladesh to study the Ganges-Brahmaputra River for his master’s work at the College of William and Mary.  Currently, David teaches at Lee College in Baytown and has been turning his attention towards education and outreach.  David and his wife Erica live in the Montrose area in Houston, Texas.


Madalene Hill – You Deserve the Best
The Texas Bioneers 2006 Conference is dedicated to Madalene Hill in honor and recognition of her many years of work with culinary and landscape herbs.  Madalene is an herbalist, author, teacher, lecturer, and garden designer who with her husband established the original Hilltop Herb Farm in Houston in 1957, and she is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Madalene designed and installed extensive herb gardens at the International Festival Institute at Round Top in 1993 and was Curator of the Susan McAshan Gardens at International Festival Institute at Round Top in 1993.  Madalene’s goal throughout her gardening career: “You deserve the best,” plus the absolute necessity of offering correct nomenclature of herbs in the market place as opposed to generic names, i.e. mint, oregano, rosemary or salvias.   madalenehill@cvtv.org

Kenneth Knezick – Ancient Rhythms for the 21st Century
This powerful musician “Tulo” began his musical career with voice, guitar, clarinet, dance and percussion studies. During college, Ken performed with the Rutgers Glee Club and Symphony Chorale. After coming to Houston, Ken performed with the Houston Balalaika Society, Ukrainian Dancers of Houston, and the Carole Shannon Belly Dancers. Today Ken teaches belly dance and  drumming, practices Turkish clarinet, and as co-director of Gypsy Dance Theatre, continues to explore an exotic amalgam of rhythms, music, and dance.  Experience a hands-on adventure into traditional African, Egyptian, and Arabic rhythm patterns, with percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Ken Knezick. Using various drums, doumbeks, djembes, tambourines, and hands, you will come to understand why these rhythms have endured and flourished for thousands of years.

Jennifer Lorenz – The Spring Creek Greenway Project - Permanently Protecting Land
The Executive Director of Legacy Land Trust, a non-profit conservation organization working to permanently protect land in the 13-county area in and around Houston, with 20 conservation easements permanently protecting 5,000 acres of land, Jennifer is also on the board of the Texas Land Trust Council and is Vice President of the Standards and Practices Committee for TLTC, as well as Board Member and Executive Council Member of Houston Wilderness.  She has recently been selected to the new national Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent organization of the national Land Trust Alliance.  Spring Creek is the liquid border between Harris and Montgomery Counties and is Houston's most important wildlife corridor - the longest contiguous low-impact trail system in the area.  Just 25 minutes north of downtown Houston, it is a critical resting place for millions of migratory birds, home to bobcats, grey foxes, white-tailed deer, and is the western-most habitat for the green kingfisher. LLT is working with both of these counties to ensure the permanent protection of this important wildlife habitat, while allowing for low-impact public hiking trails and new launch points for canoes and kayaks.  Jennifer is a certified Master Naturalist and a member of Texas Exes (Bachelor of Journalism, 1986).

Natalie Marquis – Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability and Reaping the Rewards, Doing More… Using Less
As General Manager of Habitat Suites Hotel in Austin, Texas www.habitatsuites.com, for the past nine years, Natalie has hands-on experience implementing sustainable business practices and measuring the business, economic, and social successes that follow the decision to do business with a responsibility for stewarding the land and its creatures for future generations.  Natalie will discuss the pioneers and masters of this path:  Paul Hawken, Bill McDonough, and Joe Von Bellingham, siting specific case studies that have made them the leaders in this movement for right action and how to bring their successes closer to home and how they translate into our own homes, businesses, and communities.  natalie@habitatsuites.com

Reverend Jeremy Rutledge – "Justice" Means More Than "Just Us"
This minister of Covenant Church: an an ecumenical, liberal, Baptist congregation, will explore the theme of justice insofar as it relates to living peaceably with ourselves, our neighbors, and our world.  What does it mean to practice "justice" and to move beyond "just us" as we consider that life is a shared experience?  Reverend Rutledge attended Baylor University where he received a B.A. in Religious Studies and English Literature, then he completed the M.Div. program at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Virginia. He has since continued his studies at Wadham College, Oxford, the Vancouver School of Theology, and the Plum Village community of Buddhist monastics.

LaVerne Williams, AIA, LEED AP - Green Home Design, Construction & Remodeling for Southern Climates 
This architect and building ecologist, is the Founder of Environment Associates, Architects & Consultants, of Houston, Texas, an award winning architectural firm noted for its pioneering green home and healthy home work for more than 30 years.  LaVerne has been instrumental in the invention and advancement of numerous environmentally responsible high performance green building designs and building technology concepts being widely used today, especially for southern climate regions.  He has been instrumental in the founding of numerous non-profit organizations concerning buildings and the environment, including the Houston Solar Energy Society, the Texas Solar Energy Society, and Houston’s Cultivate Green.  He was recognized by the Citizens League for Environmental Action Now as a "Houston Hero" for the Environment, locally and nationally, and has served as an advisor to both the Texas and the Governor’s Energy Advisory Councils and served on the Board of Houston’s Citizen’s Environmental Coalition. He was also a founder of the original Committee on the Environment Houston for the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and is the only architect from the Houston area invited to be part of the original world-renowned Austin Green Building Program.