Texas Bioneers 2008 Onsite Speakers

See Program for presentation details

Although all listed speakers are confirmed, the program is subject to change without notice.

Friday, October 17th, 2008
DR. RIGOBERTO DELGADO Dr. Rigo Delgado is the Southwest Program Manager for Heifer International where he oversees and develops projects in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and on the US/Mexico Border. The Southwest Program office is located in El Paso, TX with field offices in Cactus, TX and Ft. Wingate, NM. Dr. Delgado is a native of the Border Region; he grew up in Lordsburg, NM. Caring for all types of animals, from chickens to goats, pigs, a dairy cow and rabbits on the family's two acre-farm. The Cooperative Extension Services in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico were his training grounds after graduation. Early in his professional career Rigo came in contact with Daniel West’s movement, and was moved by Heifer International’s founder for his humanitarian vision to help end hunger and poverty in the world. Ever since, the principles of sharing and caring while helping families to produce and help themselves have guided his professional commitments.

JANE WEINER Jane Weiner graduated from Bowling Green University with a degree in deaf/elementary education and a minor in dance. She had the unbelievable opportunity to work with the Doug Elkins Dance Company for a decade of fine dancing, touring and experiences before her move to Houston, TX in 1996. She has also worked with the wonderful talents of Deborah Tell, Mark Dendy, Donna Uchizano, Joe Chavla, Kevin Wynn, Jennifer Monson, Amy Rosen/Derek Bernstein, and Michael Foley. She has set her work on Houston Ballet II, the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, the High School for Performing and Visual Arts, the University Performing Dancers of Bowling Green State University, Episcopal High School, the Houston Repertoire Ballet, Texas A & M, Eastchester High School, and Stockton College. She presently is the executive director of HOPE STONE, Inc., and artistic director of the Pink Ribbons Project. She also runs (and is resident janitor as well) at Hope Center a dance and movement facility, and directs Kid’s Play, an arts out-reach program for children 6-18 years old. She was awarded the CACHH general fellowship grant for 2002, the Houston PBS Speaking Women’s Health Conference Honoree 2004, the Surgical Society of Oncology’s James Ewing Layman Award, the Jung Center Award for 2005, and was a finalist for the Cal Arts/Albert Award for Dance in 2001. She recently premiered SEE Me with her own company in January 2008 at the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Center to sold out audiences. Presently she is working on teacher training in regards to creating more arts outreach programs throughout, and her newest piece Village of Waltz scheduled for September 2009.

JOHN CALAWAY John Calaway has been involved with energy development since 1978. During the past 20 plus years (through 200), Mr. Calaway served as Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive of Edge Petroleum Corporation (“Edge”). John took Edge public in 1997 and it trades on NASDAQ under the symbol (EPEX). Under Johns’ leadership, Edge became on of the leading oil and gas prospect generating companies in the United States. In 2002, Mr. Calaway developed Superior Renewable Energy, which cultivated and constructed wind farms, and was introduced with the intention of developing commercial scale wind energy projects in the United States. Superior had in excess of 1000 Mega-watts of project in development in California, Texas, South Dakota, New Mexico and Hawaii and, in 2007, was subsequently purchased by Babcock and Brown. Babcock & Brown is an international investment and specialized fund and asset management group with longstanding capabilities in the creation, syndication and management of asset and cash flow-based investments. Babcock & Brown is one of the largest wind development company in the U.S and the world. Mr. Calaway currently serves as Chief Development Officer. Mr. Calaway currently serves on the National Board of the American Wind Energy Association.

DR. BERTIE SIMMONS Bertie Simmons has worked an elementary, middle and high school teacher. During her first career in the Houston Independent School District, she served as teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and district superintendent. She retired in 1995 at which time she worked for a non-profit organization, Schools Now. In 2000, she was requested by the district to assume the principalship at Furr High School, a troubled school in the deep northeast end of Houston. She initially intended to work for three months until a new principal could be hired, but fell in love with the students, teachers, and community. She is currently serving in her eighth year as principal and has spearheaded a school for drop-outs on the Furr High School campus. In addition, she is a champion for the green cause by implementing programs in the school designed to study new forms of energy.

KELLIE BRETT Kellie Brett is one of those unusual people you seldom meet and remember indefinitely. A former U.S. Marine and consummate communicator, her workshops are highly interactive and energizing. She embodies personal accountability coupled with deep compassion for those who seek her help. Kellie has a talent for creating a “safe place” for total strangers to share amongst each other without fear of judgment, which allows them to explore what’s necessary to move them forward in life.

SARA SPEER SELBER Sara Speer Selber is president and co-founder of BuildClean™. She has more than 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit, foundation and corporate social responsibility sectors. Prior to BuildClean™, she was the principal of The Project Management Team. She also served as president and CEO of Prepared 4 Life, The Dynegy Foundation, Inc. and AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. In addition, she co-founded both Selko and Associates and the Bynum School in Midland, Texas.

CHRIS FRY Chris Fry is the president of Dovetail Builders, Inc., a leading green residential builder in Houston. Dovetail is currently building Houston’s premier green home that is on track for LEED Platinum! Since 1997 Dovetail has been utilizing energy management and land stewardship strategies. In 2001 they built their first home with geothermal HVAC, photovoltaic panels and solar water heating panels. Rigorous attention to detail, building, remodeling and repairing custom homes along with his ability to work well with demanding clients and architects has positioned Dovetail Builders, Inc. as one of Houston’s premier residential contractors. Chris is a native of Houston, married with two children. He volunteers as an inner city youth mentor. He has been in construction since 1977 and founded the company that is now Dovetail Builders, Inc. in 1988. Chris is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for green building and preserving our natural environment. He is committed to pleasing every customer with clear, concise explanation of the work which is what turns his clients into fans. 100% of Dovetail’s business is generated by enthusiastic referrals.

LaVERNE WILLIAMS, AIA LEED AP Architect, Bioneer and building ecologist LaVerne Williams is the Founder and CEO of Environment Associates, Architects & Consultants of Houston, Texas, an award winning firm nationally recognized for its fostering of sustainable living concepts and practices since 1975. As one of authentic pioneers of green building, his firm is the oldest architectural practice in Texas dedicated exclusively to projects that strive for sustainability. His firm is the First Houston-based company to complete a Certified LEED® PLATINUM project anywhere in the U.S., which is also the official First LEED® home in the birthplace of green building programs, Austin, TX.

JEFF KAPLAN Jeff Kaplan is the founder of New Living, Houston's first green supply and environmental hardware store. He was the national founder of the Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders group, which has over 7,000 members in the real estate industry interested in responsible development of land. He currently sits on the bard of the Houston District Council of the Urban Land Institute and Rice Building Institute, and serves as Chair for Sustainability for the Houston District Council of the Urban Land Institute.

LEO GOLD Leo Gold is an accomplished financial advisor whose KPFT-aired New Capital Show was voted Houston’s Best Local Talk Show.

NITA LINDLEY Nita Lindley serves as Education Director for Brazos Abiertos, a non-profit oganization empowering the people of the Yucatan to respond to AIDS. Nita holds a Masters Degree in Education from James Madison University and has been involved in teaching for more than 30 years. She is a licensed Educational Kinesiologist teaching whole-brain learning to people of all ages. Nita has also served on the board of directors for Blackwood Educational Land Institute and Chrysalis Dance Company.

NORAH VASEN Norah Vasen is currently working as a clinical research assistant in pediatric nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine. She is a post-baccalaureate student at the Univeristy of Houston studying Health Education and Promotion. Her interest in health led her to become a volunteer and intern for Brazos Abiertos. She works primarily with the peer-to-peer education team, and helps coordinate sexual health workshops targeting HIV/AIDS in rural villages in the Yucatan. Norah also treaches Ashtanga Yoga.

RON SASS Dr. Ron Sass is the Wiess Professor of Natural Science, Emeritus at Rice University. Currently a Fellow of the Baker Institute for Public Policy, he has been a member of the Rice faculty since 1958. A member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he served as a co-convenor of the IGAC focus group on Exchange of Methane and Other Trace Gases in Rice Cultivation. Sass's research interests are in biogenic greenhouse gases appearing in over 160 scientific publications.

NANCY SORENSON Nancy Sorenson teaches yoga because she loves what it has done for her and what it continues to offer in ways of enhancing the quality of life. For Nancy, yoga is about awareness and mindfulness of the world we inhabit. It's about moving energy through the sacred vessel of our physical bodies and percieving the world through our senses and enhancing our connection with a Spirit greater than ourselves. She took her first yoga class in 1976, began regularly practicing in 1990, did her first teacher training in 1996 and has been teaching and training in various techniques ever since. The most profound influence in her current teaching and personal practice is Anusara yoga.

ADRIAN ARROYOS & MAGGIE KATTAN Adrian Arroyos and Maggie Kattan and their daughter, Anna Katerina, have taken on the challenge of local eating. The family is documenting their experiences at www.100MileHarvest.com, where they are creating a set of resources that includes a nationwide local food directory and local food social network. In May of 2008, the family of three decided to commit to a year of eating only locally grown food. Every ingredient in every meal had to come from no more than 100 miles from their home. In the process, they've come to understand much more about local food production and sustainability, the real power of "enlightened" consumers, and their role in challenging an industrial food system that is threatening human health, damaging the environment and undermining global food security.

Saturday, October 18th, 2008
JUDITH McGEARY Judith is an attorney and small farmer. She has a B.S. in Biology from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Her legal practice included administrative law, litigation, and appeals. She and her husband have a sustainable farm outside of Austin, with horses, cows, sheep, chickens and turkeys. In 2006, she quit her legal practice to form the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance to provide a voice for independent agriculture.

DR. PAUL B. RANGE Paul has done extensive research into aquaponics, sustainable agriculture and windpower in the past 20 years. He is currently engaged in research relating to food problems in both Haiti and Hondorus.

GLORIA HASWELL Gloria has extensive knowledge in construction and maintaining aquaponics systems.

GINA DONOVAN Over the last nine years, Gina Donovan has had significant impact in developing grassroots support for protecting the Neches River in east Texas, which led to the tremendous conservation victory -- establishment of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2006. An avid outdoorswoman, Gina practically grew up on the banks of the Neches River, fishing, hunting, canoeing, and camping in the river’s diverse bottomland forests. She has canoed nearly 400 of the 416 miles of the Neches River’s mocha-colored waters, all the while learning and experiencing firsthand the importance of this awesome riverine world. Gina earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, and a Master of Science from Stephen F. Austin State University. She served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Rivers Conservation Advisory Board, was the Communications Director for the Texas Conservation Alliance, and is currently serving as Executive Director of the Houston Audubon Society.

DAN PHILLIPS Dan Phillips is a designer/builder working in Huntsville, Texas, who builds low-income housing, with unskilled workers, from free, salvage and recycled materials. Having been associated with the construction industry in many capacities for over twenty years, he is now concentrating on using one social problem to solve another, with his low-income housing initiative, The Phoenix Commotion. The ultimate spin-off is development of a homesteading possibility--anyone can have a house, they just need to build it themselves.

AMANDA TULLOS Amanda Tullos is a licensed Architect in the State of Texas and President and founder of Living Paradigm CDC. She is a member of the City's code review council to help incorporate reclaimed materials into buildings and has asssited with the City's REUSE warehouse. Amanda has been involved with green building for several years and has been a Co-Chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment, active with the USGBC local chapter, and is currently the Regional Team Leader for AIA COTE. She is currently employed as a green building consultant with Green Building Services, having opened a local office for the Portland, OR based group.

JOE NELSON ICET Back in 1999, Joe Nelson Icet woke up ready to make action. The last 8 years he has been villaging in the communities of the inner city. He built an urban garden/farm, duplicating the idea in several locations and throwing events to build a community that supported the idea. During a public session with the Major and City Counsel, Joe spoke to them about the work his organization was doing with urban farming in the inner city. His goal, as a community farmer, is to create a greater awareness, and a will to grow one's own food in the greater Houston area by working to develop a seasonal food source that will sustain a healthy diet year round.

CLARK MARTINSON Clark Martinson has been the General Manager of Harris County Improvement District #4 (the Energy Corridor Management District) since 2003. He is responsible for facilitating and implementing the District’s vision, mission and goals for property owners, businesses, tenants and residents in the Energy Corridor District. He oversees District staff, consultants and committees responsible for Transportation, Public Safety, Quality of Life, and Business Development initiatives. The District’s initiatives are part of a Master Plan to increase the identity of the Energy Corridor, leverage public investment and maintain a positive relationship with property owners, business interests and residential communities within and surrounding the District. Clark creates partnerships with public agencies and private businesses to enhance the Energy Corridor’s streets, highways, parks and natural areas to create a unique and marketable identity. Some of the achievements at the Energy Corridor District include: Selected by the EPA in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as one of the Best Workplaces for commuters Recognized in 2006 by the Texas Trails Network for excellence in bringing government officials, businesses and community leaders together as a partnership to create the West Houston Trails Network Recognized by the H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Subcommittee of the Natural Areas Advisory Committee in 2006 for Outstanding Contributions to the Region in Projects for the Harris County Precinct 3 Barker Reservoir Trails Recognized by H-GAC Commute Solutions Program as the 2007 Outstanding Volunteer for Transportation Demand Management Energy Corridor won the City of Houston Bike to Work Corporate Challenge in 2006 and 2008 Mr. Martinson has over twenty-five years experience bringing diverse parties together to improve places where we live, work and play. Clark is a certified planner with the American Planning Institute of Certified Planners and Cycling Instructor with the League of American Bicyclists. He enjoys biking to work, cycle touring and seeing Texas and other great places as a cyclist.

PAUL BERRERA A martial arts practitioner for 24 years and instructor for more than 18 years, Paul began studying yoga in 2004. Since then, he has continued his studies of yoga including Forrest, Ashtanga, and Iyengar. Paul also has a devoted pursuit of studies in anatomy, nutrition, psychology, philosophy and meditation. His classes are intended to be lighthearted and humorous while providing a genuine challenge. Breath, alignment, and attention are the three primary goals of his practice and teaching.

MICHAEL SKYE Michael Skye, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of VisionForce, works with a new breed of impassioned change agents, entrepreneurs and visionary leaders from around the world who are giving their lives to stand for all of humanity and create a world that works for all of us. Inspired individuals attend Michael's VisionForce trainings to acquire the visionary leadership and alliance building skills required to create a better world. Michael is best known for his week long intensive formerly known as the VisionForce Boot Camp, and now called the iStand Experience.

DAVID GRESHAM David Gresham is an author, environmentalist, and entrepreneur. His practice includes creating new business models that support sustainable community development, creating change by developing systems, and sharing ideas through the creative use of media. David writes and speaks about the relationships within systems, and consults with business and community leaders on sustainable community development, living systems, and the tranformation economy.

Sunday, October 19th, 2008
BEE MOORHEAD Bee Moorhead is the executive director of Texas Interfaith Power & Light and its parent organization Texas Impact. She lobbies the Texas Legislature on issues of religious social concern and helps Texas faith communities and their members advocate for the common good. She holds a Master's degree in public affairs from the University of Texas LBJ School and an undergraduate degree in Drama from UT.

DR. ALEJANDRO CHAOUL Alejandro Chaoul is an Assistant Professor at the John P. McGovern Center for Health, Humanities and the Human Spirit in the University of Texas Medical School at Houston with an adjunct position at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he is involved in research using Tibetan mind-body techniques with cancer patients and facilitates meditation for cancer patients and their support system's at their Place of Wellness. He is the director of the Ligmincha Texas Institute for Tibetan Meditative and Healing Arts.

DR. LORENZO COHEN Dr. Lorenzo Cohen is a professor at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center where he is Director of the Integrative Medicine Program. Dr. Cohen is the President of the International Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology (JSIO).

EDWARD HASWELL A 17-year-old senior in high school, Edward has always loved building things, taking things apart, and the opportunity to help others. He has successfully built a few aquaponic systems, including a commerical unit in Bernit, Texas and a couple of smaller residential units. This is his first time conducting a conference seminar. He is working on becoming an Eagle Scout. He plans to attend Baylor University with a major in technical theatre.

DR. JOHN SPEER John Speer is the author of Uncommon Community: One Congregation's Work with Prisoners, which describes the prison outreach programs of the Henry David Thoreau Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Bend County. John is a poet who leads a creative writing workshop at the Jester 3 state prison in Richmond, Texas. He chairs the Department of Government and Criminal Justice at Houston Community College, Southwest.

DAVID HEROY Founder of Blackwood Nature Camp and life-long outdoor educator, David has seen miracles occur in group development, trust building, problem solving, and sensory awareness through the application of simple and amusing games. David has a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from Rice University, a M.S. in Marine Science from William and Mary, and a B.A. in Geology from Colgate University and currently teaches at The Khabele School in Austin, TX.

PATTI ADAMIK Patty Adamik has practiced and studied Continuum Movement since 2000 with Emilie Conrad, founder of Continuum Movement and other teachers and was authorized as a Continuum Movement teacher in 2008. She has been a massage therapist since 1989 and a Texas Licensed Massage Therapy Instructor. Patty has an ongoing interest in how movement connects us to the natural world and infuses her work with a deep respect for the processes inherent to our biological heritage.

KRISTINA CARRILLO-BUCARAM Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram is a Rice University undergraduate majoring in Health Science, Music, and Studio Art. She has been a 100% raw foodist and environmentalist for the past 3.5 years and has studied under/interned with Dr. Douglas Graham in Costa Rica and in Seattle. Last September, she began a co-op in the Houston area to support local and organic farmers and to bring inexpensive produce to those in the area; it has expanded to all areas of Houston and beyond.

ROWAN TWO SISTERS Rowan TwoSisters, LMT, MTI, CIMI, EMT-I, TTTtm, Minister, Reiki master and NIA White Belt instructor, lives and breathes the healing arts. Her experience includes 15+ years exploring massage, midwifery, essential oils, accepting divine self and green economics. She is committed to doing whatever it takes to facilitate folks living more comfortably in their own skin. What’s next? Her learning objectives for 2009 are Maya Abdominal Massage & Lamaze Instruction.

BLYTHE TWO SISTERS

AMANDA AUSTIN Amanda Austin is a co-host for "The Human Rights Show" sponsored by Amnesty International, Group 23. She holds a Masters of Public Policy from Duke University and a Bachelors degree in Political Science from Emory University. Amanda has worked for UNAIDS and the Carter Center in the past. She has also provided direct social services to victims of human trafficking in Houston. Amanda joined “The Human Rights Show” in 2006.

CATHY INGHAM Cathy Ingham is a Texas registered landscape architect. Her career path began in a civil engineering office in Dallas, working on development plans for 'sprawl'. Burn out sent her an a second career path as a massage therapist where she re-discovered the concept of working with nature for healing. She now designs and installs private gardens in the Houston area, and considers gardening and connection with nature the most healing of all activities!