Oregon has earned a reputation of leadership in sustainability through the work of our universities, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and governments. The Oregon University System and the Oregon Business Council identified the opportunity for multiple Oregon universities to collaborate – with each other, and with their communities – to offer educational programs based on this work. The Summer Sustainability Series makes these experiences and examples available to both professionals and students in the region, across the country, and from abroad. By gathering thought leaders from disparate fields around specific challenges, the program will push beyond the current thinking and find even more effective solutions.
- Oregon Business Council
- Board of Directors (alphabetical order)
- Karla Chambers ∙ Vice President & Co-Owner, Stahlbush Farms
- Jay Coalson ∙ Principal, Green Building Services
- Kirby Dyess ∙ CEO, Austin Capital Management
- Mark Edlen ∙ Managing Principal, Gerding Edlen Development
- John Emrick ∙ Retired CEO, Norm Thompson
- Rick Jacobson ∙ President emeritus, NORPAC Foods, Inc.
- Ed Vranizan ∙ Architect, CH2M Hill
- John Willis, Vice President, CH2M Hill
- Mike Winslow ∙ Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Standard Insurance Company
- Duncan Wyse, ex officio ∙ President, Oregon Business Council
- Susan Bragdon, Director
- Tim Miller, Program Manager
- Dorothy Payton, Curriculum Manager, Sustainability in the Urban Built Environment
- Patti Dilworth, Logistics and Program Coordinator
- Wisteria Loeffler, Curriculum Manager, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
- Amy Rose, Marketing and Program Coordinator
An association of more than 40 top business executives, the Oregon Business Council (OBC) is focused on public issues that affect Oregon's life and future. OBC is patterned after the national Business Roundtable and affiliate organizations in a number of other states. Since 1985, the OBC has played a central role in addressing public issues that are important to Oregonians. Through research and analysis, internal discussions, and collaboration with other organizations and public officials, OBC is an advocate for policies that improve Oregon's quality of life and economy.
Board of Directors – Oregon Summer Sustainability Series (in alphabetical order)
Karla Chambers ∙ Vice President & Co-Owner, Stahlbush Farms
Karla is responsible for administrative, marketing and sales functions at Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc. in Corvallis, OR. Stahlbush Island Farms is an environmentally friendly farm and food processor committed to sustainable agriculture. Over 130 products are processed on this vertically integrated, 5000-acre farm. These products are exported into sixteen different countries and throughout the United States through retail food service, export and industrial ingredient channels.
Jay Coalson ∙ Principal, Green Building Services
As president and CEO of Green Building Services, Jay is responsible for the creation and on-going development of a progressive, employee-owned consulting practice aspiring to function as a true triple bottom-line business. This includes defining business policies, developing business systems, financial management, strategic planning, marketing planning, sales planning and overall business administration, as well as managing the business development team and supporting efforts to identify and develop key business opportunities. With over 15 years of marketing, communication and strategic planning experience, Jay has a passion for understanding client needs, providing clear communication and delivering unique, high quality products. Within the realm of sustainability Jay has taken a special interest in issues pertaining to social equity, especially around affordable home ownership and early childhood education.
Prior to joining Green Building Services, Jay was the Director of Business Development and a Senior Communications consultant for an Internet Marketing firm and supported clients such as Quaker Oats, Nestle, Sunbeam and Portland General Electric. Before that Jay was a Marketing Manager over Cleated Footwear for Adidas US and also spent six years in marketing communications and public affairs.
Kirby Dyess ∙ CEO, Austin Capital Management
Ms. Kirby A. Dyess is a Principal at Austin Capital Management, Ltd. She evaluates, invests in, and assists early stage technical companies in the Pacific Northwest. Previously, Ms. Dyess served as a Vice President at Intel Corporation and Director of Operations at Intel Capital from April 2001 until her retirement in December 2002. From 1999 to 2001, Ms. Dyess served as an Advisor to the Environmental Protection Agency helping to identify emerging trends and future solutions. She served as a Vice President and Director of New Business Development at Intel Corporation from January 1997 to April 2001 and was a Corporate Vice President and Director of Human Resource worldwide from 1993 to 1996. Prior to joining Intel Corporation, Ms. Dyess spent over ten years at ICN Medical Laboratories, Inc. She is the Chairman of Prolifiq Software Inc., Director, Member of Audit & Finance Committee, and Member of Corporate Governance Committee of Itron Inc., Director and Chairman of Human Resources & Compensation Committee of Merix Corp. and Director of Octavian Corporation. Ms. Dyess has been a Director of Merix Corp. since September 2002. She also serves as a Director of Menasha Corporation and Compli. Ms. Dyess has been a Director of H2F Media, Inc. since July 2003. She served as a Director of Portland General Electric Co. since July 8, 2004. In addition, Ms. Dyess chairs the Business Advisory Board for the University Of Oregon Lundquist College Of Business, has served on the Boards of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and the Oregon Health & Science University, serves as a Member of the Advisory Committee at Oregon Investment Fund, LLC, and is a Member of the Board of Trustees at Linfield College. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Idaho and was the school's first female graduate in this field of science. Ms. Dyess pursued post-graduate work in Biochemistry and Management at Portland State University and Stanford, respectively.
Mark Edlen ∙ Managing Principal, Gerding Edlen Development
Mark Edlen is the co-founding member of GEDI and is internationally recognized for his expertise and success in creating mixed-use commercial, residential, educational, and retail developments. Mr. Edlen directs all phases of GEDI’s projects and operations and has overseen the development of 56 projects totaling approximately $4.8 billion since the inception of GEDI. Frequently invited to be the keynote speaker at a number of conferences, lectures and congregations, Mr. Edlen has delivered presentations to groups such as the Civil Construction Group and Director of the Housing Department Ministry of Construction in Vietnam, Oregon League of Conservative Voters, Innotech Innovation Conference, National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices and many others. Mr. Edlen received his B.S. in Finance and an M.B.A. from the University of Oregon.
John Emrick ∙ Retired CEO, Norm Thompson
John Emrick, retired chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Norm Thompson Outfitters, Inc. was born and educated in Portland, Oregon and has spent his entire working career with the Portland-based company, a $200 million leading national catalog retailer specializing in unique apparel, gifts, food and travel items. Under Emrick’s leadership, Norm Thompson Outfitters Inc. has been at the forefront of corporate sustainability efforts, including constructing the pioneer green building in the state of Oregon, the first to meet Portland General Electric’s Earth Smart standards. Norm Thompson is a founding member of the Oregon Natural Step Network and a member of Business for Social Responsibility, Certified Forest Products Council and Recycled Paper Coalition. Emrick has served as an advisor for many state and local groups, including Oregon Public Broadcasting, CASA and 1000 Friends of Oregon. He is a trustee for the Meyer Memorial Trust and he has served on the boards of Pacific Crest Outward Bound, Friends of Opal Creek, Oregon State Parks, and House of Umoja. He currently serves on the boards of University of Portland, House of Umoja, and Illahee - environmental lecture series; and on the advisory councils of Oregon Solutions, Portland Parks Foundation, Horambee, and Oregon Natural Step Network.
Rick Jacobson ∙ President emeritus, NORPAC Foods, Inc.
For over eleven years, Mr. Jacobson was CEO of NORPAC Foods, Inc., one of the most successful grower cooperatives in the Pacific Northwest. Formerly, Mr. Jacobson managed several cooperatives in both Oregon and Washington, eventually becoming General Manager at Wilco Farmers Co-op of Mt. Angel. He then moved on to NORPAC as Vice President of Agricultural Services and rose to the position of President and CEO. Mr. Jacobson presided over NORPAC’s move into certified sustainable products with its association with Food Alliance. Among his long list of service is chair of the board of the American Frozen Food Institute, the board of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the Ag Co-op Council of Oregon, the Oregon Food Processor's Council, and currently on the board of the Oregon Business Council and the Oregon Food Bank. Mr. Jacobson was also instrumental in developing the Oregon Sustainable Agricultural Resource Center (OSARC), designed to create sustainable production systems for all of agriculture. OSARC's mission is to serve as a clearinghouse for growers on sustainable practices.
Ed Vranizan ∙ Architect, CH2M Hill
We will post Ed's bio soon.
John Willis ∙ Vice President, CH2M Hill
John Willis is Vice President and Area Manager for CH2M HILL’s Portland, Oregon office. He has been with the firm for 15 years and has also served as the firm’s Business Development Manager for Oregon and southwest Washington Transportation. As a project manager, Mr. Willis is currently managing the Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail West Segment Design project and previously managed several high-profile projects in Oregon and Washington, including the East Columbia to Lombard Connector for the City of Portland. Mr. Willis is a member of the Portland Business Alliance Board of Directors and chairs their Sustainability Committee. He also serves on the board of directors for the Oregon Business Council and the Engineering Technology Industry Council. He holds an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in civil engineering from Oregon State University.
Mike Winslow ∙ Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Standard Insurance Company
Mike Winslow is senior vice president and general counsel of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and its primary subsidiary Standard Insurance Company. He has oversight of Corporate Legal, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications as well as the company’s strategic planning process. Winslow formerly served as assistant general counsel and chief compliance officer for PacifiCorp. Prior to that he was assistant general counsel and assistant secretary for PacifiCorp Financial Services, Inc. A graduate of Indiana University, Winslow earned his J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College. Winslow is a member of the American Bar Association and the Oregon State Bar Association. He serves as a deputy member of the board of directors for Oregon Business Council and is a member of the Open Meadow Alternative Schools’ Sustainability Campaign Board and The Forest Park Conservancy Sixty for Sixty Campaign Committee.
Duncan Wyse, ex officio ∙ President, Oregon Business Council
Duncan Wyse has served as the president of the Oregon Business Council since June 1995, where he works with business and public leaders on a wide range of public policy issues including education, health care and economic strategy. Prior to this position, Wyse was executive director of the Oregon Progress Board, where he developed Oregon Shines - Oregon's long-range strategy for economic growth, and Oregon Benchmarks - indicators measuring how Oregon is doing as a people, place and economy. Under his leadership, the Oregon Progress Board won the Innovations in Government Award from the Ford Foundation and Harvard's Kennedy School. Prior to that, he spent eight years at the California Public Utilities Commission, serving as advisor to the President and Director for Policy and Planning. In addition to the Oregon State Board of Education, he currently serves on the Oregon Quality Education Commission, the E3: Oregon Inc, Employers for Education Excellence Board of Directors, the Multnomah County Leaders Roundtable (as chair), Portland-Multnomah Progress Board, the Willamette Valley Partnership, and the Oregon Transportation Plan Advisory Committee. Wyse holds a Bachelor's degree from Pomona College and a Master's in Business Administration from Stanford University.
In addition to leading the Series, Bragdon serves as a sustainability advisor to the Oregon University System, and consults for governments, the private sector and intergovernmental organizations on legal and policy issues related to sustainable development.
Previously, Bragdon joined the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute as a Senior Scientist, Law & Policy in 1997. At IPGRI she created decision-making tools for national policy-makers and developed and led training courses around the world for mid-career professionals on the legal issues of relevance to sustainable agriculture and food systems.
She was the Legal Advisor for the Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Convention on Biological Diversity, and for the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste.
B.A., Biology, Williams College; M.Sc. Resource Ecology, University of Michigan; J.D. University of Michigan.
Mr. Miller brings 20 years of management & executive experience to management of the Series. For the last four years, Miller has been completely focused on sustainability, providing business consulting to over 2 dozen for-profit, not-for-profit, and governmental organizations on green business strategies, marketing, and business development.
Prior to his focus on sustainability, Miller was at Citysearch.com, a leading online city guide, where he served in a variety of leadership roles for over five years, including Regional Vice President, directing 13 Citysearch offices around the country, and General Manager of the Portland office, running sales, marketing, operations, and content. Before Citysearch, Miller earned five years of team and leadership experience at Intel Corporation in technology advertising, marketing, product management, and product launches.
B.A., Economics with honors and distinction; MBA with honors; both from Stanford University.
Dorothy Payton, Curriculum Manager, Sustainability in the Urban Built Environment
Ms. Payton designed the curriculum for the Series, and will be the ring-master and lead facilitator delivering continuity throughout the five-day program. She is also Principal of an ecological design and consulting firm in Portland, Oregon, and serves as adjunct faculty at Portland Community College in the Architecture and Interior Design Departments.
Ms. Payton assisted in the development, and served as lead instructor, of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Energy and Resource Management program at Clackamas Community College from 2003 until 2005.
Previously she served as the sustainability consultant and LEED Coordinator for the State of Oregon’s first LEED building, an office building project that earned a Gold Certificate. She has also worked with local government , health care, education and professional organizations, to articulate their sustainability goals for their organizations and construction projects.
Bachelor of Architecture, with honors, University of Oregon; Masters Degree in Whole Systems Design and Organization Systems Renewal, Antioch University.
Patti Dilworth, Logistics and Program Coordinator
Ms. Dilworth served as Logistics Coordinator for the inaugural event in 2008. She arranged transportation, coordinated venues and supported the program managers throughout the program. She is serving in that same capacity for both programs in 2009. Additionally, her responsibilities include marketing outreach facilitation, participant tracking and administrative support.
Previously, Dilworth has experience in retail management and years volunteering in a variety of capacities including program coordination, interior design and costume design.
In addition to her responsibilities with the Summer Sustainability Series, Dilworth recently achieved her LEED Accredited Professional designation. She is currently working to establish her architectural design firm, focusing on sustainable residential new construction and renovation.
B.S., Clothing and Textiles, Oregon State University; A.A.S., Architectural Design and Drafting, Portland Community College; Sustainable Building Certificate, Portland Community College.
Wisteria Loeffler, Curriculum Manager, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Wisteria Loeffler works as a community development consultant specializing in sustainable food systems and agricultural education.
She holds a master’s degree in Ethnobotany and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Hawai’I and has been working in non-profit management, education and organizational development for over ten years. Most recently she served as Executive Director of Zenger Farm, an historic farmstead in SE Portland dedicated sustainable agriculture education.
Amy Rose, Marketing and Program Coordinator
Ms. Rose joined the team in 2009 as a Graduate Research Assistant to assist in fundraising efforts and grant preparation. She currently provides the team with research and marketing assistance, project management, and administrative support.
Ms. Rose brings over five years of public relations experience to the Series, having spent the majority of her marketing career in Seattle, Washington. Additionally, she has experience as a freelance journalist and restaurant management consultant.
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, English, Portland State University.
