Environmental Studies Speakers Series
Fall 2008 Schedule
All talks are 12:20 to 1:10 on Fridays in Roon Lecture Hall (Room 247) of the Science Center. Everyone is
welcome and refreshments will be served.
Sept 5
“Green from the Ground Up: Short and Long Term Perspectives on Eco-Innovation”
Patrick Govang, President, e2e Materials, LLC
Sept 12
“Development and the Urban Environment: Impacts and Issues on the Buffalo Niagara Medical
Campus”
Mark McGovern, Project Manager, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
AU Class of 2003
Sept 19
“Incorporating Innovative Storm water Management in an Impervious World”
Andy Hoak, Hydrogeologist / Environmental Engineer, Ruggiano Engineering, Inc.,
AU Class of 1993
Sept 26
“Sun, Sea and Cetaceans: Studying Bottlenose Dolphin Habitat use in an Offshore Atoll Ecosystem,
Belize”
Emma Grigg, Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Alfred University
Oct 3
“Wind Resource Modeling”
Bryon Phelps, Modeling Specialist, AWS Truewind, LLC, AU Class of 2005
*** No seminar Oct 10 due to Mid-Semester Break ***
Oct 17
“The Triple Top Line – Creating Abundance Through Green Building”
Tom Paladino, President, Paladino & Company
Oct 24
“Perennial Vegetable Gardening as a Means of Diversifying and Enhancing Production in
Sustainable Agriculture Systems”
Chris Shaw Sanford, Market Garden Manager at the Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems
Education and Research at Slippery Rock University,
AU Class of 2004
Oct 31
"From Trenton to Timbuktu: Solar Electric Systems On and Off the Grid"
Brad Berwald, Sr. Sales Engineer, Morningstar Corporation, AU Class of 2000
Nov 7
“Sustainability in Today’s Business Environment”
Laura Perisse, Senior Site Operations Manager, Groundwater and Environmental Services,
AU Class of 1981
Nov 14
“Ann’s House: Achieving LEED certification at Alfred’s Newest Student Housing”
Trevor Harrison, LEED AP, Managing Partner of HBT Architects
Scott Hemenway, LEED AP, Project Architect for Ann’s House
Nov 21
“Endangered Species Act and the Federally Threatened Plant, Dwarf-flowered Heartleaf (Hexastylis
naniflora)”
Tim Bassette, Environmental Biologist, Environmental Program Consultant in the Natural Environment
Unit-Biological Surveys Group of the North Carolina Department of Transportation in Raleigh, NC,
AU Class of 1991
Information about the Speakers
Printed on recycled paper
Patrick Govang:
Patrick J. Govang is president and co-founder of e2e Materials, LLC, an award-winning clean technology start-up company
in Ithaca, New York that produces petroleum-free, biodegradable composites that are stronger, lighter, and cheaper than
composites that are filling landfills today. (www.e2ematerials.com)
Founded in 2006, this spin-out company from Cornell University offers biocomposites based on the discoveries of the
Netravali Research Group. The company’s composite material platform can replace formaldehyde-laden particleboard,
plywood and other wood products to be used in office furniture, kitchen cabinetry, building products and beyond. Its first
product, skateboards, are produced and sold via its subsidiary, Comet Skateboards, which relocated from California in
October of 2007. These fully biodegradable materials are made from annually renewable resources including soy protein
(flour) and natural fibers such as bamboo, jute, flax and kenaf. Patrick’s work and that of his company have been covered by
MSNBC, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, Fuel TV, The Sundance Channel, The Hallmark Channel, Inc.
Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Post Standard, CNY Business Exchange Magazine, and various wire services and
local media. In 2007, his company won the $100K Essential Connections Emerging Business Contest and the Cornell
University Johnson School of Management Business Idea Competition. Patrick has lectured on Entrepreneurship,
Sustainability and the concept of Regionally Integrated Manufacturing at Cornell University, Syracuse University, Rochester
Institute of Technology and various other educational institutions and national conferences.
Prior to founding e2e, Patrick was a director of the Cornell Center for Materials Research, which leveraged more than $80M
in annual materials research funding to develop research collaborations with large corporations and supports New York State
small businesses through an innovative outreach model.
With more than 20 years of leadership experience in product development, purchasing, and quality/manufacturing
management for the automotive industry, Patrick has also worked with Deloitte Consulting and New York’s Alliance for
Manufacturing and Technology as a lead consultant in corporate strategic planning, lean manufacturing, and Chapter 11
turnarounds. In 1999, he founded ProjectPoint.com, a start-up company focused on collaborative project management in the
automotive industry. (pat@e2ematerials.com)
Mark McGovern:
Mark McGovern is 2003 Alfred University graduate with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. He is also a graduate of the
University at Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning where he received a Masters Degree in Urban Planning. While at
UB, he was a Graduate Assistant at the University's Regional Institute analyzing demographic data and providing GIS
support for the Regional Knowledge Network. In 2006, he joined the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, a small non-profit
agency acting on behalf of its nine member organizations to create a world-class medical campus in downtown Buffalo. In
this capacity, Mark has administered over $20 million in projects ranging from building redevelopment and property
acquisition to streetscape design. He is currently overseeing a Comprehensive Transportation and Traffic Plan designed to
lessen the environmental impact of future development on the medical campus through Transportation Demand Management,
encouraging alternative modes of transport and the promotion of transit usage. He is a member of the Mayor's Pedestrian and
Bicycle Advisory Board and he is active in reforestation efforts in the City of Buffalo. (mmcgovern@bnmc.org)
Andy Hoak:
Andy Hoak has over 13 years of experience in hydrogeologic consulting and environmental engineering, including
groundwater development studies, water resource evaluations, geophysical exploration and aquifer analysis. After graduating
with degrees in Geology and Environmental Studies from Alfred he received an M.S. in Hydrogeology from Clemson
University in 1995 and has obtained licensure as a Professional Geologist in New Hampshire and Professional Engineer in
Vermont. Currently he is a Project Manager with Ruggiano Engineering, Inc. in St. Albans, Vermont overseeing the design
and construction of water supply systems, wastewater treatment facilities and storm water management controls. He lives in
Jeffersonville, VT with his wife Daria (Glogoza '94) and children Augustus and Evelyn. (andy@shrugg.com)
Emma Grigg:
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Emma Grigg earned her doctoral degree in Ecology at the University of California, Davis, and is currently a visiting assistant
professor in Environmental Studies here at Alfred University. Her primary research interest is the use of GIS and spatial
analyses to study factors influencing movement, behavior, and habitat selection in mammals, particularly in the marine
environment. Her dissertation research involved assessing environmental influences on habitat use by a large marine
predator, in an environment subject to high levels of anthropogenic disturbance. She has worked on environmental impact
studies involving marine mammals in coastal waters, primarily in and around the San Francisco Bay, California. Dr. Grigg
also has a Masters degree in animal behavior and physiology from San Francisco State University, where the subject of her
thesis research was bottlenose dolphin ecology off the coast of Belize, Central America. (grigge@alfred.edu)
Bryon Phelps:
Bryon Phelps has been working as a Modeling Specialist at AWS Truewind LLC. in Albany, NY, for the past 2 years. In
2005 he received his B.A. here at Alfred from the Environmental Studies program then went on to get his Masters degree in
GIS for Development and Environment at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. His Master's thesis focused on the
relationship of the built environment versus diversity and the ability to measure the relationships using remotely-sensed data.
(Bphelps@awstruewind.com)
Tom Paladino:
A nationally recognized leader in the green building industry, Tom is the founder and president of Paladino & Company, a
visionary green building consulting firm. Drawing upon his technical expertise in both architecture and engineering, Tom has
brought innovative ideas, building science knowledge and perspective, and a proven process for design integration to the
more than 300 green and LEED projects he has consulted on. From concept and system design assistance to cost/benefit
evaluation and analysis, Tom contributes inspiration, expertise, and implementation-focused guidance to each project team
and building owner he works with.
While many approaches to green building focus on scarcity – degradation of resources and diminished opportunities – the
Triple Top Line approach to green building provides an alternate method centered on the concept of abundance, and how to
make the most of available resources, whether they be financial, human or environmental.
An important source of expanding green building is creating a point of view or perspective that informs, inspires and directs
our creativity. One such distinction, frequently used is the triple bottom line. While the concept of a bottom line is a useful
point of departure, it is actually quite hard to apply. The bottom line is that it is an accounting term, it describes what is left
after you consider all the additions and deductions. By its definition it drives scarcity thinking and statements like" I want to
build green, but it costs too much".
What if we focus on the top line, the upside, the win-win? That would force the discussion towards the preferred outcome –
an abundance of human, environmental and financial capital.
To measure success we would need analytics that were authentic and aligned with abundance. And to follow through we
would need attitude – a conviction to do the best job we can with what we have. (tomp@paladinoandco.com)
Chris Sanford:
Chris Sanford grew up in coastal Maine and is a 2004 graduate of Alfred University with a double-major in Environmental
Studies and Fine Art. She has experience in many aspects of farming including growing and selling her own food, working
in the gardens of an herbal apothecary, landscaping and garden consultation, interning at a goat farm/maple syrup operation
and installing a few hoop-house style greenhouses (including the one in Alfred). She moved to Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
in May of 2007 to run the market garden at the Macoskey Center on Slippery Rock University's campus before starting
classes in the fall of 2007 as a graduate student in the Master of Science in Sustainable Systems program.
(chrishaw@care2.com)
Brad Berwald:
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Brad Berwald graduated from Alfred University in December of 2000 with a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MBA. He
began in technical sales, first in the semiconductor industry and then the photovoltaic industry as an applications and sales
engineer for Morningstar Corp. where he is currently employed. Morningstar manufactures power electronics focusing on
solar charge controllers and inverters to provide AC and DC power in remote locations.
Brad spends part of his time supporting Morningstar's industrial sales channels in the US and the other half providing training
and system design assistance to customers around the globe. He is especially focused on work in the developing world.
(bberwald@morningstarcorp.com)
Laura Perisse:
Laura Perisse has 20+ years of environmental, health and safety consulting related experience with petroleum and industrial
clients, including operational and business development experience focused on sustainable solutions in restoring efficiency
to essential resources; air, land, water, people and facilities. Laura received her MS degree in geology/hydrogeology from
Wright University and a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Alfred University. (Lperisse@gesonline.com)
Trevor Harrison:
Trevor Harrison is a 1990 graduate of the University of Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. He founded HBT
Architects in 2000 and the regional firm has received awards for both design quality and document quality. HBT Architects
currently employs 14 people and growing with projects throughout the east coast area. Trevor is involved with Anne’s
house at AU and he has also worked on Allen and on Kanakadea Halls on our campus. (tharrison@hbtarchitects.com)
Scott Hemenway:
Scott Hemenway earned his Associate degree in Applied Science from the State University of New York at Alfred and is a
registered architect with the State of New York. He has 25 years of experience in architectural and project programming,
planning, design, production, and project administration for a wide range of projects. Scott was recently the project architect
for the Linden Oaks Office Park. This project consists of twelve office buildings, totaling 659,000 square feet and housing
more than sixty tenants. Scott extensively involved with coordinating and implementing site development, building shell,
and tenant improvement work at the park.
Tim Bassette:
Tim Bassette earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the environmental studies and biology programs at Alfred University in
1991 and a Master of Science in Environmental Science with dual concentrations in hazardous materials and water resources
from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University-Bloomington in 1996. Between undergraduate
and graduate school (1991-1993), Tim worked as an environmental chemist with Recra Environmental, Inc. in suburban
Buffalo, NY. While in graduate school, he conducted Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments as an intern with
Environmental Audits, Inc., Indianapolis, IN. After graduate school, he was employed in 1997-1998 with Booz Allen &
Hamilton, Inc., Arlington, VA as an environmental regulatory consultant on US Environmental Protection Agency's RCRA,
Superfund & EPCRA telephone call center. Tim left the call center to work his "dream job" as an environmental biologist
with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), in Raleigh, NC from 1998 to 2003 and again in 2005
through the present. Also, from 2003 to 2005 he worked with the transportation consulting firm, H.W. Lochner, Inc., also in
Raleigh, NC. Tim’s current responsibilities with the NCDOT include conducting field surveys of federally protected plant
and animal species and preparing biological assessments under the Endangered Species Act. Tim currently resides in
Raleigh, NC. (tpbassette@ncdot.gov)
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