Part of The Green Voice Speaker Series

Sustainable Business Breakfast

It's easy to say we are going to commit to being a sustainable business, but what does it take to put this commitment into action?

Pittsburgh Earth Day hosted the 9th annual Sustainable Business Breakfast, themed Rethink: How You Think About the Future, at the Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel on Friday, April 21st from 8 AM – 10 AM, as part of The Green Voice Speaker Series. Event attendees enjoyed a continental breakfast while hearing from a panel of local sustainability leaders and experts. 

DISTINGUISHED PANELISTS INCLUDED:

Nicholas Bonarrigo, Carmeuse Americas, Vice President, Legal & Environmental & General Counsel
Rebecca L. Lucore, Covestro, Sustainability and Public Affairs North America
Tishekia Williams, Duquesne Light, Managing Director of External Affairs and Regulatory Law
Leslie Hyde, Koppers, Chief Sustainability Officer
Dave Hazel, Mitsubishi Electric Trane US, LLC, Senior Manager Performance Construction
Michael Barnard, Oxford, Vice President of Development
Richard Piacentini, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, President and CEO
Justine Russo, Pitt Ohio, Director of Sustainability and Business Intelligence
Ray Prushnok, UPMC Health Plan, Executive Director, UPMC Center for Social Impact
Ben Johnson, Wesco International, Counsel, Corporate and Commercial Responsibilities

The panel discussion, moderated by S & B USA Director of Environmental Social Governance and Innovation, Grant Ervin, covered topics like the shift to a circular economy, the future of sustainability, and the responsibility of businesses in the fight against climate change. The Big K Morning Show starring Larry Richert and Marty Griffin broadcasted live from the event. Attendees also enjoyed artwork by Pittsburgh-based artist, Zachary Rutter.

Proudly Presented by Duquesne Light Company, Wesco, UPCM Health Plan, Pitt Ohio, Carmeuse, PNC Bank, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Covestro, Koppers, Giant Eagle, Dollar Bank, BNY Mellon, Alcosan, Oxford Development, Sargent Electric, eLoop, Diehl Automotive, the University of Pittsburgh Center for Sustainable Business, and more!

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Grant Ervin currently serves as the Director of Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) and Innovation for S&B USA, an infrastructure integration firm based in Pittsburgh, Pa that specializes in civil construction solutions in the energy, transportation, ports and waterways and vehicle electrification space. Grant serves as an integrator of activities by working across departments, agencies and sectors to form public policy and market-based solutions. He brings deep experience, intersecting the worlds of environmental, community and economic development and infrastructure policy to create innovative and sustainable solutions for local governments, private sector clients, community development organizations, and state agencies.

Prior to joining S&B USA, Mr. Ervin served as the Chief Resilience Officer and Assistant Director for the Department of City Planning for the City of Pittsburgh.

Nick Bonarrigo, Carmeuse Americas, Vice President, Legal & Environmental & General Counsel

Coming up on 20 years of practicing law, Nick Bonarrigo brings his experience as an Associate, Partner, and Corporate Counsel to Carmeuse. Before starting his current role, he was the Deputy General Counsel at Carmeuse. Nick dedicated his work to advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, drafting corporate contracts, and giving business and legal advice on matters such as corporate development, securities compliance, and governance matters.

Rebecca L. Lucore, Covestro, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, Outreach and Engagement

Rebecca L. Lucore is responsible for devising new models that apply Covestro LLC North America's commitment to sustainable business practices and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) to its social programs, philanthropy, community relations, and sustainability initiatives. She works with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to bring the UNSDGs to Covestro’s U.S. site communities and showcase them as a framework for companies, organizations, cities, and communities interested in integrating sustainable practices into their business and innovation strategies, impacting the Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Prosperity.

Tishekia E. Williams, Esq., Managing Director of External Affairs and Regulatory Law, Duquesne Light Company

Ms. Tishekia Williams is the Managing Director of External Affairs and Regulatory Law at Duquesne Light Company. In this role, Ms. Williams oversees the government relations, regulatory strategy, regulatory performance, and regulatory legal teams. Her expertise includes public utility rate-making, energy efficiency, conservations and demand response, transmission siting, and universal service programs. Prior to joining Duquesne Light, Ms. Williams served as assistant general counsel for Exelon Business Services Corporation. 

Leslie S. Hyde, Senior Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer, Koppers

Leslie S. Hyde is responsible for driving global sustainability initiatives while advancing Kopper’s strategic vision for the future. She also leads the enterprise risk management and product stewardship functions. Leslie joined Koppers in 1999 and most recently served as Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Risk Management for Koppers in 2019. Prior to that she was the Vice President, Risk Management and Deputy General Counsel in 2016-2017. Among her many accomplishments, she developed a Global Enterprise Risk Management System for the company and assumed responsibility for Product Stewardship. 

Dave Hazel, Senior Manager for Performance Construction, Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Air Conditioning, Northeast & Mid-Atlantic

With over 20 years of experience in the HVAC industry, Dave Hazel has specialized in various fields, including High-Performance Heat Pump applications and design. He now educates and develops new construction builders, architects, developers, remodelers, weatherization firms, and HVAC installation contractors along with the passive house and building science communities. Dave is now the Senior Manager for Performance Construction at Mitsubishi Electric.

Michael Barnard, P.E., LEED® AP BD+C, Vice President of Development, Oxford

As Vice President of Development, Michael Barnard is responsible for leadership and execution of all
aspects of a wide variety of development and owner’s representative projects from property due diligence, to concept development and budgeting through procurement and management of design and construction. Michael has been with Oxford since 2006 and is experienced working with diverse clients and teams to oversee the complete development process to deliver exceptional and sustainable working and living environments.

Richard V. Piacentini, President & CEO, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Richard V. Piacentini is the president and CEO of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, a Pittsburgh organization he has guided since 1994. During his tenure, he has transformed Phipps into a green leader through such projects as the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (the only building in the world to meet: Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum, WELL Platinum (first), Zero-Energy, SITES Platinum (first), BREEAM Outstanding (first in US) and Fitwel 3 Stars, as well as two other Zero-Energy buildings.

Justine Russo, Director of Sustainability and Business Intelligence, Pitt Ohio

Justine Russo leads PITT OHIO’s award-winning sustainability programs. Her responsibilities include heading the cross-functional Steering Committee, implementing the company’s carbon calculator, and reporting on actionable sustainability metrics. In 2017, she joined the Board of Directors of Sustainable Pittsburgh. As part of her role at PITT OHIO, Justine also develops data-driven solutions, delivering analysis and tools that leverage information from throughout the PITT OHIO organization, with a concentration on customer, marketing, and sales analytics.

Ray Prushnok, AVP, Program Development & Executive Director, Center for Social Impact at UPMC Health Plan

Ray Prushnok currently leads UPMC Health Plan’s Center for Social Impact, an office charged with implementing programs that meet social needs which impact health, quality, and cost. The Center’s work is currently focused on employment, housing, and collaboration with human services and community-based organizations. Previously, Ray led the proposal, implementation, and operations for UPMC Community HealthChoices, Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Managed Care for dual eligibles and people with long-term services and supports. Prior, he had responsibility for Medicare and D-SNP product strategy, finance, and analytics. 

Ben Johnson, Wesco International, Counsel, Corporate and Commercial Responsibilities

Ben Johnson is Counsel for Wesco International covering a broad scope of corporate and commercial responsibilities, including ESG and sustainability topics. Prior to joining Wesco, Ben supported EMEA debt and equity capital markets deals with Linklates LLP in London, served in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Republic of Moldova and worked with numerous NGOs internationally and in Pittsburgh, including the World Health Organization, Pittsburgh Clean Water Action, and the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council.

Larry Richert and Marty Griffin from KDKA's Big K Morning Show broadcasted live from the event!

Good mornings in Western PA start with the Big K Morning Show starring Larry Richert and Marty Griffin. For over 20 years, Larry Richert has been on the air at KDKA Radio and this September Marty Griffin joined him to share wake-up duties. With 'Breaking News' and 'Making a Difference' segments every morning, this show focuses on the news, information you need, and "Traffic on the 5."

The Big K Morning Show with Larry and Marty is the one show that the newsmakers listen to... and to be in the know, you should too! Weekday mornings from 5:30 to 10 on Pittsburgh's News, Weather and Traffic Station; 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA!

Featured Event Artist: Zachary Rutter

Zachary Rutter is a professional artist and muralist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His work is easily recognizable by his use of bright colors and optimistic imagery that is meant to spread a message of love and positivity. Rutter is most known for his iconic "Sun Heart" which is the symbol of his movement called the "Spread Love Army.” His heart can be seen on murals and sculptures throughout the city of Pittsburgh as well as around the world.

He is the creator of the comic grid system, an art technique that uses recycled materials as a means to transfer images onto various surfaces such as canvas using collaged comics which are a common motif in the background of most of his works. To learn more about this technique and Rutter’s many endeavors visit www.zacharyrutterart.com for more information. 

Produced by The Green Voice Collective