Environmental Studies, UT Dallas

Environmental Studies, Texas A&M

Associate Dean, Sustainability, UT Dallas JSOM

Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies, UT Dallas

Adjunct Faculty, UT Dallas, JSOM

Climate Research and Policy Analyst, Constellation

Finance, SMU Cox School of Business

Jeff Blankman is Director of Sustainability Solutions at Constellation, where he helps clients design and implement sustainability strategies. He previously spent over 25 years at McCormick & Company focusing on sustainable manufacturing, energy efficiency, and resource conservation.

Prahaladh Gopalakrishnan is a Chemical Engineering student and sustainability-focused entrepreneur. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Ethos Sustainability, leads solar car projects, and conducts undergraduate research at the University of North Texas, with a strong focus on clean energy, materials, and STEM mentorship.

Sam Gustafsson is a Senior Associate and sustainability leader at Kirksey Architecture, where he bridges the gap between high-end design and environmental stewardship. Focused on high-performance metrics and LEED certification, Sam crafts resilient spaces that minimize footprints while maximizing human experience, proving that great architecture is inherently green.

Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist specializing in climate modeling and impact assessment. She is a Distinguished Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, known for her work in climate communication, including a TED Talk, PBS series Global Weirding, and the book Saving Us.

Larry Howe is a Senior Technical Leader and volunteer focused on advancing clean energy and climate solutions through market-based approaches. He has extensive experience in product development, procurement, and hardware engineering in the telecom industry, and actively contributes to organizations like Citizens’ Climate Lobby and republicEn to promote policy and sustainability initiatives.

Erin Litzow is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas specializing in environmental, development, and energy economics. Her work focuses on policy analysis, applied econometrics, and sustainability, with research on energy access, rural electrification, and environmental impacts in developing economies.

Amir Omar, a first-generation American, is Mayor of Richardson, Texas, and former City Council member. Known for initiatives like “Tree the Town” and community gardens, he promotes sustainability and civic engagement, leveraging his business and technology experience to lead Richardson with innovation, service, and community development.

Freddie Ortiz is an Environmental Coordinator II for the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. He leads implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP), focusing on air quality monitoring and climate resilience strategies to build a healthier, more sustainable future for all Dallas residents.

Gunnar Schade is an atmospheric chemist with 30+ years of experience studying trace gas fluxes across global environments. He has worked in multiple countries and focuses on air quality impacts of oil and gas industries. As a professor, he teaches atmospheric and environmental science courses at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Mirza Faizan is an aerospace scientist and serial innovator with 47 patents across 18 domains. He developed GRIPS, a system that enhances runway safety by preventing incursions and detecting debris in real time. He also founded DiscoverSTEM, mentoring students to create innovative, real-world solutions.

Srini Gurrapu is an entrepreneur and product leader specializing in security, cloud, and AI-driven solutions. He has led product strategy, built SaaS customer success functions, and now works at IBM. He is also an investor and advisor, focused on innovation, adoption-driven outcomes, and people-centric leadership.

Eric Love focuses on energy efficiency and conservation, helping residential and small commercial clients reduce energy use through practical upgrades. Interested in solar, battery storage, and modern energy management, he guides customers of Truficient Energy Solutions toward solutions balancing comfort, cost savings, and long-term performance in lighting, HVAC, and other systems.

Baldev Nair currently manages IBM's Government Cloud offering. He has a background in Engineering and an MBA (Finance) and has been involved in multiple startups in a range of fields. With decades of experience, he excels in product management, partnerships, and scaling emerging technologies.

Andrea Sethi led Plano International Festival’s Zero Waste Program, achieving 97% landfill diversion in 2024. Andrea drives community green initiatives and promotes reducing, reusing, composting, and recycling for lasting environmental impact.