2010 Workshop Presenters 

Aur Beck started educating himself about renewable energy at age 15 even before he moved into a camper in his parents driveway to live off grid solar. Aur (pronounced “or”) means light or to enlighten in both Hebrew and Latin.  Aur worked in one of the first United States passive solar schools and is now the chief tech & coordinator of RE Install Network (Green Geek Squad)  for Advanced Energy Solutions where he promotes, installs & educates about renewable energy.  He is the founder and on the board for both the Illinois Renewable Energy Association (www.illinoisrenew.org ) and the Southern Illinois Center for a Sustainable Future (www.sicsf.org), started Oil Addicts Anonymous International (www.IamanOilAddict.org) and is a long time weekly radio host of a the talk show Your Community Spirit (www.YourCommunitySpirit.org) on WDBX 91.1 Carbondale (www.wdbx.org) dealing with environmental/social issues.  Aur resides in Pomona, Ill in the heart of Shawnee National Forest on the family farm in a off the grid solar electric powered home.

Lauren Bennett joined Bluegrass PRIDE in 2008 as program manager for the organization's litter abatement activities. She also coordinates PRIDE's public relations efforts and oversees its volunteer activities. In addition, Lauren is managing PRIDE's Community Energy Advisor activities. She holds a B.A. in Integrated Strategic Communication from the University of Kentucky.

Greg Capillo graduated from Western Kentucky University last spring and is excited to move back to Central Kentucky. He works for the Kentucky Environmental Foundation as the Southeastern Regional Coordinator for the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign. When not organizing for a toxic free future, he enjoys bicycling, reading, and making pies.

Bobby Clark is founder and CEO of The Clark Croup, a publishing/marketing company since 1988.  Bobby is President of the non-profit Kentucky Student Ventures Corporation (KSVC). KSVC has managed three “green” training programs serving 225+ low-income 16-24 year olds. Bobby has served as a Judge at the following: 2009 & 2010 Idea U Statewide Student Business Concept and Business Plan Competition; Appalachian IDEA Network 2010; and the Entrepreneur Leadership Institute.  Bobby has made presentations to the Southeastern Employment and Training Association, the Corporation for Enterprise Development national conference and the Clean & Green Committee of the American Correctional Association.

Elizabeth Crowe is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF), a non-profit community based organization in Berea.  KEF, founded in 1991, is home to the Chemical Weapons Working Group coalition and a hub of grassroots activity and policy advocacy on chemical weapons disposal.  KEF  also advocates clean energy policies and practices, and coordinates public education and policy advocacy to reduce toxic chemical exposures.  Elizabeth also coordinates national chemical policy reform projects.  In addition to her work at KEF, she is active in the League of Women Voters and other local and regional organizations, and is a candidate for the Berea Independent District School Board.

Jason Delambre is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) who works with clients to maximize profitability through effective utilization of natural resources and the development of ground-breaking energy efficiency solutions. Throughout his career, Jason has developed an extensive knowledge of architecture, construction, urban planning, energy, and university sustainability strategies. His undergraduate education was in Architecture and History, and he holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Planning from the University of Cincinnati. During his career, Jason has developed a unique vision of the economic and energy efficiency synergies possible through innovative business, infrastructural, financial, policy, and community organizing strategies.

Rebecca Glasscock grew up on an organic farm in north Alabama. She earned a MSPH in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina, after which she worked for a number of years for Washington state government as an environmentalist. In 1994, she moved to Lexington and entered UK’s graduate program in Geography. Most of her research, including her dissertation, focused on agriculture. She has been a full-time faculty member at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) since 1999. She is currently the faculty advisor, along with Danny Mayer, of BCTC’s community garden – Peace Meal Gardens.

William C. (Bill) Goetz, PhD, has been in the construction industry for over forty years. He is, and remains, an operative mechanic, project estimator, buyer, construction engineer, senior project safety engineer and various other construction industry titles. He loves to build and is not afraid to get his hands dirty.Most recently, he worked with Dr. Robert Fehr, UK College of Agriculture, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, on a Department of Energy grant developing an “Energy Efficient Home” construction-training program; also a part of his additional doctoral studies in adult education, College of Education, University of Kentucky. Currently, Dr. Goetz owns and operates Compliance Technologies, LLC. Founded six years ago, Compliance Tech is a professional vocation and regulatory required educational training service.

Teresa Hendricks is the co-owner of Lucia’s Imports, a Fair Trade Guatemalan wholesale business and Lucia’s World Friendly Boutique, Lexington’s only Fair Trade boutique. In 1989, after graduating from the Patterson School of Diplomacy, She moved to Antigua, Guatemala for 18 years and opened her first retail store. The store’s success was the result of careful selection and development of long term working relationships with local artisans. In 2004, Teresa and her husband, Eduardo, decided to return to her home state of Kentucky. A longing to continue her work with Guatemalan artisans led to the opening of Lucia’s Imports and Lucia’s World Friendly Boutique. The retail store allows her to connect and participate in creating a more just and equitable world through improving the quality of life of artisans and their families around the world.

Lloyd Hockensmith has been with Lowe's for 3 years and has experience in electrical, plumbing and appliances.

Michael Hughes, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Certified Passive House Consultant, co-founded the architecture and urban design firm, the CSC Design Studio, with Richard Levine and Casey Mather with the intent of providing cutting edge sustainability-driven design to the region.  He is one of only two Certified Passive House Consultants in Kentucky, trained by the Passive House Institute US .  He holds two professional degrees in architecture from the University of Kentucky where he graduated top in his class and where he has subsequently taught design studio and seminars.

Justin Jarnigan served in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to joining Lowe’s 5 years ago, and was Department Manager in Appliances prior to his current position as Department Manager of Outside Lawn and Garden.

Toni Kirkner is owner of BlueGrass WindPower, LLC, a Lexington, Kentucky small business founded to provide affordable wind energy generator systems for Kentuckians to harness their local winds and convert them to electricity. Born and raised in northern Kentucky Toni has lived in the Bluegrass for 16 years, including Lexington and two windy rural properties in Jessamine and Bourbon counties. After 20 years of inquiry and her master’s degree in environmental studies, Toni believes that promoting simple, affordable, accessible sustainability to the average American (family) will make the biggest impact on America’s energy crisis and other environmental issues.

Kiley Lane is the Vice President and CFO of kyGREENtv, an online television station for all things green and sustainable across Kentucky.  Her love of documentary film took her to Boulder, Colorado where she received a B.S. in Journalism. Lane has completed two documentaries for Kentucky educational Television through their Fund for Independent Filmmakers and has worked as Senior Producer, editor and on camera talent in both Colorado and Kentucky. In 2009 she started the Lexington Film League and in 2010, she formed her own production company and online television station with her partner, George Parker Jr. www.kygreen.tv  

Richard Larsen lives in Versailles, Kentucky and is the family business owner of Corn Heat for the BlueGrass.  He sells at retail and installs biomass appliances, and has spent most of his career operating seed production plants in the Midwest.

Craig Lee is a pioneer in the renaissance of the hemp industry in Kentucky.  He has worked with actor Woody Harrelson, the Graves family of Lexington, former governor Louie Nunn and many other well established figures in the state.  When the Kentucky industrial hemp bill was signed by then governor Paul Patton in 2001, a commission was formed and Craig was selected to be a member.  Since then he has traveled the US teaching the benefits of industrial hemp, about its development and the associated agricultural practices.

Dave Leonard is the owner of Dave Leonard Consulting Arborist and has over 35 years of tree care experience. He has a B.S. in Forestry from U.K. and holds several professional certifications including:  International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist and The American Society of Consulting Arborists Registered Consulting Arborist. He has received several honors, including becoming a "True Professional" award from the International Society of Arboriculture in 2009 and The Arborist of the Year Award from the Society of Commercial Arboriculture in 2010. He speaks all over the country and has a tree care company and nursery in Lexington. He especially likes solving tree problems for his clients and educating the public about tree care. His favorite tree is the Bur Oak.

Andy McDonald is the Director of the Kentucky Solar Partnership, a project of the non-profit organization Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest, and co-author of “The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide,” published in 2005.  He has a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Systems from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (2003) and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Buffalo (1992).  He is a co-founder of the Kentucky Solar Energy Society.

Mark Miller has worked for Lowe's for 10 years in Commercial Sales and Lumber/Building Materials prior to becoming the Exterior Project Specialist.

Art Mize began to play Bluegrass music in the later 1970s, has studied various traditional forms of fiddling over the years from Irish and Scottish fiddle to traditional Appalachian, Kentucky fiddling in particular.  His current performance range runs from these styles into  Bluegrass, his first love, and into swing jazz.  He gives private music instruction based on the music sensibilities inherent in traditional forms and ear playing.  He has been the proprietor of the Mize Violin Shop, principally involved in the restoration of violin family instruments since 1995.