Exploring Innovation in Sustainable Solutions and Practical Applications
September 29, 2025 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Tickets $50, Students $35 | Venue by 4M
Presented by Ann Arbor SPARK.
Dive into the future of sustainability with experts leading the charge in climate tech, green infrastructure, and circular economies. In partnership with the City of Ann Arbor, we’ll also honor Green Business Challenge participants who are walking the walk when it comes to eco-conscious operations. If you care about business and the environment, this is your space.
Sustainable Future Forum 2025 Agenda
Registration Opens
9:00 a.m.
Welcome & Overview
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Charlene Zietsma, Erb Institute, University of Michigan
Keynote
10:00 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
- Beth Gibbons, Washtenaw County Resiliency Office
Vignette: Heat2Power
10:35 a.m. – 10:42 a.m.
- Sean McSherry, Director of Product Development
Heat2Power develops highly efficient thermophotovoltaic panels that extract more electricity from high-temperature energy sources at scales ranging from kilowatts to megawatts.
Finding Balance: Economic Development while Building Sustainable Communities
10:45 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
- Teresa Gillotti, CEDAM & Gillotti Community Consulting, LLC
- Khalil Rahal, DTE Energy
- Jason Minock, Atwell
- Penelope Moskus, LimoTech
Economic development is essential for building strong, vibrant communities—but it must evolve to meet today’s environmental and social challenges. This panel will explore how strategic investments, job creation, and infrastructure development can be aligned with sustainability goals to create lasting impact.
Vignette: THRIVE Collaborative
11:25 a.m. – 11:32 a.m.
- Sara Hammerschmidt, Director of Sustainable Development
THRIVE Collaborative is an Ann Arbor, MI based real estate development, design, building, and consulting firm dedicated to creating the life enhancing communities and cities needed for the 22nd Century, including Veridian at County Farm. Veridian is targeted to be one of the nation’s first mixed-income net zero energy communities.
Vignette: APT Solar
11:35 a.m. – 11:42 a.m.
- Dean Streck, CEO
APT Solar Solutions is redefining the boundaries of solar energy with our pioneering three-dimensional (3D) solar module technology. Engineered to capture the sun’s rays from all directions, our unique vertical solar arrays ensure unparalleled efficiency in solar power generation, regardless of the space available.
Closing the Loop: EV Battery Circularity in Practice
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
- Moderator: Janis Seabolt, Ann Arbor SPARK
- Edgar Faler, Center for Automotive Research
- Dr. Trygve Burchardt, ECO STOR
- Prof. Anna Stefanopoulou, University of Michigan College of Engineering
As EV adoption accelerates, so does the urgency to address what happens to electric vehicle batteries at the end of their road life. This panel explores the real-world potential of EV battery circularity—how we can repurpose, reuse, and recycle batteries to reduce environmental impact and unlock economic value. Experts from academia, industry, and local government will examine the full life cycle of EV batteries, including emissions from sourcing and production, and the latest innovations in safe disassembly and material recovery.
Powering Up for the Green Business Challenge
12:25 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
- DeAndré Calvert, Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations
- Kendall Coulter, Zingerman’s Roadhouse
- William Crane, OrbAid
- Keri McDonald, Wacker Chemical
Ann Arbor’s Green Business Challenge helps local organizations cut costs, reduce carbon footprints, and strengthen community impact through sustainable practices. This panel will bring together past participants, program organizers, and resource providers to share experiences, practical strategies, and tools available to businesses ready to take on the challenge.
Vignette: Sustainability & Innovation Meetup
12:45 p.m. – 12:52 p.m.
- Dunrie Grelling, Scientific Ink
- William Crane, OrbAid
An outcome of last year’s Sustainable Future Forum, these monthly meetups highlight innovations in corporate sustainability and provide networking and community.
Closing Remarks
12:55 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch & Networking
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sustainable Future Forum Speakers
Plus more being announced soon!
Beth Gibbons
Director
Washtenaw County Resiliency Office
Beth Gibbons brings a unique blend of regional passion and national and international experience working on climate resilience. For over fifteen years, Beth has focused her career on how to make climate information usable and useful and building programs and organizations that recognize the unmatched expertise that communities and individuals have about their own risks and resources.
She was an author of the 5th National Climate Assessment, a member of the Federal Advisory Council on Climate Adaptation, and a sustainability commissioner in her beloved hometown of Ypsilanti.
She advocates for a perspective that recognizes the risks communities face, but also pushes leaders to realize that climate change presents opportunities for the region to grow and thrive. In August of 2024 became the Inaugural Director of the Resiliency Office for Washtenaw County, MI.
Keynote: Beth Gibbons
Washtenaw County Resiliency Office
Trygve Burchard
CEO
ECO STOR
Dr. Trygve Burchardt is the CEO of ECO STOR, a leading energy storage company in Europe.
In 4 years, ECO STOR has obtained a 30% market share in Germany for large scale energy storage with projects ranging from 10 MWh to a 750 MWh, which is currently under construction. The company is backed by Brookfield, NIC and Xelio. In 2024 the company built, owns and now operates Germany’s largest BESS installation, a 238 MWh system in Bollingstedt.
In addition, Dr. Burchardt is also the CEO of ECO STOR’s Norwegian entity focusing on 2nd life EV batteries.
Since 2019 the 2nd life business unit has built probably Europe’s largest fleet of installed 2nd life EV batteries in operations in Scandinavia. The business works closely with a number of European OEM to enable the use of EV batteries in energy storage applications.
Prior to founding ECO STOR in 2019 Dr. Burchardt has 20 years of experience from successfully building and selling businesses in the medical, energy and technology space.
Trygve Burchard
ECO STOR
DeAndré Calvert
Senior Analyst, Engagement
City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations
DeAndré J. Calvert grew up in Flint, MI, and built his career in Detroit working as a community leader in various positions, including dispatcher for the Wayne State University Police Department, community engagement manager for Black Male Engagement, community developer in NW Detroit, and director of community relations for Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield. Prior to joining the OSI team, DeAndré worked for the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy helping connect students to non-profits, advocacy organizations, small businesses, and local government to foster engaged learning and community partnerships. DeAndré earned his BA in sociology from Wayne State University. Outside of work, DeAndré enjoys being an amateur outdoorsman and grill master while being the best family man he can be!
DeAndré Calvert
City of Ann Arbor
Kendall Coulter
Front of House Manager & Sustainability Coordinator
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
With over 20 years of management experience, Kendall Coulter, is the Front of House Manager and Sustainability Coordinator at Zingerman’s Roadhouse working on achieving The Roadhouse’s vision to be carbon neutral by 2032. As a mother of 3, with a daughter focused on environmental policy and water conservation, she suddenly found that she had a strong passion for developing and implementing cyclical systems between restaurants and the farmers they source from, as well as working to create a brighter future for her children. She has been a member of the SFBC Leadership Team since January, bringing valuable perspectives and ideas to discussions on sustainability for the restaurants within our community.
Kendall Coulter
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
William Crane
Founder & CEO
OrbAid
William Crane is a dynamic entrepreneur, executive, and recognized thought leader in sustainable business, with a proven track record of launching, scaling, and improving software, services, and hardware products—ranging from disruptive startups to global enterprises like Stellantis and Lear.
Driven by a passion for advancing sustainability through innovation, William founded OrbAid, an AI-assisted sustainability project management platform. OrbAid enables corporate teams to accelerate greener bottom lines by identifying high-impact, cost-saving sustainability projects. The platform is gaining traction, supported by a growing base of customers and advisors—including industry leaders such as Berkshire Hathaway, Toyota, and Schneider Electric.
William is actively involved in ongoing AI and sustainability research with the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute and Erb Institute. He is also the Co-Founder and Host of the Ann Arbor Sustainable Innovation Meet-up, a community that brings together diverse perspectives from business and tech to advance both profit and impact.
William holds a BBA in Supply Chain Management from Western Michigan University, and an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
William Crane
OrbAid
Edgar Faler
Managing Director, Financial Analytics & Industry Strategy
Center for Automotive Research
Edgar Faler is the Managing Director, Financial Analytics and Industry Strategy at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR). Edgar joined CAR in January of 2020, and has more than 25 years of experience as an automotive analyst. This includes 15 years of strategy consulting, M&A transaction advisory, and due diligence. Also, he has 10 years of experience as an equity research analyst, for an NYSE/NASDAQ member firm, and for a boutique investment research firm that served institutional investors.
Edgar Faler
Center for Automotive Research
Teresa Gillotti
Housing Team
Community and Economic Development Association of Michigan
Teresa currently splits her time as a member of the Housing Team at the Community and Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) and consulting work on through Gillotti Community Consulting, LLC and partnering with Double Haul Solutions Both focus on supporting communities and regions with equitable community economic development.
Previously, Teresa worked in local government for more than 15 years in various planning and community and economic development roles, including more than four years as the Director of the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development. She is particularly proud of developing a process for participatory budgeting with local CDBG funds, launching and updating community data tools like the Washtenaw Opportunity Index, and problem solving to support affordable housing development in the region.
Teresa Gillotti
CEDAM & Gillotti Community Consulting, LLC
Dunrie Greiling
Founder and Principal Consultant
Scientific Ink
Dunrie Greiling, Ph.D. is the founder and principal consultant at Scientific Ink, where she helps science- and mission-driven organizations grow and thrive. She brings deep experience in product marketing, customer discovery, and go-to-market strategy to early- and second-stage ventures, especially in sustainability and the life sciences.
Following last year’s Sustainable Future Forum, Dunrie co-founded the Sustainability & Innovation Meetup with William Crane. The group meets monthly in Ann Arbor, connecting professionals who are building a more sustainable future.
Earlier in her career, Dunrie served on the leadership teams of two University of Michigan spinouts: as VP of Marketing at BlueConduit, an AI company helping cities replace lead service lines, and as Chief Product Officer at Court Innovations, the developer of the online dispute resolution platform Matterhorn. She has also taught Entrepreneurial Marketing at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering.
Dunrie holds a Ph.D. in plant ecology from the University of Michigan and is a lifelong Michigander who finds joy in the water, woods, and wildlife of the Great Lakes region—especially the frogs.
Dunrie Greiling
Scientific Ink
Sara Hammerschmidt
Director of Sustainable Development
THRIVE Collaborative
Sara Hammerschmidt is the Director of Sustainable Development at THRIVE Collaborative, where she works at the intersection of design, construction, and buyer relations at Veridian at County Farm, a new net zero community in the heart of Ann Arbor. Sara comes to THRIVE from the Urban Land Institute where she worked as part of the Building Healthy Places Initiative, developing content and programs focused on improving public health, sustainability, and social equity through changes to the built environment. Sara has spoken about how real estate development can improve health outcomes and the role of developers and other land use professionals in improving health and sustainability at several national conferences.
Sara holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.S. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. She has served on the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission since 2019.
Sara Hammerschmidt
THRIVE Collaborative
Keri McDonald
Facilities & Community Relations Manager
Wacker
Employee and Community engagement professional with project leadership and human resource skills across different industries. Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt certified. Passionate about building cultures of diversity and belonging to enable high achieving teams to drive results.
Keri McDonald
Wacker Chemical Corporation
Sean McSherry
Director of Product Development
Heat2Power
Sean McSherry is the Director of Product Development at Heat2Power, an energy and technology start-up based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He leads the design, scale-up, and characterization of Air-Bridge Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Cells, the world’s most efficient solid-state heat engine. During his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, Sean contributed to several ground-breaking discoveries in the field of TPVs, leading to 8+ patents, numerous high-pact journal publications (i.e., Nature, Joule, etc.), and the eventual commercialization of the Air-Bridge TPV Cell.
Sean McSherry
Heat2Power
Penelope Moskus
Principal and Senior Environmental Scientist
LimnoTech
Penelope Moskus is a Principal and Senior Environmental Scientist with 30 years of experience. Penelope co-directs LimnoTech’s corporate water stewardship practice area, helping clients develop strategies, guidance, and tools to reduce water-related risks and supporting clients with water stewardship program implementation. She advises clients on project selection, has evaluated volumetric and complementary benefits of hundreds of potential and funded projects, and annually supports corporate reporting for numerous companies. Penelope has supported a major corporation’s replenishment program for 15+ years, including strategy development; development of replenish guidance; quantification and reporting of replenish benefits; validation, verification, assurance, and advising on internal audits. She also supports global and local NGOs, food and beverage companies, energy providers, high-tech companies, agricultural providers, and supermarket chains. Penelope contributed to a landmark paper on Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) and is one of the authors contributing to an update (VWBA 2.0). She has piloted Water Quality Benefit Accounting (WQBA) and is a Professionally Credentialed Specialist Consultant for the AWS Standard.
Penelope works at LimnoTech’s Corporate Headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Penelope Moskus
LimnoTech
Janis Seabolt
Mobility Specialist
Ann Arbor SPARK
Janis focuses on assisting and fostering growth in mobility companies in the Ann Arbor area. She works with startups to overcome challenges, engage stakeholders, and establish industry connections. Prior to SPARK, she gained experience in the AV/ADAS technology field, including helping launch a German lidar tech company’s US branch. Her background includes public advocacy, marketing, sales, and international events. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
Janis Seabolt
Ann Arbor SPARK
Anna Stefanopoulou
William Clay Ford Professor of Technology, Professor in Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan
Dr. Anna G. Stefanopoulou, the William Clay Ford Professor of Technology, is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. She has mentored 50 PhDs and taught a generation of engineers in control of advanced powertrains through classroom, online, and asynchronous courses. She has been an advisor of new curricula, training needs, and research in modeling, estimation, and control for engines, fuel cells, and batteries, with findings documented in a book, 23 US patents, and 400 publications. She has been recognized by many prestigious awards and is a Fellow of the ASME, IEEE, and SAE. She has served on two US National Academy committees (2015 and 2020) on vehicle fuel economy standards and the transition to electrified powertrains.
Anna Stefanopoulou
University of Michigan
Dean Streck
CEO
APT Solar
Dean Streck is the CEO of APT Solar Solutions, an Ann Arbor–based company pioneering next-generation 3D solar technology. He brings over 25 years of experience leading technology-driven companies, with a proven record of turning complex concepts into market-ready innovations.
At APT Solar Solutions, Dean is spearheading the development of advanced cylindrical solar modules — a three-dimensional design that stacks panels vertically inside a clear tube. This breakthrough makes solar viable in places where traditional flat panels struggle, from smart city infrastructure and IoT sensors to rural and off-grid sites.
Before joining APT Solar Solutions, Dean built and scaled multiple companies serving global leaders in aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, earning recognition for his ability to drive both innovation and execution. Today, he’s channeling that expertise into advancing the future of accessible, sustainable solar power.
Dean Streck
APT Solar
Charlene Zietsma
Erb Institute
School for Environment & Sustainability
Ross School of Business
University of Michigan
Charlene Zietsma is the Max McGraw Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment & Sustainability at the University of Michigan, and Faculty Director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. Professor Zietsma’s award-winning research focuses on social innovation: the individual, organizational and collective efforts to make significant, large-scale change in the context of sustainability and social justice issues. How do businesses and industries move toward more sustainable practices? How do multistakeholder groups negotiate new governance arrangements across values divides? How do entrepreneurs and social movements use emotions and framing to promote new ideas and practices? How do individuals and organizations overcome resistance to change? Professor Zietsma has published and lectured extensively on these topics.
Charlene Zietsma
Erb Institute, University of Michigan
Event Sponsors
