Tuesday Lunch Plenary

Presenter(s)

Debbie Reed, IBIFollow
David Laird, Iowa State UniversityFollow
James Gaspard, Biochar NowFollow

Streaming Media

Location

Campus Center Auditorium

Start Date

15-10-2013 11:30 AM

End Date

15-10-2013 12:15 PM

Session Description

In addition to Debbie Reed's presentation video link (above) you may also wish to view:

David Laird's presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugtbvafB_Vo and

James Gaspard's presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56bpYxR49kQ

Bio and Photo

Debbie Reed is a founding member of the International Biochar Initiative (IBI). She is also the President and Director of DRD Associates, providing strategic and policy support for national environmental, energy and agricultural groups on agricultural mitigation strategies for state, federal, and international global climate change policies. Debbie worked for President Bill Clinton at the White House Council on Environmental Quality as the Director of Legislative Affairs and Agricultural Policy for the White House Climate Change Task Force. Prior to that, she was a Senior Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator J. Robert Kerrey (D-NE), where she handled environmental, natural resource/agriculture, and energy issues. In previous positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at several public health oriented institutions, Debbie's work focused on federal agricultural, food safety, and human nutrition policy.

David Laird is a professor in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University. He is author and co-author of 79 refereed journal articles and 13 book chapters. His research interests include the impact of biochar on soil quality, the stability of biochar in soils, and the impact of biochar on greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. James Gaspard II is a Co-Founder of Biochar Now, LLC and serves as EVP Business Development. He is also a Senior Advisor to THiNKGREEN! and was the Founder of Colorado Biochar, LLC. Previously as EVP of Designline USA, Mr. Gaspard spearheaded the company's North American sales initiatives, and as founder of Leading Edge Transport Systems, LLC, he was instrumental in introducing new transportation technologies to North America. Mr. Gaspard has held senior executive roles with AirServ Corporation, Champion Bus, and Neoplan USA. He served for six years on the Board of Directors of Trailways Transportation System, Inc., and is an expert public speaker and published author on creating new paradigms in the transportation industry. While completing his JD and MBA at the University of Texas at Austin, Gaspard served as intern for Chief Justice Thomas Phillips and Justice Raul Gonzalez of the Texas Supreme Court.