There are substantial benefits for manufacturing companies to develop and invest in sustainability strategies. Operational efficiency, cost and waste reduction, workforce attraction, customer expansion, long term business viability, regulatory compliance and public trust are just some of them. And a commitment to sustainability not only directly impacts businesses but also the communities in which they operate and the world in which we live.
If sustainability is a long-range goal, but the costs seem unsustainable to your company, you’re not alone. You may think it’s unrealistic that your company can achieve sustainability, but you can, and our industry experts will show you how.
Wherever your company is on the sustainability path, join us to hear from local, national, and global manufacturing firm leaders who will help you move forward. Regardless of your company’s size, sector, or grasp of the subject matter, you’ll leave with practical strategies to begin or enhance your own journey to sustainability and positively impact the greater good.
8:15 – 8:35 AM 8:35 – 8:40 AM 8:40 – 9:40 AMCompanies with sustainability policies, processes and practices are more likely to deliver financial value and a long-term positive impact for their people, society and the environment. And while it may seem challenging, it is possible to operate profitably and mindfully at the same time. It’s important for manufacturers to consider the impact their decisions, products and procedures are having on their own bottom line, employees and their families, surrounding communities, the environment and the world for generations to come and to implement a strategy for sustainability success. While instinct may be to say, “I can’t afford to focus on sustainability,” perhaps the real question should be, “Can you afford not to?” Through this roundtable discussion, we’ll dive into the costs versus benefits of investing in a culture of sustainability for manufacturers of any size, in any sector.
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9:40 – 9:50 AM 9:50 – 10:50 AMThe first step to being a sustainable company is to make the corporate-wide commitment to sustainability. From there, develop a sustainability strategy and put it into action. Through this session, we’ll take a look at successful sustainability practices from leading manufacturers with tips on how manufacturers of any size can take steps to being more sustainable businesses and responsible community stewards.
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"As an innovative entrepreneur, I'm continually focused on growth and always looking for the next big idea that will move the company forward.”
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Keith Miller relocated to the United States in 1999 to pursue the American Dream. Keith's strategic vision and forward thinking has ensured the company has experienced unparalleled growth in a fiercely competitive business sector.
Overseeing all company operations from the ground up, Keith's approach and motivational leadership have been key contributors to the company's success. As a self-professed workaholic who wouldn’t sell the business even if he won the lottery, Keith’s driven and resilient personality and strong attention to detail have been instrumental in the company’s performance.
Keith is a print industry expert and continues to be actively involved with strategic collaborations, networking partnerships, staff mentoring and business coaching. In 2016, Keith won the Ernst and Young (EY) Entrepreneur Of The Year Award.
Married with three beautiful daughters, Keith enjoys spending time with his family. He is an avid golfer, Ravens fanatic and enjoys spending time on the water.
Eric R. Coffman, Director of Energy Programs, leads the Maryland Energy Administration’s (MEA) portfolio of energy programs, a broad portfolio of efforts funded by the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF). This dynamic portfolio spans over 20 programs supporting resiliency, solar, wind energy, energy efficiency, energy finance, transportation electrification, infrastructure investment programs, biomass and other relevant topics. Prior to joining MEA, Eric founded and led the Office of Energy and Sustainability (OES) within Montgomery County’s Department of General Services (DGS). In his time with OES, he was responsible for the sustainability and energy performance of County operations as well as policy and regulatory responsibilities. Prior to launching OES, Eric led the County’s climate and energy programs for the Department of Environmental Protection. Eric started his career in manufacturing with Owens Corning as an environmental, health and safety intern, the fourth generation of his family to work in the same facility. Eric is a Certified Public Manager, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Energy Procurement Professional among other qualifications.
Michael Kelleher is the Executive Director of the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP), a non-profit organization funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, the State of Maryland and Industry that is committed to growing and strengthening Maryland manufacturers. He oversees all aspects of the organization and its array of programs and services that help local manufacturers operate more efficiently and grow profitably. Under the direction of Mr. Kelleher, MD MEP has generated $600 million in economic impact for Maryland and created more than 3,000 jobs. Mr. Kelleher has been a business owner and strategic advisor for the manufacturing sector, leading several successful startup and consulting organizations over the last 20 years. He is the father of 5 and is very active in the community, volunteering as part of the Howard County Youth Apprenticeship Program and coaching club lacrosse.
Suzy is Chairman and CEO of Lion Brothers, and is a passionate Entrepreneur, Board Director, Corporate Advisor and Public Sector leader. She brings an expertise in strategy, digital manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship. Over her twenty five + years at Lion, has transitioned Lion from one of America's first embroidery companies into a leading material science and innovation company within the global apparel industry. Prior to joining Lion in 1988, Suzy's early career was in Investment Banking. Suzy currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve of Baltimore, part of the Fifth District Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. She is also Vice Chair of Maryland's Regional Manufacturing Institute, on the Board of Visitors of Towson University, is a Trustee of St. Timothy's School and is a Director of Sustainable Health Enterprises, a social enterprise based in Rwanda. She is a member of Governor Hogan's Regulatory Reform Commission and is recent past Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission, responsible for the business strategy for the State of Maryland. Suzy holds an MBA in Finance and Multinational Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Florida.
Murat has over 24 years of public accounting experience, specializing in managing tax compliance and consulting engagements for large, publicly traded and mid-sized companies in the manufacturing, construction, services, real estate, high-tech and healthcare industries. He leads tax services for all risk management/SOX 404 engagements in the Mid-Atlantic region, and assists clients with proper tax documentation, implementation of controls and testing for SOX 404 consulting engagements.
Murat annually prepares and implements tax-planning strategies for clients. His engagements often include the completion of complex calculations for income tax provisions, such as deferred income taxes for large and publicly traded companies. He also represents clients in dealings with the IRS and resolved audit concerns, and manages and reviews large, consolidated corporate returns with foreign subsidiaries and multiple state filings. Murat also serves as the SE region tax consulting leader for RSM. He is also the co-tax leader for the RSM Consumer Industrial Product Industry leadership team at RSM.
Murat previously served as a senior tax manager at a Big Four firm, where he analyzed merger and acquisition transactions for tax implications and structure agreements, as well as consulted with clients regarding federal and state tax regulations and compliance issues. He also previously managed tax and audit engagements for a regional firm in Maryland, where he closely worked with various federal and state agencies, such as HUD, IRS, State Health Department, Medicaid and Medicare providers, on behalf of clients. In this role, he performed preparations of various personal, corporate and partnership tax returns and analyzed personal and business tax projections. He also performed several due diligence engagements, including preparation of financial reports and feasibility studies.
Elena Kessi is the President for Aquafin, Inc., a Maryland based manufacturer of concrete repair materials and waterproof coatings. Elena has a business degree from the University of Maryland and has been in the construction industry for more than 15 years. Under her leadership the company has grown rapidly and she recently led an initiative to upgrade their manufacturing facility focusing on energy efficiency. She is an active member of various professional industry organizations including the International Concrete Repair Institute where she is serving as the 2021 President.
Deb is Stanley Black & Decker's Vice President and Corporate Responsibility Officer. Deb has global responsibility for improving the environmental performance of our facilities, the safety of our employees, and the sustainability of our operations, while taking the next step to ensuring that our businesses have a broader, positive impact on society. Deb joined Stanley Black & Decker in 2000 and was appointed as a Vice President in 2011. Her current role involves establishing and executing on the company's global EHS and ESG strategy, driving results toward short and long-term targets, maintaining product and EHS compliance, ensuring EHS and Sustainability excellence, and transparency. Prior to joining Stanley Black & Decker, Deb was with Textron as a member of the global EHS organization overseeing environmental liability management. Deb was also a hydrogeologist with the consulting firm, Hart Crowser. Deb graduated Summa Cum Laude with a master's degree from Washington State University and a bachelor's degree from State University of New York at Geneseo.
Cornelius Grupp is CEO & President of C-Care LLC. He has an extensive business education with a Bachelor of Business from University Bocconi Milan, Italy, a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics with focus in renewable energy from Humboldt University Berlin and an MBA from IESE Barcelona. Cornelius occupies several board positions within the CAG Holdings company and has been leading C-Care and the beauty divisions in the US since 2018. He also serves as a member of the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland Board of Directors. He is absolutely focused and committed to driving the growth and footprint of his family business in the US while reducing the environmental footprint of the group.
Director, Maryland Energy Administration
Mary Beth Tung, Ph.D., Esq., Director of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), works to ensure that Maryland's energy portfolio benehts Maryland residents, businesses and local government organizations by improving the effective use of all energy resources available in the state. Dr. Tung oversees nearly 40 energy related programs including grants that beneht low-to-moderate income families, commercial and industrial entities, and residential. These programs also promote expansion of renewable energy and promo- tion of energy efhciency for businesses and nonproht organizations. Dr Tung has guided MEA's initiatives to increase energy-efhciency requirements for state buildings and become hrst-in-the-nation to create energy storage rebates. Maryland also received recognition by the American Council for an Energy Efhcient Economy as the "most improved" in the nation, moving up 3 points in 2019 to #7, and also in 2019, recognized MEA's low and moderate income energy efhciency. Mary Beth earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati, a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Wright State University, a Postdoctoral Associate in pharmacology and virology at the Yale University School of Medicine and received her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She is a member of the Maryland bar.
President, Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland
Dr. Galiaao is President of the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI), a stakeholder-driven organization that promotes manufacturing competitiveness and next-generation advanced manufacturing statewide. With careers in both the community college and in the private entrepreneurial sector he has gained a unique perspective leading to his advocacy of business practices that create value for learners and communities. He served as the hrst Maryland State Manufacturing Coordinator in the Maryland Department Business and Economic Development. Dr. Galiazzo is a member of the Congressman Steny Hoyer's Make it in America Advisory Council, RAMP-MD, The Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore Board of Directors, and the Baltimore County Council Economic Advisory Group. He is a former member of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Commission, serving under both President Bush and President Obama.
Training, Center for Creative Leademhip, Greens6oro, Nonh Carolina, 1989; MasterofScience, Applied Behavioral Science, The Johns Hopkins University 1983, Hopkins Fellow, CommunityandOrganiza- tional Systems, The Johns Hopkins Univemity, 1980; BachelorofAns, Human Services Administration, Antioch Univemity, 1978.
President, Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland
Dr. Galiazzo is President of the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI), a stakeholder-driven organization that promotes manufacturing competitiveness and next-generation advanced manufacturing statewide. With careers in both the community college and in the private entrepreneurial sector he has gained a unique perspective leading to his advocacy of business practices that create value for learners and communities. He served as the first Maryland State Manufacturing Coordinator in the Maryland Department Business and Economic Development. Dr. Galiazzo is a member of the Congressman Steny Hoyer's Make it in America Advisory Council, RAMP-MD, The Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore Board of Directors, and the Baltimore County Council Economic Advisory Group.
He is a former member of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Commission, serving under both President Bush and President Obama.
Education: Doctor of Philosophy, Education Administration, Community College Leadership Program, The Universityof Texas at Austin, 1990• Leadership Training Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1989; Masterof Science, Applied Behavioral Science, The Johns Hopkins University, 1983• Hopkins Fellow, Community and Organiza- tional Systems, The Johns Hopkins University, 1980• Bachelor of Arts, Human Services Administration, Antioch University, 1978.
CEO & Co-Founder, Xometry
Randy is the CEO and co-founder of Xometry, the largest global manufacturing marketplace connecting customers with optimal solutions using patented Al technology. Founded in 2013 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Xometry has raised $193 million from investors including T. Rowe Price, Durable Capital Partners, ArrowMark Partners, Greenspring Associates, Highland Capital Partners and Foundry Group.
Prior to Xometry, Randy co-founded and was Executive Chairman of Cloud Blue, a leading provider of recycling services for electronic equipment. Cloud Blue was acquired by Ingram Micro in 2013. Before Cloud Blue, Randy was the co-founder and co-CEO of OfficeTiger, a global BPO company that would eventually employ 4,500 people. OfficeTiger was acquired by RR Donnelley in 2006.
Randy is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Maryland Tech Council and the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland.
Randy started his career in investment banking at DLJ and real estate private equity at Blackstone. Randy graduated from Princeton University and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He studied at the University of Vienna as a Fulbright Scholar.
