Mayor Bliss launched the Sustainability Advisory Committee in March of 2018. The purpose of this advisory committee is to engage thought leaders from a diverse set of businesses, non-profits, academia and governmental institutions to ensure that the City of Grand Rapids stays on the cutting edge of sustainability. The committee will focus on helping evaluate and analyzing the City’s Sustainability Plan FY2017 – FY2021 and beginning to lay the foundation for how we will engage the community on our next sustainability plan. The committee will also support the City’s participation in the Zero Cities Project. Participants are selected by the Mayor and the committee meets approximately every other month.
Sustainability Advisory Committee
Elected Officials
Rosalynn Bliss
City of Grand Rapids
Mayor
Joseph Jones
City of Grand Rapids
Commissioner
Kurt Reppart
City of Grand Rapids
Commissioner
City Staff
Sarah Behmlander
City of Grand Rapids
Sustainability Intern
Eric DeLong
City of Grand Rapids
Interim City Manager
Laura Olson
City of Grand Rapids
Acting Assistant to the Mayor
Alison Sutter
City of Grand Rapids
Sustainability Manager
Community Partners
Steve Alsum
The Red Project
Executive Director
Tasha Blackmon
Cherry Health
CEO
Kari Bliss
Padnos
Service Excellence Manager
Rick Chapla
The Right Place
VP, Strategic Initiatives
Peter D'Arienzo
John Ball Zoo
CEO
Sharon Darby
Cascade Engineering
Sr. Manager Environment, Safety and Sustainability
Michael DeWilde
Koeze Business Ethics Initiative- GVSU
Director
Anissa Eddie
KConnect; Malamiah Juice Bar
Associate Director; Owner
Anne Marie Hertl
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
West Michigan Regional Coordinator
Elissa Hillary
Local First
Executive Director
Synia Jordan
Samaria J's
Owner
BriAnne McKee
Habitat for Humanity
Executive Director
Nikos Monoyois
The Rapids
Project Manager and DGRI Board Member
Javier Olvera
Supermercado Mexico, La Tapatia and Mexican Bakery
Owner and President
Sarah Raniero
MEDC
Brownfield Program Analyst, Community & Urban Development
Rick Redetzke
Spectrum Health
VP, Facilities and Real Estate
Michael Systma
Chemical Bank
Senior Vice President
Mark Van Putten
The Wege Foundation
President & CEO
Dr. Michael Vargo
GRCC
Dean for School of Arts and Sciences