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January 29 and 30, 2026

Washington, DC

Back by popular demand, the next Corporate Affiliates workshop on innovation, corporate strategy and sustainability will be held in our nation’s capital. American University is generously providing event space for the workshop at their beautiful campus in Washington, D.C.

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For annual membership information in the Corporate Affiliates series, click here.

The Innovation and Sustainability Corporate Affiliates Workshop

January 29 and 30, 2026 – Washington, D.C.

Thursday, January 29, 8 am-5:15 pm, followed by networking reception

8:00-8:45 am. Networking breakfast.

8:45-9:00 am. Welcome remarks.

9:00-10 am. “Federal Affairs Leaders Update.” Speakers including leading corporate VPs of government affairs and other leading government affairs representatives.

  • Tommy Gardner, Chief Technology Officer at HP Inc. and Senior Fellow on U.S. Council on Competitiveness.
  • Jennifer Wieroniey, Head of U.S. Federal Government Affairs, Michelin.
  • Sarah Gainer, Director of Federal Affairs, Southern Company.

10-11:00 am. “Next Generation Energy.”

  • Bob Stout, Senior Advisor to the Natural Gas Innovation Network (NGIN), and former VP and Head of US Policy at BP America.
  • Julie Pierce, Vice President of Strategy and Planning at Minnesota Power/ALLETE.
  • Cody Amakali, Vice President, Impact and Community Engagement, Reactivate, An Invenergy Company

11:00-11:15 am. Networking break.

11:15 am-12:15. “Big Ideas on Sustainability, Corporate Strategy and Innovation.”

  • Bruce Piasecki, NYT bestselling author and Founder of AHC Group.
  • Ed Saltzberg, Executive Director of the Security and Sustainability Forum and Former Battelle and Dyncorp senior executive.
  • William Throop, author of “Flourishing in the Age of Climate Change” and Professor Emeritus of and former Provost of Green Mountain College.

12:15-1pm. Networking lunch.

1:00-2:00 pm. “Innovation and Sustainability Readout.” The latest on sustainability and innovation trends, and key emerging, issues.

  • Roman Kramarchuk, Head of Future Energy Analytics, Policy Analysis, S&P Global.
  • Nicole Darnall, Eminent Scholar Chair in Sustainability, American University Kogod School of Business.

2:00-3:00 pm. “Corporate Carbon Credit and Climate Tech Innovations.”

  • CEO of ClimeCo Bill Flederbach.
  • Chandler Van Voorhis, Co-Founder and Manager, Acre Investment Management.
  • Chris Carr, President CE2 Strategies.

3:00-3:15 pm. Networking Break.

3:15-4:15pm. “Climate Adaptation & Resilience and Corporate Strategies.”

  • Tara Guelig, The Lightsmith Group, Director of Sustainability & Impact.
  • Stephanie Santell, Founder at (Re)wilding, North American Director for Okhtapus, and former federal climate advisor.

4:15-5:15 pm. “Follow the Money: trends in corporate sustainability investment and strategies.”

  • Yaowen Ma, Principal, Climate Sustainability at Apollo Global Management.
  • Ted Chapman, Managing Director at Hilltop Securities. 

Networking reception end of day 1, 5:15-6:30 pm.

Friday, January 30, 8 am to 12:30 pm.

8am-8:45 am. Networking breakfast.

8:45-9:00 am. Day 2 opening remarks, including day-1 recap.

9:00-10 am. “International Business Development – Prospects and Hurdles and the Innovation, Technology and Sustainability Nexus“

  • Scott Tew, Global Head of Sustainability, Trane Technologies.
  • Rob Bernard, Chief Sustainability Officer, CBRE.

10:00-11 am. “Managing Sustainable Supply Chains.” Speakers include scops 3 carbon and supply chain experts/VPs.

  • Arlene Cotie, VP Global Carbon Assets & Quality, Bayer
  • Steve Polski, CEO, Permanent Farming, Inc.

11:00-11:15 am. Networking break.

11:15 – 12:15. “Communications and Climate – lessons learned on communicating on climate change and sustainability issues internally and externally.“

  • Catharine Ransom, Partner at FGS Global.
  • Jeff Hanratty, Managing Director for National Sustainability Programs, Ducks Unlimited.

12:15-12:30. Closing remarks and adjourn.

*Agenda and speakers subject to change.

Registration transfer policy.  if an individual registrant is subsequently unable to attend a Corporate Affiliates workshop, up to two weeks prior to that event individual registrations can be transferred to the next Corporate Affiliates workshop or credited toward an annual membership.  An individual registration can also be transferred to a colleague from the same company.

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If you would like to suggest topics or speakers, or would like more information,
contact Chris Carr at ccarr@c2-e2.com or Bruce Piasecki at
at brucepiasecki.com.