Strategy and Revenue Generation Symposium

Our 2025 playbooks, "Strategy" and "Revenue Generation," help sustainability champions at sports and entertainment organizations adopt and make the case for sustainable operations.

Our one day event at Gillette Stadium on November 5th, 2025, explores these topics in depth with the experts who contributed to these industry resources.

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Location: Cross Insurance Club North West

Registration, Refreshments, & Bites

7:30 am - 8:00 am

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‍Green Sports Alliance Introduction

Jordan Enke, Board Member, Green Sports Alliance

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Kicking off the Symposium: Strategy & Revenue Generation

Evan Walker, Director of Corporate Sustainability, World Wildlife Fund

Mark Sanborn, Administrator (Region 1), Environmental Protection Agency

Michael Kraus, Interim Executive Director, Green Sports Alliance

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Welcome to Gillette Stadium

Jason Stone, VP Stadium & Site Operations, Gillette Stadium / Kraft Sports & Entertainment

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Morning Programming Focus: Strategy Playbook

Securing Internal Support (8:59 - 9:21 am):

‍^{Hear from the following departments at Gillette Stadium on how to secure support from leadership, establish a flow of communication, and tailor reporting to your executive team.}

Jason Stone, VP Stadium & Site OperationsDena Ciampa, Energy, Water, and Waste Administrator
Isabella Oppenheim, Senior Manager of Stadium Operations

Kathryn Scott, Assistant Director of Catering

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Stakeholder Engagement (8:59 - 9:21 am):

‍^{Learn how to Identify and engage key stakeholders in the strategy development process within your organization and your external network.}

Maria Sapienza, Director of Analysis and Planning Operations, Chicago Cubs
Hilary Meyer, Chief Impact & Athlete Engagement Officer, Athletes Unlimited
Amber Greaney, VP of Sustainability, KERAMIDA Inc.

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‍Breakouts: Impact Areas

1) Closing the Food Loop (9:32 - 10:12 am)

‍^{This panel will explore how the sports industry can address the environmental impacts of food packaging and waste while supporting food security for local communities. Speakers will highlight strategies for managing food more sustainably across venue operations, infrastcuture, and community engagement.}

‍Location: Club Lounge Northwest

Danielle Bedasse, VP Community Affairs & Executive Director, Atlanta Braves Foundation
Judd Michael, Professor, Penn State
Dawn Gepfer, Senior Director Facility Operations, Atlanta Braves at Truist Park

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2) Nature Restoration & Preservation (9:32 - 10:12 am)

‍^{Explore innovative sustainability projects that restore and preserve a thriving natural environment. How does nature factor into your sustainability strategy—and which stakeholders are essential for effective collaboration?}

‍Location: R81 West Super Suite

Robyn (Pacini) Corson, Senior Manager Facilities Planning & Sustainability, Boston Red Sox
Michael Prairie, Director of Sustainability and Business Operations, Florida Panthers
Andrew Bohenko, Sustainability Initiatives Manager, Mercedes-Benz Stadium

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3) Reuse Workshop (9:32 - 10:12 am)

^{This session explores practical strategies for implementing reuse at the venue level and scaling those efforts through regional collaboration. Panelists will share case studies and outline key steps—from engaging internal and external stakeholders and securing leadership support to setting meaningful goals and KPIs. Together, they’ll illustrate how reuse can shift consumption culture away from single-use disposables toward a circular, waste-free economy.}

Location: R82 West Super Suite

Erin Simon, VP & Head of Plastic Waste and Business, World Wildlife Fund
Brandon Hamilton, VP of Stadium Operations & Facilities, Kansas City Chiefs
Jocelyn Quarrell, Co-founder, Bold Reuse

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Networking Break (10:12 - 10:27 am)

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Remarks by Meg Baltes of Tradewater (10:27 - 10:32 am)

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FIFA's World Cup 2026 Strategy Development & Implementation (10:35 - 11 am):

‍^{Join us for an in-depth look at FIFA’s energy and emissions strategy, featuring insights from experts across the United States, Mexico, Canada.}

Sarah Hussain, Head of Environment

Luis Pineda, Sr. Manager, Human Rights & Sustainability

Gillian Orris, Sustainability Manager

Sofia Iglesias, Sustainability Supply Chain Coordinator

Monica Ospina, Environmental Manager

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Industry Awareness (11:03 - 11:25 am):

‍^{Learn how to identify upcoming requirements and regulations governing your organization and look for opportunities to tout leadership in the industry}

Jordan Enke, SVP, Stadium Operations, Denver Summit FC

Gina Macllwraith, Associate Director, 3R Sustainability

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Show Results & Leadership (11:28 - 11:50 am):

‍^{Hear from a University that has clearly defined their environmental initiatives and shared their achievements with their fans and community.}

Radha Balani, Expert Partner, Think Beyond

Brian McCullough, Associate Professor, University of Michigan

Sara Soderstrom, Associate Professor, University of Michigan

Allison Hall, Graduated Student, University of Michigan

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Remarks by Michael Martin of r.World (11:53 - 11:58 am)

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LUNCH (12 - 12:55 pm)

^{We are pleased to collaborate with Greener by Default to serve a delicious and creative plant-forward menu for this year’s event. We invite you to join us in reducing our collective carbon footprint through our food choices.}

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‍^{Afternoon Programming Focus: Revenue Generation Playbook}

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Remarks by Mark Winterer of Recover Green Roofs

Remarks by Luke Kuriga of Max-R

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Developing a Partnership Strategic Framework (1:08 - 1:30 pm):

‍^{This session will focus on accessing workplace culture and how to highlight sustainability within your organizational mission, align initiatives with market leadership programs and requirements & evaluate the various functions of each organizational department and engage them in partnership activations. This includes securing cross-department buy-in, including leadership across organizational divisions.}

Sandra Reid, Executive Vice President, Davey Tree

Danielle Doza, Vice President, Sustainability & Environmental Services, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Delivering and Measuring (1:33 - 1:55 pm):

‍^{This session will focus on setting clear and partner-tailored benchmarks for impact and marketing reports.}

Krystle Johnson, Owner, Alder Tree Consulting (Allegiant Stadium)

Grace Brannon, Partnerships Marketing Account Manager, Sporting KC

Dani Stern, Vice President Sustainability, Honeywell

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‍Breakouts: Securing Sponsors & Partners

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1) Mission Aligned Partners (2:02 - 2:42 pm):

‍^{How to identify mission-aligned current and prospective sponsors & the target timeline for what you can accomplish together.}

‍Location: R81 West Super Suite

Riley Nelson, Head of Sustainability, NASCAR

Jeff Caywood, Head of US Communications, ABB

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2) Unlocking Benefits (2:02 - 2:42 pm):

‍^{How to use industry standards, reports, and data to prospect for and attract the right sponsors to unlock benefits.}

Location: R82 West Super Suite

Logan Waddle, Sustainability Program Leader, Indianapolis Motor Speedway / Penske Entertainment

Paul Schuster, NTT Data

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3) Meeting Sponsors' Objectives (2:02 - 2:42 pm):

‍^{How to create a tailored sponsorship package to offer sponsors exposure and brand interaction.}

‍Location: Club Lounge Northwest

Kristin Hanczor, Senior Associate of Venues, WM

Melanie Lee, Senior Director of Ballpark Operations, MLB

Maria Sapienza, Director of Analysis and Planning Operations, Chicago Cubs
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Networking Break (2:42 - 3:02 pm)

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Fan Engagement, Community Impact, & Legacy (3:02 - 3:24 pm):

Learn how to build impactful relationships with local partners and community groups to enhance the team's sustainable practices while creating unique experiences to encourage fan and partner loyalty.

Shamare Holmes, Manager of Community Relations, Connecticut Sun

Erik Johnson, Product Director, Churchill Containers

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Closing Remarks (3:27 - 3:44 pm)

Michael Kraus of Green Sports Alliance

Heather Overman and Billy Toomey of 4Ocean

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Stadium Sustainability Tour (3:46 - 4:31 pm)

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Happy Hour sponsored by 4Ocean (4:31 - 6 pm)

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