Summit on Sustainability

• Panel Discussion
• Regional Sustainability Awards

10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions

• Regionalization and Strategic Partnerships: Key to Future-Ready Water Quality & Resource Management
• Grassroots to Blue Skies: Community Action for a Healthier Future
• Trails – From Humble Beginnings in 1994 to the LinkUS Transformation
• Securing Our Energy Future: The Path Forward
• Weathering the Storm: Building Resilience to Climate Impacts

• Keynote Speaker
• Pecha Kucha Presentations

• Foundations for the Future: Rebuilding Sustainable Communities
• House Bill 15 and The Future of Ohio’s Energy Policy
• Leveraging Zoning and TDM Ordinances to Advance Sustainability Goals
• Repair, Reuse, Rethink: Building a More Circular Central Ohio
• BLOOM: Building Landscapes of Opportunity and Mitigation

• Data-Driven Vision: Safer Routes and Trails For All
• Sustainability in the Residential Sector
• Motivating Sustainable Action: Leveraging Local Leadership for Lasting Impacts
• Rooted in Resilience: Aligning Housing, Mobility, and Land Use for Lasting Impact

Lunch Plenary Keynote Speaker: Nicole Silk

As Global Director of Freshwater Outcomes, Nicole is the driving force behind the organization’s response to the dual crisis of biodiversity loss and climate change as they relate to rivers, lakes and wetlands. Specifically, she is galvanizing The Nature Conservancy’s collective momentum to conserve a million kilometers of rivers and 30 million hectares of lakes and wetlands around the world by 2030 by engaging in collaborative partnerships, promoting innovative solutions and supporting policies that shift what is possible. Today, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) supports nearly 500 projects in 36 countries. By 2030, this impact of investments will be doubled.

Prior to her return to TNC in 2022, Nicole was President and CEO of River Network, which she guided through a period of remarkable organizational change, sharpening financial health, internal capacity, and attention to equity and inclusion, in collaboration with staff, board members, supporters and advisors. Before joining River Network, Nicole helped launch and lead the first global water program and a variety of knowledge initiatives at TNC (1994-2013). Nicole has also worked on legal and policy aspects of private lands and wildlife conservation in the U.S. and Costa Rica, and as a professional river guide around the world.

Leadership in Sustainability Award

This award recognizes and individual or entity exemplifying outstanding leadership and innovation in seeking comprehensive sustainability solutions to address key challenges facing the region. 

Previous Recipients:

• 2014: Erin Miller, City of Columbus
• 2015: Mount Carmel Healthy Systems
• 2016: Green Columbus, City of Columbus, Green Funds of The Columbus Foundation and Keep Columbus Beautiful
• 2017: Susan Ashbrook, City of Columbus
• 2018: Ben Kessler, Mayor of the City of Bexley
• 2019: Kurt Keljo, Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District
• 2020: Dr. Gilbert Michaud, Assistant Professor of Practice at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University
• 2021: Jim Schimmer, Franklin County Economic Development and Planning
• 2022: Ty Marsh, SWACO
• 2023: Aryeh Alex, Keep Columbus Beautiful
• 2024: Kristy Hawthorne, Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District

The Collaborative Achievement in Sustainability Award

This award recognizes a group of entities or individuals who have shown effectiveness in producing environmental accomplishments through a collaborative effort.

Previous Recipients:

• 2014: Genoa, Liberty, and Orange Township Board of Trustees
• 2015: Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW)
• 2016: Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureau
• 2017: The Ohio State University Student Sustainability Council
• 2018: The Quarry Project, Franklin County Metro Parks
• 2019: C-Pass (SID, COTA, and MORPC)
• 2020: Regional Sustainability Dashboard
• 2021: RAPID 5
• 2022: Buckeye Lake For Tomorrow & The Buckeye Lake Region Corporation
• 2023: City of Columbus and Impact Community Action
• 2024: Trail Town Working Group

The Leadership in Mobility Award

In memory of William A. “Bill” Lewis, Jr., former Chief Mobility Engineer of the City of Columbus. This award recognizes an individual, either professional or student, exemplifying outstanding work towards creating a world-class multi-modal transportation system for Central Ohio.

Previous Recipients:

• 2015: In memory of Bill Lewis, former Chief Mobility Engineer, City of Columbus
• 2016: JM Rayburn, City of Dublin
• 2017: Julie Walcoff, ODOT
• 2018: Letty Schamp, City of Hilliard
• 2019: Catherine Girves, YAY Bikes
• 2020: Ted Beidler, Franklin County Engineer’s Office
• 2021: Brad Westall, City of Columbus
• 2022: Bertie Fields, Black Girls Do Bike
• 2023: Miguel “Geno” Tucker, Remember US Urban Legends
• 2024: Michael Andrako, Franklin County Engineer’s Office

MORPC’s Summit on Sustainability would not be possible without the generous support of organizations and businesses across Central Ohio. With almost 600 attendees, the Summit on Sustainability is an opportunity for organizations and business across Central Ohio to showcase their support around sustainability initiatives.

View the sponsorship levels in the Summit on Sustainability Sponsorship Brochure

Please contact Amanda McEldowney at amceldowney@morpc.org for questions and to secure your sponsorship for 2025 today.