Utah Presenters

Gary N. Anderson is an attorney and shareholder with Hillyard, Anderson & Olsen, P.C. in Logan, Utah. He is a former member of the Logan City Power Board, the Board of State History, the Salt Palace Fine Arts Advisory Board, Cache Valley Center for the Arts and the Utah Festival Opera Company. He is presently serving as a member of the board of the American West Heritage Center and is the chair of the Cache Valley Regional Council.

Charles Ashurst installed one of Logan's first home solar photovoltaic systems, which has been operating for more than a year. He is an engineer and self-described flaming liberal environmentalist, which he attributes to Pete Seeger, the Smothers Brothers and his upbringing in in Fillmore, Utah.

Chris Atkins is former energy manager for the University of Utah and currently owns an energy consulting business in Cache Valley.

Taun Beddes has lived in Utah most of his life and has been involved in either agriculture or horticulture for most of this time. He received his education from Utah State University and was, until recently, employed at a local garden center for the last 10 years. He is currently the USU Extension Cache County horticulture agent and is involved in many projects including the new community garden.

Todd Beutler has worked in public transit for 14 years, serving as General Manager of the Cache Valley Transit District since 2005. He also serves as President of URSTA (Utah Urban and Rural Specialized Transportation Association) and is Utah's State Delegate to the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA).Todd is a Cache Valley native, holds a degree in Human Resource Management from USU, and is committed to maintaining the quality of life we in Cache Valley enjoy so much.

Lynn Brenchley, Area Seventy, former Mission President in Australia, retired ICON executive. Resident of Providence and Cache Valley Native.

Elise Brown is currently Coordinator for the Utah Geological Survey's Statewide Energy Program.

Ronda Callister: Organizational Behavior Professor in the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. Relief Society President in the Dry Canyon Ward and the mother of four daughters.

Mark Danenhauer is the Utah Rivers Council's River Solutions Coordinator. Under the Solutions program, Mark leads our work on water conservation, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and in-stream flow protection. Before joining the Council staff in 2005, he spent three years working for the Peace Corps in Madagascar, and has also worked for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake.

Craig Denton is Professor of Communication at the University of Utah, where he also directs the Program in Documentary Studies. A documentary photographer and writer, Prof. Denton's work looks at the intersection of public policy and community's sense of place, a crossroads that often is confrontational and painted with lines marking opposing ideologies. He is the author of Bear River: Last Chance to Change Course and People of the West Desert: Finding Common Ground, among other books. His current project is Hidden Water, a documentary that looks at the current and historical uses of surface water in Salt Lake County.

Michael Dietz is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable Living at Utah State University. He is the director of the Utah House in Kaysville, UT, which is a demonstration facility for alternative building techniques and products.

Orrin Farnsworth is owner of AEE Solar, Utah's largest solar energy business, and President of the Utah Solar Energy Association.

Jeff Gilbert is Transportation Planner with the Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization, responsible for comprehensive transportation planning for the Logan Urbanized Area. His past experience includes nine years with the Bear River Association of Governments (BRAG) -- four as Community Development Director. Jeff holds a B.S. in Botany and Computer Information Systems from Weber State University and a Masters in Town and Regional Planning from Utah State University.

Paul Hansen, I have spent my life in Logan - with the exception of Missionary Service in the North Western States early 60's, and military service in the late 60's. I married Linda Robbins '69. One daughter (Laura) and one son (Bryce). I have worked at the Logan Bishops Storehouse since 1971.

Pete and Jennifer Hynes have created Rock Hill Creamery, where they produce artisan cheeses. This process involves milking the Brown Swiss that roam on their farm, processing the milk for raw milk cheese that has to be aged before selling. The whey by-product feeds into food supply for the young steers that Pete raises. The enterprise has involved learning about internet selling and packaging.

Joe Jackson is currently serving as the LDS Church regional welfare specialist for the Cache Valley South Region. He has worked in commercial and international banking positions for 45 years. He retired eight years ago as the Managing Director of Claims and Recoveries, Asset Management Division, of the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), the official export Agency of the U. S. Government in Washington, DC. During his international banking career, he traveled extensively in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and in Latin America. He has served as the Regional Welfare Specialist for the Washington, DC area (covering Maryland, Washington, DC, parts of Virginia, and parts of West Virginia). He served as the bishop of the Carrollton Ward in the Silver Spring, Maryland stake from 1992 to 1997.

He has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He has giving talks and seminars about debt reduction and family money management to Church members for over 35 years.

Twenty-five years means different things to different people. To Jeff Keller it symbolizes the dedication he has given to the most efficient form of transportation, the bicycle. Jeff has spent those 25 years promoting a peaceful, sustainable community in Logan. An idealistic artist with too many things on his mind, he always surprises us with his latest ideas. Like hangers made out of bicycle rims or a giant rubber ball to make people think about air pollution.

Ms. Malik is Conservation Coordinator for the City of Logan, where she is currently working on an energy conservation program focusing on energy management, alternative energy, and related issues. Originally from Salt Lake City, she holds a BS in Environmental Studies and an MS in Environmental and Natural Resource Sociology, both from Utah State University.

Bill Masslich is a science educator and small-scale organic farmer. He is currently in his twelfth year of teaching at Cache Valley Learning Center in Logan, Utah. During his summers and spare time he, along with his wife Penny Trinca own and operate First Frost Farm on five acres of land in Nibley, Utah. First Frost Farm received its organic certification in 2002 from the State of Utah. Produce from the farm is sold mostly at local farmers markets and restaurants in Northern Utah.

Ellie Leydsman McGinty is a graduate student and research assistant in USU's Bioregional Planning Program, Ms. McGinty has worked with the Las Vegas Bureau of Land Management and the Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization. She is currently employed with the Remote Sensing/GIS Laboratory at Utah State University.

Cheryl Moore has been a resistant of Cache Valley for 18 years. She is the mother of 10 children - 7 boys and 3 girls. Currently Cheryl teaches at the America Heritage School of Cache Valley, where she teaches the Discovery Class (grades 4-7). She has been a presenter at the BYU Sewing and Needlecraft Conference, USU Clothing Conference and at the National Convention for Kids Can Sew. In the last few years she has become passionate about "preparedness" and "home storage".

Shannon Moore is a USU student in the college of natural resouces with a focus on ecological restoration work. She recently participated in an Engineers Without Borders service project in Africa.

David Olive is manager of Shoshone Energy.

Bryan Palmer Craft Farm first started business in 1990 making twig wreaths. In 1993 flowers were grown for dried flower wreaths and arrangements. In 1996 cut flowers were added to the business. In 2007 produce, herbs and pollen was added and in 2008 CSA shares were sold. Selling arugula to zucchini, amaranths to zinnias, dried flowers, and wreaths in the wholesale trade and also at Utah’s booming farmers markets. The farm has blossomed from ½ acre in floriculture to 4 acres of produce and floriculture and growing every year.

Craig Petersen is Director of Office of Analysis, Assessment, and Accreditation and Professor of Economics at USU. Member of Cache County Council, Cache Valley Regional Council, and Utah Air Quality Board. PhD Stanford University.

Tom Proffitt I have had a life long passion for horticulture and things that grow from the ground. In 1980, I became certified in ornamental horticulture. From there, I joined a partner in a residential landscape company, had a solo career in custom landscape pruning. Became a permanent resident of Logan in 1984. Home food production has been part of my lifestyle ever since. Joined the Cache Valley Gardeners Market, a function of the Sustainable Agricultural Association of the Bear River Area, in 2002. I've been chairman of the CVGM advisory board since 2003.

V. PHILIP RASMUSSEN, JR. is the director of the Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Center, Assistant Director, Utah State Agricultural Experiment Station, Assistant Director, Utah State University Extension, Professor and NASA Geospatial Extension Specialist 1996–1999 Professor and Head Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology Department. Utah State University, 1992–1996 Professor and Head, Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Department; State Extension Sustainable Agriculture Specialist. Utah State University.

Dr. Jennifer Reeve is initiating research on organic farming at USU. Dr Reeve started as an Assistant Professor in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture in August 2007. Dr Reeve has a PhD from the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington, State University. Dr Reeves’ research has focused on the interaction between soils, nitrogen sources and plant responses under organic growth conditions. Wheat, strawberries and grapes are some of the plant species that have been studied. At USU her field work includes studies on organic cropping of maize and squashes. Graduate student Jeffrey Endelman [j.endelman@aggiemail.usu.edu] is participating in these studies having left the field of molecular biology for growing plants better.

Carlos B Roundy was raised and educated in Logan, Utah, receiving a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering at USU and received a Ph.D. from Stanford University in Electrical Engineering. He worked for one year in Brazil at Institute for Space Research. In 1978 he founded Spiricon Inc. a Logan electronics firm specializing in pyroelectric detector arrays and manufacturing instruments to measure laser beams. Carlos spends his time in volunteer work to help Latinos and Latino youth integrate into Cache Valley society, as well as helping to institute the Community Garden at the Catholic Church in Hyde Park.

Pete Scroff and Jennifer Hines founded the Rockhill Creamery on a small farm on a rocky hillside in Richmond, Utah. The high quality milk is provided by their five Brown Swiss cows. Months of loving care are given to each wheel of cheese as it resides in the aging cave. Rockhill Creamery cheeses are hand-crafted using traditional techniques, sustainable farming, and all-natural rearing of their cows.

Caroline Shugart has seen firsthand the results of ignoring or delaying wellness concerns in personal lives. The current obesity crisis with America's children, the lack of physical activity in the lives of many, and the negative impacts of personal decisions that also affect our environment are serious concerns. Caroline is a Registered Dietitian and a Registered Nurse, and has worked with employee and community wellness programs to reduce health care costs while nurturing personal fitness. Currently, Caroline is the Employee Wellness Coordinator for Utah State University. She has a MS in nutrition and a MBA.

Kristen Thompson grew up Logan and attended Utah State University. She has a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a Master's of Second Language Teaching. She has worked and studied in Jerusalem, Costa Rica, China, Korea, and Thailand. She is president of A Soldier's Peace Foundation and of the Cache Valley chapter of Mormon's for Peace and Social Justice. She is a board member of the Sparrow Alliance. She has two brilliant, adorable children, Peter and Eliza.

Marshall Thompson recieved his bachelors in journalism from Utah State University and is completing a master's from Ohio University. He is an Iraq war veteran who protested the war in 2006 by walking the length of Utah. Marshall also served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Judy Torres lived on a New Mexico farm and completed high school in Santa Fe. She attended New Mexico State University where she earned a BA and MA in Speech & Language Pathology. She subsequently worked in a variety of settings in that profession including a preschool's for children with disabilities, public schools, hospitals, private practice, and as a consultant. She recently retired from teaching and is enjoying pursuing creative endeavors and volunteer work in the community, including helping to institute the Cache Valley Community Garden.

Jairo A Hernandez Velasquez I am an Undergraduate Sophomore in Management Information Systems. I am serving as chair of the Student Engagement Committee of the USU Sustainability Council and also VP in the Recycling/ECOS club. I am very enthusiastic about sustainability. It is one of my personal goals to see the whole student body embrace sustainable alternatives. I am specially interested in the joint effort of students of every college to further improve a sustainable future.

Sridhar Viamajala is a key researcher in the USU Biofuels team starting his appointment in January 2007 to assist with developing commercially viable biofuel technologies. After earning an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagphur, India, Viamajala moved to the United States to complete a doctorate at Washington State University in chemical engineering. Dr. Viamajala continued his research by working at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Bioenergy Center in Golden, Colo., where he researched conversion of biomass to ethanol and the production of biodiesel. He will discuss the efforts at USU to use algae to generate alternative fuels.

Richard Wagstaff runs a large stall at the Farmers Market where a variety of products are sold, from plant starts in the early spring to vegetables and fruits in the later seasons. Richard found his niche through taking Extension classes in Horticulture. He works with the soils, researches different seed sources and growing methods to generate the produce that is welcomed by those at the Farmers Market.

Jesse Walker is a PhD student in the Biology department at Utah State University, focusing on animal community ecology. He received a bachelors degree in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley before attending graduate school at USU. Jesse is the coordinator for the Facebook group "LDS Earth Stewardship" and has a strong interest in the interface of science and religion, especially biology and the LDS church. If Jesse wasn't an ecologist, he would be a financial planner: he manages a personal finance web site, InvestorDIY.com, that is dedicated to simple explanations of investing and personal finance concepts. Even with the income of a graduate student, Jesse and his wife live very well on very little.

Carolyn Washburn, Assistant Professor, is a Family Consumer Science Agent, for Utah State University Extension in Washington County. Carolyn provides education in Food Safety and Nutrition, Financial Management, Family Relations and Emergency Preparedness. Carolyn taught school and served on the local school board in Sevier County. She has served on the Southern Utah University Institutional Council and with the Utah Girl's State program. Her most cherished award is the "American's Promise" presented to her by Colin Powell in 1997.

Jeff White has spent a career in the power industry, and is currently Director of Logan City Light & Power

Randy Wirth and his wife Sally Sears established Caffe Ibis in the historic district of downtown Logan, some thirty years ago. It was spawned by the couple's desire to provide new organic alternatives in food and cooking. The Caffe Ibis has a genuine belief in green, sustainable, environmental, and socially responsible business practices has lead them to develop the most complete offering of "Triple certified" coffees in the country. more

Tammy Zeitlin is a graduate student in the Interior Design program at Utah State University, and has worked for GSBS Architects, a commercial firm in Salt Lake City. In both of these arenas Tammy has experience researching and applying green design principles.