Darcy Hitchcock   

Darcy Hitchcock is the president of a consulting firm specializing in the implementation of sustainable business practices and co-author of The Business Guide to Sustainability.  She has more than 25 years experience in helping organizations change (total quality management, self-directed work teams), and she applies that experience to moving organizations toward sustainability.

Hitchcock is also a senior associate at the Zero Waste Alliance, where she runs their sustainability assessment service. She created SCORE (Sustainability Competency & Opportunity Rating & Evaluation) in conjunction with Zero Waste Alliance and the International Sustainable Development Foundation. SCORE is a sustainability self-assessment tool that can help an organization determine where it is on the road to sustainability as well as help it identify new opportunities along the way. Organizations that have used the SCORE assessment include companies such as Nike, Doubletree, Progressive Investment Management, and SERA Architects as well as cities such as Santa Monica and Corvallis.

Hitchcock wrote a series of step-by-step how-to guides on such topics as Developing a Business Case for Sustainability, Developing an Implementation Plan, Greening Your Supply Chain, Training Employees on Sustainability (based on The Natural Step), Identifying Your Environmental Impacts, Developing Sustainability Metrics and Targets, Partnering with Vendors, and Making Sense of Sustainability: An Employee Primer.

Hitchcock teaches change management and practical sustainability strategies for government in the University of Oregon's Sustainability Leadership Program. In addition, she co-designed and facilitated the Implementing Sustainability Professional Certificate Program at Portland State University. 

All biography information from www.ecospeakers.com.

Matt Frank 

Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources

During Secretary Frank's first year at the DNR, Secretary Frank has helped Governor Doyle achieve significant conservation milestones, including long term reauthorization and increased funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship fund, passage of the Great Lakes Compact, and enacting a strong mercury rule that will significantly reduce mercury and other hazardous air pollutants in the environment.  Secretary Frank is also leading efforts to address invasive species, non-point pollution of lakes and streams, water conservation and wildlife habitat protection.

Secretary Frank is a strong proponent of Governor Doyle's Energy Independence initiative and action to address climate change.  He was a member of the Governor's Global Warming Task Force, which provides a blueprint for Wisconsin to be a national leader in clean and renewable energy, energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction.  He is a member of the Governor's Energy Independence Cabinet, promoting state-wide energy conservation and the development of clean and renewable energy through state agency collaboration and through local partnerships.

Secretary Frank has also prioritized the ongoing streamlining of DNR regulatory programs, supporting economic growth through administrative efficiency while maintaining high environmental standards.  He has brought a strong customer service perspective to the DNR as well as a strong interest in promoting youth outreach and education for those who will be the next generation of conservation and environmental stewards.

Prior to becoming Secretary at the DNR, Secretary Frank spent 22 years as an Assistant Attorney General at the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  His tenure at DOJ included serving as Administrator of the Division of Legal Services, during which time he oversaw the state's environmental protection defense and enforcement actions in state and federal courts.  He has extensive executive experience in state government, having previously served as Secretary of the Department of Corrections from 2003-2007.