The Expert Panel is a critical component of the Youth Policy Summit experience. At every Summit, The Keystone Center invites 5-10 professionals who represent a balanced panel of public, private, and advocacy professionals attend a half-day facilitated discussion with students and other panelists related to the issue at hand.

Panelists will share the real world views, expertise and challenges facing their organizations and provide topic knowledge and insight into how stakeholders work together to accomplish goals. Panelists are also invited to observe mediation sessions and be available for students both prior to and throughout the Summit week for questions. Experts are also strongly encouraged to share their professional path with students, as many pursue careers and fields of study related to their YPS experience. 

Expert panelists come from local government offices and advocacy groups as well as corporate sponsors and related business interests. For more information on participating as an expert panelist, please contact us

Expert HIGHLIGHT: Emily Finnell

Senior Environmental Quality Analyst for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Office of the Great Lakes

Emily has worked for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of the Great Lakes for over 10 years.  Her work has primarily focused on coordinating and implementing Great Lakes protection and restoration programs and initiatives with various federal, state and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations.  Most recently she was the Acting Program Chief for the Michigan Coastal Management Program.  She works on as the Great Lakes policy issues related to coastal management, restoration, and water use management to support the economic, environmental, and social health of coastal communities and wise management of Great Lakes water resources.  She has been coordinating the state of Michigan Great Lakes involvement in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and fostering collaboration among individuals and organizations to accomplish Michigan’s Great Lakes protection and management priorities. She also oversees and coordinates implementation of the Office of the Great Lakes communication and outreach functions on Great Lakes issues and contributes to the implementation of Michigan’s Aquatic Nuisance Species State Management Plan.  She recently participated as a Fellow in the Environmental and Natural Resources Governance Fellows Program at Michigan State University and is a graduate of the 2009-2010 Department of Environmental Quality and Natural Resource Leadership Academy.  She has a BS in Botany and Plant Pathology/Environmental Biology from Michigan State University.

In January, two Michigan YPS alums presented their recommendations for gray water treatment and reuse to Emily and other staff members at the Office of the Great Lakes. Emily commented, "I had a few staff come up to me afterward and comment on [the students'] excellent presentation skills and their admiration for [the students] participation in the Youth Policy Summit program."

2011 Expert Panelists

Thank you to all of our expert panelists who participated in a 2011 Youth Policy Summit.

Advocacy & Academia

Kirk Barrett

Director, Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University

Jesse Dean

Engineer, National Renewable Energy Lab

Susan Harley

Michigan Policy Director, Clean Water Action

Mike Kensler

Director, Office of Sustainability and Campus Sustainability Operations, Auburn University

Gary Lindstrom

The Sierra Club

Cindy Lowry

Executive Director, Alabama Rivers Alliance

Alan Steinman

Director, Annis Water Resources Institute & Professor, Water Resources, Grand Valley State University

Beth Stewart

Executive Director, Cahaba River Society

Jay Tankersley

Consultant (Electricity), Rocky Mountain Institute

Stacy Tellinghuisen

Senior Energy/Water Policy Analyst, Western Resource Advocates

Cortney Worrall

Chief Operating Officer, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance

Government

Ron Binz

Principal, Public Policy Consulting

Marlon Cook

Director, Groundwater Assessment Program, Geological Survey of Alabama

Emily Finnell

Senior Environmental Quality Analyst, Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Jeffrey Fischer

Project Chief, USGS New Jersey Water Science Center

Angie Fyfe

Associate Director, Operations, Colorado Governor's Energy Office

Chris Hoard

Hydrologist, USGS Michigan Water Science Center

Darryl Jones

Assistant General Manager, Operations and Technical Services, Water Works Board of the City of Birmingham

James Norris

Water Quality Coordinator, Soil Water Conservation Committee

Howard Reeves

Research Hydrologist, Michigan Water Science Center, USGS

Frank Ruswick

Deputy Director, Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Industry

Mary Beth Baker

Environmental Manager, Merck

Matt Bowden

Vice President of Environmental Affairs, Alabama Power Company

Chris Briggs

General Manager of Gas Marketing, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Hunter Bruce

General Manager, SpreadRite

John Carlson

Environment, Safety and Health Manager, American Electric Power

Anita Dawson

Water Sustainability Lead, The Auditing Roundtable

Susan Innis

Senior Manager, State Government Relations, Vestas - American Wind Technology, Inc.

Aaron Johnson

Global Application Development, Dow Water & Process Solutions R&D

Stan Kaczmarek

National Practice Leader, Water Conservation, Bureau Veritas North America, Inc.

Ned Leonard

Vice President of Program Services, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity

William McMillin

Senior Technologist, CH2M Hill

Nancy Popa

Manager of Environmental Services, Consumers Energy

Reginald Prime

Director of Environmental Affairs, Coca-Cola Refreshments USA

Brad Stevenson

Global EHS Manager, Caterpillar Inc.

Photo by Peter Crysdale.