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Martin Chavez, three-term, award-winning former mayor of Albuquerque and environmental speaker, leads the nation’s largest and oldest membership organization for cities and counties committed to climate protection and sustainability, the ICLEI. ICLEI, which assists local governments globally in determining their carbon emissions and setting strategies for reducing their carbon footprints, was the second largest NGO (Non Governmental Organization) at the COP 15 in Copenhagen this past December where, at the request of the White House, Chavez presented on a panel on local government innovation.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Martin Chavez obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He served a clerkship in the office of the New Mexico State Attorney General and practiced law for approximately 20 years in the areas of bad faith insurance and medical malpractice.

Chavez served three four year terms as mayor of Albuquerque, from 1993 to 1997 and from 2001 through December, 2009. During that time, Albuquerque emerged from last to 1st or close to 1st on all the right lists. During his tenure as mayor, Chavez received the World Leadership Award in London in 2006 for Water and Utilities.

Martin Chavez speaks on sustainability, environmental issues, and urban environments. Please contact us with the details of your event for more information on how Martin Chavez can address the issues specific to your group's goals.

Chavez’s leadership for progressive change started early. As a student at the University of New Mexico, he organized the state grape and wine boycott for the United Farm Workers. At Georgetown University Law Center, he was co-founder of La Raza National Law Students. He was a staff assistant to U.S. Senator Joseph Montoya and deputy director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Scholarship Fund for Americans of Spanish Origin in Washington, D.C. When New Mexico converted from a court to administrative system for workers compensation, Chavez was tapped to serve as the founding director of the New Mexico Workers Compensation Administration (WCA). After starting the WCA, Chavez returned to private practice and was elected to the New Mexico State Senate where he served for 5 years and was Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. Some of his legislation included early voting, post card voter registration, the New Mexico Workers' Compensation Reform Act (which took New Mexico from the 2nd highest workers compensation rate nationally to the 2nd lowest), critical amendments to the Public Records Act (for which he received a major good government award) and the New Mexico Forrest Re-Leaf Act (which has planted millions of trees across New Mexico). Chavez served three four year terms as mayor of Albuquerque (pop. 527,000) from 1993 to 1997 and from 2001 through December, 2009. During that time, Albuquerque emerged from last to 1st or close to 1st on all the right lists. Immediately upon being elected, scientists informed the Mayor that Albuquerque's aquifer (her sole source of water) would run dry within 25 years. Chavez immediately embarked upon a plan to reduce water use (one third over 10 years) and import water from the Colorado River Basin to which Albuquerque held rights.  Albuquerque met its goals early and actually added 33 percent new accounts while reducing use by a full third. For this accomplishment, Chavez received the World Leadership Award in London in 2006 for Water and Utilities. Amongst others, Martin Chavez and Albuquerque were recognized: - First Place, Best Cities for Jobs or a Career (Forbes Magazine, March 2007) - EPA Climate Protection award, First Place (2008) - United States Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Award, First Place, (2007) - U.S. Chamber of Commerce/Siemens Sustainability Award (2008) - Fittest City in America, Men's Fitness Magazine (2008) - 2nd Most Pet Friendly City (Pet Magazine) - Top Ten Places To Live In The US (US News and World Report, 2009) - Renewable Energy Innovator of the Year Award, Association of Energy Engineers (2008) - Mayor of Trees Award, National Alliance for Community Trees (2004) - One of America's 25 most dynamic mayors (Newsweek, 1997) Chavez served as a Trustee of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and chaired the Urban Water Council which involved lectures around the country and in France and Mexico. He was one of 4 mayors who served as an advisor to Newsweek Magazine on green initiatives. Chavez has been a member of or led delegations to Jerusalem (twice), China (three times), Japan (three times), France (three times), Saudi Arabia, Spain (three times), Germany, the inauguration of Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, and, the inauguration of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.  Most recently, Chavez was invited to speak at the World Mayor's Climate Conference in Hamburg, Germany in November, 2009 and by France to address businesses seeking to make "green" investments in the United States.  Chavez was the only U.S. Mayor invited to participate in the "Citoyens de la Terre” (Citizens of the Earth) - The Paris Conference for Global Ecological Governance in 2007, hosted by the national government of France.

Martin Chavez, three-term, award-winning former mayor of Albuquerque and environmental thought leader, currently leads the nation’s largest and oldest membership organization for cities and counties committed to climate protection and sustainability, the ICLEI.ICLEI, which assists local governments globally in determining their carbon emissions and setting strategies for reducing their carbon footprints, was the second largest NGO (Non Governmental Organization) at the COP 15 in Copenhagen this past December where, at the request of the White House, Chavez presented on a panel on local government innovation.

NONPROFIT BOARDS/GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) – Local Governments for Sustainability 2009-Present              Member, Executive Committee (ICLEI Global) 2008-2009                  Member, North American Board of Directors (ICLEI USA) United States Conference of Mayors 2006-2009                            Board of Trustees 2007-2009                            Chair, Urban Water Council 2009                                     Co-Chair, Climate Change Task Force 2004-2006                            Member, Advisory Board 1997-2000                            Member, Advisory Board Democratic National Committee 2007-2009                            Vice President, National Conference of Democratic Mayors 1996                                     Vice Chairman, Democratic National Convention (Chicago)

Municipal Innovations, Copenhagen, Denmark (COP 15), 2009 Green Business in the United States, Paris, France, 2009 Water, Paris, France, 2008 Water and Sustainability, Chihuahua, Mexico, 2008 Getting Serious About New Mexico (1997) Sustainable Cities Seminars, University of New Mexico Martin Chavez is also a frequent guest lecturer at the University of New Mexico.

"CyberSatirist" Bob Hirschfeld lampoons social media, time management, technology and a spectrum of business topics including the challenges of going green. It's witty satire customized for your audience to provide appropriate comic relief. His "Funny Business" presentation takes a satirical look at all aspects of the business world with an underlying message to avoid stress associated with change and technology by finding the humor in it.

World Champion Freeskier Alison Gannett travels the world in search of a ski great ski adventure. Not only does she love to telemark, alpine, nordic and snowboard, but she also dedicates a majority of her life to saving our snow, by focusing on solutions to climate change.

A chemical and petroleum engineer and an expert on energy geopolitics he holds a number of positions such as professor at the Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, Chairman of the Board of XGAS, a natural gas firm and Managing Partner of Dr. Michael J. Economides Consultants, Inc. with a wide range of industrial consulting, including major retainers by several Fortune 500 companies and national oil companies, Editor-in-Chief of Energy Tribune , a newsletter in the energy and related industries and activities and Editor-in-Chief of the newly established peer-reviewed Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, published by Elsevier.

Famous for finding the Titanic, Dr. Ballard is the president and founder of the Institute for Exploration at Mystic Aquarium. Led by Ballard, this institute is focused on the development of a suite of remotely-operated vehicles created specifically to conduct deep-water archaeological excavation. Ballard has conducted more than 100 deep-sea expeditions during his career and is the recipient of numerous professional awards including the National Geographic Society's prestigious Hubbard Medal and the National Humanities Medal from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

 

Dr. Brian Nattrass is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, lawyer, and senior corporate advisor on the organizational strategy, innovation, and implementation of sustainability initiatives and corporate responsibility.

David T. Suzuki PhD, co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. He has received consistently high acclaim for his 30 years of award-winning work in broadcasting, explaining the complexities of science in a compelling, easily understood way. He is well known to millions as the host of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's popular science television series, The Nature of Things.

Peter C. Fusaro is the best selling author of What Went Wrong at Enron. As a keynote speaker, Fusaro is an energy industry thought leader noted for his keen insights in emerging energy and environmental issues.

In 1984, after completing college, Bruce moved his family back to Libby, Montana and joined Vincent Logging as business manager.  Vincent Logging, a small family owned business, was started by Bruce’s father in 1968. Bruce is a third generation logger- and he's also a speaker on the environment and agriculture.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable business luminaries in the world, in 1999 Richard Branson was knighted for his "services to entrepreneurship". The Rebel Billionaire continues to grow the Virgin brand worldwide, and his unconventional strategies are an inspiration to businesses and individuals alike.

Amory Lovins is the cofounder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute. A consultant experimental physicist educated at Harvard and Oxford, he has advised the energy and other industries for over 30 years, as well as the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense. Published in 28 previous books and hundreds of papers, his work in  more than 50 countries has been recognized by the "Alternative Nobel," Onassis, Nissan, Shingo, and Mitchell Prizes, a MacArthur Fellowship, the Happold Medal, nine honorary doctorates, and the Heinz, Lindbergh, Hero for the Planet, and World Technology Awards.

Dan Esty is one of the world’s leading experts on corporate environmental strategy, and he was the Obama campaign's advisor on energy and the environment.  He has advised CEOs and top executives from Honeywell, Northeast Utilities, Kerr-McGee, Limited Brands, Shell, and more than a dozen other companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia.  Dan helped establish and continues to serve on Environmental Advisory Boards at Coca-Cola and Unilever. 

Rohit Talwar is an award winning speaker, entrepreneur, specialist advisor and strategic change agent. He was nominated as one the top ten global future thinkers by the UK’s Independent newspaper. He is the founder of the think tanks Fast Future and Global Futures and Foresight. Rohit spends his time traveling the world researching the ideas that will shape the future and meeting the people and  organizations behind them. Rohit has a particular interest in the evolution of China, India, the emerging economies and the future of travel. He has just completed major global studies on the Future of China’s Economy – The Path to 2020 and the Future of Travel and Tourism in the Middle East.

Jeremy Rifkin is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and the author of seventeen best-selling books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages and are used in hundreds of universities, corporations and government agencies around the world.  His most recent books include The Hydrogen Economy, The European Dream, The End of Work, The Age of Access, and The Biotech Century.

William Knoke is founder and President of the Harvard Capital Group, specializing in raising venture capital, private placements, mergers and acquisitions and preparing companies for initial public offerings. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School, (MBA) and Stanford University (BA Economics, cum laude). Knoke is also the author of "Bold New World: The Essential Road Map to the Twenty-First Century" and "The Tipping Point".

Dr. Lowell Catlett is a Regent’s Professor/Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. An exciting futurist, his knowledge of technologies and their implications on the way we will live and work is addressed in his varied and upbeat presentations. Dr. Catlett works on behalf of corporate and association audiences internationally, presenting his take on trends in healthcare, agriculture, the environment, education and more. His talks always address the current state of the economy, and what's in store for businesses down the road.

A dynamic, world-class economist who communicates his insights in a captivating and entertaining manner, Dr. Barry Asmus has been named by USA Today as one of the five most requested speakers in the United States. As a Senior Economist for the prestigious National Center for Policy Analysis, Dr. Asmus does more than just speak on policies, he is actively involved with their implementation. With over twenty-five years experience on the speaking platform, Dr. Asmus presents a powerful picture of America’s future, both here and abroad.