Kim Sorvig (kim@meaningfulplaces.com) is a noted landscape architect, design critic, and environmental author from Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has over 28 years of experience creating, teaching and writing about interpretive and sustainable places. Internationally known for his work as Contributing Editor of Landscape Architecture magazine and as co-author of Sustainable Landscape Construction, he is a sought-after speaker and consultant.


Garth Conrad is a landscape designer in LaPorte, Indiana. He is the Environmental Chair for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), is on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association (MELA), which has organized many events focused on sustainable landscaping. He was an eloquent speaker on sustainable landscape design at the 2007 APLD Conference, ‘Sustainable Designs, Diverse Cultures, Remarkable Landscapes’.


Dan Matsch is the director of Eco-Cycle’s new composting program and has also been the manager of Eco-Cycle’s innovative Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials since joining the staff in 2001. Dan draws on 14 years of experience as an organic farmer and composter to help Eco-Cycle add the significant new piece to its business operations – tackling the organic waste stream of our customers and developing a range of markets for new compost products. Dan is also involved in the formation of a new regional composters association, the Rocky Mountain Organics Council.

Dan’s presentation experience includes presentations to the US Compost Council Annual Conference on compost tea and zero waste, as well as several presentations of various aspects of organic farming at the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association annual conferences. The NAFDMA mission is to develop and promote new direct marketing opportunities for small farmers and it is the largest association of its kind.


Jane Clary is a Senior Water Resources Scientist with WWE where she has focused on water quality issues, stormwater, watershed management, and water conservation for the past 15 years. Currently, she is working with the Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO) to update their water conservation and water quality Best Management Practices (BMP) manual, which includes addressing the role of landscape in Low Impact Development, as well as sustainability concepts relevant to the Green Industry. Other recent work has included key roles in developing the Denver Water Quality Management Plan, updating the Denver Storm Drainage and Technical Criteria Manual, helping to develop and manage the International Stormwater BMP Database (www.bmpdatabase.org), and participating in updating Volumes 1 and 2 of the Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual. She has also served as the Watershed Coordinator for the Big Dry Creek Watershed Association (www.bigdrycreek.org) for over ten years. As Project Coordinator for the International Stormwater BMP Database Project, she routinely interacts with a broad range of entities both seeking and providing stormwater BMP data. She has also worked on stormwater BMP implementation issues in Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas.

Paul Acker has a Bachelors of Architecture Degree from the University of Notre Dame, a Certificate in Construction Management from Colorado State University, and has been an active member of both the Boulder Green Building Guild and the U. S. Green Building Council - Colorado Chapter since their beginnings. For 4 years Paul worked at the Building Division of ECO-PRODUCTS, in Boulder. There Paul used over 25 years experience in commercial and residential construction and design to assist architects, contractors and homeowners searching for non-toxic, rapidly replenished, resource efficient, or recycled products suitable for their projects. Through his company, Sustainable Building for the Real World, he consults on sustainable design and building materials.

Leslie Martien joined Aquacraft in 2002 after completing her Bachelor of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at the University of Colorado. She has worked with technology developed for water efficient landscape designs and worked on system planning projects evaluating new conservation technologies. Ms. Martien is an Irrigation Association Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor with experience in irrigation system design and evaluation as well as waterwise landscaping.
She has worked on projects for the Colorado Department of Human Services researching water rights, water reuse for irrigation, the value of water for Pinellas County, Florida, landscape audits for the University of Colorado, Boulder, and indoor and landscape audits of the Denver Public libraries.

John Kurowski has been an active pioneer in the Green Movement long before it was called “Green.” His commitment to Green Issues goes back 33 years. Both Governors Lamm and Romer asked him to serve on special environmental task forces representing the Home Building Industry. John has been recognized twice as Built Green Custom Builder of the Year. He is considered to be the Grandfather of the Built Green movement by his peers. John has received numerous industry awards. Two of which he is most proud of are “The Lifetime Achievement Award” presented to him at the NAHB National Convention in Dallas in 1998 for his 25 year commitment and accomplishments building the Green Movement; and a special President’s Award in 1999 from the Denver Home Builders Association for recognition of his special contributions to the Built Green Program for Colorado. In 2000, John received the Built Green Award of Excellence. He received the E-Star Excellence in Energy Efficiency Award in the 2001 Mile High Tour of Homes and was awarded the E-Star “The Most Energy-Efficient Homes of the New Millennium” in 2001, 2002, and 2003. John is a past President of the Home Builders Association and was Chairman of the 2004 National Green Building Conference. In 2006, John was awarded the “HAP” (Home Builders and Associates in Partnership) Award, which recognizes builders who foster goodwill with their business associates.


Jim Tolstrup is the Executive Director of the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, CO. Jim’s past work experience includes serving as Director of Shambhala Botanic Gardens and Preserve in Red Feather Lakes, CO and running his own landscape design business in Kennebunkport, Maine where he installed gardens at George and Barbara Bush’s “Summer White House.” Jim holds a certificate in gardening arts from Harvard University, he has written numerous articles on gardening and environmental stewardship for various publications, and is a past recipient of Denver Water’s Xeriscape Award and ALCC’s Excellence in Landscaping Merit Award.


Julie Stewart-Pollack is the founder and Director of the Green Design Area of Emphasis and Coordinator of campus sustainability at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in Lakewood. Her research and professional practice focuses on understanding the human need for nature (Biophilia) as a rationale for the conservation of natural environments and as a premise for the design of the built environment. She is the co-author of the ASID/Polsky Foundation Award winning book Designing for Privacy and Related Needs, and has written numerous Biophilic design articles in Interiors & Sources magazine and Ultimate Home Design Magazine. Julie has presented workshops and seminars on sustainable design and Biophilic Design at The ASID National Conferences, IDEC International Conferences, EnvironDesign and West Coast Green conferences. She is NCIDQ certified and a professional member of The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), The Interior Design Educator's Council (IDEC) and the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).


Ray Daugherty joined the Horticulture and Landscape Technologies faculty of Front Range Community College in 1998 after working in Colorado’s Green industry since high school. Ray holds a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from Colorado State University and while at CSU was inducted into the Pi Alpha Xi, the honor society for ornamental horticulture and Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society for agriculture. In addition to his work at FRCC, Ray is a Colorado Certified Nursery Professional and sits on both the Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association’s the Nursery Professional and Greenhouse Grower Certification Committees. Ray is also an avid plant photographer and supplied the bulk of the plant that appear in the Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association’s Rocky Mountain Plant Guide. Ray lives near Brighton Colorado and is learning how to grow a xeric (nearly non-irrigated) garden on loamy sand soil.


Lise Mahnke is a writer and award winning landscape designer from Lakewood, CO. She has been involved with environmental landscapes as owner of Earth Mamas since 1990. Winner of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado’s Garvey Award for distinguished service in recognition of her work concerning water conservation and Colorado Green Magazine, she also writes two industry related web logs. Her newest blog, www.TheGreenestGarden.com, is directed toward the Green Industry and mitigating the environmental impact of built landscapes and working toward sustainability. Dry Ideas is a gardening blog for the Rocky Mountain Region at www.Dry-Ideas.com. She supports the Front Range Sustainable Landscaping Coalition in part by managing their wiki available at www.frslc.wetpaint.com.