As a Senior Manager on the LEED for Cities team at the U.S. Green Building Council, David works directly with over 100 local governments to use data to benchmark sustainability and drive progress. Through developing relationships and training staff on the LEED for Cities framework David assists local leaders to create stakeholder coalitions, prioritize sustainability actions, and build essential cross-departmental relationships to achieve LEED certification. David also provides the local governments’
perspective to product developers, to ensure the rating system’s evolution meets the needs of cities and pushes them to meet their sustainability goals.

David has been working with local communities for several years. Prior to joining USGBC, he was with STAR Communities, where he worked with cities, towns, and counties to ensure that communities had the tools and resources needed to create a more sustainable future.

In practice, David deeply engages his client base to identify how his organization can offer solutions to their pressing needs. He excels at developing relationships and taking a collaborative approach to tackle complex problems. By using data, building capacity, and making connections he works with stakeholders to meet goals.

David lives in Louisville, KY with his wife and kids and spends as much time outdoors hiking, biking, and exploring as he can. He received his Master’s of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Centre College.

Coming soon

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association has long been recognized as the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon™. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging boutique distilleries that are crafting the next generation of the Commonwealth’s signature industry. Member benefits include governmental and regulatory advocacy, media and public relations, international trade development, technical assistance, economic development support, global networking, legal defense, strategic marketing initiatives and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving.

Customer Experience Manager-Bespoken Spirits

Advanced Sommelier/Executive Bourbon Steward

Spirits Industry over 20 years

Former Brand Ambassador for James E. Pepper Distillery

Coming Soon

Frank Mabson currently serves as the Grant Administrator in the Division of Water Quality (DWQ). With a BA in Business Administration from Midway University, he’s worked in the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) for nearly sixteen (16) years where he started at the bottom as a Staff Assistant. Frank now oversees the DWQ’s Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program which provides financial assistance for projects that improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and educate the public on stormwater-related issues.

Since he has been with the city of Lexington, Frank has received several awards including the 2009 Customer Service of the Year Award, 2010 DWQ – Certificate of Appreciation Taxpayer Watchdog Award, and most recently the 2019 LFUCG SPOKE (Skilled, Professional, Outstanding, Knowledgeable, and Exceptional) Award which honors employees who exhibit a high level of commitment, initiative, and dedication to their job responsibilities. Frank takes pride in hard work and likes to surround himself with dedicated people to serve the citizens of the community well as a way to ensure them a return on their investment with the city of Lexington, also his home.

Last, but not least, and quiet as kept, as a hobby Frank enjoys singing, songwriting, and performing in a local band called Honeychild. In fact, you might catch him singing soulful melodies on the weekends at the local Jeff Ruby’s, Banner’s Bar and Grill, or even Lexington’s 2024 concert series Summer Nights in Suburbia (Moondance Amphiltheatre – August 26th), and Central Bank Thursday Night Live (Tandy Park – May 23rd).

Emily oversees everything related to Bullhorn. From HR to finances to sustainability, she keeps things moving and in check. She is the B Corporation liaison, leading internal efforts and representing Bullhorn in the larger B community.

Coming soon

Jeffery Nazarko, VP of Sales, Marketing & Business Development. Mr. Nazarko is responsible for the oversight and management of all sales and marketing processes at Solar Energy Solutions. Mr. Nazarko started his career in the power conversion business working to develop and market the first generation of grid-tied energy storage system and renewable integration. After that, Mr. Nazarko worked for a world class manufacturer of highly engineered, precision electrical steel products used in energy conversion systems. As Global Marketing Director he collaborated with clients to develop innovative technologies for commercial, Industrial, and electric propulsion systems with a focus on efficiency improvements to reduce energy consumption.

Coming soon

Coming soon

Ben Smock’s hometown is Louisville, KY. He holds his MBA from the University of Louisville and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Kentucky.

As an experienced nonprofit professional with over 10 years of industry experience, Ben is the Director of Development for Canopy, a Kentucky-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to grow Kentucky businesses to positively impact people, our planet, and our future. Canopy was formed in 2018 to create accessibility to the global “Good Business” movement and position Kentucky as a premier ecosystem. Utilizing his experience and educational background, Ben has advanced Canopy as a statewide organization increasing its reach, relevance, and revenue. Under his tenure, Canopy has raised significant philanthropic startup funding and secured dozens of Canopy Certified companies across Kentucky.

Ben also served as President of Venture Connectors, Louisville’s largest and longest standing entrepreneurial networking organization whose purpose is to advance inclusive and accessible entrepreneurship. In 2023, Ben was recognized as one of the Louisville Business First “Forty under 40”.

Coming soon

Adam Watson is one of four founders and owner-operators at Against the Grain Brewery, Founding President of the Kentucky Guild of Brewers, Education Director at Canopy Certified, and renowned wizard of questionable repute.  He has taken an irresponsible educational path that makes him passably interesting in polite and not-so-polite conversation, and is currently engaged in a lifelong experiment in subjective time dilation.

Coming soon

Coming soon

Lindsey Downs is the Environmental, Health, & Safety Manager at Maker’s Mark Distillery. As EH&S Manager, Lindsey champions health and safety programs, environmental compliance, and helps lead strategy and implementation of campus sustainability initiatives. Lindsey’s educational excellence includes a B.A. in Psychology and Human Resources from Bellarmine University, along with an MBA from Campbellsville University.  As Lindsey discovered her passion for sustainability, she completed a certificate in Sustainable Management from Duke University.  Lindsey has worked in the spirits industry for 11 years, with the last 6 years being dedicated to EH&S.

John D. Gagel is the Chief Sustainability Officer for Lexmark International, Inc.
He is responsible for corporate management of all global sustainability,
environment, social, governance (ESG), circular economy initiatives and strategy development as well as product sustainability and carbon neutrality initiatives.

Gagel has been with Lexmark for over 24 years and has served in management
roles since 2007 and as Chief Sustainability Officer since 2020.

He also has oversight of environmental, health and safety, responsible for
Lexmark operations globally. In addition, he provides customer-focused sales
and marketing support for all Lexmark sustainability initiatives worldwide, and
has spoken at numerous conferences and seminars about the importance of
sustainability as a key business strategy.

Coming soon

Coming Soon

Madelyn Tutewiler is the Director of ESG at MiddleGround Capital – a Private Equity firm specializing in lower middle market B2B manufacturing and specialty distribution businesses.  In her role, she oversees MiddleGround’s ESG department and is responsible for developing and implementing MiddleGround’s ESG strategy at both the firm and portfolio investment level.  She has spearheaded developing the firm’s ESG strategic plan, establishing ESG initiatives and targets at both the firm and portfolio company level, and identifying core value creation opportunities.

Prior to joining MiddleGround, Madelyn was an Environmental Health and Safety Professional in the Oil and Gas Industry at Marathon Petroleum.  She supported their renewable diesel project converting a crude oil processing refinery to renewable fuels – processing soy oil, corn oil, and tallow.  Additionally, she supported the exploration of industrial wind energy integration and oversaw EHS performance for various components of the business.

Shane has developed and managed interdisciplinary programs, projects, and policies for the University of Kentucky since 2003 with a focus on sustainability, transformational learning, and the use of the campus as a living laboratory. In pursuit of these efforts he has cultivated strong collaborations with colleagues in every corner of the University and community. Through these relationships, Shane was worked hard to help develop a robust institutional culture of sustainability. Shane believes that sustainability brings tremendous value to our institutions because it is a way of thinking about higher education that helps orient the compass needles for curriculum, research, service, healthcare, and creative works in the direction of intergenerational prosperity and well-being for the planet and all the individuals it sustains.