Robert H. Bruininks, President, University of Minnesota

Robert H. Bruininks was appointed the 15th president of the University of Minnesota on November 8, 2002. He has served the University for 39 years, formerly as a professor, dean, and executive vice president and provost.

For the past three years, Bruininks has overseen a transformative strategic positioning effort at the University that has raised the bar considerably for the University’s academic profile, its service to students and the community, and its stewardship of resources.

Bruininks’s career has centered on child and adolescent development and policy research, and strategic improvement in the fields of pre-kindergarten to grade 12 and higher education. Initially joining the University’s faculty as an assistant professor of educational psychology, he has authored or coauthored nearly 90 journal articles and more than 70 book chapters, as well as training materials and several standardized tests.

Since her election to the United States Senate in 2006, Senator Amy Klobuchar has been an advocate for reforming government, standing up for consumers, promoting homegrown energy by tackling global climate change and advancing renewable energy resources, and creating opportunity for America's middle class families. A former prosecutor for Minnesota's largest county, Senator Klobuchar has never been afraid to take on the tough fights. She's worked across party lines to get the job done.

As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Klobuchar has been a leader in the efforts to protect our nation's valuable natural resources. Her "carbon counter" bill is viewed as the first step toward reducing our nation's carbon emissions. She's led the charge for increased investments in renewable energy, higher vehicle efficiency standards, and the expansion of green technologies. And, as a member of the Oceans Subcommittee, she's protecting our valuable water resources including her strong support of the Great Lakes Compact.

Last year, Senator Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a strong, nationwide renewable energy standard.

Senator Klobuchar is the Chairman of the Environment and Public Work's Subcommittee on Children's Health. She is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Agriculture Committee, and the Joint Economic Committee.

The Washington Post has called her "a leading proponent of efforts to combat climate change," as well as a "rising star." Working Mother Magazine named Klobuchar as 2008 "Best in Congress." The American Prospect named her a "woman to watch," and the Star Tribune has called her "a fast-moving legislator."

Doug Cameron, Chief Science Advisor, Piper Jaffray Investment Management

Doug Cameron is managing director and chief science advisor at Piper Jaffray.  His major responsibility is in building the firm's global franchise in renewable energy and clean technology. 

Cameron joined Piper Jaffray in August, 2008 from Khosla Ventures in Menlo Park, California, one of the premier venture capital firms in clean technology investments.  As chief scientific officer at Khosla Ventures, he led technical due diligence for many of the firm’s clean technology investments.  Prior to Khosla Ventures, Cameron was chief scientist and director of biotechnology at Cargill, Inc. where he built and led Cargill’s corporate biotechnology research group.  While at Cargill, Cameron worked closely with NatureWorks, Cargill’s bioplastics joint venture, and helped form the industrial bio-products business unit. Before moving to Cargill, Cameron was a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  Cameron graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree in biomedical engineering.  He earned a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, Fresh Energy

Hamilton directs Fresh Energy’s global warming solutions program; her responsibilities include scientific analysis, policy development, and outreach on clean energy solutions that will maximize economic opportunities for the Midwest. Fresh Energy is a private nonprofit organization working to lead the transition to a clean, efficient energy system to support healthy economies and communities. Hamilton serves on the boards of the United States Climate Action Network and of the US Green Building Council, Mississippi Headwaters Chapter. She was appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to serve on the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group, a group charged with recommending a Climate Action Plan that will substantially reduce Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions at lowest possible costs.  Hamilton holds degrees in geography from Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota.  Prior to joining Fresh Energy in 1995, she was Assistant Professor at George Washington University in Washington, DC. 

Steve Kelley, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy, Humphrey School, University of Minnesota

Kelley served in the Minnesota Senate from January 1997 through December 2006 and the Minnesota House of Representatives from January 1993 through December 1996.

Before his legislative service, he was a public member of the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice from 1984 to 1992 and served one year as its president. Kelley has served on the boards of many other organizations, including the Sojourner Shelter, Physicians Health Plan, the Citizens League, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Foundation, and the Sierra Club North Star Chapter Executive Committee. Aside from his public service, Kelley has been a lawyer practicing commercial litigation at the Minneapolis firm of Mackall, Crounse, and Moore since 1979.  Kelley received his B.A. from Williams College graduating cum laude in 1975 and later earned his J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law in 1978.

Louis J. King II, President and CEO, of Summit Academy OIC

Summit Academy OIC is a merged organization of Twin Cities OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center) and Two or More, Inc. Summit Academy is a non-profit, educational and vocational training institute that empowers Twin Cities residents to become self-reliant, employed members of their community. King is dedicated to creating better communities by providing educational opportunities to Academy students through a variety of programs, which emphasize self-sufficiency, responsibility and accountability as well as leadership training.

In 1996, King was elected to the Minneapolis School Board, and completed his four-year term. He is currently on the The Fairview Medical Foundation Board, The St. Thomas Academy Board, and he Chairs the Seed Academy Board of Directors and The Network for Better Futures Board of Directors.

Professor Alfred Marcus, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

Marcus is the Spencer Chair in Strategy and Technological Leadership in the Carlson School of Management and the Center for Technological Development and Leadership at the University of Minnesota. He is author or editor of 13 books including Strategic Foresight:: A New Look at Scenarios and Reinventing Environmental Regulation (with Donald Geffen and Ken Sexton). Alfred Marcus teaches and conducts research in strategic management, macroeconomics, business ethics, and business and the natural environment. He was co-academic director of the Center for Integrated Leadership and has been a Visiting Professor at the Technion and at MIT. Marcus earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University and has undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of Chicago. His articles have appeared in such journals as the Strategic Management Journal and the Academy of Management Review.