Retool’25, a one-day conference scheduled for June 3 and organized by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, will focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and energy innovation for small and medium manufacturers and businesses.
The conference is part of the the New York public power utility’s Retool WNY initiative.
Keynote speakers will include Denise Coogan, retired Environmental Partnership Manager for Subaru of America, Inc. Coogan is known for her work in developing the principles that are the basis of most zero waste programs in existence today. She uses her extensive knowledge of manufacturing facilities to build sustainability programs that reduce the collective environmental footprint, while balancing fiscal responsibility. Coogan has worked recently with the National Park Service in helping that organization with their sustainability efforts.
A second keynote speaker will be D. Evan van Hook, the Chief Sustainability Officer for Viridi Parente, a lithium-ion battery pack manufacturer with a production facility in Buffalo. In his position, van Hook helps customers deploy fail-safe battery storage systems that support corporate goals for resilience, energy transition and decarbonization. Viridi is focused on fail-safe scalable energy storage options.
The conference will feature a number of panels, all focused on opportunities in energy innovation that include new supply chain paths for regional manufacturers; and connections to companies that have tools to aid businesses in reducing their carbon footprint and increasing energy efficiency.
Jamestown BPU General Manager David Leathers noted the importance of this year’s conference themes and their alignment with regional manufacturers. “The Retool conference is focused on sustainability, energy efficiency and energy innovation, all topics of critical importance to our Western NY manufacturers and commercial entities. We are excited about sharing information with and receiving input from a regional audience on ways to improve their bottom line through energy innovation and cost savings,” Leathers said.
BPU Business Development Coordinator Ellen Ditonto said the conference "will be a wonderful way for our regional manufacturers and businesses to learn firsthand about energy innovation success stories and how these can apply to their particular business,” she said. “Energy innovation can help positively impact the bottom line in businesses and could open doors for new supply chain opportunities as well.”
An extended vendor fair and networking event will help with matching opportunities for our contract manufacturers and companies looking for new suppliers, Ditonto added.
