• **FDRA members, act now for super savings – $100 off your registration for a limited time!**

    Contact us for discounted group rates (4+ attendees, FDRA Members Only)

  • Summit Schedule

    8:00 – 8:50 am
    BREAKFAST, NETWORKING AND EXHIBITS
     | Sponsored by Texworld

  • 8:50 – 9:00 am
    Deliberate & Debate, Digest & Dream, Devise & Design SETTING THE STAGE FOR THIS NO B.S. EVENT

    • Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA

    9:00 – 10:00 am
    Starting with a High – SHOE UPPERS: The Science of Sustainable Materials, Certifications, LCAs, Key Considerations

    • Alan Lugo, Product Strategy Manager, Natural Fiber Welding

    • Dr. Andrew Hudson, Managing Director of Eurofins BLC

    • Himanshu Patel​, Director, Materials Development, KEEN

    • Victor Almeida, Technical Customer Service Manager, Americas, Lenzing Fibers Inc.

    MODERATOR: Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA

    10:00 – 10:45 am
    Going to Ground – SOIL SCIENCE & Sustainability (Plastic Impact to Regenerative Farming)

    • Dr. Eugene Kelly, Chief Scientist, Solum, Associate Director for Research in the School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University

    • Dr. Stephen Taylor, Soil Scientist & Circularity Engineer, Natural Fiber Welding

    10:45 – 11:15 am
    NETWORKING & EXHIBIT BREAK
    | Sponsored by Texworld

    11:15 – 11:45 am
    Inside the Box Ideas – PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY CASE STUDIES & Insights

    • Ryan Gaither, Global Packaging Specialist, Managed Packaging Division, BillerudKorsnäs
    • Sean Murphy, Executive, Shoe Packaging and Chief Marketing Officer,​ L&E International

    11:45 am – 12:30 pm
    Connecting the Dots – TRACEABILITY, CERTIFICATIONS, & NEW CIRCULAR RULES: Understanding New and Coming Government and Customer Requirements, How Digital Tools Can Optimize Measuring For Compliance

    • Jason Hill, Senior Manager, Sustainability & ESG Solutions, Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, Inc.

    • Jean-Marc Pedeboy, Principal, Stratégies: Romans CAD Software

    • Emily Olah, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Material Specialist, Material Exchange

    • Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA

    MODERATOR: Thomas Crockett, Vice President, FDRA

    12:30 – 1:00 pm
    GRAB LUNCH

    1:00 – 1:30 pm
    Sustainability over Sandwiches – GREEN MARKETING Do's and Don'ts Legal Lunch Discussion

    • Kelly Beskin, Attorney, Stoel Rives

    1:30 – 2:30 pm
    Bottoms up! – SHOE INSOLE/MIDSOLE/OUTSOLE: The Science of Sustainable Materials, Performance, Comfort

    • Ashton Zeller, Chief Scientist, BLOOM Sustainable Materials

    • Jason Robinson, CEO & Founder, Evoco

    • Katie O’Hara, Director of Account Management and Footwear Strategy​, Dynamic Foam

    • Dave Smith, Product Line Director, INSITE® Insole

    MODERATOR: Chris Enlow, Sustainability Lead, Oboz Footwear

    2:30 – 3:00 pm
    Better Production –
    FACTORY EMISSION Data & Reducing FACTORY WASTE

    • Matt Priest, President & CEO, FDRA

    3:00 – 3:30 pm

    NETWORKING & EXHIBIT BREAK

    3:30 – 3:50 pm

    Reimagining Brand Engagement – CONSUMER BEHAVIOR AND CIRCULARITY to Educate Shoppers and Get Back Shoes

    •  Dr. Erez Yoeli, Professor, MIT, Expert in the Science of Consumer Behavior 

    3:50 – 4:10 pm
    Reimagining Shoe Models and Systems – WHAT IS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE CIRCULARITY: Science, Tools, Strategy and Economics

    • Dr. Yuly Fuentes-Medel, Project Manager, Fiber Technologies, MIT

    4:10 – 5:00 pm
    Current Models & Products – RECYCLING, RESALE & CIRCULARITY: Case Studies of Current Programs. Navigating Challenges Around Infrastructure and Science. New Breakthroughs and Opportunities.

    • Saskia van Gendt, Head of Sustainability, Rothy's

    • Dr. Yuly Fuentes-Medel, Project Manager, Fiber Technologies, MIT

    • Nicks Ericsson, Senior Director of Brand Purpose, Sustainability and DEI, UGG (Deckers Brands)

    • Kristin Burrows, Chief Brand Officer, OrthoLite

    • Luke Whiteman, Director of Innovation, Trove

    MODERATOR: Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA

    5:00 – 5:30 pm
    Ending with Purpose – Handprints and Hands In! OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION & NEW SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS to Help Companies

    • Dr. Greg Norris, Director, SHINE (the Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise), MIT

    CLOSING: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

    5:30 – 7:30 pm
    BREWS, SHOES & BBQ NETWORKING EVENT –
    Dinner, Drinks, Networking

    All Summit attendees have access to this event

  • Thanks to our 2022 Summit Sponsors

     

    Contact FDRA to inquire about sponsorship opportunities to reach 300+ footwear professionals and executives.