Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Castaway Portland – 1900 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR
AGENDA
7:45 AM – Registration, Networking, Breakfast
8:50 AM – Welcome
- Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA; Executive Director, Footwear Innovation Foundation
9:00 AM – KEYNOTE: The Science of Being Wrong: New Advancements in How We Measure Shoe Sustainability & Performance
- Dr. Geoffrey Gray, President, HEELUXE
9:45 AM – Innovations in Performance & Comfort Technologies
- Justin Ter Har, Director of Research & Design, INSITE
- Katie O'Hara, Director of Account Management, Dynamic Foam
- Sarah Jacobson, Key Account Manager, Jones & Vining
- Moderator: Dr. Geoffrey Gray, President, HEELUXE
10:30 AM – Packaging Innovations in an EPR + Tariff World
- Justin Jaeger, Sales and Marketing Specialist, Trillora Packaging Solutions
10:45 AM – Networking Break
11:15 AM – A Look at Methane Emissions in the Footwear Supply Chain
- Mikaila Roncevich, Lead Research Scientist, Collective Fashion Justice and Fiber Science Researcher, Cornell University
11:30 AM – Regulatory Strategy: Updates and Best Practices (US to EU)
- James Pollack, Partner, Marten Law
- Pratik Ichhaporia, VP, North America Regulatory and Technical, Eurofins Consumer Product Testing
- Moderator: Matt Priest, President & CEO, FDRA
12:10 PM – Life Support + Extended Life: One-on-One Conversations
- Eric Neuner, President & CEO, NuShoe
- Mike Hourigan, Vice President of Partnerships, Archive
- Moe Hachem, Founder and CEO, Sneaker Impact
- Moderater: Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA; Executive Director, Footwear Innovation Foundation
12:40 PM – Lunch
1:30 PM – KEYNOTE: Cleaner Manufacturing and Construction
- Scott Labbe, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, KEEN
2:15 PM – New Trends in Bio and Sustainable Materials
- Andrea Vanderhoff, Director of Technology & Sustainability, QIRA
- Chuck Mason, President & CEO, BLOOM Sustainable Materials
- Nick Sandland, Chief Business Officer, Algenesis Labs
- Moderator: Alan Lugo, Principal, alanandres
3:00 PM – Networking Break
3:30 PM – Leather 2.0: Innovation and Sustainably Advances (Regenerative, Recycled to Tanning Technologies)
- Gordon Wemmitt, US Sales Director, ISA Tan Tec
- Jim Kleinschmit, Founder & CEO, Other Half Processing
- Alyse Russel, Senior Manager, Global Sustainability Programs, VF Corporation
- Moderator: Alan Lugo, Principal, alanandres
4:15 PM – Green Transit: How Brands Can Reduce Shipping Emissions
- Roman Ramirez, Executive Director, Greenabl
4:30 PM – Footwear Innovation Foundation Updates
- Andy Polk, Senior Vice President, FDRA; Executive Director, Footwear Innovation Foundation
5:00 PM – Closing + Brews & Shoes Networking and Charity Event
5:00 PM – Shoe Trivia Kicks Off!
Thank you to our 2025 Summit Sponsors
*PLEASE NOTE: Event attendee contact information may be shared with our event sponsors. This information allows sponsors to provide additional resources, updates, or offers related to the event or their services. **REFUND POLICY FOR FDRA EVENTS: FDRA will issue no refunds for cancelled registrations for its summits less than 14 days prior to the event date (this includes in-person and digital events). FDRA members can transfer their registration to another attendee for the same event. Any questions on this policy should be directed to Andy Polk.
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