The Conference, in partnership with The Business Council of New York State and The Hudson Renewable Energy Institute, to Focus on Achieving Ambitious Energy Goals

NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 22, 2021) — Pace University’s Lubin School of Business is partnering with The Business Council of New York State and The Hudson Renewable Energy Institute to bring together business leaders, environmental experts, and leading voices in the fields of energy, transportation, technology, academia, and government to discuss ways to effectively put New York and its businesses on a path to green energy.

The two-day virtual forum -- the 2021 Renewable Energy Conference: A Leadership Forum on Energy Policy – is regarded as one of the premier conferences of its kind. It will explore ways that New York can reach goals established after New York State in 2019 passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, such as achieving 70 percent renewable energy by 2030; realizing a fully decarbonized electric generating sector by 2040; and state-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, among other climate targets.

“This conference, known as the premier renewable energy conference on the East Coast, brings together experts in the field to discuss issues related to climate change, sustainability, and green workforces, among other related topics,” said Lawrence G. Singleton, dean of the Lubin School of Business, and a board member of The Hudson Renewable Energy Institute. “We are pleased to partner with The Business Council of New York State, Inc. and The Hudson Renewable Energy Institute to bring the Renewable Energy Conference to Lubin and to Pace University.”

The keynote speakers include Charles A. Freni, president & CEO, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.; Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO,
NYSERDA; and Basil Seggos, commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The conference, to be held via Zoom, is designed to allow attendees to learn and engage with subject matter experts.

View the full schedule here. Registration is $229.

This year’s conference will focus on the benefits and impacts of policy changes through panel discussions on the development and deployment of on -and- offshore wind and solar resources; the reduction of emissions in the transportation sector; and will provide an update on the work of the Climate Action Council, as well as the utilization of biomass in the State's energy mix, lessons learned from Texas, and the development of a sustainable, green workforce.

“Lawmakers have made it clear with the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that they are serious about climate change measures in New York with an aggressive 70% renewable energy mandate over the next nine years,” said Heather Briccetti, president & CEO, The Business Council of New York State. “This conference will feature qualified and accomplished industry professionals to help guide businesses through the challenges of reaching this goal and highlight the benefits and long-term impacts for employers and the state.”

Pace University has a rich history of excellence in business education and was founded as a school of accountancy in 1906. With a strong focus on experiential learning and one of the largest internship placement programs in the New York metropolitan area, Lubin’s combined job placement rate is nearly 90 percent. Earlier this year, the Lubin School of Business successfully maintained its dual accreditation for both business and accounting by AACSB International, an elite distinction shared by fewer than 2 percent of schools in the world offering business degree programs.

About Pace University
Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on the Pace News website.

About the Lubin School of Business at Pace University
Globally recognized and prestigiously accredited, the Lubin School of Business integrates New York City’s business world into the experienced-based education of its students at Pace’s suburban and downtown campuses, implemented by one of the region’s largest co-op programs, team-based learning, and customized career guidance. Its programs are designed to launch success-oriented graduates toward upwardly mobile careers.

About The Business Council of New York State: The Business Council of New York State, Inc., is the leading business organization in New York State, representing the interests of large and small firms throughout the state. Our membership is made up of roughly 2,400 member companies, local chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations. Though more than 75 percent of members are small businesses, it represents some of the largest and most important corporations in the world. Combined, our members employ more than 1.2 million New Yorkers. BCNYS serves as an advocate for employers in the state’s political and policy-making arenas, working for a healthier business climate, economic growth, and jobs.

About The Hudson Renewable Energy Institute: The Hudson Renewable Energy Institute (THREI.org) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation established to encourage development and use of renewable energy through the competitive market and educating consumers on smart energy choices. THREI provides an unbiased source of energy market information creating a smarter consumer. Its members come from all walks of life, in various sectors of industry, government and business that are interested in being energy smart.

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When Mariah Kitner ’15 arrived at Pace, she didn’t know what major she would ultimately choose. What she did know was that she wanted to be in New York at a liberal arts institution where she could explore lots of interests. She discovered her calling freshman year during a course with Art Department Chair, Linda Herrick.

After that, “I basically lived in the art department.” Mariah, who ended up majoring in fine art with a history minor, was also taken by the view from the windows overlooking City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge. “New York City is such a great location. I would play at getting lost in the city just so I could find my way back. That’s how I discovered the magic of finding cute coffee shops. It’s also how I developed a sense of who I am and learned that I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“Pace taught me that I can be enterprising and entrepreneurial. That I can try things to see if they work. And that being successful as an artist is about not stopping. And not settling.”

In Pace’s art department, Mariah found lots of opportunities to get real-life, practical experience in the arts. She became Professor Herrick’s studio assistant and was involved in the process of creating a large art installation at The Boiler Room in Brooklyn. She landed an internship in the props and design department of the Rachel Ray Show. And she was recommended for another internship with the SPRING/BREAK Art Show exhibition by her mentor, Professor Jane Dixon. The following year, she was chosen as a curator for the show. For her senior thesis, Mariah created a blog exploring the relationship between content and context. Her blog posts of historic artworks superimposed with funny drunk text messages attracted 150,000 followers and earned the distinction of being one of the top trending blogs of the year.

After graduation, Professor Dixon hired Mariah as her studio manager. To learn more about the business side of the art world, she took a job at Pop Art Gallery. Then, she experimented with transforming her apartment into a gallery for a solo exhibition featuring 50 works of art priced at $50 each. She succeeded in attracting 40 visitors and making 30 sales. “Pace taught me that I can be enterprising and entrepreneurial. That I can try things to see if they work. And that being successful as an artist is about not stopping. And not settling.” Just before the Covid-19 pandemic shut most of NYC down, Mariah was managing a commercial artist who was creating experiential events for organizations like USA Today and Comic-Con. Currently, she’s working on functional design ware made from clay. “At Pace, my independent studies and internships, my relationships with my mentors, and my study abroad experiences all gave me a sense of freedom. I know I can work toward anything I want and achieve it.”