Board Chair
Karin Ekberg, Head of Environmental Services, Adidas Group
Karin has a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Gothenburg and Zuerich technical universities. Later, post-studies in environmental management at the University of Zuerich were conducted, including a project developing an ethical-social-environmental rating system for companies.
Karin has 25 years’ experience working in Switzerland, Brazil, Sweden and Germany. Karin has worked as a project manager to build plants, consult and manage in all areas of environment; such as end-of-pipe treatment, risk assessments, M&A, ISO 14001, ISO 26000; in global management positions at global consultancies and industries. In January 2009, Karin joined the Social & Environmental Affairs Team of the adidas Group in Germany as Head of Environmental Services. Her key responsibilities and advisory function is focused on the development of Group environmental strategies and management systems including reporting processes as well as environmental research and material science.
Board Members
Mary Fox, Former Senior Vice President, Walmart
Bio coming soon.
Jim Goddard, Innovation Director, Nike
Bio coming soon.
Michelle Harvey, Senior Project Manager, Environmental Defense Fund
Michelle Mauthe Harvey co-leads Environmental Defense Fund's on-site partnership with Walmart in Bentonville, AR advancing sustainable business practices throughout its operations and supply chain. She is one of two staff members responsible for opening the new Arkansas office.
Michelle’s primary areas of responsibility include chemicals, alternative energy, human and environment interactions, sustainability training for Walmart buyers, sustainable forestry, agriculture and seafood, carbon life cycle inventory and analysis, and facilitating strategic coordination among environmental organizations engaged with Walmart. She also serves on the EDF Diversity Committee.
Frank Hugelmeyer, President & CEO, Outdoor Industry Association
Frank Hugelmeyer is the president & CEO of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and a twenty-five year industry veteran with extensive experience in retail, brand development, R&D, manufacturing and association management. With offices in Colorado and Washington D.C., OIA provides trade services for a who’s who of over 1,300 manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in the global outdoor lifestyle supply chain.
Under his direction, OIA created its brand, formed the Outdoor Foundation, established international trade programs, developed the OIA Eco Index and published an extensive market research library. OIA is now widely recognized as an authority on the supply chain, sustainability, retail sales, consumer trends and related public policy.
Prior to OIA, Frank directed a division of Lowe Alpine and global sales and marketing for Bodyguard Fitness, a subsidiary of AB Aritmos. He began his career at Paragon Sporting Goods, the iconic New York City retailer. He has served on advisory boards for The Outdoor Foundation, National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, The National Forum on Children and Nature, Western Governors’ Association and President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors.
Bernhard Kiehl, Fabrics Division Sustainability, W.L. Gore & Associates
Bernhard Kiehl has led the sustainability program of the Fabrics Division of W.L. Gore & Associates since 2009. He is currently located at Gore's facilities in Elkton, Maryland. Before that, Bernhard worked as the product specialist for Gore’s global GORE® Cover business which provides a leading composting technology for organic wastes. Prior to that he was responsible for Gore’s environmental, health and safety program in Germany. Bernhard started his professional career 1993 at the Bavarian Environmental Protection Agency. Bernhard enjoys hiking, skiing and riding his motorbike and lives with his family in Newark, Delaware.
Punit Lalbhai, Executive Director, Arvind Mills
Bio coming soon.
Kevin Myette, Director, Product and Supply Chain Sustainability, REI
Kevin Myette is the Director of Product and Supply Chain Sustainability for REI, a national US premium retailer of quality Outdoor Gear & Apparel for muscle powered sports. Specifically, Kevin has the responsibility for managing the organization’s product sustainability programs—both private and wholesale brands. Prior to the sustainability role, Kevin oversaw product quality, safety and research & testing.
Kevin is a 30 year veteran of the outdoor and cycling industries with 26 years with REI. He is a member of, and has participated in, a number of groups promoting better understanding, standards, testing, safety, environmental considerations, and fair labor assurance for products and supply chains. He is a co-founder the effort to develop a cross outdoor industry Eco Index under the industry trade group Outdoor Industry Association.
In the outdoors he is a passionate road cyclist and mountain biker; downhill, backcountry and XC skier; hiker, backpacker, mountaineer, kayaker, wakeboarder, etc.
He holds a bachelors degree from Williams College and he is married with two wonderful daughters who like to poke fun at him when he comes home from mountain biking with fresh wounds.
Rick Ridgeway, VP of Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects, Patagonia
Rick Ridgeway is Patagonia’s Vice President of Environmental Initiatives. Rick and his team implement the second two of the company’s three-part mission statement “to make the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis”. He oversees the company’s environmental grant-making, internal and external environmental education, and environmental initiatives including Freedom to Roam, a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to protect for wildlife cores and corridors, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, over 60 of the world’s largest apparel and footwear companies working to develop standardized tools to measure sustainability, and Common Threads, a partnership with customers to take mutual responsibility for the full life-cycle of apparel and footwear.
Before joining Patagonia, Rick was owner/president of Adventure Photo & Film, a leading stock photo and film agency. In addition, Rick is recognized as one of the world’s foremost mountaineers. With three companions he was the first American to summit K2, considered the hardest mountain in the world to climb, and he has done other significant climbs and explorations on all continents. He has produced and directed many adventure shows for television, his magazine articles have appeared in Outside, National Geographic, and he is the author of six books, including Seven Summits, The Shadow of Kilimanjaro and Below Another Sky. National Geographic honored him with its “Lifetime Achievement in Adventure” award. Rick lives with his wife in Ojai, California, and they have three grown children.