Annual Conference

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jason O. Harris

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jason O. Harris is a nationally recognized keynote speaker, best-selling author, and leading expert on trust and leadership in the workplace. A fourth-generation military service member, Jason served nearly three decades in the U.S. Air Force, flying over 2,000 combat hours across 11 deployments and culminating his career as a Boeing KC-46 Squadron Commander.

Drawing on his high-risk combat experience, Jason developed his proprietary No Fail Trust® methodology, helping organizations build cultures of accountability, performance, and trust. He is the lead researcher behind The National Study on Elevating Trust and Performance in the Modern Workforce and has delivered keynote presentations to top organizations including Cisco, Ford, Caterpillar, and Lockheed Martin. His insights have been featured in Forbes, major podcasts, and the History Channel.

Doreen M. Harris, President & CEO, NYSERDA

Doreen M. Harris was appointed President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on April 7, 2021, after serving as Acting President and CEO since June 2020. She leads NYSERDA’s efforts to advance policy frameworks, clean energy technologies, and solutions that support New York’s clean energy transition, create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, and build an equitable economy.

Under her direction, NYSERDA advances infrastructure and innovation across large-scale and distributed renewables, building decarbonization, advanced nuclear, energy storage, transportation electrification, clean fuels, transmission, and resiliency. As Chair of the State Energy Planning Board, she led the development and finalization of the 2025 State Energy Plan, establishing a framework for an affordable, reliable, and clean energy system for all New Yorkers.

President Harris joined NYSERDA in 2010 and previously served as Vice President of Large-Scale Renewables, where she led the development of New York’s land-based renewable and offshore wind resources, including execution of the State’s offshore wind master plan. Prior to public service, she spent more than a decade in private-sector management and engineering roles.

She serves as Chair of the State Energy Planning Board and on the boards of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC), Alliance to Save Energy, National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, NY-BEST, and Veloz’s Public Policy Board, and is a member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Leadership Council and an ambassador for the Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative.

President Harris holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester and a Master of Business Administration from the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, Educational Leadership Speaker & Retired Superintendent

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo recently retired after a distinguished 26-year career in education, including 12 years as Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, Wisconsin. Under his leadership, the district was twice recognized as an Innovative District by the International Center for Leadership in Education, reflecting its commitment to forward-thinking educational excellence.

A nationally respected voice in educational leadership, Dr. Sanfelippo has been recognized as one of just 117 Future Ready Superintendents and one of 50 Personalized Learning Leaders by the United States Department of Education. In 2019, Education Dive named him National Superintendent of the Year in recognition of his transformative impact on schools, students, and communities.

Dr. Sanfelippo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, a Master of Science in Educational Psychology, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Leadership, Learning, and Service.

Frank S. Rossi, PhD
Associate Professor and Richard C. Call Director of the Agricultural Sciences Major
School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Cornell University

Dr. Frank Rossi leads a nationally recognized research and education program focused on the ecological aspects of turfgrass management. His work centers on improving the environmental compatibility and economic feasibility of turf systems across lawns, golf courses, and sports fields. Through decades of applied research, he has advanced reduced-input management strategies, integrated pest management, and data-driven decision-making for turf managers.

Dr. Rossi’s research has addressed nutrient use efficiency, pesticide reduction, climate and disease interactions, and long-term performance of reduced-chemical systems. He is widely published in leading turfgrass and agronomy journals and is a frequent speaker to industry and municipal audiences. His leadership and innovation have been recognized with multiple awards, including the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award, and Environmental Communicator of the Year honors.

Carl Schimenti
Urban Environmental Specialist, Cornell Turfgrass Team

Carl Schimenti serves as the Urban Environmental Specialist for the Cornell Turfgrass Team, where he manages a diverse portfolio of research and extension projects spanning school athletic fields, golf courses, and urban greenspaces. His work includes leading schoolyard stewardship initiatives in K–12 facilities, statewide golf course reporting, development of best management practice tracking tools, and modeling projects that evaluate pesticide risk, nutrient use, and turf growth under real-world conditions.

A Cornell graduate in environmental engineering and former member of the university’s golf team, Schimenti brings a unique blend of engineering analysis and on-the-ground field experience to his role. Since joining the team, he has helped build statewide collaborations and applied research that directly support superintendents, field managers, and municipal staff. Through his extension work—including leadership roles with the Spring Turfshow and the ShortCUTT newsletter—he has become a trusted voice translating complex research into practical, implementable strategies for busy practitioners.