CEU 1 – 12-1pm
Presenter: Maria Ruehl
Maria Ruehl, M.B.A.
Midwest Regional Manager
American Biltrite Flooring

 
Title: Success in Achieving Carbon Neutrality! Addressing Climate Change in Product Manufacturing

Description: Protecting the earth and addressing climate change is the responsibility of everyone. Individuals, organizations, governments, and businesses are currently striving to figure out how they can do their part to reduce global warming potential through the reduction of CO2 emissions, produce low embodied carbon products, and conserve energy and resources to minimize their carbon footprint. Carbon neutrality has been established as a goal for businesses and governments alike – as more requirements and regulations are being established to reach “Net Zero” by prescribed dates.
 

Through the lens of life cycle assessment and related impacts, the entire manufacturing process of products, including transparency about materials and supply chain, are key in addressing carbon impacts. This educational program shall provide commonly defined terms used to better understand carbon in relation to global warming potential, the right questions to ask about how carbon neutrality is achieved, an example of achieving carbon neutrality for a product, and the application of carbon neutral products and criteria for Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes and USGBC’s LEED® v4.1 BD+C and ID+C.
 
Credits: 1 credit, IDCEC, USGBC, AIA
 
Maria Ruehl’s Bio:
 

Prior to Maria’s tenure at American Biltrite Flooring, she led the Membership and Marketing departments of Northwestern Medicine’s prestigious Health & Fitness Centers on Chicago’s Northshore. Her relations with senior leadership at the hospital and reputation for bringing results, underscored key initiatives in membership growth and patient success. Now managing 14 Midwest States for American Biltrite, Maria continues to drive business in the Healthcare Industry, aiding hospitals in the selection of efficient, affordable, environmentally conscious and aesthetically designed flooring.

 
Maria’s consultative approach is also highlighted by her international business experience working as Marketing Manager for (what is now) Accenture’s Luxembourg office in Western Europe. Here she assisted project teams with developing web-based solutions for global firms in a wide range of industries. Combine achievement, learning, energy and commitment, her Midwest customers champion her for bringing fun to the job. When Maria is not assisting her flooring customers, she teaches yoga in the Denver area, guiding students toward individual and community-minded enrichment.

CEU 3 – 4-5pm
Presenter: Veronica Ellis
Regional Workplace Advisor, West, Kimball International

Title: Multisensory Wellbeing: Biohacking Creativity

Description:
How we perceive our physical environment influences our body, mind, and spirit in profound ways. As design experts, the more we understand humans the more we can understand how to shape the spaces we occupy and how environment can impact us on a biological, physical, and chemical level. Get your senses ready as we’ll learn to achieve a multisensory wellbeing in biohacking human experience and creativity.

Learning Objectives

Explore the “wellness wake-up call” that’s leading the “new normal” in workplace, health, and education environments.

Review the 5 senses and explore examples of sensory techniques that boost creativity and focus.

Examine how the “cinnamon effect” can enhance creativity and welfare.

Understand how to combine the senses in the built environment to promote our social, cognitive and emotional wellbeing.

Credits: 1 credit, IDCEC, AIA

Veronica Ellis’ Bio:  

Joining Kimball International as a Field Sales Intern in May of 2016, Veronica has transitioned into various customer-facing roles within the Kimball International organization. After her summer and winter college internship as our first ever field sales intern, she became a full time Showroom + Events Market Manager for our flagship showroom located in Downtown Chicago immediately after graduation. She quickly was promoted and became the youngest Market Sales Manager that Kimball International has ever had.

Now, in her current role as Regional Workplace Advisor, covering the West Central, Mountain, and Pacific regions she elevates brand perceptions of Kimball International. Her enthusiasm, competitive spirit, and can-do attitude serve her well in this role. Veronica earned degrees in Marketing, Professional Sales, and Operations from Indiana University Bloomington’s prestigious Kelley School of Business while also playing four years of college soccer and serving as the team captain her senior year.