September Networking Breakfast Features Expert Panel Discussion on Energy and the Environment  

JR Tolbert - Mr. Tolbert is an Environmental Advocate for Virginia Environment, a "statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization" that focuses "exclusively on protecting Virginia's air, water and open spaces."  Mr. Tolbert will offer insight into how Virginia is grappling with energy and environmental issues.

Kent Baake – Mr. Baake is founder of Continuum Energy Solutions, a green products and services company in Northern Virginia offering residential solar energy systems.  Mr. Baake has a passion for “all things green!” and will discuss how the green energy economy can create a new wave of businesses. A businessman for more than 20 years, Mr. Baake owns another business focused on improving residential energy consumption as the founder of Metro Gutter and Home Services, which offers home exterior-maintenance and green energy roof solutions throughout Northern Virginia.  An Eagle Scout, Mr. Baake is a graduate of James Madison University and the current World Record Holder for endurance Rollerblading. 

Brian Toll is founder and Chief Executive Officer of ecobeco, an eco-goods retailer focused on facilitating the consumer’s quest to implement energy-efficient solutions in their homes.  ecobeco also provides in-home ecoAssessment and Home Energy Audit services the DC metro and Baltimore metro areas.  Brian joins our panel to discuss green entrepreneurship and how Virginia’s energy policies impact his efforts to make homes and businesses more efficient.  Brian is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and received his MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Moderator:  Eric Roston - Mr. Roston is a former Time Magazine reporter and author of the Carbon Age (Walker & Co.).  This critically acclaimed book "argues that 'carbon' is the most important word that many people understand the least...and traces the dynamic, fundamental science that unifies seemingly disparate parts of our experience: Climate, energy, health, industry."   Mr. Roston has appeared on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," CleanSkies.tv, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBC and National Public Radio, among others.  Mr. Roston holds an M.A. in Russian history and a B.A. in modern European history from Columbia University and is fluent in Russian.