2015 Built Environment and Outdoor Summit Agenda
October 13–15, 2015, Overland Park DoubleTree Hotel, Overland Park, Kan.
Tuesday, October 13
Noon–1 p.m., Registration and Check-In
1–5 p.m., Pre-Conference Sessions – Pre-registration required
Measuring What Matters: Practical Evaluation and Assessment of Built Environment Projects
Speakers: Jennie Lazarus, M.S.; and Owen Cox, Ph.D., KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research
Registration fee: $50 per person
Maximum 30 registrants
Speakers: Jennie Lazarus, M.S.; and Owen Cox, Ph.D., KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research
Registration fee: $50 per person
Maximum 30 registrants
Making the Most of a Growing Momentum: Starting or Accelerating Your Food Policy Council
Speakers: Missty Lechner, Kansas Alliance for Wellness, American Heart Association; Katie Plohocky, Tulsa Food
Security Council; Rita Scott, Oklahoma Food and Farm Alliance; Barb LaClair, independent food policy consultant
Registration fees: $25/person for 1–2 people; $50/team of 3 or more people. Fees are waived if participants attend
the entire summit.
Maximum 60 registrants
Speakers: Missty Lechner, Kansas Alliance for Wellness, American Heart Association; Katie Plohocky, Tulsa Food
Security Council; Rita Scott, Oklahoma Food and Farm Alliance; Barb LaClair, independent food policy consultant
Registration fees: $25/person for 1–2 people; $50/team of 3 or more people. Fees are waived if participants attend
the entire summit.
Maximum 60 registrants
The Food Policy session is sponsored by the Kansas Health Foundation and the Kansas Alliance for Wellness
SOLD OUT Site Visit to Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County - Rozark Trails, Healthy Campus Vision, Levee Trails – When you register for the Summit and would like to be added to a wait list for this session, please check the appropriate box. We'll contact you if any spaces open up.
Speakers/Organizers: Wesley McKain, Healthy Communities Wyandotte; Heidi Holliday, Rosedale Development Association; Mike Calwell, Kaw Point Riverfront Park; Steve Curtis, Community Housing of Wyandotte County; Lindsay Begham, Mayor's Office, Unified Government of KCK/WyCo; Bill Riphahn, Shawnee Co. Parks and Rec; Ashley Jones Wisner, KC Healthy Kids; Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council
Special thanks to KC Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Wyandotte and the Rosedale Development Association for their help in planning this session!
Registration fee: $10/person
Maximum 25 registrants
Meet in the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel at 1 p.m. for shuttle and van pickup.
Speakers/Organizers: Wesley McKain, Healthy Communities Wyandotte; Heidi Holliday, Rosedale Development Association; Mike Calwell, Kaw Point Riverfront Park; Steve Curtis, Community Housing of Wyandotte County; Lindsay Begham, Mayor's Office, Unified Government of KCK/WyCo; Bill Riphahn, Shawnee Co. Parks and Rec; Ashley Jones Wisner, KC Healthy Kids; Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council
Special thanks to KC Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Wyandotte and the Rosedale Development Association for their help in planning this session!
Registration fee: $10/person
Maximum 25 registrants
Meet in the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel at 1 p.m. for shuttle and van pickup.
Wednesday, October 14

7:30 a.m., Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:15 a.m., Welcome!, Members of the BEOS Planning Committee and City Manager Bill Ebel, Overland Park, Kan.
8:30 a.m., Morning Keynote Presentation
Trails Well Built: Connecting Lives and Land
Christine Byl, Author, Teacher, Adventurer, Trail Builder
Most of us have visited and enjoyed a National Park at one time or another… but how many times have we stopped to think about what it takes to maintain these gorgeous American oases? What kind of people build the trails and work to preserve the land while still sharing its beauty with us? Award-winning author and trail designer Christine Byl spent over a decade as a “traildog” (trail laborer) for the National Parks Service, embracing the physically demanding work, the colorful characters on the crew, and the connection of the human spirit to unfettered wilderness. She shares those experiences in her highly-acclaimed book, Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods, shedding light on the stories of the sweat equity inherent in trail building.
Today, Ms. Byl runs a trail contracting business, Interior Trails, with her husband in Alaska, and continues to write and speak about the importance of the great outdoors… and the even greater importance of our role within it.
8:15 a.m., Welcome!, Members of the BEOS Planning Committee and City Manager Bill Ebel, Overland Park, Kan.
8:30 a.m., Morning Keynote Presentation
Trails Well Built: Connecting Lives and Land
Christine Byl, Author, Teacher, Adventurer, Trail Builder
Most of us have visited and enjoyed a National Park at one time or another… but how many times have we stopped to think about what it takes to maintain these gorgeous American oases? What kind of people build the trails and work to preserve the land while still sharing its beauty with us? Award-winning author and trail designer Christine Byl spent over a decade as a “traildog” (trail laborer) for the National Parks Service, embracing the physically demanding work, the colorful characters on the crew, and the connection of the human spirit to unfettered wilderness. She shares those experiences in her highly-acclaimed book, Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods, shedding light on the stories of the sweat equity inherent in trail building.
Today, Ms. Byl runs a trail contracting business, Interior Trails, with her husband in Alaska, and continues to write and speak about the importance of the great outdoors… and the even greater importance of our role within it.
10 a.m., Transition and Exhibit Time
10:30–11:45 a.m., Breakout Session #1
10:30–11:45 a.m., Breakout Session #1
Trails and Outdoors: Dirt Work: Trail Building from the Ground Up
Speaker: Christine Byl, DirtWorks.
Moderator: Mike Goodwin
Speaker: Christine Byl, DirtWorks.
Moderator: Mike Goodwin
Healthy Eating and Active Living (H.E.A.L): Institutional Purchasing: How to Incorporate Local Foods into
Menus
Speakers: Bill Barkley, SODEXO; Eileen Horn, Douglas Co. Food Policy Council; Jeff Leahy, Bon Appetit Management Company; Barb Depew, Farm 2 School; Helen Schnoes,
Moderator: Eileen Horn, City of Lawrence and Douglas Co., Kan.
Built Environment: Bringing Bicycling to the Main Street, USA
Speakers: Aaron Apel, Big Poppi Bikes, Manhattan, Kan.; Andy Fry, Topeka Community Cycling Project; Elizabeth Bejan, Revolve KC
Moderator: Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC
Odds and Ends: Secrets to Successful Fundraising and Community Support for Built Environment Projects
Speakers: Gretchen Davis, Friends of R Park, Roeland Park, Kan.; Marilyn Hull, Douglas County Community
Foundation; Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
Moderator: Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
11:45 a.m., Transition to Lunch, Exhibits
12 p.m., Healthy Lunch.
Menus
Speakers: Bill Barkley, SODEXO; Eileen Horn, Douglas Co. Food Policy Council; Jeff Leahy, Bon Appetit Management Company; Barb Depew, Farm 2 School; Helen Schnoes,
Moderator: Eileen Horn, City of Lawrence and Douglas Co., Kan.
Built Environment: Bringing Bicycling to the Main Street, USA
Speakers: Aaron Apel, Big Poppi Bikes, Manhattan, Kan.; Andy Fry, Topeka Community Cycling Project; Elizabeth Bejan, Revolve KC
Moderator: Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC
Odds and Ends: Secrets to Successful Fundraising and Community Support for Built Environment Projects
Speakers: Gretchen Davis, Friends of R Park, Roeland Park, Kan.; Marilyn Hull, Douglas County Community
Foundation; Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
Moderator: Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
11:45 a.m., Transition to Lunch, Exhibits
12 p.m., Healthy Lunch.
12:30 p.m., Lunch Keynote Presentation
Rediscovering Wildness
Can a child recognize what is truly wild? How does a public entity present that wildness in a way that is authentic? Josh Svaty draws on over a decade of public policy making as well as service at The Land Institute—one of the most highly regarded research institutions on wild nature—as he delves into the topic of wildness and how to reconnect humans to that most basic state of being. Josh Svaty is the former Kansas Secretary of Agriculture. He grew up on a farm outside Ellsworth, Kansas, and was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives just out of college in 2002. Following his service as a cabinet secretary, he served as Senior Adviser to the EPA Region 7 Regional Administrator. Josh and his wife Kimberly own and operate Free State Farms, and their three children constitute the 6th generation of Svatys to farm in Kansas. |
1:30 p.m., Physical Activity Break – at your seats – led by Jamie Simpson and Jordan Roberts, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
1:45 p.m., Transition Time and Exhibits
2 p.m., Breakout Session #2
Trails and Outdoors: Linking States, Counties, Communities and Parks: Highlighting the Extensive Johnson County Trail System
This session runs from 2–5 p.m. It starts indoors in a conference breakout room and then moves outdoors. This session requires some walking; please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Speakers/Organizers: Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council; Cliff Middleton, Johnson Co. Parks and Recreation; Bill Maasen, Johnson Co. Parks and Recreation; Bill Riphahn, Shawnee Co. Parks and Recreation; Kathy Pritchett, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
H.E.A.L. (Repeat) Institutional Purchasing: How to Incorporate Local Foods into Menus
Speakers: Bill Barkley, SODEXO; Eileen Horn, Douglas Co. Food Policy Council; Jeff Leahy, Bon Appetit Management Company; Barb Depew, Farm 2 School
Moderator: Eileen Horn, City of Lawrence and Douglas Co., Kan.
Built Environment: (Repeat) Bringing Bicycling to the Main Street, USA
Speakers: Aaron Apel, Big Poppi Bikes, Manhattan, Kan.; Andy Fry, Topeka Community Cycling Project; Elizabeth Bejan, Revolve KC
Moderator: Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC
Odds and Ends: A Long and Winding Walk Across the Sunflower State — A 500-mile Trek Through Kansas
Speaker: Henry Fortunato, Sunflower Republic LLC
Moderator: Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
2 p.m., Breakout Session #2
Trails and Outdoors: Linking States, Counties, Communities and Parks: Highlighting the Extensive Johnson County Trail System
This session runs from 2–5 p.m. It starts indoors in a conference breakout room and then moves outdoors. This session requires some walking; please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Speakers/Organizers: Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council; Cliff Middleton, Johnson Co. Parks and Recreation; Bill Maasen, Johnson Co. Parks and Recreation; Bill Riphahn, Shawnee Co. Parks and Recreation; Kathy Pritchett, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
H.E.A.L. (Repeat) Institutional Purchasing: How to Incorporate Local Foods into Menus
Speakers: Bill Barkley, SODEXO; Eileen Horn, Douglas Co. Food Policy Council; Jeff Leahy, Bon Appetit Management Company; Barb Depew, Farm 2 School
Moderator: Eileen Horn, City of Lawrence and Douglas Co., Kan.
Built Environment: (Repeat) Bringing Bicycling to the Main Street, USA
Speakers: Aaron Apel, Big Poppi Bikes, Manhattan, Kan.; Andy Fry, Topeka Community Cycling Project; Elizabeth Bejan, Revolve KC
Moderator: Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC
Odds and Ends: A Long and Winding Walk Across the Sunflower State — A 500-mile Trek Through Kansas
Speaker: Henry Fortunato, Sunflower Republic LLC
Moderator: Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
3:15 p.m., Transition Time and Exhibits
3:30 p.m., Breakout Session #3
Trails and Outdoors: (Continued) Linking States, Counties, Communities and Parks: Highlighting the Extensive
Johnson County Trail System
This session runs from 2–5 p.m.
H.E.A.L.: Creating a Culture of Health for our Kids – Inside and Outside the School
Speakers: Maggie Priesmeyer, BikeWalk KC; Amber Rohling and D'ana Heinlein, Nickerson Elementary School; Joe Blankenship, BikeWalkKC
Moderator: Jordan Roberts, Kansas Department of Health and the Environment
Built Environment: Embedding Ecological Value in Land Use Planning
Speakers: Tom Jacobs, Environmental Program Director, Mid-America Regional Council; Alecia Kates, Water Quality
Planner, Mid-America Regional Council
Moderator: John Staples, Mid-America Regional Council
Odds and Ends: (Repeat) Secrets to Successful Fundraising and Community Support for Built Environment Projects
Speakers: Gretchen Davis, Friends of R Park, Roeland Park, Kan.; Marilyn Hull, Douglas County Community
Foundation; Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
Moderator: Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
3:30 p.m., Breakout Session #3
Trails and Outdoors: (Continued) Linking States, Counties, Communities and Parks: Highlighting the Extensive
Johnson County Trail System
This session runs from 2–5 p.m.
H.E.A.L.: Creating a Culture of Health for our Kids – Inside and Outside the School
Speakers: Maggie Priesmeyer, BikeWalk KC; Amber Rohling and D'ana Heinlein, Nickerson Elementary School; Joe Blankenship, BikeWalkKC
Moderator: Jordan Roberts, Kansas Department of Health and the Environment
Built Environment: Embedding Ecological Value in Land Use Planning
Speakers: Tom Jacobs, Environmental Program Director, Mid-America Regional Council; Alecia Kates, Water Quality
Planner, Mid-America Regional Council
Moderator: John Staples, Mid-America Regional Council
Odds and Ends: (Repeat) Secrets to Successful Fundraising and Community Support for Built Environment Projects
Speakers: Gretchen Davis, Friends of R Park, Roeland Park, Kan.; Marilyn Hull, Douglas County Community
Foundation; Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
Moderator: Sarah Shipley, KC Healthy Kids
Evening Events
5:30 p.m., Social event at Regnier Center Atrium, Johnson County Community College. Open only to BEOS registrants. Pre-registration required. Free dinner hour appetizers and cash bar.
6:30 p.m., Doors open to the Capitol Federal Conference Center at JCCC.
7 p.m., Tony Buettner, Blue Zones. Free and Open to the Public.
6:30 p.m., Doors open to the Capitol Federal Conference Center at JCCC.
7 p.m., Tony Buettner, Blue Zones. Free and Open to the Public.
Blue Zones: Secrets of the World's Healthiest, Happiest People
Tony Buettner, Blue Zones Vice President of Product Development and Business
Tony Buettner, Blue Zones Vice President of Product Development and Business

What is the secret of some of the world’s most long-lived, healthiest and happiest people? Based on the first groundbreaking book, "Blue Zones," and other books to follow, both empirical research and firsthand observation point to nine key characteristics, several of which relate directly to the built environment… and none of which point to medicine, diets or going to the gym! The Blue Zones story started more than a decade ago, when both longevity researchers and a team from National Geographic noticed some parts of the globe contained hyper-healthy "hot spots" where residents consistently reached the age of 100 at rates 10 times greater than in the US… with virtually no signs of frailty or chronic disease. Today, the Blue Zones group continues its work by inspiring or helping diverse communities across the globe implement these key concepts, sometimes with surprising results.
Blue Zones speaker Tony Buettner has spent more than 30 years traveling the world as both the owner of an outdoor adventure company and a participant on multiple Blue Zone National Geographic expeditions. He brings deep-seated understanding and insight about health and wellness as it relates to population, place and culture. As the Blue Zones VP of Product Development and Business, Tony will speak to that critical intersection of key sectors in a healthier built environment, including policy, worksites, food retail, and individual engagement. Through case studies and visuals, Tony will share the story of Blue Zones and how lessons from around the world can inform the work of built environment advocates here in Kansas. He will inspire with examples of other Midwest cities collectively adopting Blue Zones concepts – and already seeing drops in healthcare claims, and increases in predicted longevity.
Blue Zones speaker Tony Buettner has spent more than 30 years traveling the world as both the owner of an outdoor adventure company and a participant on multiple Blue Zone National Geographic expeditions. He brings deep-seated understanding and insight about health and wellness as it relates to population, place and culture. As the Blue Zones VP of Product Development and Business, Tony will speak to that critical intersection of key sectors in a healthier built environment, including policy, worksites, food retail, and individual engagement. Through case studies and visuals, Tony will share the story of Blue Zones and how lessons from around the world can inform the work of built environment advocates here in Kansas. He will inspire with examples of other Midwest cities collectively adopting Blue Zones concepts – and already seeing drops in healthcare claims, and increases in predicted longevity.
8:30 p.m., Public reception with coffee and cookies, Regnier Center Atrium
Thursday, October 15
7:30 a.m., Registration and Continental Breakfast
8 a.m., Welcome and Housekeeping
8 a.m., Welcome and Housekeeping
8:05 a.m., Morning Keynote Presentation
Transformation of a City Through the Built Environment and Better Health
Hon. Mark Holland, Mayor and CEO, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan.
Hon. Mark Holland, Mayor and CEO, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan.

Public health and wellness is sometimes seen as a luxury worry as compared to the economy and job creation. That’s not the case for Mayor Mark Holland, Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan. (UG). Mayor Holland has placed public health, wellness and a positive built environment as a top priority during his tenure. He believes that by keeping health at the forefront, the so-called “urban core” of KCK can transform itself into the heart of downtown development, serving as a model for other cities struggling to reverse generations of poverty and physical neglect. “The vision we have for the healthy campus downtown is nothing short of a national model for healthy living in an urban area,” Holland said recently.
During his keynote, Mayor Holland will share the story behind this dream. The past: Wyandotte County at the very bottom of the list of public health rankings. The present: a vigorous grassroots coalition through Wyandotte Healthy Communities. And the future: a multi-million-dollar "Healthy Campus" vision that simultaneously cultivates economic opportunities with plans for a more walkable, bikeable city; increased green space; convenient access to healthy food and a grocery store; and a wellness center to serve as the community hub. Mayor Holland will inspire you as he describes how coming in “last on the list” has inspired Wyandotte County and KCK to put their health first.
Mayor Holland is a fourth generation of “the Dot” and currently serving his first term as mayor. He began his career with the UG as a member of the Board of Commissioners in 2007. Also a reverend with a doctorate in ministry, Reverend Holland has served as a senior pastor at the Trinity Community Church in KCK since 1999. He is a longtime member of the downtown Rotary Club, past president of the Wyandotte County Parks Foundation and former KCK Police and Fire Chaplain. He and his wife, Julie Solomon, have four children.
During his keynote, Mayor Holland will share the story behind this dream. The past: Wyandotte County at the very bottom of the list of public health rankings. The present: a vigorous grassroots coalition through Wyandotte Healthy Communities. And the future: a multi-million-dollar "Healthy Campus" vision that simultaneously cultivates economic opportunities with plans for a more walkable, bikeable city; increased green space; convenient access to healthy food and a grocery store; and a wellness center to serve as the community hub. Mayor Holland will inspire you as he describes how coming in “last on the list” has inspired Wyandotte County and KCK to put their health first.
Mayor Holland is a fourth generation of “the Dot” and currently serving his first term as mayor. He began his career with the UG as a member of the Board of Commissioners in 2007. Also a reverend with a doctorate in ministry, Reverend Holland has served as a senior pastor at the Trinity Community Church in KCK since 1999. He is a longtime member of the downtown Rotary Club, past president of the Wyandotte County Parks Foundation and former KCK Police and Fire Chaplain. He and his wife, Julie Solomon, have four children.
9 a.m., Transition Time
9:15 a.m., Breakout Session #4
Trails and Outdoors: The Sunflower State's Signature Trail: Update on the Flint Hills Nature Trail
Speakers: Linda Lanterman and Jeff Bender, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; Dan Holloway, CFS Engineering; Hans Klein-Hewett, RDG Planning and Design
Moderator: Jeff Bender, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
H.E.A.L.: Attracting Rural Grocers and Food Financing
Speakers: David Procter, Rural Grocery Initiative, Kansas State University; Patty Clark, USDA State Director
Moderator: Ashley Jones-Wisner, KC Healthy Kids
Built Environment: Bike Share ²
Speakers: Karl Fundenberger, Director of Bike Operations, City of Topeka; Eric Rogers, Bike/Walk KC; Kate Hoppe, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Moderator: Kate Hoppe, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Odds and Ends: The Dollars and Sense Behind Green Space: An Economic Analysis of Johnson County Parks and Recreation by the Trust for Public Land
Speaker: Jessica Sargent, Trust for Public Land
Moderator: Bill Maasen, Johnson County Parks and Recreation
9:15 a.m., Breakout Session #4
Trails and Outdoors: The Sunflower State's Signature Trail: Update on the Flint Hills Nature Trail
Speakers: Linda Lanterman and Jeff Bender, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; Dan Holloway, CFS Engineering; Hans Klein-Hewett, RDG Planning and Design
Moderator: Jeff Bender, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
H.E.A.L.: Attracting Rural Grocers and Food Financing
Speakers: David Procter, Rural Grocery Initiative, Kansas State University; Patty Clark, USDA State Director
Moderator: Ashley Jones-Wisner, KC Healthy Kids
Built Environment: Bike Share ²
Speakers: Karl Fundenberger, Director of Bike Operations, City of Topeka; Eric Rogers, Bike/Walk KC; Kate Hoppe, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Moderator: Kate Hoppe, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Odds and Ends: The Dollars and Sense Behind Green Space: An Economic Analysis of Johnson County Parks and Recreation by the Trust for Public Land
Speaker: Jessica Sargent, Trust for Public Land
Moderator: Bill Maasen, Johnson County Parks and Recreation
This session is sponsored by Johnson County Park and Recreation District
10:30 a.m., Healthy Morning Snacks, Hotel Checkout Time
11 a.m., Breakout Session #5
Trails and Outdoors: Trail Geeks: Using Technology to Enhance the Trail Experience
Speakers: Kevin Otterman, Kansas Trails Council and Sprint; Chuck Jackson, Garmin; Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails
Council
Moderator: Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council
H.E.A.L.: New Farming Frontiers: Innovative Ways to Increase Local Food Production across Kansas
Speaker: Rachel Pollack, Catholic Charities and New Roots for Refugees; Cole Cottin, Kansas Rural Center; Jim Jarsulic, Turner Community Garden, K.C., Kan.
Moderator: Barb LaClair
Odds and Ends: Funders Forum
Organizers/Moderators: Kate Hoppe, Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Elizabeth Burger, Sunflower Foundation
Trails and Outdoors: Trail Geeks: Using Technology to Enhance the Trail Experience
Speakers: Kevin Otterman, Kansas Trails Council and Sprint; Chuck Jackson, Garmin; Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails
Council
Moderator: Mike Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council
H.E.A.L.: New Farming Frontiers: Innovative Ways to Increase Local Food Production across Kansas
Speaker: Rachel Pollack, Catholic Charities and New Roots for Refugees; Cole Cottin, Kansas Rural Center; Jim Jarsulic, Turner Community Garden, K.C., Kan.
Moderator: Barb LaClair
Odds and Ends: Funders Forum
Organizers/Moderators: Kate Hoppe, Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Elizabeth Burger, Sunflower Foundation
12:15 p.m., Transition to Lunch
12:30 p.m., Lunch! Healthy Design Award! Promos! Prizes! And More!
12:30 p.m., Lunch! Healthy Design Award! Promos! Prizes! And More!
1:30p.m., Conference Adjourns