Speaker for December 4th - Richard E. Franklin

Regional Director of Cleantech Open. The mission of this organization is to “Find, Fund and Foster” Cleantech entrepreneurs across the United States. To date, over 600 companies have amassed $660 Million in capital to commercialize their technologies while creating over 2300 clean tech jobs.

Dick was co-founder for the first expansion region (Rocky Mountain), is a prolific fundraiser, provides C-Level strategic acumen and is instrumental in the launch of additional new regions across the country

Dick brings 35 years of CEO, COO, CSO, SVP level experience with corporations such as Reebok, Coors, Head Sports, Seven-Up, TCI, Nestle etc. His expertise is in strategic, organizational and process change transforms economic, environmental and social challenges into sustainable business models for the future.

He has done eco-strategies, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) projects, EMS (Environmental Management Systems), Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and brand positioning for organizations such as Merrick Engineering, Channel 9, Douglas County Schools, St. Mary’s University, Saunders Construction, Texas Business for Clean Air, Accuwater, Regis Jesuit High School, Cleantech Open etc

Among his many community activities are United Way Denver, Children’s Museum, Audubon Society, Denver South Metro Chamber, Renewable Energy Taskforce, CORE, CleanLaunch Incubator, Earth Protect and Colorado Clean Tech Industry Association.

Dick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from St. Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; a Master of Business Administration from Dalhousie University, Halifax and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce degree from St. Mary’s in 1999.

In 2008, the South Metro Chamber awarded Richard the “Volunteer Leader of the Year” award. In 2010, he was nominated for the “Governor’s Award for Cleantech Leadership.”

He is an avid diver and has amassed over 1,000 dives around the globe over the last 40 years. It has been this visual time capsule of destruction that has motivated him to help business transform from “Depletive to Sustainable to Restorative” strategies for a secure, economic future.

His wife D.A. is a medical doctor and his daughter Missy is a two time World Record Holder and the youngest member of the U.S. swim team.