May 6, 2023
Aware HQ
Join us this May for the first ever GiveBackLabs event, designed to explore the intersection of technology and the environment.
We’re bringing together environmentally passionate and tech-driven innovators to team up, learn from our experts, and practice design skills. You’ll leave with the tools you need to keep exploring ideas on your own, alongside an incredible community.
Who is this for?
Anyone interested in learning more about green tech and sustainable practices. If you get excited about ideating, building, designing, and collaborating, this is for you – regardless of your current career.
What will we do?
Dive into brainstorming, prototyping, and validating Green Tech ideas that can make a real difference on our home planet. Four experts will present topics that they have been working closely on. You choose one area to focus on for the day – and we will take care of the rest!
Why Attend?
Sustainability is more important than ever. Innovation can help us reduce our impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future. By attending GiveBackLabs, attendees will gain valuable insights into the world of green tech and learn skills that they can apply to their own ideas.
We will be working in the following problem spaces:
To be announced!
About GiveBackLabs:
GBH Labs are an opportunity to dive deep in a specific issue area (think Green Tech, Reproductive Justice, Health Equity) alongside others who are as passionate about it as you are. Designed to be a shorter-sprint than the typical GiveBackHack event, but with all of the same key components: Impact, Community, and Ideas.
Mentor
Dominique Hadad, a passionate sustainability advocate and Founder & CEO of Green Scope Consulting, is dedicated to transforming organizations into zero-waste operations. With an engineering background and professional experience in consulting and operations, Dominique has steered Green Scope to help clients divert over 200 tons of waste from landfills. Serving food businesses, corporations, and ... Read More »
Mentor
Kevin Mireles is the Chief Sustainability Officer for Delivered, a new asset-lite national transportation parcel-delivery firm that enables shippers to diversify, cut costs and carbon emissions.
After working as the CSO for a logistics firm he created www.CutCO2.net, a one-stop shop for shippers to find insights about how to cut their emissions while improving their profitability.
... Read More »
Mentor
Ryan Prestel, a driven leader in the sustainability sector, brings his wealth of experience to empower social entrepreneurs to make a positive impact. As the founder and former CEO of JadeTrack, Ryan led the creation of an innovative energy management and sustainability platform for commercial building owners. Over a decade, he successfully raised over $1M in venture capital, generated $7M+ in revenue, ... Read More »
Adam is a co-founder of Wild Tiger Tees, a budding social enterprise work program for youth experiencing homelessness. (Which started as a GiveBackHack project in 2018!) He is passionate about inspiring others to get involved, and hosts the People Helping People Podcast to inspire greater social change in the world. By day, he utilizes his technology background as the CTO for Asset Strategy Group, where ... Read More »
Emily is a Design Thinking practitioner by day and a Social Innovation enthusiast by night. She spends her time building the social impact launchpad at GiveBackHack, coaching social entrepreneurs, and empowering communities through Design Thinking facilitation. She is passionate about leveraging systems thinking to build sustainable social solutions, creating true social impact in our communities. Previously ... Read More »
Adam is a co-founder of Wild Tiger Tees, a budding social enterprise work program for youth experiencing homelessness. (Which started as a GiveBackHack project in 2018!) He is passionate about inspiring others to get involved, and hosts the People Helping People Podcast to inspire greater social change in the world. By day, he utilizes his technology background as the CTO for Asset Strategy Group, where ... Read More »
Colin is an emerging innovator in the Columbus community. He spent his time at The Ohio State University pursuing his desire to create and critically problem solve which landed him in the Columbus entrepreneurship space.
He has spent time in a variety of roles, which range from Conservation Crewmember to Idea Development and Business Strategy intern. He is passionate about helping businesses
... Read More »
Emily is a Design Thinking practitioner by day and a Social Innovation enthusiast by night. She spends her time building the social impact launchpad at GiveBackHack, coaching social entrepreneurs, and empowering communities through Design Thinking facilitation. She is passionate about leveraging systems thinking to build sustainable social solutions, creating true social impact in our communities. Previously ... Read More »
Grant loves applying his skills to create a positive impact in the Columbus community. He is inspired by the ideas brought forth at GiveBackHack, and hopes he can help bring them to fruition! In his spare time, he enjoys music, watches sports (especially Ohio State football), goes bike riding, and plays soccer.
Julia is a self-defined startup finance addict, currently spending her days with Aware helping add security and compliance to enterprise collaboration. She is passionate about venture-backed growth, personal finance education as a tool to create more equitable opportunities in communities, and leveraging sustainable models to make social change more attainable. After participating in two GBH weekends ... Read More »
Lydia is an independent art director, graphic designer, and brand strategist working with nonprofits, social enterprises, and startups. She is the board chair for the Columbus Society of Communicating Arts (CSCA) and planning for impact with the organizers at GiveBackHack.
Max is a Software Engineer living in Columbus. He is thrilled by watching people drive to make great ideas a reality, especially when they are focused around compassion and community. He loves the outdoors and music.
Rachyl founded @greatercolumbusconsulting from her passion for helping small local businesses succeed. Rachyl is a lifelong Buckeye, with a degree from The Ohio State University, and 20 years of business experience in central Ohio. She has assisted executive teams in securing over $65M in funding, as well as helping businesses of all sizes create strategic goals that are realistic based on their past ... Read More »
Bob Fornal is Senior Solutions Developer (Front-End) with a passion for learning, testing, mentoring, speaking and personal growth. He is a blessed husband and proud father of two as well
Clayton is an IT Specialist for the Office of the Ohio Attorney General where he is the go-to guy for assistance with over 200 applications and systems built around protecting Ohio's families. His previous background in hospitality is fused with a passion for technology that he discovered at, of all things, a GiveBackHack event in 2016.
His mission since has been to provide resources
... Read More »