Dr. Kevin Lyons is the Director of the Purchasing Department at Rutgers , the State University of New Jersey. With over 850 buildings, Rutgers is a public land grant research institution of more than 60,000 faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Lyons also conducts 'applied and transferable' research on environmental policy, involving environmentally preferable products and services. He designs and implements local, national, and international environmental and economic development initiatives and policy via the purchasing contract. His current research involves several product life-cycle assessments and costing research projects including product waste profiles. He is currently conducting research for the New York City Transit Authority/MTA and the UK Government (and EU) on integrating sustainable development criteria in government contracts and regulations. As member of the University's Purchasing Division since 1988, Dr. Lyons was able to apply best-in-class 'applied' environmental research and life-cycle costing, techniques to the University contracting process.

As part of his global sustainable procurement work, Dr. Lyons has worked the World Wildlife Federation - UK (WWF-UK) on public and private sector education and implementation schemes utilizing key European Union policy criteria that include integrating Best Value, Sustainable Procurement, and Local Agenda 21 Policy with UK Local Authorities. Dr. Lyons is also currently working with Government and Higher Education officials in Colombia and Peru on integrating sustainable procurement and waste management policy and contracts throughout South America . Dr. Lyons is the author of many articles and books including 'Buying for the Future: Contract Management and the Environmental Challenge' (Pluto Press, London , January 2000).

Rachel Eckert joined the NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance in June 2003, and her work focuses primarily on purchasing recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services. She graduated from Washington College with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and English. She previously worked in Montgomery County , Maryland , where she educated businesses and schools about recycling. Rachel also worked in the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, where she promoted environmental stewardship in the Federal government, and helped educate Federal agencies about Executive Order 13101, Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition.

Deborah Dunning is Founder and President of the International Design Center for the Environment, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to advance the development and use of sustainably designed products. She was Project Manager for IDCE's exhibit on sustainable building and product selection developed for EPA and scheduled to be on the Duke campus next fall. Deborah is currently directing the work of the IDCE Board, life cycle assessment professionals and information design leaders on a streamlined life-cycle assessment project. Called eLCie (tm), it features the "key attributes" of a product presented in user-friendly visual language. Deborah serves on a workgroup of the United Nation Environment Program-SETAC's Life Cycle Initiatives Project.