Speaker's Biographies:

David A. Rinard is director of Corporate Environmental Performance for Steelcase Inc., the global leader in the office furniture industry. Steelcase delivers a better work experience to its customers by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. Its portfolio includes architecture, furniture and technology products. Dave, promoted to his current position in November 1994, leads the department that is responsible for overseeing the company’s environmental initiatives and performance and implementing our corporate environmental strategy, including regulatory compliance, sustainability, environmental outreach and responsible conduct programs.

Prior to his current position, Dave served as manager, Corporate Environmental Quality, from 1992 to 1994. He began his career with Steelcase in 1979 as an assistant environmental engineer. In 1981, he was promoted to environmental engineer and then to senior environmental engineer in 1986, where he had responsibility for ground water programs, superfund activities and in-house consulting on compliance programs.  Dave joined Steelcase after two years with Plastic Plate, Inc., where he was a chemist.

 Dave is on the board of directors for the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. He is a member of the external advisory board of the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems, the external advisory board of the Aquinas College sustainable business program, and the Kettering University Environmental Advisory Board. He is also a member representative for the U.S. Green Building Council, a participant in the BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association) Government Affairs Committee and a participant in the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs Committee.

 He is a former chair of the board of the West Michigan Air & Waste Management Association, past president of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and former board member of the International Design Center for the Environment.

 A 1977 graduate of Michigan State University, Dave holds a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology and public health. He earned a master’s degree in management from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids in 1988. Dave was born Aug. 25, 1955, in Grand Rapids, Mich. He now resides in Caledonia, Mich., with his wife, Patricia, and their two children.