Portland, OR – The Green Professionals Conference confirmed today that Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will be giving the morning keynote address at the conference on January 26, 2010.  Mr. Wellinghoff was named Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency that oversees wholesale electric transactions and interstate electric transmission and gas transportation in the United States, by President Barack Obama on March 19, 2009. A member of the Commission since 2006, the U.S. Senate reconfirmed him to a full, five-year FERC term in December 2007.

Chairman Wellinghoff is an energy law specialist with more than 30 years experience in the field. Before joining FERC, he was in private practice and focused exclusively on client matters related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and distributed generation. While in the private sector, Chairman Wellinghoff represented an array of clients from federal agencies, renewable developers, and large consumers of power to energy efficient product manufacturers and clean energy advocacy organizations.

According to John Morris, Director at Fluid Market Strategies, “We were honored to be contacted by Chairman Wellinghoff’s office and we gladly accepted his offer to appear as our keynote speaker.  One of the goals of the conference is to bring leaders and representatives from the federal, state and local government together to speak on what they believe is the future of green jobs in our region and nationally.  It is of great value to our exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to hear what our government representatives predict as the future of this industry and how they are furthering the work force development of green jobs.   We also jut announced that we have added a session to our conference regarding the Portland Pilot to retrofit 500 homes in the city with energy efficient upgrades.  Almost on a daily basis we are seeing our conference grow and this really is a testament to the importance of green jobs within our community.”

About the Green Professionals Conference

The purpose of the Green Professionals Conference is to bring together people and organizations that are committed to an economically and environmentally sustainable future.  This event seeks to drive innovation and progress by providing talented individuals with the knowledge and networking they need to succeed within the industry.

Recruiting qualified candidates is critical to the success of the green business community.  The Green Professionals Conference introduces job-seekers and students to the fundamentals of sustainability and energy efficiency while providing them access to companies with immediate jobs to fill.  In turn, companies will be able to position themselves firmly within the sustainability industry, increase their visibility and reach out to talented applicants.

The Green Professionals Conference goes beyond outreach and networking by creating a forum for companies and educational organizations to connect with the next generation of Green Professionals.  Together, conference attendees will transform the environment and the economy with jobs that make a difference.

The Green Professionals Conference is scheduled for January 26, 2010 at the Lloyd Center DoubleTree Hotel.  The conference agenda includes educational sessions, networking opportunities, an exhibit hall and expert keynote speakers.  For more information visit www.green-professional.com. 

The Green Professionals Conference is produced by Fluid Market Strategies (Fluid).  Fluid is a management, marketing, and consulting firm that specializes in energy efficiency, sustainability consulting, and consumer and workforce education. The firm advocates an inclusive approach to project development that results in solutions that respond uniquely and appropriately to our clients’ needs. Fluid’s client list is as varied as their project expertise. 

www.fluidms.com.