Speakers

Danielle Todd is the Founder and Executive Director of Make Food Not Waste, a Michigan-based nonprofit she launched in 2017 to advance practical, community-driven solutions to food waste. Under her leadership, the organization developed the Upcycling Kitchen in Detroit, a community meal production program, and launched Every Bit Counts, an initiative focused on cutting Michigan’s food waste in half by 2030. Danielle is a frequent local and national speaker on food waste reduction and systems-level sustainability. Prior to founding Make Food Not Waste, she spent more than 15 years in business development and marketing. She holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a BA from the University of Michigan.Danielle Todd is the Founder and Executive Director of Make Food Not Waste, a Michigan-based nonprofit she launched in 2017 to advance practical, community-driven solutions to food waste. Under her leadership, the organization developed the Upcycling Kitchen in Detroit, a community meal production program, and launched Every Bit Counts, an initiative focused on cutting Michigan’s food waste in half by 2030. Danielle is a frequent local and national speaker on food waste reduction and systems-level sustainability. Prior to founding Make Food Not Waste, she spent more than 15 years in business development and marketing. She holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a BA from the University of Michigan.

 

 

 

Jay Gerak was born and raised in Birmingham - he is a Brother Rice graduate ('80) and a U of M graduate (AB Hist '84, JD '87). His mother, Sally Gerak, wrote "Suburban Accents" for the Observer-Eccentric from 1978-2019. His father, Joe Gerak, was a real estate developer.  Jay is a Chicago-based commercial attorney, is married to Mary Ambrose-Gerak (also a lawyer) and has 2 children: Joe Gerak (USMC - 5 yrs Active Duty) and Callista Gerak, a nurse in Chicago.  After leaving the Marines his son worked as a Veteran Services Officer (VSO) in Wenatchee, WA. Based on frustrations that Joe described, Jay and his wife founded Operation Veteran Success - a charity for Veterans and their families. Since their first Board meeting in 2024, OVS has assisted over 100 Veterans and their families. 

Judge Michael Warren has served on the Oakland County Circuit Court since 2002, earning a reputation as one of Michigan’s most accomplished and respected jurists. He has presided over more than 400 jury trials and 1,000 days of trial proceedings — more trial experience than the entire current Michigan Supreme Court combined — while faithfully interpreting the law as written, not legislating from the bench.  A cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and honors graduate of Wayne State University, Judge Warren brings legal rigor, historical depth, and constitutional fidelity to the bench. Beyond the courtroom, he teaches business law at Wayne State University and has taught constitutional law at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, inspiring future legal and business leaders. A former member of the Michigan State Board of Education, Judge Warren has also championed civic literacy, American history, and constitutional principles across Michigan.  He is currently a candidate fro the Michigan Supreme Court.
 

Robert Simon is a licensed acupuncturist, Brennan Healing Science practitioner, clinical massage therapist, and tai chi/chigong instructor. He graduated with degrees in Asian Studies and Film studies from the University of Michigan and earned his doctorate in Chinese medicine from Yo San University in Los Angeles, California. He specializes in the treatment of pain, migraines, neurological conditions including Parkinson's and stroke recovery, allergy elimination, and emotional trauma. His practice "Chigong Therapy" is based in downtown Franklin Village.