AboutUs

Chairman E. Cabell Brand:

Chairman - of the Cabell Brand Center, a research and action

center that seeks to examine, understand and network for

students to study poverty, environmental, and peace issues.

Currently the centers emphasis on environmental sustainability

with a focus on fresh water preservation. In particular rainwater

harvesting and storm water management.

Author of the Book: If Not Me, Then Who? How you

can help with Poverty, Economic Opportunity, Education,

Healthcare, Environment, Racial Justice, and Peace

Issues in America.

Web Sites: www.CabellBrandCenter.org or www.IfNotMeThenWho.org

Cabell Brand returned to his home in Salem in 1949 and took over his father’s small direct selling shoe business, the Ortho-Vent Shoe Company. Using this as a base, he expanded the business, formed The Stuart McGuire Company, Inc., took it public in 1970 and sold it in 1986 to the Home Shopping Network.

He founded Total Action Against Poverty in the Roanoke Valley in 1965 and was its President and Chairman for 30 years. During that 30 year period, he helped start many innovative programs such as – Head Start – the Child Health Investment Project (CHIP) – Virginia CARES – Virginia Water Project, all focused on low income people.

He is married to the former Shirley Hurt and together they have five children and 13 grandchildren.

To Download the Complete Bio Information for Cabell Brand CLICK HERE

President David Crawford:

David Crawford, President of Rainwater Management Solutions

In 2000, David Crawford put his 22 years experience in healthcare consulting,

marketing, sales, and residential/commercial construction into a new company

he named Rain Water System, Inc. His vision was to form a company that would

address rain water conservation and management, and sustainable water applications

and practices. Today that company, now known as Rainwater Management Solutions -

provides design, consulting, and engineering solutions for rain water and storm water

management to commercial and residential developers, engineering , architectural firms,

and professionals in the agricultural field. To date, the Salem, Virginia-based company

has designed and/or installed over 2,000 rain water systems across the country.

A strong advocate of water conservation and management, in 2001 Dave and his brother

Ed lobbied the Virginia House and Senate for passage of the first rain water harvesting

legislation in the United States. The following year Dave worked with the Virginia Sate

Health Department to rewrite Gray water laws.

Dave received his BS in Economics and Accounting from Mars Hill College in 1976. He has

since published numerous articles on water conservation and water sustainability issues and

practices in local and national publications as Laundry Today, Consulting-Specifying Engineer,

Mother Earth News, Virginia Business Journal, The Roanoke Times, Farm Bureau Monthly,

and Southern Farmer.

Considered an expert in the field of rainwater harvesting, David is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences and most recently spoke at the American Society of Plumbing Engineers nation conference in California. To date, David has presented at over 100 conferences and worked to train hundreds of individuals to design and install rainwater systems.

David has also worked to revise state and municipal plumbing codes for rainwater harvesting. Recently, David worked with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to develop credits for nitrate and phosphate reduction when utilizing rainwater harvesting systems through the Senate Bill 386.

As President of the Cabell Brand Center for International Poverty, David assisted in developing the Virginia Rainwater Harvesting Manual, which has assisted localities throughout the US to develop rainwater harvesting codes. The Manual is now utilized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers as a study guide for certification in High-Performance Building Design.

Executive VP Dr. Tamim Younos:

Dr. Tamim Younos served as a faculty member at Virginia Tech for nearly 30 years. He was the

interim director of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center from 2002 to 2006. Most recently

he was a research professor of water resources in the Geography Department at Virginia Tech.

He earned a doctoral degree in environmental engineering from the University of Tokyo . His research

interests include watershed assessment and management, small-scale decentralized water

infrastructure and rainwater harvesting, urban stormwater management, water-energy nexus and

mitigation of climate change impacts at the local level. Dr. Younos has served on the Board of

Directors for the American Water Resources Association (2005-2007), the Board of Directors for

the National Institutes for Water Resources (2002 – 2006), and the Board of Directors for Renewable

Natural Resources Foundation (2003 – 2008). He is a past president of the Universities Council on

Water Resources. Dr. Younos has been a principal investigator for more than 40 research/technical

projects and has authored or co-authored more than 145 publications including two edited books:

Advances in Water Monitoring Research (2003) and “Total Maximum Daily Load: Approaches and

Challenges” (2005). Dr. Younos has presented invited talks in China , Japan , Hungary , Poland and

Spain , and conducted study abroad program on sustainable management of water resource in the Dominican Republic .

To Download the Complete Bio Information for Dr. Tamim Younos CLICK HERE

Mike Rosenzweig, Ph.D.:

Current Position:

Advanced Instructor and Biological Sciences Outreach Program Coordinator,

Virginia Tech Dept. of Biological Sciences, College of Science

Research and Educational Interests:

Civic and environmental education; public outreach; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education;

watershed heritage and education; sustainable development.

Academic Background:

Ph.D. In Biology, (Community Ecology in Chesapeake Bay), Virginia Tech (1994)

M.S. in Biology (Watershed Ecology), Virginia Tech (1990)

B.S. With High Honors in Biology and Environmental Affairs, Clark University, (1985)

Professional Experience:

Blacksburg, VA - Town Council Member (2009)

Blacksburg, VA - Mayor’s Storm water Taskforce (2007-2010)

Parks and Rec. Commissioner, Montgomery Co., VA (2006-2009)

Citizens advisory boards, Town of Blacksburg, VA (2003-present)

Fellowship Program director - Cabell Brand Center (1998-present)

Co-Founder and Director, SEEDS - Seek Education, Explore, DiScover (1995-present)

Postdoctoral Visiting Scholar, University of Arizona, Tucson (1993-1995)

The Cabell Brand Center Advisory Board

Stanley G. Breakell, Chairman of the Board and CEO

Breakell Inc.:

Stan became president of Breakell Inc. in 1987. He joined the firm, founded by his father,

in 1975 after graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Today, as Chairman of the Board and CEO of the company, Stan provides the vision and

leadership that drives Breakell to explore new ways of approaching construction and

construction management through the use of technology and sustainable business/building practices.

Recognizing the environmental need for corporate leadership in 2008, Stan and then Councilwoman

Gwen Mason created the Clean and Green Business Coalition to encourage leading businesses in

Roanoke City to adopt practices and policies to demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship.

This program was the catalyst for the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce to create the Cool Green Biz

program for all businesses in the Roanoke Valley to embrace sustainable practices.

Stan’s passion for sustainability earned him the 2008 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Conservation

given by the Garden Club of Virginia. Also in 2008, the Blue Ridge Business Journal recognized Stan

as its Business Person of the Year. The City of Roanoke honored Stan in 2009 as its Citizen of the Year.

A native of Roanoke, Stan continues to be active in the community serving on numerous boards including his current position as a member of the Roanoke Public Library Advisory Board and the Cabell Brand Center Advisory Board. Stan also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, the Western Virginia Land Trust, and the American Red Cross for Southwest Virginia Region. His commitment to his profession and the community is exemplary.

Dr. M. Rupert Cutler:

Rupert Cutler of Roanoke is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He has an undergraduate degree in wildlife

management from the University of Michigan and a doctor of philosophy degree from the Department

of Resource Development of Michigan State University. He has been the editor of Virginia Wildlife,

managing editor of National Wildlife, assistant executive director of The Wilderness Society, senior

vice president of the National Audubon Society, and president of Defenders of Wildlife. After obtaining

his Ph.D. degree he joined the Michigan State University faculty as assistant professor of resource

development and extension specialist in natural resources policy. In 1977, President Carter appointed

him assistant secretary of agriculture for conservation, research, and education. From 1977 through

1980 he provided policy direction to the U.S. Forest Service and Soil Conservation Service.

Since 1991, Rupert has resided in Roanoke where he served as founding executive director of Virginia's

Explore Park and the Western Virginia Land Trust. Since retiring in 1999 he has served on several

nonprofit boards and advisory committees and as president of the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke. He was

a member of the board of directors of the Western Virginia Water Authority for five years. He was appointed by Governors Warner and Kaine to two terms on the board of trustees of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. He was elected to a four-year term on Roanoke City Council in 2002 and was appointed to Roanoke City Council in 2009 to complete a term ending in June 2010.

Dr. Robert Sandel, President

Virginia Western Community College:

As President of Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Virginia, Dr. Robert H. Sandel

oversees the single largest campus in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) with an annual

enrollment of over 12,000. Dr. Sandel began his career with Virginia Western in 2001 having previously

served as President of Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, VA. where he implemented

a total quality management program, acquired funding for major construction projects, and formulated the

nation’s first ever electronics and manufacturing technology programs articulation agreement with the U.S.

Navy. Bringing that same sense of leadership and dedication to the Roanoke Valley, Dr. Sandel has

overseen $20 million in renovations and upgrades to the Virginia Western campus all while dealing with

ever increasing student enrollments and dwindling state support. As a proven leader in education,

Dr. Sandel has served on numerous local, regional and state boards and recently served as Chair for the

VCCS Achieve 2015 Strategic Planning process charged with outlining priorities for the entire Virginia

Community College System. Dr. Sandel was also instrumental in launching the College’s first

comprehensive fundraising campaign raising in excess of four million dollars to support student success

at Virginia Western.

Active nationally and locally, Dr. Sandel counts among his numerous community roles, past Chair of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Pre-K Committee for Smart Beginnings, and President of the Board of Trustees for Lewis-Gale Medical Center. A native South Carolinian, but now a true Roanoker at heart, Dr. Sandel received his bachelors from The Citadel, his masters from South Carolina State University and his doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

Wayne Strickland, Executive Director

Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission:

Wayne Strickland was appointed Executive Director of the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional

Commission in February 1988. He has been with the Commission since 1979. His academic background

includes: a BA degree in Political Science from Georgia State University, an MA degree in Geography

from Georgia State University, and a Masters degree in City Planning from the Georgia Institute of

Technology.

Mr. Strickland has assumed leadership roles in various professional organizations. He is currently the

Chair of the Southeast Regional Directors Institute and also serves as a member of the Board of Directors

of the National Association of Development Organizations and the Development District Association of

Appalachia. His former leadership positions include: President of the Development District Association of

Appalachia; President of the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration;

President of the Rural Planning Caucus of Virginia; and Second Vice President of the Virginia Association

of Planning District Commissions.

Mr. Strickland participates in numerous civic activities including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the following organizations: Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Roanoke Valley, Council of Community Services, and Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. He also is a member of the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum Advisory Board (at Hollins University), the Region 6 Career & Technical Education Taskforce and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee for the City of Roanoke School System.