February 18, 2026
We’re still buzzing from our time at #GreenBiz26 in Phoenix this February. It was certainly an event that leaves you feeling energized, inspired, and honestly thinking a little bigger about the work ahead.
A real highlight for us was having CGLR’S Chief Operating Officer, Lora Shrake, take the stage for a session called “Closing the Gaps: Advancing Water Stewardship in the Great Lakes Region.”
The conversation tackled a big question: What does real leadership on water actually look like right now?
From Left: Matthew Paper (Fresh Coast Climate Solutions), Brandon Kienenberger( Primo Brands), Rae Mindock (FreshCoast Climate Solutions), Lora Shrake (CGLR)
“In a region defined by freshwater, leadership on water stewardship means moving beyond individual commitments to collective action. What we heard at GreenBiz—and what our Great Lakes WISE Regional Gap Analysis reinforces—is that the challenges are shared, and so are the solutions. It was a privilege to share the stage with partners like Primo Brands and Fresh Coast Climate Solutions, whose perspectives underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors. By aligning our efforts, investing in partnerships, and equipping organizations with practical tools, we can close critical gaps and accelerate progress.”
– Lora Shrake, Chief Operating Officer, Council of the Great Lakes Region
Starting with the gaps
The session kicked off with insights from the Great Lakes WISE Regional Gap Analysis, essentially a deep dive into where things are working, and where we still have work to do when it comes to corporate water stewardship in the region.
From fragmented efforts to funding challenges, one thing became clear: we can’t afford to operate in silos anymore.
The power of doing this together
What stood out most was how often the conversation came back to collaboration. Not just as a buzzword but as something real and necessary.
Protecting our water resources isn’t something one organization, one sector, or one region can solve alone. It takes alignment. It takes shared goals. And it takes a willingness to invest together in solutions that actually move the needle.
Whether it’s companies rethinking their role, communities leading local efforts, or organizations working across sectors, the message was the same: progress happens faster when we work collectively.
A conversation worth having
Lora was joined by an incredible group of voices, Brandon Kienenberger from Primo Brands, and Matthew Paper and Rae Mindock, both of Fresh Coast Climate Solutions. Each brought a different lens to the conversation, from corporate responsibility to climate resilience and regional collaboration.
It made for a really honest, thoughtful discussion about what it will take to protect and strengthen our shared water resources, not just for today, but for generations to come.
What we’re taking with us
If there’s one thing we walked away with, it’s this: the path forward is there, but it requires intention, partnership, and action.
We’re excited to keep building on these conversations and to continue working alongside partners who are just as committed to this work as we are. We invite you to join the collaborative peer to peer network that is the Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange (WISE).
If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look at the Great Lakes WISE Regional Gap Analysis—it’s an important piece of the puzzle as we move forward.
