Brian Weinberg
Brian Weinberg is a regenerative strategist and capital innovator with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and impact investing. A Summa Cum Laude graduate in Finance and Spanish from the University of North Texas, Brian was nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship and honored by fellowships including Ashoka Youth Venture, Clinton Global Initiative U, StartingBloc, REALITY Impact, Sandbox, and Opportunity Collaboration.
His early travels through South America ignited a lifelong commitment to social justice and economic empowerment. Brian went on to help raise funding for microfinance initiatives and worked alongside leaders behind the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. As an investment professional, he managed a $100 million portfolio of debt and equity investments across 11 countries, financing microfinance institutions that serve low-income communities.
Brian later served as Global Director of Operations for NEXUS, the world’s largest network of young wealth holders and social innovators, where he led global convenings at the United Nations, the White House, and Rockefeller Family Office. His work brought together thought leaders and cultural influencers to explore conscious capitalism, impact investing, and regenerative economics.
Today, Brian is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for Regeneration, where he is applying his global experience to catalyze local change. With a focus on land-based demonstration projects, Brian is committed to proving that regeneration is not just a theory—it’s a practical, inclusive, and necessary path forward for America’s communities.
Bob Berkebile
Bob Berkebile, FAIA, is a nationally acclaimed architect, civic leader, and regenerative design pioneer whose influence has helped shape some of the most impactful sustainability movements of our time. A student of Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s, Bob went on to become a founding force behind the U.S. Green Building Council and a key architect of the LEED certification system—catalyzing the global green building movement.
As Principal Emeritus of the renowned architecture and planning firm BNIM, Bob has spent decades advising U.S. Presidents and working with national agencies including the EPA, DOE, DOD, FEMA, and the National Academy of Sciences. Under President Clinton, he helped “green” the White House and has since played a leading role in resilience and sustainability efforts across the country.
In Kansas City, Bob continues to serve on numerous civic and environmental boards, including the Mayor’s Climate Protection Steering Committee, the Environmental Management Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Bridging the Gap, and the Chamber’s Business Leadership Council.
Today, his focus includes “urban acupuncture” development—transformative projects that repurpose underutilized sites into thriving community anchors. These include redeveloping four abandoned schools and converting a 30-story former bank building into a vertical neighborhood featuring an early learning center, university, health club, and 300 homes.
As co-founder of the Foundation for Regeneration, Bob brings unmatched experience, wisdom, and heart to every project—advancing a future where design restores ecosystems, uplifts the vitality of communities, and reflects the sacredness of life.
Jason Parson
President/CEO of P+A, Jason’s extensive citywide, statewide and nationwide relationships, combined with his keen understanding of stakeholder expectations and project needs, uniquely position him to establish connections, build consensus and ensure projects stay on time and on budget. Whether serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom or studying the success of the Sustainable South Bronx green job training programs in New York, Jason’s roots are firmly planted in Missouri. Ford Motor Company recognized him as a Ford Freedom Unsung Hero for his work supporting veterans. Jason has led regional and national initiatives related to green collar jobs, youth development of job and life skills, education, energy, and water quality.
Michelle Miller
Michelle Miller is a service driven storyteller who has traversed the fields of theatre film, higher education, advocacy, and non-profit. Having lectured and guests directed at multiple universities Michelle is currently a lecturer and director with the University of Kansas. She lived in New York City for 12 years where she sang in major productions and
with orchestras, such as the Boston Pops prior to her humanitarian work taking priority. Michelle helped found ASTEP –Artists Striving to End Poverty (now Arts Ignite). She led grassroots fundraising efforts which included producing 18 concerts featuring Tony Award winning composers and actors. For 16 years she has been a long distance and on the ground supporter of The Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in rural India, a school for children from the Untouchable Caste. In 2011, Michelle made the leap to filmmaking for which she has 7 EMMY nominations for her work with Rocky Mountain PBS. In addition, she has had a film featured in the documentary corner of the Cannes Film festival as well as having been a producer, writer, and on camera talent for Project Explorer which has 8 million viewers internationally. Michelle consults with creatives and change makers on maximizing their creative vision for the collective good. Michelle has been a longtime supporter and fundraiser for two projects founded by her late father, Richard Miller, The Cristo Rey School and Christmas in October, both of which are based in her hometown of Kansas City, MO.
Part Time Contractors
Darren Beck
Circular economy lead
Darren is the Studio Lead for Circular KC, a project of the Foundation for Regeneration. His passion is finding the sweet spot between profitability and a positive return for our world. A transformative leader with experience in environmental and social innovation, he helped establish one of the country’s premier corporate sustainability programs at Sprint and led a vanguard of global brands toward good growth at Sustainable Brands. Passionate about circularity, biomimicry, regeneration and place-based impact, he thrives on building collaborative systems to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. Those interests have combined in his latest venture, leading a studio that is paving the way for a robust circular economy in Kansas City.
Daniel Poynter
Daniel Poynter founded Carbon Neutral Indiana in April 2020. CNI is holding the vision for the state to become carbon neutral as soon as possible. It’s starting by helping households and businesses. CNI grew out of almost a year of full-time research into climate action in Indiana, including six months of research Project Drawdown solutions culminating in Indiana Drawdown.
Before this, Daniel was a professional advisor to over one hundred social entrepreneurs, was named a Young Innovator by the MacArthur Foundation, and was invited to speak at over twenty academic institutions throughout North America.
Volunteers
Michelle Miller
Activator
Michelle Miller is a service driven storyteller who has traversed the fields of theatre film, higher education, advocacy, and non-profit. Having lectured and guests directed at multiple universities Michelle is currently a lecturer and director with the University of Kansas. She lived in New York City for 12 years where she sang in major productions and
with orchestras, such as the Boston Pops prior to her humanitarian work taking priority. Michelle helped found ASTEP –Artists Striving to End Poverty (now Arts Ignite). She led grassroots fundraising efforts which included producing 18 concerts featuring Tony Award winning composers and actors.
Evan Carr
digital
The Foundation for Regeneration is a 501(c)(3) domiciled in Kansas City, MO (EIN # 92-1473069).
fiscally sponsored by The Giving Back Fund (“GBF”).
GBF facilitates charitable giving by managing over 450 foundations of professional athletes, celebrities, high net worth individuals, existing non profit organizations for over 20 years. GBF has granted out over $400 million dollars to date and we are honored that they have chosen to support our work. As the official philanthropic partner of the NFLPA Each year, each year GBF holds its “Big Game Big Give” fundraising event at a private estate in the Super Bowl city the weekend of the big game. This star-studded gala has become a favorite among the philanthropy elite, with previous celebrity hosts including Alec Baldwin, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Mark Wahlberg, Hilary Swank, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Josh Brolin, Jaime Foxx, Michael Phelps, and David Schwimmer. Click here to read The Giving Back Fund’s 2020 Annual Report.