Rick Goss, Founder and Principal of Green Cognition LLC, brings over 25 years of experience in public policy, strategy and advocacy to help clients achieve their sustainability, energy and environmental priorities. Rick is a recognized policy and technical expert and a seasoned global negotiator who has successfully delivered results in Washington, Brussels, Beijing and the United Nations.
Rick's experience includes testifying before Congress on conflict minerals policy, electronics recycling and green procurement, and representing the information and communications technology (ICT) sector before federal agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Labor and the National Security Agency.
He has advocated in numerous state capitals, has advised the European Commission and the OECD on conflict minerals policy, and has represented industry before senior government officials in Beijing on sustainability issues related to manufacturing processes and ICT products.
Rick has regularly represented the high-tech and electronics sector in international venues, policy panels and public dialogues. Over his career, he has appeared on CNN, CBC (Canada), BBC Radio and CBS Radio, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek and the Financial Times, among others.
Most recently, Rick served as Senior Vice President of Environment and Sustainability at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a major DC-based trade association representing leading multi-nationals in the ICT sector. During his 11 years at ITI, Rick directed the development and implementation of policy and advocacy strategies related to materials restrictions, green procurement and product stewardship/e-waste; "Smart" and renewable energy; and, supply chain priorities including conflict minerals and factory labor conditions
Rick has worked with federal and international officials, the global ICT sector and civil society to promote science-based, consensus global requirements for high tech products and to advance the central role of ICT in driving energy efficiency and sustainability throughout the global economy.
Prior to joining ITI, Rick worked for three years at the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), where he served as EIA's Vice President of Environmental Affairs. In this role, Rick managed the development of policies and advocacy approaches on electronics recycling, product materials content and green procurement at the federal and state levels.
Rick previously worked as Senior Project Manager for a D.C.-based environmental consulting firm that specialized in risk communications issues related to major environmental remediation and redevelopment projects. He supervised projects for several Fortune 50 companies and worked with federal and state environmental regulators, corporate representatives and the media to communicate technical environmental and health issues to local communities and to build consensus around site remediation and redevelopment plans.
Before relocating to the D.C. area, Rick spent nine years in Albany as the Legislative Director for New York State Assemblyman Sam Colman. He negotiated the Assemblyman's overall legislative agenda, worked with executive agencies to develop implementing regulations, and served as the Assemblyman's media spokesperson.
M.S. in Environmental Management and Policy from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester