We are excited to have the following individuals as our Keynote Speakers for #NSCW2026!
Our Opening Keynote
We’re opening #NSCW2026 with something different – and exactly what this moment calls for.
BCONE is honored to welcome Keisha Caine Bishop, President of the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation, as our Opening Keynote Speaker.
Motivational Speaker, Certified Life Coach & Co-Founder of The Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation
Keisha Bishop understands the power of resilience and the strength of community like few others. As the mother of Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles, her family’s inspiring journey was captured in Netflix’s acclaimed docuseries Sprint, watched by millions worldwide. But beyond the spotlight, Keisha’s true passion lies in the work of healing, rebuilding, and creating safe spaces – principles at the heart of sustainable community revitalization.
Drawing on her personal triumphs over trauma, poverty, and mental health struggles, Keisha delivers a compelling message: revitalizing communities is about more than redevelopment; it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity. Through The Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation, she champions mental and physical wellness as the foundation for lasting change.
At this year’s conference, Keisha will inspire you to see your work not just as redevelopment or cleanup — but as a powerful force transforming lives and building places where people can truly thrive. Her message will motivate you to embrace your critical role in turning contamination into community assets, creating safer, stronger spaces where everyone can succeed.
Our Lunch Keynote
We’re thrilled to welcome Bonnie Heiple, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, as our lunch keynote speaker at NSCW this year in Springfield!
A dynamic leader with deep experience in environmental protection and clean energy, Commissioner Heiple brings a powerful perspective on safeguarding our air, water, and land while shaping a more sustainable future. We’re excited to hear her insights that will inspire and energize our community.
As the MassDEP Commissioner, Ms. Heiple leads an agency of approximately 800 professionals responsible for protecting and enhancing Massachusetts’ air, water, and land resources to safeguard public health and the environment for future generations.
Prior to joining MassDEP, Commissioner Heiple practiced environmental and energy law at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, where she advised clients nationally on regulatory compliance, litigation, and emerging issues, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. Her energy practice focused on permitting renewable energy generation, transmission, and energy storage projects across the United States.
Commissioner Heiple holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and graduated magna cum laude from Bucknell University. She is active in professional and nonprofit leadership, including the American Bar Association’s Section of Energy, Environment, and Resources, and has served on the boards of the Women’s Energy Network, the Women’s Bar Foundation, and the American Lung Association.
