Conference Program

Welcoming Keynote  
The State of the Green Marketplace

Welcome Remarks

Sadhu Johnston, Chief of Environment, City of Chicago

Suzanne Malec-McKenna
Commissioner for the Environment, City of Chicago

Arnold Randall
Commissioner of Department of Planning and Development,
City of Chicago

Alisa Gravitz, Co-op America Executive Director, Co-op America

Denise Hamler, Director, Co-op America Green Business Network™

What Brought You to Your Business?
Share your personal epiphany of how you started this journey. Round table discussions with other attendees.

The Carbon Concierge—Climate Neutrality and Your Business
Designed to help businesses measure, reduce and offset carbon emissions. During the conference The Carbon Concierge will help you design an action plan to go climate friendly.

Mickey Lee, Project Coordinator, The Carbon Concierge

Kevin Hackett, Marketing Specialist, NativeEnergy

Introduced by Alisa Gravitz
 

It’s How We Live: Sustainable Branding and the Conscious Consumer

Raphael Bemporad, Principal, BBMG

David Lubensky, President, Bagatto Inc.

Green. Fair trade. Locally grown. Socially responsible. We know the words, but what do they really mean to America’s families and consumers.

As a growing number of brands aspire to the same values, marketers face the new challenge of distinguishing their companies, products and services in an increasingly crowded green marketplace. Branding agency BBMG and user insights consultancy Bagatto will share the results of a new, proprietary ethnographic study and national poll on the attitudes, experiences and priorities of conscious consumers and offer marketing principles and practices to reach, involve and inspire values-driven consumers. Gain insights into which trust labels really matter, the values that drive consumer behavior and the socially-responsible business practices that can increase sales and improve society.

At a time when consumers have more options than ever, how companies bring their products and services into the marketplace is as important as what they bring to market. Learn ways to close the trust gap with conscious consumers and reap the rewards of deeper relationships, enduring loyalty and a growing triple bottom line.

View a promotional animated image for the report »

Q and A

Marketplace and Community Connections —Group 1 Speed Networking: Poster Board Presentations
Doing More Business Together: What Are Your Key Challenges and Offers?
The unique interactive poster board session is designed to get all conference attendees networking and doing business with each other.

Growing An Authentic Green Business
Explore the inner workings of two amazing companies that continue to push the envelope for what is green and sustainable as they grow!

Jeff Harvey, President and CEO, Burgerville
Erin Ford, Farmer Renewables & Energy Program Manager, Organic Valley
Moderated by Bianca Alexander, TV Host, Conscious Living TV

Scaling up for Financial Success Melissa Bradley-Burns, Founder/Managing Director, New Capitalist

Networking Break

What will be the Energy/Environmental Policy of the next President and how will it affect green businesses?
Craig Sieben, Energy and Environmental Advisory Committee Member for Obama in ’08 Campaign

Innovative Business Models Creativity and innovation are the hallmark of these new green enterprises—learn from the best

Xavier Hegelsen, Co-founder/COO, BetterWorld Books
Brenda Palms-Barber, Founder/COO, Sweet Beginnings
Ella Silverman, WORLD OF GOOD/eBay program Moderated by Connie Evans

Adventures in Conscious Living
Bianca Alexander, Executive Producer/ Host, Conscious Living TV
Michael Alexander, Executive Producer, Conscious Living TV

Founders of Conscious Planet Media give you a backstage pass into producing and distributing the message of sustainable living to the masses. Recently featured on the cover of Black Enterprise, they share their entertaining journey from pitching network TV on green programming and navigating the wilds of WEB 2.0 to broadcasting their show to more than 72 million unique visitors per month.

Small Group Discussion

The Co-op America Green Business Network™ and YOU
Alisa Gravitz and Denise Hamler
Exploring ways to work together to further our green business goals!

Clean, Green Messaging
Sara Snow, TV Host, Get Fresh with Sara on Discovery Health Network
Green living expert and TV Host, Sara Snow grew up surrounded by organic gardens. Her father co-founded Eden Foods and a couple of other heavy hitters in the natural foods movement and today she is carrying on the family tradition with her popular TV series, providing practical advice for everyday green living.

Networking Break

Making the Business Case for Sustainability—
Business Case Studies
Phil Baugh, Green Exchange
Jason Graham-Nye, gDiapers
Georgia Malki, Seven Star Events

In building an authentic green business we need to study the models that are working. Whether you are an established green business or just starting your journey to sustainability you’ll learn some tried-and-true strategies and techniques to take home and implement in your company.

City of Chicago Panel - Public/Private Partnerships: Removing Barriers and Catalyzing Sustainability

The City of Chicago has multiple programs designed to foster sustainable innovation in Chicago and the region. Sustainable development policy is an important way that city governments can create the environment to stimulate growth of a green economy. Creative partnerships with the public and private sector are another avenue to this end. From implementation of an expedited green building policy to collaboration with the Clinton Climate Initiative, Chicago is a model of public and private partnership.

Moderator: Joyce Coffee, LEED AP Director of Policy and Research Chicago’s Department of Environment

Panelists: Katie McClain, Chicago City Director
Clinton Climate Initiative

Michael Berkshire, Green Projects Administrator Department of Planning and Development

Roger Post, Vice President & General Manager
Christy Webber Landscaping

Concurrent Sessions 

1) Chicago Green Businesses - Case Studies
As the green evolution grows, there are exciting opportunities for new sustainable enterprise. In Chicago there are successful models -- here we highlight the stories of three emerging, successful green businesses. Covering renewable energy, organic food, and green containers, these companies serve as models to eco-conscious entrepreneurs and business owners.

MODERATOR Peter Nicholson Founder/Executive Director Foresight Design Initiative

Carol Moseley Braun Founder/CEO Ambassador Organics

Vincent Cobb
Founder/President ReusableBags.com

Erik Larson Co-Founder/Executive Vice President Indie Energy Systems Company

Produced by The Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance fostering the exchange of sustainable best practices and fueling business growth for its members. The CSBA supports members in integrating sustainable business principles to generate a more profitable, environmentally respectful, and socially responsible Chicago economy.  

2)  Financing Green Businesses
David Kirkpatrick
Managing Director/Co-founder, SJF Ventures
Sharing financing experience from work with companies like groSolar, Intechra Salvage Direct, Evco, Rustic Crust, Sun & Earth.
Since establishing its first venture fund in 1999, SJF has actively invested in the cleantech, consumer products and technology sectors helping companies succeed by providing growth capital and assisting entrepreneurs with the demanding challenges they face

3)True Confessions in Scaling up and Sourcing
Sharon Rowe
Founder & CEO, EcoBags Products, Inc.
What happens when the heavens open and green becomes mainstream?  Follow Sharon through the growth pains of scaling up and responsible sourcing for growth!

4)The Carbon Concierge—Last Chance to Sign up and go carbon neutral—Mickey Lee

Break

Making the Network Work—Co-op America Business Network
Facilitated by Denise Hamler, Green Business Network Director and Alisa Gravitz, Co-op America Executive Director

Organic Banquet
Music by Michael Bootzin

Green Media 2.0—Optimism and Authenticity

Bryan Welch, Publisher/Editorial Director, Ogden Publishing
Green businesses across the country are finding that optimistic solutions, rather than environmental panic, are boosting their bottom lines. But who’s telling their stories in a meaningful way, and who’s paying attention? Welch discusses the role of today’s media in environmental progress, touching specifically on constructive optimism, authenticity and the antidote to Chicken Little.

Enjoy the Green Lounge 
Featuring complimentary massage services provided by
the Chicago School of Thai Massage