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Practical Tools for the Transition to Sustainability

Being seen as a business leader these days requires more than an executive title. More and more, it means you must be driving your industry toward positive social, economic and environmental change. At the Sustainable Enterprise Conference, which takes place May 8 at Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park, business leaders will learn how to initiate this type of change in their organizations, help define the new economy and not just survive, but thrive.

Designed to provide business with the tools to transition to sustainability, the conference will also help answer the question, “What do we do next?” As sustainability becomes a more broadly accepted concept, more and more businesses are beginning to understand the benefits of what the sustainability movement calls the “triple bottom line,” which is a focus on people, the planet and profits (or ecology, economy and social equity).

Comprised of Northern California business leaders, university faculty, nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs (including Sonoma State University, Dominican University’s Green MBA program, Sonoma Mountain Village and the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy), the Sustainable Enterprise Coalition originated the Sustainable Enterprise Conference in 2006 to educate and work with North Bay enterprises and the local community to implement sustainable business practices and ensure a high quality of life for future generations. The coalition partners with regional business organizations, chambers of commerce, nonprofits and other community-based organizations to serve as a think tank for business practices that promote a healthy environment, a vibrant economy and social equity.

Attendees at the day-long event will experience opportunities to network with other business professionals who’ve already made strides in the areas of social, economic and environmental responsibility—and who’ve benefited from them.

“In the past four years, we’ve seen tremendous interest in the opportunities that sustainability offers businesses—even outside of the obvious opportunities inherent in ‘going green,’” says conference steering committee member and Sonoma State University School of Business Professor Robert Girling, “The Sustainable Enterprise Conference’s broad focus on issues relating to social, environmental and economic sustainability is forward thinking and offers business leaders the opportunity to better understand how they can drive positive change in their organizations and their communities at large.”

Past attendees, participants and exhibitors have included individuals who set long-term direction for their organizations; entrepreneurs starting a new enterprise; professionals and consultants engaging in sustainable activities; educators and students with an interest in sustainable enterprise; staff and members of nonprofit organizations with a desire to operate more sustainably; and those who influence, design or implement public policy.

Says conference planning committee member Oren Wool, a Sonoma County operations consultant who has worked with local green businesses like Simplers Botanicals and Indigenous Designs, “At the 2008 conference, Gil Friend made the case that, if we want to improve profits, market share and customer satisfaction in our organizations, we must look at the proper indicators and then create information feedback to get compliance. I was inspired, so I put a sign over our copier that read, ‘Over 10,000 Copies per Month.’ That simple sign started a discussion about paper use and led to the larger discussion about waste.”

Each year, organizers have worked to keep the conference’s focus relevant. Says Genevieve Taylor, an associate at Global Genesis and a conference planning committee member, “Our goal has been to provide practical tools that businesses can use for transitioning to sustainability. To that end, we’ve refined our workshops, showcased the stories of local and regional leaders, and organized interactions with expert sustainability practitioners. We’re inventing new ways to make sustainability more accessible to businesses. We’ve purposely kept the conference small, because we want to nurture great networking and thoughtful conversations.”

Conference highlights this year include keynote speakers Assemblyman Jared Huffman and Sonoma State University Business School Dean Bill Silver, who will lead a panel discussion about opportunities for the North Bay in the new green economy. Additional workshop topics will include: Understanding Compliance; Funding and Financing in the New Green Economy; Back to the Roots: Energy, Water and Land Management; Protecting your Socially Responsible Business; Green Marketing; Green Building; Retooling for the New Green Economy and a roundtable, called Energy Efficiency: Saving by Going Green.

Panelists have been selected for their insight and hands-on experience with the topics being addressed. Workshops will focus on innovative and sustainable business practices, and sessions have been developed to address and correspond to the needs of small, medium and large businesses. Exhibits will demonstrate sustainable products and services and educate attendees about practical sustainability efforts. The Consulting Corner will feature Green MBA candidates and alumni from Dominican University, who will offer advice about running a business as a triple-bottom-line venture.

As society continues to shift to more environmentally friendly behaviors, businesses will play a critical role in helping their communities transition to more sustainable practices. Sustainability is a global issue that must be addressed on many levels and by many players, but local initiatives are a great place to start driving the change we need. The Sustainable Enterprise Conference is where business leaders can share ideas, develop a network and learn how to successfully incorporate sustainability within their business.

To learn more about the Sustainable Enterprise Conference or to register for the May 8 event, go to www.SustainableEnterpriseConference.comor call (888) 497-3222 or (707) 252-4950.