2008 Chicago Conference Highlights
Photos by Chip Py
The second annual Chicago Green Business Conference was a wild success! Attendees enjoyed fantastic networking sessions, inspiring speakers and a welcoming atmosphere that rejuvenated their spirits and reinvigorated their drive!
If you have never attended a conference or it’s been a couple years – we urge you to attend our next conference. Now that GREEN is MAINSTREAM – it’s critical that we grow authentic green businesses that respect people and the planet!
Chicago City Officials Sadhu Johnston, Arnold Randall, Suzanne Malec-McKenna, and Green Business Network Direct Denise Hamler kicked off the event with The State of the Green Marketplace and welcome remarks from officials who are leading the city’s green initiatives! Read
more »
Raphael Bemporad of marketing firm BBMG, and David Lubensky of Bagatto, Inc. shared insights from their Conscious Consumer Report. Read
more »
Jeff Harvey, CEO of Burgerville, a chain of 39 fast/good food restaurants with 1,500 employees in Oregon and Washington, shared Burgerville’s “Serve with Love” mission that permeates the company and helps them excel. Read more »
Erin Ford, Organic Valley’s Farmer Renewables and Energy Program Manager, discussed the approach to sustainability of the nation’s largest organic farmer-owned cooperative.
Read more »
View Erin Ford's presentation (PDF 476KB) »
Craig Sieben, a member of the OBAMA ’08 Energy and Environmental Advisory Committee and owner of Sieben Energy Associates discussed how energy efficiency is now part of the American psyche. Taking a closer look at the energy plans of presidential hopefuls. Read more »
Providing businesses with information on how to measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions. Mickey Lee of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute’s Carbon Concierge, and Kevin Hackett of NativeEnergy were available during the conference to assist attendees in developing action plans to offset their carbon footprint. Read more »
See Green Business Network benefits »
Brenda Palms-Barber, founder/COO of Sweet Beginnings, a Chicago-based business that employs the formerly incarcerated in the production of urban honey and body-care products. Palms-Barber was inspired by her frustrations with reentry programs and the difficulty of finding gainful employment. Read more »
View Brenda Palms-Barber's presentation (PDF 132KB)
Ella Silverman of World of Good spoke about exciting new opportunities surrounding the launch of the new World of Good/ebay marketplace which will feature thousands of “people and planet positive” products. Read more »
View Ella Silverman's presentation (PDF 921 KB) »
Better World Books Co-founder and COO, Xavier Hegelsen shared the story of his company’s creation and evolution. The venture began with a group of three college friends looking to make quick cash by selling used books online and has since transformed into to a company committed to funding global literacy. Read
more »
View Xavier Hegelsen's presentation (PDF 659KB) »
Discovery Health and Planet Green’s Sara Snow spoke about how to effectively market green goods. The host of Get Fresh with Sara gave examples of different ways businesses can dialog with customers
Read more »
A panel of green marketing experts presented to a standing-room-only audience about the importance of using messaging to differentiate businesses in the new green marketplace. Read more »
SpeedNetworking and business problem solving sessions provided attendees the time to share their business stories, make new business connections and gain new insights from each other. Read more »
Making the Business Case for Sustainability provided three business case studies to examine and replicate: gDiapers's Jason Grahm-Nye, Phil Baugh of The Green Exchange, and Georgia Malki of Seven Star Events. Read more »
View Phil Baugh's presentation (PDF 2.7MB) »
As we started the conference profiling Chicago’s green initiatives, the closing panel spotlighted several success stories: Michael Berkshire of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, Roger Post, VP/General Manager of Christy Webber Landscaping, and Katie McClain, Director of the Clinton Climate Initiative. Read more »
Following up on the City’s public/private partnerships, case studies of sustainable local businesses was moderated by Peter Nicholson, Founder/Executive Director of Foresight Design Initiative. Profiled were Chicago greenbusiness leaders: Carol Mosely-Braun, Founder/CEO of Ambassador Organics; Vincent Cobb, Founder/President of Reusablebags.com; and Erik Larson, Founder/Executive Vice President of Indie Energy Systems. Read more »
Sharon Rowe, Founder/CEO of EcoBags, shared the success of her business and the importance of responsible sourcing.
Read more »
View Sharon Rowe's presentation (PDF 1.8 MB) »
David Kirkpatrick of SJF Ventures spoke about financing green businesses. His comprehensive overview centered on various financing options and what venture capitalists look for when deciding to invest.Read more »
View David Kirkpatrick's presentation (PDF 1.9 MB)»
Bryan Welch, Publisher/Editorial Director of Ogden Publications, closed the conference with his inspiring and hopeful message—green businesses across the world are finding that optimistic solutions rather than environmental panic are boosting their bottom lines. Read more »
Make plans now to attend the Green Business conference in San Francisco –November 12-13, 2008
Thanks to our partners and sponsors that made the 2008 Green Business Conference such a great success!
Need More Reasons to Attend this Year?
Read the full highlights from the 2007 Chicago conference »
Read the full highlights from the 2006 conference
»
View available presentations from past conferences »
