Conference Program

Seth Goldman quote

Four Engaging Tracks

This conference had something for everyone:

Go Climate-Friendly

Get the checklist and reduce your company's footprint.

Innovative Financial Models

Grow your green business.

Get the Coaching

Managing for success in this ever-expanding market.

Marketing for Green Success

How will your 'true blue' green company stand out?

2007 Featured Speakers

Adrienne Maree Brown	Jamais Cascio	Laurie Demerritt
Mark Finser	Eric Friedenwald-Fishman	Priya Haji
Peter Liu	James F. Kenefick	Simran Sethi
	Bryan Welch

2007 Featured Speakers

Hilary Abell
Executive Director, Women's Action to Gain Economic Security

Adrienne Maree Brown
Executive Director, Ruckus Society

Laurie Demeritt
COO, the Hartman Group

Mark Finser
President, RSF Social Finance, Cofounder, New Resource Bank

Eric Friedenwald-Fishman
President & Creative Director, Metropolitan Group

Priya Haji
Cofounder & CEO, World of Good

James F. Kenefick
Chairman, BetterWorld Telecom

Rob Lederer
Co-founder, Bridges to Action®; Founder, Management Resources;
Partner, Inspiration-Manifestation Conference

Peter Liu
Vice Chair, New Resource Bank

Simran Sethi
Host, Sundance Channel's The Green

Joe Sibilia
President, CSR Wire & Meadowbrook Lane

Sara Snow
Green Living Expert and TV Host

Bryan Welch
Publisher, Ogden Publications, Inc.

2007 Program

All conference events are located in the Hotel Whitcomb, San Francisco.
1231 Market St.
San Francisco 94103
Market at 8th St. Civic Center
415-626-8000

Tuesday | November 6


3:00 pm	Registration Opens
5:00 - 7:00 pm	Opening Reception

Wednesday | November 7


7:30 am	Registration Opens
7:30 - 8:30	Healthy Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30	Welcoming Keynote Alisa Gravitz, Green America Executive Director Denise Hamler, Green America's Green Business Network™ Director
9:30-10:30	The State of the Green Marketplace Laurie Demeritt, COO, The Hartman Group Bringing you the current market research in this 200-page report from The Hartman Group. Documenting the current green consumer trends, the newest information on what consumers want and what it all means for green businesses. "The Hartman Report on Sustainability: Understanding the Consumer Perspective.” Discover the facts: 50% of women want mass retailers to carry more green goods - with eco-friendly household cleaners their #1 preference. 43% of American's think they will be 'extremely green' in 5 years and 11% classify themselves as extremely green today. 3 out of 4 consumers believe their purchases have a significant impact on society.

10:30 – 11:00	What Brought You to Your Business? Sharing your personal epiphany of how you began this journey. Round table discussions with other attendees.
11:00 – 1:15	Marketplace and Community Connections – Group 1 Speed Networking: Poster Board Presentations Introduced by Alisa Gravitz and Jami Armstrong Doing More Business Together: What Are Your Key Challenges and Offers? This unique interactive poster board session is designed to get all conference attendees networking and doing business with each other.
12:15 pm	Box Lunch Served
Continued until 1:15	Marketplace and Community Connections – Group 2 Speed Networking: Poster Board Presentations Doing More Business Together: What Are Your Key Challenges and Offers?
1:30-2:45	Climate Change – Carbon Neutrality and Your Business An in-depth session examining carbon and climate change issues. Designed to help all businesses measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions. Leave the conference with an action plan to go climate-friendly. Introducing The Carbon Concierge, a project of Bainbridge Graduate Institute, a sustainable development MBA program. During the conference MBA students and climate-experts will be available to assist your business offset your carbon impact on global climate. Help us achieve our goal of 85% participation. Moderated by Mickey Lee, The Carbon Concierge Coordinator and Lorinda Rowledge PhD, Provost/EVP Academic Affairs at Bainbridge. The Role of Green Business in Climate Change --Addressing the size of the problem Alisa Gravitz, Green America Executive Director Gravitz, a nationally known expert on climate change, solar energy and economic solutions to social and environmental problems will discuss how green businesses are part of the solution. Bringing solar to scale is essential for meeting the global climate crisis, creating good paying jobs in every community and addressing poverty worldwide. Learn how businesses are thinking big – big enough to match the solutions to the scale of the problem – and creating opportunity for all. Case Study – Climate-Friendly Green Businesses that are profitable.

2:45-3:00	Networking Break
3:00 – 3:30	The Co-op Green Business Network and YOU! Introduced by Alisa Gravitz and Denise Hamler The many ways that the Green Business Network is helping eco-prenurs green and grow their businesses. Going to scale has never been so urgent in the current climate of all things GREEN!
3:20 – 3:45	Growing the Marketplace and Growing Your Business with eBay -Introducing Project Good Priya Haji, CEO/Co-founder World of Good Ella Silverman, Coordinator for Trust Providers, Project Good Robert Chatwani, General Manager for eBay Project Good World of Good and Green America join forces to build a new, trusted on-line, multi-seller marketplace on eBay. Project Good will have thousands of products that are people and planet positive. Members of Green America’s Green Business Network™ are eligible to become a seller on Project Good. Find out how this new Green America service can help you. www.projectgood.com
3:45- 4:10	Bridges to Action SpeedPlanning – Bring your Green Business Conference Inspiration to Life Rob Lederer and Sarah Hill, Management Resources Got a great idea from the conference? Not sure how to implement it back in the workplace? This session is for you! Creating action steps and tools to keep your momentum up! Get a headstart on Monday and increase the likliehood of manifesting your vision in the workplace and world. A brand-new feature to the conference – you’ll take away from the 2-day experience with a Bridge To Action. Leave the conference with articulated action steps and accountability to support you in your idea. The SpeedPlanning tools will be introduced at this session and the Friday end-of-conference session will assure that all attendees have actionable steps as they leave the conference. These tools work remarkably well when paired with ongoing coaching.

4:10 – 5:00	Financing and Funding Green Business Growth Mark Finser , Board Chair, RSF Social Finance Peter Liu, Founder, Vice Chairman, New Resource Bank Green is becoming a new consumer buzz word. But as new market opportunity opens, so does the demand for capital. What are the choices and resources for financing the growth of green businesses. How does financing affect results and risks? What are the common pitfalls? Hear from financiers who are focused on funding green entrepreneurs. Find our how RSF and New Resource Bank have provided resources and expertise to businesses. Case Sudies will be presented.
5:00-5:20	New Voices for Business – Tackles Global Warming in California Elliott Hoffman, Founder, New Voices for Business Hear about the new initiative with E2 – Environmental Entrepreneurs to assemble a major forum on implementation of AB32 – California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. This is the first and only mandatory cap on GHGs in the US. New Voices for Business played a key role to get this passed over huge objectives by oil, utilities and the business-as-usual voices. Find out how you can do it in your state and get involved in the next stage in California.
5:20 – 6:30	Break
6:30 – 8:00	Organic Dinner and Keynote Evening Entertainment - Listen to the beautiful voice of activist Adrienne Maree Brown, Executive Director, The Ruckus Society
8:00 – 9:00	Green Media 2.0: Optimism and Authenticity Bryan Welch, Publisher, Editorial Director, Ogden Publications 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. Q & A – Audience Participation
9:00 – 11:00	Networking and Open Bar – Organic beer and wine served

Thursday | November 8


7:30-8:30	Healthy Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:15	Coaching you and your Company to Peak Performance James F. Kenefick, Founder/Managing Director, Working Excellence Management Consulting Do you HAVE what it takes to move your company to the next level? Do you know what it takes? It’s important to know the difference between working IN and ON your business. Both are necessary- but your limited time is valuable and how you choose to allocate it will dictate the direction of your company and life. Will include: demands of scale; assessing your business framework; compatibility of business and personal values; and establishing strategic and tactical priorities – tools that will help turn those into critical decision-making criteria and operational oversight methods.
9:15-10:00	Marketing That Matters: Use Your Platform to Change the World Eric Friedenwald-Fishman, President, Creative Director, Metropolitan Group Join branding and marketing expert, for an interactive session on leveraging marketing for social impact. The workshop will explore how marketing can empower customers and communities; how products and services can directly serve as the message for social change and how to harness the power of business to change the world. Friendwald-Fishman has developed successful brands and marketing strategies for major businesses in green building, energy, natural products and socially responsible investment. Audience Participation
10:00 – 10:30	Book Signing and Break Eric Friedenwald-Fishman will sign his new book, co-authored with Chip Conley, Marketing That Matters: 10 Practices to Profit You Business and Change the World.

10:30- 11:15	Deciphering the Marketing and Science of Organics Sara Snow, Green Living Expert and TV Host Are organics really better for you? Is it scientific that they taste better? Whos says this, and maybe more importantly, who believes it? Sara Snow, green living expert and TV host takes a look at the marketing and science behind organics. Sara comes at this from her experiences in the media, as a TV news anchor and as host of two series on green living, and as a spokesperson for some of the industry's most respected organizations and companies, including The Organic Center. Looking at topics from regulations to the latest research, to the messages that resonate best with audiences, Snow helps decipher the trends and cut through the clutter.
11:15 – 12:00	Rise with the Tide – Without Getting All Wet Danny Rubenstein and Janet DiGiovanna, Dash Advisors Proven tips on how to take advantage of the broadening demand for what you offer – while avoiding many of the costly mistakes along the way. Discover ways to collaborate with complimentary companies in order to gain new opportunities – get a fresh perspective on how to look at your company so that you become more attractive in new larger markets. And the bottomline – do all this while maintaining your vision and control. Rubenstein and DiGiovaana are successful entrepreneurs – and advisors to LOHAS market. Through their own experiences with Naked Juice, they will offer valuable information in a way you can apply to your company as well as share their real life stories of companies who followed these principles and the benefits they received as a result.
12:00 pm – 12:20	Small Group Discussions On Your Own Journey
12:20 pm – 2:00	Lunch with Topic Tables Our speakers and attendees will facilitate table talk lunch session on a variety of issues. Pick a subject/table that interests you. You are welcome to organize a table. Sign up at the registration area in the lobby.
2:00- 2:15	Networking Break
2:15 - 3:15	Growing Business With Social Impact WAGES (Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security) Cooperative Members Hilary Abell, Executive Director, Deb Goldberg Introduced by Denise Hamler WAGES has created three eco-friendly cleaning cooperatives in the San Francisco Bay area that provide high quality jobs to low income and minority wage earners. WAGES’ eco-friendly cleaning co-ops are Emma’s EcoC Clean, Natural Home Cleaning and Eco-Care. Hear how women in the cooperative take on leadership roles and oversee co-op finances and product purchasing. This innovative model that provides stable employment and good health care benefits has spun the development of seven similar groups from South Carolina to Alaska. Q & A Audience Participation
3:15 – 4:30	Concurrent Sessions Do you Have What it Takes to Obtain & Sustain Capital Resources for Your Company? James Kenefick, Founder/Managing Director, WEX Capital Partners Your company’s key capital resources fall into 2 categories: Financial and Intellectual. There are more funding paths than ever before for green companies –angel networks, venture capital, strategic partners, customers and inventors. It requires savvy to know what is best for you and to maximize those dollars once in the bank. Intellectual capital is value created from people and relationships. A management team and board can all be bankable resources – if utilized wisely. This combined collection of capital supports company growth which can increase company value – ensuring sustainability and ability to fulfill short and long-term missions. Why a Private Exchange is More Important than EVER Joe Sibilia, President, Meadowbrook Lane Capital/CSR Wire Join in this highly interactive approach to raising capital for your green business. Learn how to define your business, define the opportunity, describe the team, demonstrate financial acumen, investigate financiers and position your company for capital. A proven approach that will appeal to businesses at all levels of experience. Leave the session with an outline on how to position your business for capital and the various financing options available. The Carbon Concierge – Time To Get Serious --Sign Up and help us Achieve 85% Participation The Carbon Concierge is available to assist your business offset your carbon impact on global climate. Help us achieve our goal of 85% participation and come by and sign up. Bainbridge Graduate Institute’s MBA students are available to walk you through the process. This new CABN benefit is aimed at motivating our business members to take immediate and tangible steps to reduce and offset their personal and business carbon footprint. The Carbon Concierge is available to assist after the initial appointments (at the conference) – to explore how to take steps to measure, reduce and offset your carbon. Simple tools are used to help understand the carbon emissions impact of your business operations (and personal lifestyle.) Mickey Lee, The Carbon Concierge Coordinator Lorinda Rowledge PhD, Provost/EVP Academic Affairs at Bainbridge

4:30 – 4:45	Snack Break
4:45- 5:45	Making the Network Work – Green America's Green Business Network™ Facilitated by Denise Hamler and Alisa Gravitz Come to share your insights—needs and offers—to make the network work.
5:45 – 6:00	Break
7:15-8:30	Organic Banquet Simran Sethi – Telling the Stories of Green Businesses Host for Sundance Channel’s "The Green;" News Anchor for TreeHugger.com; Contributing author of Ethical Markets; Anchor for Equator HD "Keep It Green" Award-winning sustainability journalist Simran Sethi will highlight ways to share green business successes with the mainstream. From crafting compelling ideas for news media to inspiring local citizens to vote with their dollars to shaping public policy, how we share our stories is as important as what we share. Fourth Annual Green Business Leadership Award Presented by 2006 Award winner New Leaf Paper
8:30	Book Signing Simran Sethi, Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy

9:00-midnight	Enjoy the Cool Chill-Out Lounge Open Bar with organic beer and wine

Friday | November 9


8:00 – 9:00 am	Healthy Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45	Get There Early: Sensing the Future to Compete in the Present Jamais Cascio, Institute for the Future and Co-founder, worldchanging.com Institute for the Futures’ 10-year forecast of trends, challenges and opportunities. Drawing out the lessons for leaders in green business, with a focus on how to thrive in the often-uncomfortable space between judging too soon (the classic mistake of the problem solver) and deciding too late (the classic mistake of the academic).
9:45-10:00	Book Signing
10:00-11:15	Bridges to Action SpeedPlanning – Bring your Green Business Conference Inspiration to Life Rob Lederer and Sarah Hill, Management Resources Introduced by Denise Hamler Did you get a great idea from the conference and not sure how to implement it back in the workplace? A brand-new feature to the conference, this session is for you as we all create action steps and tools to keep our momentum up! Get a head start on Monday and increase the likelihood of manifesting your vision in the workplace and world. These great tools work remarkably well when paired with ongoing couching.
11:15 – 12:00 pm	Closing Circle with Alisa Gravitz and Denise Hamler Lessons Learned and Take-Homes
2:00	Green Festival Opens

Friday - Saturday - Sunday | November 9-11

Green Festival San Francisco

www.greenfestivals.org for program and exhibitors.
San Francisco Concourse Design Center
635 8th (8th and Brannan)
All conference attendees receive two free tickets.

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The 2006 Green America Green Business Conference San Francisco was a huge success!

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Download the Full Program from San Francisco 2006 (PDF)