Sustainability and new business opportunities are the themes of the first annual Contra Costa Sustainable Enterprise Conference to be held on October 27th from 9 am to 4 pm at the Pleasant Hill Community Center. Presented by Sustainable Contra Costa and the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, the goal of the conference is to encourage and inspire business owners, entrepreneurs, and students to explore the myriad of opportunities and markets for innovation in new products, new services, new buildings and new business models that incorporate principles of sustainability.
The Sustainable Enterprise Conference will feature presentations, panels and interactive Q&A sessions on Contra Costa's Emerging Green Economy, The Business of Energy, Sustainable Design, The Business of Sustainability, and Applying Sustainable Business Practices. Presenters and panelists will include representatives from Golden Gate Power, the California Solar Energy Industry Association, Working Solutions, Intech Energy, Daily Digital Printing (a certified green business) and Give Something Back Office Supplies (a B Corp). Participating organizations include John F. Kennedy University's Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center, and the Contra Costa Green Business Program.
Featured keynote speaker Ilaria [ilaria] Mazzoleni, internationally recognized designer will present cutting edge developments in sustainable design in architecture and in the evolving field biomimicry in new product development. Ms. Mazzoleni is the founder of IM Studio Milano/Los Angeles, and faculty member at the California Institute of the Arts. Her professional and academic investigation relates to sustainable architecture on all scales of design with a research focus on biomimicry, where innovation in architecture and design is inspired by the processes and functions of nature.
"With its proximity to UC Berkeley and Silicon Valley, Contra Costa County is well-positioned to be a hub for innovation in sustainable design, architecture, new product development and sustainable business practices. In the process, we can create new opportunities, new businesses and new jobs. Let’s make it happen … here!" says Mark Westwind, SEC Co-Producer. "Certainly 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' are important guiding principles toward sustainability, but taking a step further, we need rethink and redesign virtually everything we buy, use and consume. This creates tremendous opportunities for creative solutions and successful new businesses." "I'm thrilled that the Sustainable Enterprise Conference will give business, civic and academic leaders a forum for addressing key issues around business and sustainability," says Contra Costa County's new Sustainability Coordinator, Jody London.
"The Contra Costa event is modeled after Sonoma County's very successful Sustainable Enterprise Conference produced for the last 11 years by Sustainable North Bay," says Conference Co-Producer, Mark Westwind. "We're very pleased and enthusiastic to see the SEC model being adopted in other regions," says Oren Wool, Executive Director of Sustainable North Bay. "Businesses and organizations are realizing significant bottom-line benefits and economic rewards when they prioritize environmental and social sustainability," says Wool. "These rewards come not only from improving efficiency and reducing consumption, but also from the rapidly increasing percentage of prospective customers and clients seeking companies that embrace sustainability." The annual Sonoma County SEC regularly draws 350-400 people. "We hope Contra Costa's SEC will grow to be as successful," says Westwind.
Sponsors include Marin Clean Energy and Republic Services. The conference will be followed by a networking reception for presenters, panelists and attendees from 4 to 5:30 pm.
More information and online registration is available at www.SECContraCosta.com.
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