Saturday 4/9

1:00 pm
Authentic Brand Storytelling - Your Business Path to Added Profits

Susan Bierzychudek

How do you tell your business story? From billboards to SuperBowl ads, we’re told brand stories every day. Good ones might make you smile. Great ones will pique your interest and have you thinking—consciously or unconsciously—tell me more! Susan Bierzychudek, founder of Green Ideals Group, will share what makes an authentic brand story and how it can sharpen your competitive edge.

2:00 pm
Social Media for Sustainable Business

Joey Shepp

How can Social Media build your business? Social Media principles align perfectly with Sustainable Business principles. Get an overview of social media marketing strategy, how it is changing the game of marketing, and how Sustainable Business is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this disruptive technology. Joey Shepp is an Internet entrepreneur and sustainability consultant and Green MBA Director at Dominican University.

3:00 PM
Eco-prenuer Showcase: Profiling the Greenest and Most Innovative Businesses in the Region

4:00 PM
Getting a Green Job

Leonard Adler

Practical tips for job seekers interested in finding jobs related to social or environmental responsibility. Areas covered will include using specialty job boards, tapping into the "hidden green job market," and identifying sources of future green jobs. Also tips on how to find good staff. Led by Leonard Adler of Green Jobs Network, helping job seekers find jobs in environmental or social responsibility organizations.

Sunday 4/10

1:00 PM
Making Your Green Business Bankable: The Bulletproof Loan Request

Bill Peterson

How do you make your green business bankable? Green business entrepreneurs face a multitude of challenges transforming their vision into reality, not the least of which is the ability to obtain a bank loan. Why is getting a loan nearly impossible? How can I make my loan request bulletproof? Bill Peterson of New Resource Bank will walk you to the other side of the desk and discuss the key ingredients of a successful financing proposal.  Peterson combines a long history in community banking with a deep interest in sustainability.

2:00 PM
Launching a Business: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Krista Kokjohn-Poehler

A 45 minute primer on lunching a green business: how to avoid pitfalls and operationalize your brand message through every strategic decision you make including start-up, co-creating with your customers, product development, and marketing. Including a case study of the Becky Bones start-up. Krista Kokjohn-Poehler, entrepreneur and brand builder has launched two successful brands aimed at inspired girls. She co-founded Becky Bones, LLC an eco-edutainment brand for kids and teens who want to save the planet.

Ahmed Rahim
CEO & Co-Founder
Numi Teas

Brian Durkee
VP Operations
Numi Teas

3:00 PM
From Farmer to Earth: Taking Care of Every Step

Ahmed Rahim and Brian Durkee

Susan Frank
Executive VP
The Better World Group

Joshua Levine
VP-Financial Advisor
SRI Wealth Management

4:00 PM
The Green Chamber of Commerce Presents: Green Policy in California and Its Affects on Local Business

Susan Frank and Joshua Levine

How will new Green Policy in California affect local businesses? California has always been a leader in environmental policy. From the catalytic converter to carbon trading the hope is that California’s energy policy will become the country’s energy policy. Come and examine how environmental policies are shaping California’s legislature and how they will affect the business landscape. Presented by The Green Chamber of Commerce members Joshua Levine of SRI Wealth Management and Susan Frank of The Better World Group.