Earth Month Business Conference April 7, 2015

First Annual Earth Month Business Conference “Building Sustainability Leadership” Memphis - April 7, 2015

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The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference A first in more ways than one. This conference will bring together leaders from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas businesses large and small - from industry giants through mid-size manufacturers and distributors to small operations. We’ll cross industry boundaries and barriers to bring original thinking to bear on issues of sustainability in business today and for our critical future.

An innovative sponsoring partnership of four organizations has made this extraordinary conference possible. Commercial and non-profit ventures often don’t coincide in vision—especially in fields involving sustainability, the environment, and social-political issues. But such partnership is vital to developing truly sound, long-lasting sustainability practices.

TITLE SPONSOR

The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference - Memphis - April 7, 2015

FedEx constantly strives to do more with less, reducing its environmental footprint even as it deepens the ways it connects the global economy. FedEx looks for ways to pick up and deliver shipments efficiently, and seeks out new forms of renewable energy to help make communities and the planet more sustainable for future generations.

Dear Attendee:

It’s our distinct privilege to receive you at the First Annual Earth Month Business Conference. We’re grateful you’re here.

Grateful, too, that we’re aided by such an astonishing list of sponsors, founders, and organizers—FedEx, RockTenn, International Paper, the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, the Memphis-Shelby County Office of Sustainability, and the organizations with which we two are privileged to work: The Sustainability Consortium and CRG Sustainable Solutions.

Our hope is that you’ll find today a different kind of conference. We have brought together leaders and technical specialists from big business…representatives of small to medium sized businesses… governments at state and local level…non-profits large and small…and universities—a diverse set of players rarely assembled, and perhaps never before gathered, in this region, to talk and learn about sustainability and talk about better ways to integrate sustainability solutions into business

Good speakers, good information—you’ll find both here today. Innovatively, however, you’ll find something beyond. You’ll find action. At moments threaded through the day, we’ll be asking participants—yes, including you—to commit to specific action steps that you conceive and you announce on your own. Developing real sustainability means taking individual and institutional action in a businesslike way in a community spirit.

We’re asking for a lot. We believe we’re delivering a good deal as well—all toward the building of the practical sustainability that brings us all together today.

Onward!

Sarah Mary

Sarah Lewis, PhD Mary SingerThe Sustainability Consortium CRG Sustainable Solutions


Mary Singer CCIM, CPM and CEO & Founder CRG Sustainable Solutions

Sarah Lewis PhD Managing Director of Research and Integration The Sustainability Consortium (TSC)

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

7:00 AM · On-site registration desk opens · Table top exhibit set-up

7:30 - 8:00 AM · Enjoy breakfast, networking and table-top exhibits

8:00 AM - Welcome and Introductions · Co-Founders of ISSP Arkansas-Mississippi-Tennessee Chapter: Mary Singer and Sarah Lewis PhD

8:10 AM · A Green Gathering - Bradley Harris

8:15 - 8:45 AM · Green Start - Sarah Lewis PhD and Bradley Harris

8:45 - 9:45 AM · Focus Session 1 · Sustainable Packaging: Unpacking Hidden Value in your Business

Facilitated by Sarah Lewis PhD, The Sustainability Consortium, Managing Director of Research and Integration

Panel discusses how suppliers are being asked to reflect value through sustainability measures and how innovative packaging represents one of the largest opportunities manufacturers have to directly and significantly reduce a product’s waste stream.

• Quincy McGlown FedEx Manager of Souring for Global Supplies• Jessica Kimbrough RockTenn V.P. Marketing, Consumer Packaging• Tim McInerney Sealed Air Global Business Director

9:45 AM · Welcome Remarks by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell

10:05 - 11:30 AM · Focus Session 2 · Waste & Recycling: From Burden to Benefit

Facilitated by Jessica Kimbrough, RockTenn, Vice President of Marketing, Consumer Packaging

Once seen as just a cost of business, the waste and recycling function is proving to be a way for organizations and municipalities not only to reduce landfill volumes and costs, but also to create revenues.

• Pete Daunais FedEx Tech Connect Program Management Advisor• Vickie Berry Brother International Environmental Health & Safety• Robert Hunter Arkansas Dept. of Environmental Quality • Mark Williams Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality• Mark Braswell Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation

11:30 - 12:00 PM · Enjoy networking with our table top exhibitors. Pictures taken in foyer hallway.

12:00 - 1:00 PM · Luncheon · Unexpected Benefits of Sustainability: A Lens for Exceptional Ideas

Facilitator: Sarah Lewis PhD, The Sustainability Consortium, Managing Director of Research and Integration

Sustainable practices oftentimes have unexpected and unintentional benefits for businesses and for society.

• James McDonald International Paper Manager, Sustainability• Josh Kurtz FedEx Sustainability Sourcing Specialist • Hillary Femal IFCO V.P. Global Marketing


Breakout Session 1

1:05 - 2:05 PM

Option 1 · Green your Supply Chain...Green Your Bottom Line (Tennessee Ballroom)

Facilitator: Shawn Jones, PhD, CRG Sustainable Solutions and The University of Memphis

Greening an organization’s supply chain has benefits that span purchasing, manufacturing, usage and end-of-life disposal.

• Adam Pener Green Ox Pallet Technology President• Paul Marshall Smith-Nephew Global Packaging & Supply Chain• Ralph E Alleman Lucite International Logistics and Sustainability Manager

Option 2 · Sustainability Reporting - Challenges, Trends and Opportunities (Main Ballroom)

Facilitator: April Ambrose, Viridian, Manager of Business Optimization

Increased demands for accountability are driving increased sustainability reporting requirements. It is essential organizations understand the different standards, their objectives, and potential benefits.

• Lela Gerald Buckman International Vice President, Global Marketing• Sarah Lewis PhD The Sustainability Consortium Managing Director Research• Anthony Gilbreath CRG Sustainable Solutions Sustainability Specialist

2:05 - 2:30 PM Enjoy a healthy snack, networking with table top exhibitors. Pictures taken in foyer hallway.

Breakout Session 2

2:30 - 3:30 PM

Option 1 · Leading Green Cities - Where to Begin (Main Ballroom)

Facilitator: Brian Stephens, Caissa, CEO and Co-Founder

A green city is a healthy, efficient, and fair city. How do cities begin?

• John Zeanah Memphis/Shelby Office of Sustainability Administrator• David Williams Leadership Memphis President & CEO• Mildred Callaway Tennessee Valley Authority Senior Consultant

Option 2 · Exploring Benefits of Sustainable Built Environment (Tennessee Ballroom)

Facilitator: Christine Donhardt, Memphis-Shelby County Office of Sustainability, Senior Planner

Given the significant percentage of energy and resource consumption the built environment represents, adherence to best-practices can make a huge difference for society, businesses and citizens.

• April Ambrose Viridian Manager, Building Optimization• Henry Minor Dalhoff Thomas Design Studio Landscape Architect• Barry Yoakum Archimania Architect

3:30 - 3:45 PM · Green Start (Part 2)

3:45 - 4:45 PM · Launching Event for International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) Arkansas-Mississippi-Tennessee Chapter.


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS

Title Sponsor FedEx

Gold Sponsor RockTenn

Special Thanks to Our Speakers and Panelists:

Arkansas Dept. of Environmental Quality and Arkansas Recycling Coali?on Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality and Mississippi Recycling Coali?on Brother Interna?onal Sealed Air Buckman Interna?onal Smith-‐Nephew Green Ox Pallet Technology Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conserva?on and Tennessee Recycling Coali?on IFCO

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Interna?onal Paper The Sustainability Consor?um Leadership Memphis University of Memphis-‐Marke?ng and Supply Chain Management Memphis-‐Shelby County Office of Sustainability Viridian Lucite Interna?onal Dalhoff Thomas Design Studio Archimania

Special Thanks to Our Exhibitors

Ac?on Chemical Inc Leadership Memphis Arkansas Recycling Coali?on Chris?an Brothers University Natural Awakenings Magazine Mississippi Recycling Coali?on Green Ox Pallet Technology V2 Media Pathway Lending

CRG Sustainable Solu?ons RockTenn Dalhoff Thomas Design Studio Shelby County Air Pollu?on Control FedEx Viridian Memphis City Beau?ful Tennessee Department of Environment and Conserva?on

Special Thanks to the Following for Their Contribu?ons:

Cherie O’Mary -‐ Arkansas Recycling Coali?on Chris?ne Donhardt -‐ Memphis-‐Shelby County Office of Sustainability Edith Kelly-‐Green -‐ Intern sponsorship Green2 -‐ Eco paper products Sandra Walls -‐ AIL Logis?cs Solu?ons

Holiday Inn University of Memphis Laura Pate -‐ Volunteer Lisa Wade -‐ Volunteer Natural Awakenings -‐ Media promo?on Sondra Wilson -‐ CRG Sustainable Solu?ons University of Memphis: Sustainability Interns



A conference focused on sustainability in business must itself reflect sustainable business values.

With the help of our sponsors and hosts, we’ve minimized our use of paper, with special attention given to our audio-visual tools. Our conference venue and accommodations have been chosen to minimize travel and fuel expenditure. In food and beverage service, we’ve eliminated the use of ‘disposable’ materials as far as the law will allow. We’ve taken advantage of what offsets we can. Wherever possible, we’ve employed recycled, repurposed items, and ask you to use our recycling bins for all that you will discard.

Our aim…to be as green as we can…to encourage you to go even farther. Sustainability matters.

Earth Month Business Conference April 7, 2015

Environment

Transcript of Earth Month Business Conference April 7, 2015