This conference brought together leaders from Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. We crossed industry boundaries and barriers to bring original thinking to bear on issues of sustainability in business today and for our critical future.
1.
First Annual Earth Month Business Conference
“Building Sustainability Leadership”
Memphis - April 7, 2015
Hosted by
2. 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.
3.
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 Singer
The Sustainability Consortium CRG Sustainable Solutions
The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference - Memphis - April 7, 2015
Mary Singer
CCIM, CPM and CEO & Founder
CRG Sustainable Solutions
Sarah Lewis PhD
Managing Director of Research and Integration
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC)
4. 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
The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference - Memphis - April 7, 2015
5. 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.
The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference - Memphis - April 7, 2015
6. 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
The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference - Memphis - April 7, 2015
7. The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference - Memphis - April 7, 2015
8. The First Annual Earth Month Business Conference - Memphis - April 7, 2015
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.