The document outlines a webinar discussing the economic value of sustainable business practices, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It features presentations from various experts showcasing benefits, case studies, and resources for implementing sustainability initiatives. The information is intended to guide SMEs in integrating sustainability into their business strategies while demonstrating the positive impacts on community and economic viability.

1. Audio Access
 To access the audio portion of this presentation:
 Dial 1 +(888) 858-2144
 When prompted, enter the Meeting Access Code:
7177356#

2. Webinar October 21, 2014, Noon Mountain Time
U.S. Small Business Administration
presenters
Matt Varilek, SBA Region VIII Administrator
Martha Young and Graham Russell, Sustainability4SMEs
Laury Hammel, Longfellows Clubs
Michael Green, Climate Action Liaison Coalition

3. Objectives of this Conversation:
 Demonstrate the economic value of implementing
sustainable business practices;
 Demonstrate how social responsibility leads to stronger
businesses and communities;
 Provide concrete examples of no cost/low cost
opportunities for small and medium sized businesses;
 Provide links to resources available specifically for small
and mid-sized companies

4. Presenters
Matt Varilek serves as the SBA’s Region VIII Administrator and is based in Denver. He oversees the agency’s
capital, counseling, and contracting services in Colorado, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, and
Wyoming.
Martha Young is an analyst and writer with over 20 years of experience in information technology, small to
mid-sized enterprises management and the full spectrum of energy technology.
As an analyst, her current project is co-producing pioneering research into the economic value of
implementing sustainable business practices within small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Graham Russell is a sustainable business professional and educator. He brings 25 years of CEO experience in
small to mid-sized companies in the environmental services and transportation industries. Russell teaches
sustainability at the University of Colorado Denver. He also manages the outreach and development efforts
for the Managing for Sustainability program at the university.
Michael Green specializes in strengthening small and mid-sized businesses with the intent to build stronger,
vibrant communities. As an advocate, Green has played strategic roles in several of the largest national, as
well as international campaigns dedicated to fighting climate change. Since 2012, he has served as a
representative to the United Nations focusing on international climate science and policy.
Laury Hammel is the President and CEO of The Longfellow Clubs in Wayland, Sudbury, Natick, and Franklin,
Massachusetts, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Longfellow has been a leader in the sustainable business
movement for several decades. 1988, Hammel founded the Sustainable Business Network of
Massachusetts-Boston (SBN). In 1991 he co-founded the national business group, Business for Social
Responsibility (BSR). In 2001, he co-founded the national organization The Business Alliance for Local Living
Economies (BALLE).

5. SBA and How it Supports Small Business
Matt Varilek
SBA Region VIII Administrator
The 3 Cs
 Capital
 Counseling
 Contracts

6. SBA as a Capital and Counseling Source
for Energy Efficiency Solutions
 How to access Capital and Counseling:
 -Certified Development Company
‘green’ 504 loans and other SBA finance
options
 -SBDC and SCORE counseling
 Bottom line: SBA is able to assist
businesses at every stage of
development and growth with
information, resources, expertise and
funding opportunities

7. Benefits of Sustainability Initiatives
Recognized by Large Enterprises
 Social
 Community acceptance of the business/License to
operate
 More business traffic through name recognition
 Employee Wellness
 Savings through investing in employee wellness
 The high cost of employee turnover
 Happy employees stay

8. Large Enterprises Also Recognize:
 Economic Benefits
 Risk mitigation/license to operate
 Free money through efficiencies
 By not spending, money stays in the
business
 Infrastructure: Upgrades reduce
energy demand (building, lighting,
equipment, etc)
 New Market Opportunities
 Innovative products and services

9. Large Enterprises + Sustainability =
an Environmental Impact
 Less water used
 = lower costs
 = Reduced waste water
management
 Recycling
 = reduced dumpster
loads
 Less energy consumed
 = lower energy costs
 = reduced emissions

10. Case Study: High Tech Pro Services
 Sustainability begins at the Core of the Business
 B-Corp
 Location
 E-vehicle
 Employee Wellness
 Supported employees have spawned other businesses
 Employee retention
 Impact on clientele

11. Case Study: High Tech Pro Services
 New Revenue Opportunities
 Evolution of the business: hardware to professional services
 Hardware and software support and management
 Leveraging technology to enhance SME clients’ businesses
Bottom Line: Sustainability, integrated into the overall business strategy,
is best implemented in strategically focused, manageable steps.

12. Case Study: Manufacturing
 Started with Emphasis on Utilities
 Lighting
 Air Conditioning
 Equipment ramp up speeds
 Added water reduction and reuse
 Then added waste management
Collectively the various Utility-centric initiatives: lighting, evaporative
cooling, and vacuum furnace ramp-up timing are saving the company $25K-
$30K a year, or 12.5-percent of its overall electricity costs.

13. The Longfellow Clubs
A case story about the impacts of Lighting upgrades directly
from the company’s CEO, Laury Hammel
 Change started with exploring options in the marketplace
 Worked with engineers to develop an effective solution

14. The Longfellow Clubs Lighting
upgrades: Impacts and Hurdles
 Typical hurdles and impacts of lighting upgrades
 Infrastructure upgrades disrupt the business
 Still functional equipment goes to the landfill

15. The Longfellow Clubs
 The solution and its economic and environmental impacts
Longfellow Clubs Total Resource Percentages Saved
Facility Location Years Measured % Decrease from the 1st Year
Wayland: Water 2006-2013 37.29%
Wayland: Electric FY10 to FY13 12.12%
Wayland: Gas FY09 to FY13 26.51%
Natick LSC: Water 2008 to 2013 0.96%
Natick LSC: Electric FY11 to FY13 7.74%
Natick LSC: Gas 7.41%
Natick NRC: Water 2008 to 2013 64.51%
Natick NRC: Electric FY07 to FY13 26.65%
Natick NRC: Gas FY08 to FY13 32.39%

16. Internally Driven Action
 Internal Sustainability Messaging
 Behavioral Change
 The importance of having a ripple effect on your staff and
customers
 Smart consumer decisions start with mission driven
businesses
 Businesses need to look at their full supply chain, production
models to make sure that we are making the smartest product to
offer the customer

17. Community Driven Action
 Businesses need to connect their internal goals with
external goals
 Sustainability can’t end once we get to Main Street.
Businesses need to act as community leaders and
push for the new economy which they envision
 Carbon tax
 Investment priorities

18. Getting Started: Resources for Small Businesses
 CALC Sustainable Performance and Reporting Kit
(SPaRK)
 Join strategic policy groups for a collective voice
(ASBC)

19. Next Steps: Information & Resources
 www.SBA.gov
 www.Sustainability4SMEs.com
 Includes links to other case studies by vertical industry
 Link to national survey on SME adoption (or not) of
sustainable business practices
 www.LongfellowClubs.com
 www.ClimateActionCoalition.org
 www.GreenImpactCampaign.org
 Provides a central clearinghouse, by vertical industry, for
SMEs to share ideas on sustainable business initiatives
USSBA Does Not Endorse the Products or Services
of the listed resources.

20. Wrap Up