Sustainable Enterprise Partnership presents next seminar Oct. 30 in series on sustainability strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises

Sustainable Enterprise Partnership presents next seminar Oct. 30 in series on sustainability strategies for small and medium-sized enterprisesOctober 06, 2008Sara Millersemortim@syr.edu

New York state businesses and organizations are invited to attend a special conference that will offer solutions and practical approaches to creating sustainable operations that are also cost efficient. The conference, “Benefit the Planet and Your Bottom Line: Sustainability Strategies for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises,” is presented by the Sustainable Enterprise Partnership (SEP) and will be held Thursday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management.

Small- and medium-sized organizations are encouraged to attend the seminar to better understand the meaning of sustainability for small and medium-sized enterprises and the key environmental challenges facing such organizations. Through presentations, panel discussions and hands-on activity, participants will learn how to develop short- and long-term energy use strategies that achieve cost savings in operations.

Featured presenters at the conference include:

• W. Brewster Earle, president, Comfort Systems USA Energy Services, LEED AP;
• J. Kemper Matt Jr., vice president, Dupli Envelope & Graphics;
• Joanna Gomez, Flex Tech Program, NYSERDA;
• Tracie Hall, executive director, U.S. Green Building Council, New York Upstate Chapter;
• Frederick C. Carranti, director, US-DOE Industrial Assessment Center;
• Lisa B. Cleckner, assistant director of operations, Syracuse CoE;
• Mike Kelleher, director, Renewable Energy Systems, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; and
• Elet Callahan, professor, Whitman School of Management.

The Whitman School, SUNY-ESF and the Syracuse CoE launched the SEP (formerly the Sustainable Business Collaboration) as a distinctive transdisciplinary approach to world-class education and research on business and sustainability. A collaborative effort involving faculty and researchers from the three partnering institutions, the SEP utilizes combined strengths to provide insight into the best practices and policies for various sizes of enterprises; metrics for sustainable efforts; implementation strategies; and associated long-term benefits to an organization and the community.

Conference registration is limited to 50 participants, and an organic lunch will be served. Outreach partners for the conference include The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Central New York and the U.S. Green Building Council, New York Upstate Chapter. Schedule and registration information is available at http://whitman.syr.edu/sustainabilityseminar.