Energy, Climate, and Sustainability: Going Green

Energy, Climate, and Sustainability: Going Green

First, learn about the rise in interest and awareness of sustainable business practices and how companies can embrace the Triple Bottom Line. Participants will also receive tips that both small and medium-sized companies can implement to help them increase their efficiency, decrease waste and save money at the same time.

Then, learn about the interrelation of climate change and our energy use. From California’s Cap and Trade with AB32 to San Francisco’s Existing Commercial Building Benchmarking Ordinance, learn what impacts climate policies will have on your business. Find out how to save money and reduce your business’ footprint by managing your energy use.

Next, we'll show you how to offset your carbon footprint by participating in PG&E's ClimateSmart Program. The ClimateSmart program is a simple, voluntary and tax–deductible way to balance out these greenhouse gas emissions through environmental conservation, restoration and protection projects - all within California.

Finally, the panel will share about Federal and local programs that focus on increasing the innovation economy and supporting small businesses, such as the recently launched Startup America and SBA Impact Fund. These organizations, (and others) are providing funding and technical assistance for startups to scale. The speakers will explain programs, funding, new legal structures, and trends in social enterprise within the San Francisco economy for socially responsible business.

Small Business Conference
SF State Downtown Campus
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Session 3, 1:30-3:00pm

Matthew Sturm, Sustainable Communities - San Francisco, PG&E
415.973.8141 mwss@pge.com

Dean Kunesh, Sr. Business Segment Manager for PG&E's ClimateSmart Program
415-973-3153 d1kb@pge.com

Nikki Pava, Founder, EcoTuesday
415.572.1466, nikki@ecotuesday.com

James Hanusa, Founder, Change Collective
415.235.9640, james.hanusa@gmail.com

Biographies: Matthew Sturm is a sustainability professional with a unique array of experiences greening businesses and communities. As Community Energy Manager for PG&E, he works on sustainability projects on the city scale as well as supporting energy efficiency projects for San Francisco businesses. Previously, Matthew certified Fair Trade coffee and wine for Fair Trade USA. As director of the Business Council on Climate Change, he brought local business leaders together to take action on climate change. Matthew holds an MBA from HEC, Paris, during which time he built a Fair Trade store in Ghana. He is originally from Denver and has a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Colorado.

Dean has been a Marketing Consultant and Product Marketing Manager for Fortune 500 Enterprise Technology companies. His product expertise includes; services, software, solutions, and support marketing of storage, servers, networking and semi conductor devices. He holds a BS in Industrial & System Engineering from San Jose State University with MS graduate work in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

With a diverse range of talents and skills, Nikki brings leadership, strategic vision, and management experience to mission-driven organizations. She is deeply passionate about providing services that support clients in reaching their sustainability goals. She has an MBA in Sustainable Business from the Presidio School of Management and has substantial (experience in business consulting, sustainability, marketing, project management, facilitation, writing, sales, corporate social responsibility and public relations.

Nikki has worked in a strategic capacity with Fortune 500 companies, small- and medium-sized businesses, and non-profits to develop strategic plans and coordinate teams to reach specific and measurable goals. In 2007, Nikki founded EcoTuesday, the sustainable business leaders networking forum that takes place each month in 10 cities across the nation. The event brings together hundreds of sustainability professionals and has made a positive impact on business in several local communities.

James Hanusa is a business consultant and environmental advocate. His focus is on innovation, community engagement, organizational development and social media. He is a green economy advisor to the Stakeholder Forum organizers of the Rio+20 Earth Summit on Sustainable Development and a Fellow of Global Urban Development. He holds and MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a B.S. in Marketing from Arizona State University.

Sponsored by: Pacific Gas and Electric