Going Green, NxLeveL Guide for Environmental Solutions

Course Sponsored by

DeKalb Enterprise Business Corporation (DEBCO)

The aim of this course is to provide cutting-edge training for entrepreneurs to develop innovative and environmentally friendly businesses, and to find common ground between environmental protection and economic development through the introduction of business opportunities in the environmental field.

The goal of the initiative is to help entrepreneurs create businesses that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.

The program is designed to aid entrepreneurs in "green" decision making. This class focuses on providing practical, business-friendly knowledge and competence in environmental problems and solutions.

Participants develop a NxLeveL® Green Action Plan that guides their efforts in transforming their companies into environmentally friendly companies.

Who should attend?

• Managers and Entrepreneurs: By far the most successful way to be a green and responsible business is to design it right in from the start. Learn how to grow a business the green and sustainable way.
  
• Environmental / Sustainability Managers: Use the right tools to make the business case for environmental investment and improvement. How to work with each function in your organization in the business languages they use (hint: they DON'T want to talk about "sustainability" or being "green").
  
• Educators and consultants: Broaden your skills quickly and learn new approaches and tools for business education, consulting and business development.
  
• Economic development and environmental / social regulation and advocacy: Learn how to promote responsible organizations in your community and get business leaders to support your mission.
  
• Investor Relations: Every day there are more responsible investment and clean technology funds competing for market dollars. They are asking detailed question about sustainability before they invest. Learn what to expect from responsible investors and what kind of performance your company must show.
  
• Fund Management: Pick long-term winners. Leading corporations are publishing their sustainability and environmental strategies and programs. What are they talking about and how does it affect their value?

Session 1

The Green Business Plan & The 6-finger Business Sustainable Value Chain

Instructor: Jeff Hix

About Jeff: With over 20 years' experience in the environmental movement and the business products industry, Jeff Hix is uniquely positioned to be a valuable resource to businesses in helping them achieve their cost reduction and sustainability objectives. Jeff is the nationwide green/sustainable business products expert for Indoff, Inc., a $120 million distributor with a nationwide network of 350 Sales Partners across multipl industries. Jeff specializes in helping companies reduce, control and gain visibility into their overhead expenditures while simultaneously assisting them with greening their office and achieving their sustainability objectives, providing consulting services that range from helping companies buy smarter and greener to assisting firms with developing and implementing their own strategic sustainability plans.  http://greenpages.indoff.com/

Session 2: Setting the Foundation; Why go green as an Environmental Business Strategy?

About Charlotte King:  President/Creative Director of Snowden & King Marketing Communications. For over 10 years the firm has specialized in environmental marketing across the country and publishes "Marketing Zone", a national environmental marketing trade magazine, "linking business and environmental community together". Her environmental messages and marketing strategies have successfully reached 1.2 million consumers, attracted corporate sponsors and increased internal program success for Shell Oil, Motorola, Coca-Cola, and others. Ms. King was named one of the "100 Most Influential Black Women in Atlanta" and is one of the nation's most recognized experts in environmental marketing. www.snowden-king.com

Session 3:  Creating a Culture ready for Strategic Sustainable Best Practices while limiting risk

Instructor:  Roxane Peyser

About Roxane Peyser:  As President & CEO of Maurgood, LLC, and two decades of legal and corporate experience, Roxane Peyser's specialty is developing highly-effective corporate responsibility practices and sustainability strategies. Peyser's successful strategic sustainability practice has focused on three primary objectives: (1) converting liabilities to strategic business opportunities and assets; (2) minimizing risk; and (3) complying with best practices. Throughout her experience as a lawyer, consultant, professor and corporate manager, she has made environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility the focal point of her career. www.maurgood.com

Session 4: Ecopreneurist Opportunities:  Finding Equity, Leveraging Green Business Plan, Building Collaborative Relations

Istructor: Alan Urech

About Alan Urech: Alan Urech is the Managing Partner and Principal at Stoney River Capital Partners LLC, an Angel-backed consultancy that has cultivated over 600 capital sources that place appropriate investment into high growth companies. He was a Senior Executive with 30 years experience in successfully developing and commercializing companies. He has grown multiple businesses by using strong strategic, tactical and operational leadership skills, methodologies and best practice expertise to help them understand and implement appropriate strategies. These organizations include HBO & Company where he was part of a team that saw the organization's expansion from initial start-up to about $180 million dollars in revenue within 12 years, and sold for $13.8 billion to McKesson Corporation in 1998. http://www.stoneyrivercapital.com/site/

Session 5: Positioning for Success & Finding Money thru Carbon Trading... ‘The Best of the Best Practices to Implement'

Instructor: Eric Taub

About Eric Taub: Before Eric founded Verus Carbon Neutral, his past experience includes, a partner and portfolio manager at Juno Management, Senior VP in portfolio management at Wachovia, Managing Director at SunTrust, Director of Emerging Markets at Bank of Montreal, and certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst. A master of carbon emission management strategies-balancing risks against opportunity-he has a deep understanding of the global emissions market. Eric is an expert at identifying and capitalizing on what our new green economy holds and how to best position organizations for success. www.verus-co2.com

Session 6: Putting your Green Action Plans in Action with Green Branding & Marketing

Instructor:  Farid Ghalili

About Farid Ghalili: Farid Ghalili is the Founder and CEO of Unicus Solutions, Inc. An accomplished business owner, self-motivated and creative industry leader with over 27 years of experience in entrepreneurial roles such as CIO, CTO and COO. His role in each organization has been to re-create, as well as expand  operational competencies in alignment with business goals.  However, more important, Farid has contributed to vision, strategy and long-range development of organizations that have supported rapid changes in operations and business demands.   www.unicussolutions.com