Sustainability Initiative  
   

Events

 
Local First Conference: Designing Sustainable Communities Through Business
When: April 28, 2010, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Aquinas College, Wege Center Ballroom

Local First's annual conference on local business and sustainability, hosted by Aquinas College. A must-attend event for West Michigan business, community, and environmental leaders.

This year's keynote speaker is Amy Emberling of Zingerman's Bakehouse (Ann Arbor). Learn first-hand how a small neighborhood deli grew into a $30 million business empire while remaining true to its local roots!

Session Speakers include: local leaders representing such businesses and organizations as: Aquinas College Center for Sustainability; Essence Restaurant Group; Founders Bank & Trust; the Grand Rapids Community Foundation; Metro Health; Sustainable Research Group; and many, many more...

Session Details:

  • Maximizing the Benefits of My Local First Membership
  • Building Social Capital
  • Succession Planning
  • Creative Marketing Tactics
  • Going Green and Cutting Costs

For more information or to register, visit: Local First Conference Registration

 
Sustainability: Take the Next Step
When: May 25, 2010, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Where: Aquinas College, Wege Ballroom
Cost: Early Bird Registration $20 before May 3; $30 at the door

Sustainability: Take the Next Step will seek to answer compelling questions about developing a strategy for sustainability to guide us to a greener world. Engage in multiple roundtable discussions exploring profitability and applications of sustainable practices across industries and sectors, from construction to community development to manufacturing to education and more.