Featured Speakers

Friday, May 20, 2011
John Q Hammons Convention Center, Rogers, AR
$99 - (bring a friend for free)
Register today! Call 479-273-2841
Download the registration form 

Launching the next generation of environmentally sustainable business                                            
In partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund

Hosted by the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce

 

Join suppliers and sustainability experts for ROUND 2 of the Solutions Lab. Whether starting out on the road to sustainability or well on your way, this event will help you learn how to advance environmentally sound practices in your business while saving money and increasing profits. Panel discussions from subject matter experts. Solutions-based networking among area business leaders. Round-table interaction across corporate channels.

 

Topics will include:

• Green Export Initiatives Around the World
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Supplier Initiatives
• And More!

 

8:00 a.m. - Opening Session
Steve Glenn
Founder and CEO, LivingHomes, LLC

Steve Glenn, is the founder and CEO of LivingHomes, LLC, a premier developer of modern, prefabricated homes that combine world-class architecture with an unparalleled commitment to healthy and sustainable construction.

The first LivingHome, designed by Ray Kappe, was installed in eight hours. It became the first home ever to receive a LEED for Home Platinum rating and was the only residence to win the 2007 AIA's top sustainability award. The second LivingHome, in Los Angeles, was named 2008 Green Home of the Year by Green Home Builder Magazine. To watch a video of his Living Homes model, click here.

9:30 a.m. - Green Global Export Initiatives
Charles Zimmerman
VP of International Design/Construction, Walmart Stores, Inc.

Charles R. Zimmerman is currently the vice-president of Design and Construction for the International Division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Mr. Zimmerman has held various Design and Construction related positions in both the US and International Divisions of Wal-Mart since 1997. From 2005 until 2008 Mr. Zimmerman also led the "Sustainable Buildings Network" at Wal-Mart. This network, among other things, was charged with increasing the overall energy efficiency of new and existing buildings in the US by 20-30 percent. Today Charles leads the International Project 37 Team which is charged with reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in our existing stores around the world by 20% by the end of 2012. Previously, he worked in both the consulting industry as well as for the Texas State Department of Highways. In the last few years, Mr. Zimmerman has testified before the United States Congress on four separate occasions regarding energy efficiency matters. In 2009, Mr. Zimmerman was named a Distinguished Alumnus for the University of Arkansas’ College of Engineering and was named to the College of Engineering’s Advisory Council. Mr. Zimmerman is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, a registered professional engineer, member of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineers and is a past member of the advisory board for the California Energy Efficiency Center at UC - Davis. Mr. Zimmerman currently serves on the Boards for the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Upper White River Basin Foundation.


10:30 a.m. - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Marty Metro
Founder & CEO of UsedCardboardBoxes.com

Marty Metro is the Founder & CEO of UsedCardboard Boxes.com (UCB), a national, venture funded company tackling the gratuitous $49+ Billion cardboard industry in the US, where most cardboard boxes are used only once, then recycled or simply thrown away. Metro developed the “Rescue, Resell, Recycle” model and led UCB’s expansion across the US and into Canada. A former “Big 6” consultant, Metro is a passionate eco-entrepreneur with over fifteen years experience in enterprise technology, supply chain consulting and business development. 

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch Break
Visit Exhibition Hall 

12:30 p.m. - Green Sustainable Agriculture
Dr. Sarah E. Lewis
Food, Beverage, and Agriculture Sector Coordinator at The Sustainability Consortium, University of Arkansas

Dr. Sarah E. Lewis, Coordinator for the Food, Beverage and Agriculture Sector for The Sustainability Consortium at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Dynamics and a Master of Arts in French from the University of Arkansas.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and French Secondary Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  Sarah is passionate about identifying and working through challenges that affect the connections between humans and the environment. Her work with The Sustainability Consortium focuses on food life cycle and supply chain systems mapping, social and environmental life cycle assessment and supply chain metrics development. A former award-winning educator, Sarah is also Founder and President of EcoExplique, a consultancy focused on educating communities about the importance of protecting watershed resources.  Sarah is an active member of her community and serves as an elected official on the Fayetteville, Arkansas City Council.


1:30 p.m. - Leading the Sustainable Movement
Kevin J. Igli
SVP and Chief Environmental, Health & Safety Officer, Tyson Foods, Inc.

Kevin J. Igli is the Senior Vice President and Chief Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Officer for Tyson Foods, Inc. He leads a team of more than 180 EHS professionals. In sum, Mr. Igli oversees the company's sustainability initiatives and EHS compliance and risk management processes to assess, prioritize and effectively manage all aspects of the company's EHS stewardship efforts. He coordinates activities with all business operating units as well as with, food safety and quality assurance, engineering, legal and other professionals throughout the company.

Mr. Igli has served in the past as the Vice President for Environmental Affairs for Willamette Industries, Inc., a leading forest and paper company based in Portland, Oregon. In addition, Mr. Igli was Director of Environment, Health and Safety for Packaging Corporation of America and served as Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety for Chemical Waste Management, Inc. He is a graduate of Malone University in Canton, Ohio, with a BA degree in Biological Sciences.

Mr. Igli serves on the of the Board of the University of Arkansas Applied Sustainability Center, serves on the advisory council to the recently formed Sustainability Consortium (co-administered by the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University), is a member of the External Advisory Council for the Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering , and is affiliated with other professional and trade organizations.


2:30 p.m. - Starting on the Journey Toward Sustainability ~ Why the Sustainability Movement Continues to Expand Globally 
Ted Fox
President, What's Ahead & Partner, Sustain LLC

Discover the facts about why the sustainability movement continues to expand globally including the review of a variety of recent articles, reporting numbers and industry data. We will prepare you with a tool-kit to use within your company to help you get started. Also included will be facts about what Walmart is asking of suppliers.

Ted Fox is a senior executive with 15+ years of growing business with major retailers. He is classically trained by leading companies including Bristol-Meyers, Wyeth, Gillette, Pennzoil-Quaker State and Levi Strauss. Ted has a proven track record for growing sales exponentially in Health & Beauty Aids, Automotive, Pharmacy and Apparel. He is a partner of Sustain LLC and the President of What's Ahead LLC. Both are consulting firms that use a lens of sustainability to deliver bankable business value to the retailers and suppliers they serve.

Ted's strengths include an ability to assess opportunities to find creative ways to maximize the strengths of companies and to exploit their competition’s weaknesses. He has experience launching and developing businesses in the Mass, Food and Drug channels of distribution. Ted has a history of supporting high performing organizations by fostering customer-focused teamwork.

For the past four years, Ted has focused on building business value from the opportunities framed by sustainable practices, products and supply chains. His specialization in building business value from sustainable practices has included engagements with clients in additional product categories such as dairy, sporting goods, house wares, electronics and stationary. Most recently working directly with Walmart suppliers, Ted is helping support companies and team leaders in their desire to establish sustainability within their organization. Quite often driven by simply answering the ‘15 questions’, suppliers are finding real value in Ted’s ability to ‘connect the dots’ in areas that create real business value.