2011 Business Conference
Thank you conference attendees, speakers, sponsors, volunteers and staff for joining us in Bellingham!
Venue |Speakers | Tracks | Evening Festivities
Workshops & Events | Accelerating Community Capital Workshop
Sponsors | Conference Advisory Committee
Workshops & Events | Accelerating Community Capital Workshop
Sponsors | Conference Advisory Committee
Conference Overview
The New Economy is being shaped at the grassroots level. Our conference allowed attendees to connect, share and learn from 600 pioneering business owners and investors, elected officials, philanthropists, economic development professionals and BALLE network leaders as we spotlighted the most innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to growing healthy, resilient local economies. 
The conference featured:
• 80 speakers• 16 plenary sessions and off-site celebrations• 4 local living economy tours• 3 pre-conference workshop intensives:How to Build a BALLE Network
We are honored to have co-hosted the conference with local BALLE network, Sustainable Connections.
Watch an inspiring video about their innovative work and the local living economy in Bellingham.
Who should attend the BALLE business conference?
The BALLE business conference brings together independent business owners and innovators, local living economy entrepreneurs, community investors, government economic development professionals and sustainability leaders. The conference also connects leaders from current BALLE networks, potential network leaders and community activists. The content is developed to focus on the synergies and success stories of the local living economies movement.
The BALLE business conference brings together independent business owners and innovators, local living economy entrepreneurs, community investors, government economic development professionals and sustainability leaders. The conference also connects leaders from current BALLE networks, potential network leaders and community activists. The content is developed to focus on the synergies and success stories of the local living economies movement.
View photo and video highlights from the conference here. Download conference audio and video sessions here.
Speakers
Visit our speakers page to view the list of inspiring, local economy innovators at this year's conference.
Conference Tracks
Visit our agenda page to see the plenary presentations and interactive tracks sessions.
A New Economic Agenda for the 21st Century
Systems change to build local living economies. Government policies, sustainable community and organizational metrics, public/private sector partnerships and economic development strategies for community health and wealth.
Innovative Business Models and Ownership Structures
Building local living economies will require innovation. Learn about new models for re-inventing growth; democratizing ownership, decision-making, and revenue sharing; moving from competition to cooperation; social enterprise; community and employee ownership.
Accelerating Community Capital
Innovative models for facilitating the flow of capital to local living economies in your community. This includes impact investing, slow money, local stock exchanges, pairing place-based investing and philanthropy, and coordination of private and public sector sustainable community investments.
Business Case Study Showcase
What's already working to build local living economies? This track will explore business case studies in living buildings, regional food systems, decentralized energy, local sourcing and manufacturing, and more.
The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy
"How to" sessions related to growing and strengthening local business networks, weaving proven network ideas together to build sustainable local economies.
Operating and Marketing Successful Triple Bottom Line Businesses
Programs and services that help Local Living Economy businesses to be stronger and learn from the accumulated wisdom of their peers in the field.
Pre-conference Workshops and Events
Accelerating Community Capital Workshop
Tuesday, June 14
New for 2011, a day-long workshop devoted to community capital, with leaders in community capital, examples and instruction in the workshop setting. Visit our ACC Workshop page for more information.
How to Build a BALLE Network
Tuesday, June 14
Local independent networks throughout North America are transforming their economies into community-centered, green, and fair places to live and work through a focus on green jobs, sustainable industries, investing locally, and buying local first. Attendee learned first-hand in this workshop that is the centerpiece of the BALLE model.
Network Leaders Exchange
Wednesday, June 15
The annual North America gathering for leaders and board members of existing BALLE networks, this was an opportunity to share ideas, recharge and plan for the year ahead.
Four Regional Living Economy Tours
Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday June 15
Designed with local network host, Sustainable Connections, four themed tours explored the elements of the local living economy. Each tour is priced at $45.
- Organic Valley Dairy Farm Tour, Tuesday, June 14, 1pm to 5pm
- A Green Building Urban Expedition, Tuesday, June 14, 2pm to 6pm
- Growing the Food Economy — City to Country, Wednesday, June 15, 11am to 4pmpm (NOTE THIS TOUR IS FULL)
- Manufacturing the Triple Bottom Line, Wednesday, June 15, 11am to 4pm
-
Cirque du Bellingham: circus performers, jugglers and local music legends the Gallus Brothers and the Crow Quill Night Owls.
-
Bountiful, local dessert buffet and local brews and wines.
-
A Concert and Conversation with Peter Buffett: Life Is What You Make It.
Market Soireé, Thursday, June 16
- Parade to downtown with march-inspiring musical accompaniment.
- Dinner (see all the yummy options here) at the green building centerpiece of Bellingham — the Market Depot.
- Local music favorites The Librarians to twist your music bellies with good old fashioned American roots.
- Outrageous after party in Bellingham’s favorite hangout — Boundary Bay Brewery’s beer garden — featuring Lucky Brown and the Funk Revolution to get your feet moving.
Grand Finale, Friday, June 17
- Salmon BBQ on the Village Green in historic Fairhaven served up by the area’s premiere locavore caterer, Ciao Thyme. See the full menu here.
- Once again, our best local beverages!
- Anacortes favorite, The Spoonshine Duo will accompany the sunset with a folk/rock sound shaped with their mandolin and upright bass.
Conference Agenda
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 | Wednesday, June 15, 2011 | Thursday, June 16, 2011 | Friday, June 17, 2011
Thank you conference attendees, speakers, sponsors, volunteer and staff for joining us in Bellingham!
Please see the agenda below for a description of the conference mainstage and interactive session events.
You can order audio recordings of all or some of these main conference sessions
as well as video recordings of the mainstage events.
Check back soon for a link!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Pre-Conference
| 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM |
Accelerating Community Capital Workshop
Academic Instructional Center West, Room 204
New for 2011, a day-long workshop devoted to community capital, with leaders in community capital, examples and instruction in the workshop setting. Registration included breakfast and lunch.
The day consisted of:
|
| 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM |
Attendees learned how local, independent business networks throughout North America are transforming their economies into community-centered, green, and fair places to live and work through a focus on green jobs, sustainable industries, investing locally, and buying local first.
Through a jam-packed day of presentations, group discussion and hands-on activities, attendees picked up best practices and develop a plan for your community. We covered the following aspects of network development, growth and success:
Attendees left equipped with key principles, tools and relationships for building business and community innovation through the building blocks of a local living economy. Registration included breakfast and lunch, a 100+ page workshop binder, and a DVD of sample materials and program ideas. |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
LLE Tour: Organic Valley Dairy Farm Tour
Attendees traveled through the verdant farmlands of northwest Washington to the Wolfisberg family’s organic dairy, part of the Organic Valley cooperative. Walking the pastures, they heard the inspiring story and reflections on the benefits of cooperative dairy farming. Tour-goers learned about the importance of cows foraging on grass, discovered what the milking parlor and milk house are all about, and explored the topics of holistic care and humane animal treatment with an Organic Valley veterinarian. Delicious, organic snacks was provided at the farm.
And a bonus visit to a new dairy manure digester operating in Whatcom County that contributes renewable energy to the power grid and heats a large commercial greenhouse showing how this project was funded by local investors.
|
| 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
LLE Tour: A Green Building Urban Expedition
Tour goers took a bicycle adven-tour of Bellingham’s most efficient and unique eco-friendly homes and businesses, which helped the city become one of the country’s top sustainability hubs. They got an insider’s view of urban sustainable development, and learned the basic how-to of designing a successful Eco-Home Tour in their own community. The bicycle, a helmet and a local Northwest microbrew at the end of the tour were included. |
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Pre-Conference
| 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
The Leopold Ballroom, 1224 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham
Registration was complimentary for current dues-paying BALLE networks.
A small $20 fee for breakfast and lunch was collected at sign-in.
|
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast and Network Leader Sign In |
| 8:45 AM |
Network Leaders Exchange Program:
The annual North American gathering for staff and board members of existing BALLE networks! This peer gathering was designed by network leaders for network leaders, and was an opportunity to share ideas, recharge, and plan for the year ahead.
|
| 11:00 AM | Networking Lunch |
| 12:00 PM |
Network Leader Only Walking Tour of Bellingham:
Network Leaders enjoyed this exclusive walking tour of downtown Bellingham’s “Best of Sustainable Connections” impacts -- visiting Think Local First, Toward Zero Waste, Community Energy Challenge, Green Building and Food & Farming impacts on the ground – even visiting the SC office and seeing the green roof! This walking tour stretched our network leaders' legs, their mind and their network having an opportunity to build closer relationships with key network leaders from around North America.
|
| 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
LLE Tour: Growing the Food Economy : City to Country (NOTE THIS TOUR IS FULL)
This tour showcased Bellingham's innovative and sustainable food and farm businesses that demonstrate the region's interconnected food community. Tour goers traveled to nearby farms with views of the Cascade Mountains. Along the way, they experienced what’s working in farm-to-institution projects, met participants in the cutting edge "Food to Bank On" beginning farmer business training, toured the farmers market, learned about the Farm Fund microloan, and got a look at the upcoming “Eat Local First” campaign. A delicious, seasonal lunch was included. |
|
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
|
LLE Tour: Manufacturing the Triple Bottom Line
Attended hopped on board for a bus tour of local, inventive manufacturing businesses. Paving the way in employee engagement and ownership, and implementing a wide variety of sustainable practices, these companies truly make “business as usual” anything but. Tour goers learned from industry leaders how to grow a business through a triple-bottom-line approach with campaigns including: Toward Zero Waste, Workplace CSAs, Smart Trips, Community Energy Challenge and Green Power. Lunch was included. |
Conference Kick Off |
|
|
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
|
Welcome Reception and Conference Opening
Performing Arts Center, Outdoor Plaza
|
| 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM |
Living Economies Expo Open
Performing Arts Center Lobby
|
| 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM |
Opening Night Presentations
Performing Arts Center
|
| 7:30 PM |
BALLE Conference Opening Session
|
| 8:45 PM |
Opening Keynote: Living Cities, Living Futures
Jason McLennan of the International Living Building Institute
|
| 9:15 PM | Life is What You Make It: A Concert and Conversation with Peter Buffett |
| 10:30 PM | Book Signings with Peter Buffett and Jason McLennan at the Living Economy Expo |
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Conference
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
Breakfast -- Sponsored by the Capital Institute
Viking Commons
|
| 8:30 AM - 12:45 PM |
Keynote Presentations Performing Arts Center Concert Hall |
| 8:30 AM | Opening comments, welcome from Michelle Long of BALLE |
| 8:35 AM |
WWU Sustainability: On campus, In the Community and Beyond
Richard Van Den Hul of Western Washington University
|
| 8:50 AM |
A New Economic Agenda for the 21st Century
Naomi Klein, Author of The Shock Doctrine
Introduced by David Korten of Yes! Magazine
|
| 9:20 AM |
Will Raap of Gardener's Supply
Introduced by David Korten
|
| 9:45 AM | Intermission |
| 10:15 AM |
Introduced by Derek Long of Sustainable Connections
|
| 11:20 AM |
Leslie Christian of Portfolio 21 Investments
Introduced by Kat Taylor of One PacificCoast Bank and Foundation
|
| 11:45 AM |
Niaz Dorry of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance
Introduced by Nicola Williams of the Williams Agency
|
| 12:10 PM | Jamila Payne of National Association of Sustainable Fashion Designers |
| 12:25 PM |
Local Living Economiy Business Plan Competition presented by Organic Valley
Introduced by Jamila Payne
|
| 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM |
Lunch
Viking Commons
|
| 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM |
Living Economies Expo
Performing Arts Center Lobby
The Expo was open all day, but this was an opportunity to network, attend book signings and other special events
|
| 2:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
Interactive Sessions
In various classrooms at Academic Instructional Center West and the Communications Facility
|
|
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
first set of concurrent interactive sessions on Thursday |
Session: Local Food Systems as Economic Development: Understanding and Identifying Opportunities
Description: As the sustainable food economy continues to emerge, the phrase “local food systems” is increasingly used. What does it mean? In this interactive, Kitchen Table Conversation workshop, we’ll take a close look at the urban and rural components that make up a local food system – seed, production, aggregation and processing, distribution, retail and wholesale markets, waste, and finance, marketing and business development. We’ll hear from experts about the real life successes and challenges they encounter as they build their local economies by strengthening local food systems.
Speakers: Ari Derfel of Slow Money, Martin Ping of the Hawthorne Valley Association, Tammy Morales of Urban Food Link, Vicki Pozzebon of Santa Fe Alliance will moderate
Session: Cooperative Ownership: Rooting Businesses in Local Economies
Description: This workshop will present an introduction to cooperative models, issues facing co-ops, and resources available for co-op development and support. Emphasis will be placed on practical actions for the use of marketing and purchasing co-ops that can take a BALLE chapter to the next level, as well as cooperative options for ownership succession. This workshop will include small-group discussion about how cooperative ownership can support the work of BALLE networks. Panelists include representatives from the National Cooperative Business Association, Spain’s Mondragon Cooperative Corporation and Women’s Action to Gain Economic Empowerment.
Speakers: Andrew McLeod of the National Cooperative Business Association, Michael Peck of the MAPA Group and Mondragon, Ivette Melendez and Cristina Hernandez of WAGES, Kelley Rajala of the Share Exchange Cooperative will moderate
Track: Accelerating Community Capital
Session: Localizing Financial Systems for Economic Resilience
Description: BALLE thinkers, anticipating the collapse of the world’s rickety system of banking and money, are busy developing promising local alternatives. This session will explore three of them. Author David Korten will lay out a practical plan to restructure the money/banking system to restore a system of strong community-accountable financial institutions supportive of real investment. Kat Taylor will discuss her One PacificCoast Bank as an innovative experiment in community banking. And Jared Gardner will talk about his work in Oregon leading statewide campaigns to Move Your Money and to establish a state bank modeled on North Dakota’s.
Speakers: David Korten of Yes! Magazine and Author, Jared Gardner of Oregonians for a State Bank, Kat Taylor of One PacificCoast Bank and Foundation, Michael Shuman of BALLE will moderate
Session: Conscious Fashion: Local Perspective, Global Impact
Description: This session will uncover the potential for shifting the social and environmental impact of the clothing lifecycle, from design and sourcing to manufacturing and retail. With three leaders of the industry’s move to a more sustainable business model, we will explore the potential for local living wage jobs, sustainable sourcing, innovative partnerships and more.
Speakers: Sarah Van Aken of S.V.A. Holdings Corporation, Jamila Payne of the National Association of Sustainable Fashion Designers, Nicole Bridger, an Eco Designer, Amy Robinson of LoCo BC will moderate
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Tactics and Tools)
Session: Making a Case for Local Living Economies: Communicating Complexity and Getting Beyond the Choir
Description: It’s one thing to talk “living economies” in Boulder, but how do you do it in rural Appalachia or inner-city Newark? This interactive workshop will explore the means to effectively communicate complex ideas such as sustainability and local living economies to ordinary people. Public speaking, oral and written communication will be considered, as well as effective messaging for organizations, networks or campaigns. Participants will work with their own messaging and communications challenges, whether to members, the community or the media. Examples will be shared that weave stories, data and analysis into straight forward communications.
Speakers: Anthony Flaccavento of SCALE, Kimberlee Williams of FEMWORKS
Session: The Art of Giving Great Service: How Zingerman’s Treats Customers Like Royalty
Description: Zingerman’s has set the standard for great customer service in the specialty foods industry by combining an innovative service philosophy with practical working systems. Zingerman’s approach has been successfully applied in a wide variety of businesses and nonprofits that are committed to improving the quality of their customer service including banks, insurance agencies, health care providers, museums, schools, libraries and non-food retailers.
Speaker: Paul Saginaw of Zingerman's Community of Businesses
|
| 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Complimentary snacks and beverages available between sessions |
|
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM
second set of concurrent interactive sessions on Thursday
|
Track: A New Economic Agenda for the 21st Century
Session: Advocating for the World We Need: A Local Living Economy Policy Agenda at the Local, State and National Levels
Description: New and powerful voices are emerging within America's business community that are advocating for policies that support a new economy. This session will explore how business networks and businesses can work to develop a multi-faceted approach, which pursues local/state wide as well as national legislative strategies. What are the examples of local and national policy efforts already underway, what successful strategies are being employed and what are the mechanisms that we can collectively use to bring the allied business voices forward to challenge the U.S. Chamber and build towards a sustainable economy?
Speakers: David Levine of the American Sustainable Business Council, Andy Shallal of Busboys and Poets, Andrea Cohen of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Mike Krajovic of the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona will moderate
Track: Innovative Business Models and Ownership Structures
Session: Meet the New Consumers: Trends That Will Shape the Green Economy and the Opportunity for Local
Description: A more resourceful, creative and sustainable economy is beginning, with a growing number of new consumers re-thinking what really matters and creating new ways to do more with less. The panelists will introduce you to these values-aspirational, practical purchasers, and share trends, research and insights on how sustainability and localism can drive consumer engagement and positive impact. This interactive workshop explores the consumers relationship with local and why local connects more than 'green'; taking sustainability to scale, generating growth and value beyond just more consumption; and consumer roles in shaping, co-creating and inspiring sustainable innovation and positive social impact.
Speakers: Raphael Bemporad of BBMG, Trisha Clauson of Think Local First DC will moderate
Session: Developing a Local Investing Ecosystem
Description: Developing a culture of local investing offers many benefits to a community: more investment dollars circulating locally, greater financial self-sufficiency and stronger community ties. Come learn how one community has mobilized investors to think locally and how it can be done in your community. We will present a detailed case study of how the local investment ecosystem works around the small town of Port Townsend, WA. A local investor and a locally financed business owner will present captivating examples of the creativity that is unleashed when investors are empowered to work directly with the local businesses they invest in.
Speaker: James Frazier of LION, Michelle Sandoval of LION, Crystie Kisler of Finnriver Farm & Cidery
Session: Local Manufacturing: A New Model for Meeting National Markets with Regional (Sustainable) Resources
Description: Local manufacturing translates into regional jobs near where people live, but this doesn’t mean being confined to selling into regional markets. Hear from two industry entrepreneurs as they showcase a model for expansion in regional and national markets (some even international) by having a production process that is rooted in a local community. Participants will gain the ability to answer the question of whether local manufacturing is in fact more sustainable, and how.
Speakers: Amee Quiriconi of Tiger Mountain Innovations, Kate Sofis of SFMade, Nick Hartrich of Sustainable Connections will moderate
Session: The Age of the Network Leader: Effective Leadership in a Time of Speed, Unpredictability and Complexity
Description: In this era of increasingly complex problems and shrinking resources, we are called to offer a different kind of leadership. Network leaders rely upon the intelligence distributed throughout a system, rather than centralizing control and expertise at the top. They are skilled conveners who recognize that resilient systems depend on diversity and divergence. And they work intentionally with emergence, connecting small actions and inviting in surprise. This is the power of self-organizing systems – the most effective way for us to create local living economies at the scale we envision.
Speaker: Deborah Frieze of the Berkana Institute, Christine Hanna of the Seattle Good Business Network will moderate
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Programs)
Session: Developing Urban Local Living Economies in Underserved Communities
Description: Local living economy principles sound great, but can they work in urban environments? Are any BALLE networks effectively engaging diverse communities? Hear from three community leaders who are building local living economies in their cities of Chicago, Newark and Vancouver. Experience practical examples of what this work looks like on the ground.
Speaker: Baye Adofo-Wilson of the Lincoln Park/Coast Cultural District, Naomi Davis of BIG:Blacks in Green, Kira Gerwing of the City of Vancouver, Ellen Shepard of Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation will moderate
|
| 6:15 PM - 11:30 PM |
Evening Dinner & Festivities — Market Soireé
|
Friday, June 17, 2011
Conference
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
Breakfast — Sponsored by Puget Sound Energy
Viking Commons
|
| 8:30 AM - 12:45 PM |
Keynote Presentations Performing Arts Center Concert Hall |
| 8:30 AM |
Moderator: Merrian Fuller of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Panel:
Amanda Maria Edmonds of Growing Hope
Louise Hemstead of Organic Valley
Marion Kalb of the National Farm to School Network and the National Food Security Coalition
Nelida Martinez of Pure Nelida Farm
Nicola Williams of The Williams Agency and Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston
|
| 10:00 AM | Intermission |
| 10:30 AM |
Michael Peck of Mondragon and MAPA Group
Introduced by Andrew McLeod of the National Cooperative Business Association
|
| 11:05 AM |
David Berge of Vancity
Introduced by Elizabeth U of Finance for Food
|
| 11:30 AM |
Community Innovators: 11 Networks of Local Entrepreneurs that have Transformed their Communities
Introduced by Christine Ageton of BALLE
|
| 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM |
Lunch
Viking Commons
|
| 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM | WWU Sustainability: Walking the Talk (campus tour departing from in front of the Viking Commons) |
| 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM |
Living Economies Expo
Performing Arts Center Lobby
The Expo was open all day, but this was an opportunity to network, attend book signings and other special events
|
| 2:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
Interactive Sessions
In various classrooms at Academic Instructional Center West and the Communications Facility
|
|
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
first set of concurrent interactive sessions on Friday |
Session: Community Frameworks: Designing, Implementing and Measuring Local Living Economy Change at the Community Level
Description: Local and national organizations are developing community-scale sustainability frameworks with goals and performance measures that chart a clear path and help to build local living economies. In this session you will see and discuss examples of, at minimum, Bellingham’s Performance Measures Project and ICLEI USA’s STAR Community Index, a collaborative effort to set a national standard combined with performance management software to facilitate progress. This innovative work will help communities set the right goals, measure progress and build a professional network of local leaders.
Speakers: Lynne Barker of ICLEI, David Webster of the City of Bellingham, Brian Reilly of Sustainable Jersey, Derek Long of Sustainable Connections will moderate
Track: Innovative Business Models and Ownership Structures
Session: Business Models that Build and Serve Community at Home and Abroad
Description: What is the value of working as a cooperative? What are the challenges? How do we move from the vision to making it happen? Learn how community-based ownership generates real wealth, sustainable local economic development and encourages the growth of land-based and fair trade businesses. Learn about Rebecca Patano’s triple bottom line business model and participation in Cooperative Coffees. Eric Henry and Charlie Sydnor will demonstrate how a coop business model can be used to raise capital, build community wealth and reconnect agriculture. Rebecca Calahan Klein will provide insight on business and nonprofit partnerships that build business value while serving community.
Speakers: Eric Henry of TS Designs, Charlie Sydnor of Company Shops Marketplace Coop, Rebecca Patano of DOMA Coffee Roasting Company, Rebecca Calahan Klein of 1% for the Planet, Jamee Haley of Lowcountry Local First will moderate
Session: Show Me the Money Part 1: Capital Opportunities for Local Businesses
Description: Entrepreneurs have more financing options than ever before to raise capital for our businesses. But how can we choose which are a good fit for our businesses if we don’t know that half of them exist, much less how they work? In this session, finance industry experts will paint a picture of the ever-evolving capital markets landscape, identifying the many financing options available, from local versions of traditional debt and equity, to newfangled revenue sharing and crowdfunding models, and beyond. Designed for entrepreneurs seeking capital, BALLE network leaders and others who serve entrepreneurs.
Speakers: Ari Derfel of Slow Money, Jenny Kassan of Cutting Edge Capital, Elizabeth U of Finance for Food
Session: Green Energy: How Communities Can Take Charge of Their Energy Futures
Description: It is imperative for the environmental health and economic viability of our planet that our society thinks critically about the energy sources we will use now and in the future, as well as who will own and control those sources. Join us for an interactive panel discussion about how different economic sectors are succeeding in implementing locally based solutions to transition to clean, renewable and efficient energy. Panelists include representatives of local government, a small business, an energy utility and BALLE network.
Speakers: Bruce Seifer of the City of Burlington, VT, Martin Selch of Sustainable Connections, Ben Rupert of Puget Sound Energy, Terry Meyer of Cascade Community Wind, Alex Ramel of Sustainable Connections moderating
Session: Herding Cats: Using Emerging Technologies to Drive Traffic to Local Independent Businesses
Description: The mega-retail sector has been using technology as a competitive advantage for years, but that is all about to change. Come discuss how to blow up the market footprint of locally owned businesses through emerging technologies. Katrina Scotto di Carlo will be discussing Supportland, an interactive rewards platform currently thriving in Portland, Oregon. James Akers will be covering Shoploaf, an app and social shopping network that crowdsources inventories and wishlisting. Get your collaborative caps on and join in the conversation or just sit back and be amazed.
Speakers: James Akers of ShopLoaf, Katrina Scotto di Carlo of Supportland, David Averill of Groundwire will moderate
Session: Taking Local First to the Next Level: Deepening and Measuring Impacts
Description: Join Michael Kanter, Kimber Lanning and Elissa Hillary for a conversation on the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in Local First campaigns. Get behind-the-scenes insight on the successful campaigns developed in Arizona, Grand Rapids and Cambridge, MA, and discover new strategies for sustaining your campaign in the long-term — including proven methods for measuring outcomes.
Speaker: Elissa Hillary of Local First West Michigan, Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona, Michael Kanter of Cambridge Local First, Michelle Grandy of Sustainable Connections will moderate
Session: The University: A Sustainable Business Community
Universities are an essential part of building a sustainable future. Piloting education, practices and technology that reduce the campus footprint can assist our greater communities in achieving sustainability goals. Join us for a look into the areas of operations, academics and student life that help create "Western Sustainability," a community based on both teaching and practicing carbon-neutrality, zero waste, local procurement and other aspects of sustainability. Speakers from Western Washington University: Overview, Seth Vidaña; The Quest for Sustainable Operations, Tim Wynn; Students on the Cutting Edge of Sustainability, student speaker; Preparing Students for a Life of Sustainability, George Pierce |
| 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Complimentary snacks and beverages available between sessions |
|
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM
second set of concurrent interactive sessions on Friday
|
Session: Transforming Local Living Economies: Innovative Economic Development Approaches
Description: Join Dr. Glenda Humiston, Rhonda Phillips and Bruce Seifer for a conversation on economic development strategies for local living economies. Learn directly from policymakers about innovative strategies for responsible, sustainable economic development, and discover how local independent businesses are changing the game — for good.
Speakers: Glenda Humiston of the USDA Rural Development, Bruce Seifer of the City of Burlington, VT, Rhonda Phillips, Author and Editor, Elissa Hillary of Local First West Michigan will moderate
Track: A New Economic Agenda for the 21st Century
Session: Are Local Businesses 'Better' Businesses?
Description: How do we prove that local, sustainable businesses are better than ordinary businesses? For the first time we have comparable metrics from B Lab on over 1,500 businesses that show how BALLE businesses compare to other businesses on key social and environmental impacts (i.e. percentage paying health insurance, percentage of profits to charity). Come hear how we all stack up!
Speakers: Hardik Savalia of B-Lab, Leanne Krueger-Braneky of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, Martin Martens of Vancouver Island University, Alissa Barron of BALLE will moderate
Session: Show Me the Money Part 2: Capital Raising Q & A
Description: Raising money for a project right now? Bring your financing questions to this interactive session! Building upon what we’ve learned in Part 1, this is the opportunity to get answers from peers and experts alike. Identify values-appropriate funding sources and learn what it takes to succeed in fundraising. Whether you are seeking start-up or growth capital, you’ll come away with a good sense of the opportunities, challenges and trade-offs, plus the tough questions to ask – of yourselves and of your would-be financiers – to forge healthy relationships with investors. Designed for entrepreneurs, investors and support organizations will also enjoy this session.
Speakers: Elizabeth U of Food for Finance, Ari Derfel of Slow Money, Jenny Kassan of Cutting Edge Capital, Joel Solomon of RSF Social Finance and Renewal Partners, Leslie Christian of Portfolio 21 Investments, Amy Cortese, Author and Journalist
Session: Local, Sustainable Food: Supporting Producers, Engaging Consumers, Building Community
Description: Join us to explore how communities can foster sustainable, local food by mapping food assets, fostering new opportunities for ownership and entrepreneurship, increasing supply and demand, and engaging community throughout. Peter Warshall will describe how the Dreaming New Mexico initiative worked with communities to create an overview of his state’s food and farming needs and assets. Nicola Williams will discuss how the Boston Local Food Festival increased awareness and community-producer engagement by connecting 100 vendors to 30,000 eaters, generating 5 million media impressions. Niaz Dorry will explore the intersection of marine conservation and social and economic justice through programs that are supporting fishers and their communities, improving local economies, and advancing sustainable fishing practices.
Speakers: Peter Warshall of Dreaming New Mexico, Nicola Williams of the Sustainable Busniess Network of Greater Boston, Niaz Dorry of Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Laura Ridenour of Sustainable Connections will moderate
Session: The Revolution will be Twitterized: Leveraging Online Technology to Build Your Network
Description: Starting a network requires technology, but with the speed in which the Internet is growing, a lot of people are having a hard time keeping up. In this panel we will cover basic online technologies that are critical to build, organize and communicate with your network. We will hear about different inexpensive options for building your database, setting up an online directory, starting a blog, tips and tricks for making the most out of Twitter, Google or Facebook, tools for fundraising and basic e-commerce.
Speakers: Joe Grafton of Somerville Local First, Elisa Miller-Out of Singlebrook Technologies, Raj Aggarwal of Provoc, Chris Lindstrom of CompostEra will moderate
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Programs)
Session: Making the Grade: Sustainable Business Education Programs
Description: In an effort to support businesses in their pursuit to adopt more environmentally and socially responsible practices, more and more BALLE networks are partnering with local community colleges, chambers of commerce and other organizations to provide sustainable business education and even certification for their members. In this session, participants will learn tips for starting a sustainable business or certification program and gain tools for building upon their success.
Speakers: Ellen Shepard of Andersonville Development Corp., Mariah Ross of Sustainable Connections, Elizabeth Crampton of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, Becky Brun of the Gorge Owned Business Network will moderate
|
| 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
Closing Reception & Dinner — Grand Finale
|
Conference Prices
Full conference registration rates and discounts are listed in the table below followed by prices for pre-conference workshops and tours.
| Register By | General Registrant | Discount for 4+ | Discount for 6+ |
BALLE Network
Leaders
|
Sustainable
Connections
Members
|
| June 14, 2011 | $595 | $555 | $535 | $535 | $485 |
Pre-conference Workshops and Tours
- Accelerating Community Capital Workshop, Tuesday June 14, 8:30am to 5:30pm, $145
- Workshop: How to Build a BALLE Network, Tuesday, June 14, 8:30am to 6pm, $145
- Living Economy Tour: A Green Building Urban Expedition, Tuesday, June 14, 2pm to 6pm, $45
- Living Economy Tour: Organic Valley Dairy Farm Tour, Tuesday, June 14, 1pm to 5pm, $45
- BALLE Network Leaders Exchange, Wednesday, June 15, 8am to 4pm, free to staff and board of current BALLE networks (small fee for lunch)
- Living Economy Tour: Growing the Food Economy — City to Country, Wednesday, June 15, 11am to 4pm, $45
- Living Economy Tour: Manufacturing the Triple Bottom Line, Wednesday, June 15, 11am to 4pm, $45
For information and pricing about logistics, food and fun, click here.
For media inquiries, click here.
2011 BALLE Business Conference Advisory Committee
- Leslie Christian, Portfolio 21
- Bob Dandrew, New World Foundation
- Christine Hanna, Seattle Good Business Network
- Derek Long, Sustainable Connections
- Michelle Long, BALLE
- Jason McLennan, Cascadia Green Building Council
- Andrew McLeod, National Cooperative Business Association
- Jamila Payne, National Association of Sustainable Fashion Designers
- Amy Robinson, LoCo BC
- Paul Saginaw, Zingermans Community of Businesses
- Bruce Seifer, Community & Economic Development Office, City of Burlington, VT
- Wendy Siporen, THRIVE: The Rogue Initiative for a Vital Economy
- Joel Solomon, Renewal Partners
- Judy Wicks, BALLE co-founder; White Dog Café founder
Thank you advisory committee!
Position Announcement:
Chief Operating Officer
BALLE is currently seeking a
mission-driven, strategic, and
business-minded COO
to oversee internal operations.
Help us grow our organization and
make a huge contribution
to all our futures.
Location: Bellingham, WA
Local grocery chain, Meijer, teams up with MSU to highlight products from around state in Made in Michigan initiative.
