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Lunchtime workshops to stimulate fresh business ideas at Penn State Great Valley
co-sponsored by Penn State Great Valley
and the Chester County Economic Development Council.
PLANET
Making Money While Saving the Planet
Friday, May 11 , 11:45 a.m. to 1: 15 p.m.
The Conference Center at Penn State Great Valley
30 E. Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA
Cost: $25 includes lunch, $15 for Penn State Great Valley staff and students
Register on line at http://ignitinginnovationplanet1.eventbrite.com/ or call 610-321-8212.
Green is now part of the culture at many corporations -- for reasons that go beyond politically correctness. But do the costs of going green really justify the benefits? Find out when leaders from local companies share strategies built around sustainability that have created critical advantages for their corporate reputations and bottom lines. Join us for a panel discussion featuring Marla Thalheimer, Director of Sustainability, Liberty Property; James McQuillan, Marketing Director, Siemens and chair of Siemens Employee Green Team; Terry Brett, founder of Kimberton Whole Foods; and Dr. Barrie Litzky, head of Penn State Great Valley's Sustainability program.
PANEL OVERVIEW
Top Five Ways to Green and Save: Marla Thalheimer, Liberty Property Trust
As Director of Sustainability for Liberty Property Trust, Marla is responsible for implementation of Liberty’s Corporate Strategic Plan as it relates to integrating sustainable practices throughout the organization. She works with Liberty’s Development, Leasing and Property Management Teams to create extraordinary work environments that limit resource consumption, improve building performance and promote occupant health and productivity.
Recent accomplishments include benchmarking 100% of Liberty’s managed portfolio in Energy Star Portfolio Manager inclusive of over $4M in energy cost savings for tenants and 90 Energy Star certified buildings, implementation of a green lease, and the creation of a stakeholder engagement strategy that includes monthly tenant “energy saver” emails, a dedicated “Green Guide” website, and an employee certification program. Marla was also instrumental in Liberty’s award of the Department of Energy’s Smart Grid Investment Grant in partnership with PECO Energy, which is a cutting edge project to achieve optimal energy and environmental savings and refine smart grid technology in existing commercial office buildings. Marla’s leadership, along with the extraordinary efforts of the Liberty teams across the country, has resulted in two very prestigious awards for Liberty - the 2011 NAREIT Leader in the Light Gold Award and the 2012 Energy Star Partner of the Year award.
The Green Team: Engaging Employees in Corporate Sustainability: Jim McQuillan, Siemens
Jim has been with Siemens Healthcare for 15 years. During this time, he has had a number of different positions within the organization, from Jr. Programmer to Advanced Analytics. His work experience has been equally diverse and his current focus is on the conceptualization and construction of advanced analysis services in the areas of strategic sales modeling, marketing segmentation and marketing effectiveness.
For the past five years, Jim has also been involved in Siemens GREEN. Siemens GREEN is an employee community of volunteers interested in promoting environmental topics. This employee community works to improve awareness and provide advocacy within the Siemens workplace. Jim is currently the co-chair for his local chapter of Siemens GREEN - the Malvern GREEN team. This local group of more than 250 employees work together with Siemens internal resources and our surrounding community to promote environmentally friendly projects and community improvements. In the past 12 months, this group has involved with 2 tree planting events with over 700 trees and shrubs placed, a series of "clean-up" days that removed nearly 42 tons of old & excess office materials - 87% of which has recycled or reused and 12 employee education events covering topics from alternate energies to hybrid bikes to name a few.
Building a Sustainable Business: Terry Brett, Kimberton Whole Foods
In 1986 Terry co-founded the Seven Stars Farm Store and the Seven Stars Organic Yogurt and was the managing member of Seven Stars Farm Inc., a 400-acre organic dairy in northern Chester County. He managed the farm store and yogurt sales which sold along the entire East coast and throughout the mid-West. In 1994 the corporation split and as co-owner of the store, Terry moved the operation off the farm into the village of Kimberton renaming the store Kimberton Whole foods. In 2004 he added a second location in Downingtown; in 2004, a third store in 2007 in Douglassville; a fourth in 2008 in Upper Bucks County; and a warehouse in 2009 in New Holland. The stores specialize in organic foods and are dedicated to sourcing and selling locally produced farm products. At this time Kimberton Whole Foods is the largest independently owned organic/natural foods operation in Pennsylvania.
PROFITS
Green Entrepreneurship
Friday, October 26, 11:45 a.m. to 1: 15 p.m.
Penn State Great Valley Conference Center
30 E. Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA
Cost: $25 includes lunch, $15 for PSGV staff and students
Registation and details to come.