Summit County Citizens Voice

Popular conference back in Frisco; learn how to live big by living small

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By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Learn how to live big by living small and much more at this year’s April 27 SustainaBiz conference, to be held at the Summit County Community & Senior Center starting at 8 a.m. with a breakfast catered by Food Hedz World Café.

This year, SustainaBiz 2011 is co-hosted by two non-profit organizations, the Summit Independent Business Alliance (SIBA) and Our Future Summit. The cost is $34 for Summit Independent Business Alliance members and $40 for non-SIBA members. Click here to register.

After welcoming remarks by Summit Independent Business Alliance director Katie Roberts and Our Future Summit director Howard Hallman, Denver businesswoman Stephanie Bonin will deliver the keynote talk: “Driving Profit with Green Initiatives..”

Bonin, is co-owner of Duo and Olivia Restaurants in Denver; co-founder of EatDenver; and a former lobbyist with Environment Colorado.

As always, the SustainaBiz speakers and panels will offer a wealth of information on how to make sustainability work at the local business levels by empowering people and professionals with both the inspiration to change and the tangible strategies to do so — even in tough economic times.

According to a press release from the conference organizers, topics will focus on using less and better to give forward to future generations, respecting ourselves and our environment, living big by living small, and exploring why sustainability is a moral imperative that’s locally driven with local benefits. Click here for the full schedule.

Panelists will explore the many different types of sustainability: Financial and economic, energy conservation, planning, design and construction, transportation, natural resources, social, physical and spiritual.

Local speakers include Dara Lor of Summit Greasecylcing, Matt Korn, executive director of High Country Soccer, Jen Cawley, special events director for Mi Casa and Hearthstone Restaurants in Breckenridge, Grand Lodge (Peak 7) general manager Kit Armour and Summit Hot Yoga owner Deby Curcio.

The day’s first panel discussion will focus on best business practices at the local level. with local business owners describing the  the steps they took to thrive sustainably. Panelists include Dara Lor, owner, Summit Soaps & Greasecycling, Breckenridge; Jen Cawley, manager, Mi Casa/Hearthstone Catering, Breckenridge; Kit Armour, general manger, Grand Lodge (Peak 7), Breckenridge; Jim/Deby Curcio, Summit Hot Yoga, Farmer’s Corner.

The afternoon panel features testimonials in sustainability, a chance to learn what the non-business sector is doing to build a more sustainable Summit County and help companies and residents along the way. Featured panelists are: Matt Korn, executive director, High Country Soccer; Lynne Westerfield, High Country Conservation Center; Mark Mathis, owner, Confluence Energy, LLC, Kremmling, and Janna Six, chief sustainability officer for the Denver-based Alliance for Sustainable Colorado.

Filed under: business, Colorado, economy, Environment Tagged: | Environment, Summit County News, sustainability, SustainaBiz, sustainable business Summit County