2011
November 17, 2011
Speaker: Dr. Andrew Targowski, Director of the Center for Sustainable Business Practices at Western Michigan University
Topic: The WMU HCoB Business' Center for Sustainable Business Practices mission, goals, actions, implementation and curriculum
September 21, 2011
Speaker: Tom Tishler, Contract Manager with Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
Topic: Green building features of Habitat for Humanity homes
June 16, 2011
Speakers: Lisa Hardesty, Environment of Care and Sustainability Manager for Bronson Healthcare Group,
and Ty Cleary, a construction representative for Republic Services
Topic: Commercial & Construction Waste & Recycling Opportunities
April 21, 2011
Speakers: David B. Warwick from Envirologic,
Jeff Spencer from Griffin Pest Solutions,
Robert Huebner from Lansing Sanitary Supply,
and Steve Allen from Geum Services
Topic: Sustainability 101: Greening Your Business
February 17, 2011
Annual Membership Meeting
Speaker: Ryan Werder, Political and Campaigns Director, Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Topic: Progress of the Michigan Legislature and the Snyder Administration on conservation issues
2010
November 4, 2010
Speaker: Gary Spies, Environment, Health & Safety Leader, Pfizer Kalamazoo
Topic: Pfizerʹs Participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project & Portage Plantʹs Progress Toward Environmental Sustainability
August 5, 2010
Speaker: Dr. John Patten, Professor of Manufacturing Engineering, WMU.
Topic: Green Manufacturing Initiative at WMU.
May 26, 2010
Speaker: Norman Christopher, Director of Sustainability, Grand Valley State University.
Topic: Sustainability Steps… What can you do?
April 21, 2010
Speakers: Paul Manstrom, Director of Facilities Management, Kalamazoo College,
and Michelle Wreggelsworth, Senior Project Manager, Miller-Davis.
Topic: Kalamazoo College Hicks Student Center… Construction and Beyond
February 18, 2010
Annual Membership Meeting
Speaker: Dr. Harold Glasser, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, WMU
Topic: Southwest Michigan Sustainability Covenant… Past, Present & Future
2009
November 4, 2009
Speaker: J.B. Hoyt, Director of Government Relations at Whirlpool Corporation
Topic: Moving from Interest to Action: Whirlpool’s effort toward true sustainability.
October 15, 2009
Speakers: Ed Rodgers, Wal-Mart General Transportation Manager, and Denise DeVries, Griffin Pest Solutions.
Topic: Large and Small Fleet Management… Wal-Mart’s Drive for Sustainable Transportation and The Greening of Griffin Pest Solutions Service Fleet.
August 20, 2009
Speakers: Jim DeHaven, VP for Economic & Business Development at KVCC, and John Patten, Professor in the Department of Manufacturing Engineering at WMU
Topic: Wind Energy Partnership
April 16, 2009
Speaker: Mike Myszka from Denso Manufacturing
Topic: From the Towers to the Trenches… Environmental Sustainability at Denso Michigan.
February 19, 2009
Annual Membership Meeting
Speaker: Juan Olivarez, President of Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Topic: Sustainable Advocacy
February 11, 2009 – Bonus Event
Subaru Assembly Plant Tour – a trip to Lafayette, Indiana to visit the Subaru Assembly Plant, which has been at a zero landfill status since 2004. (Yes, 100% of the by products produced from fabricating Subaru vehicles in Lafayette are reclaimed!)
2008
November 13, 2008 – 12th Annual Statewide Sustainability Conference of Michigan
Speakers: Andrew Winston – “Green to Gold”, Commissioner Monica Martinez – “Energy, State of the State”, Jerome Ringo – “The Color of Green – the Next Inconvenient Truth”, Tom Easterday – “Waste Elimination/Energy Conservation – Cost Saving/Carbon Emission Reductions: A Winning Combination”, Dr. Imad Mahawili – “Michigan’s Renewable Energy: A Current Perspective”, Dr. John Patten – “Small-Scale Wind Turbine Projects: Strategies for Successful Implementation”, and Dr. Bruce Dale - Grassoline in Your Tank: Why Cellulosic Ethanol is Nearer than You Think”.
September 18, 2008
Speaker: Ron Jimmerson from Cascade Engineering
Topic: Social Empowerment by Business… Transitions that work
April 17, 2008
Speaker: Renae Hesselink from Nichols Paper and Supply
Topic: Green Cleaning: More than Just Products
February 21, 2008
Annual Membership Meeting
Speaker: Todd Parker from the Delta Institute
Topic: Opportunities in the Carbon Market
2007
November 8, 2007
Speakers: Jeff Hawkins – Envirologic Technologies, David Warwick – Envirologic Technologies, Jeff Spencer – Griffin Pest Control, and John Winterburn – Portage Cleaners & Laundry
Topic: Green Business Practices: How Small Businesses Can Make a Difference!
September 21, 2007
Speakers: Chris Lester from Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, and Ken Peregon from O’Boyle Cowell Blalock & Associates
Topic: Innovative Storm Water Management
May 17, 2007
Speakers: CSM Group, Diekema Hamann, and O’Boyle Cowell Blalock & Associates
Topic: Greek Building Initiatives
February 22, 2007
Annual Membership Meeting
Topic: Announcement of the formation of the SWMSBF as a non-profit organization. Official Election of Officers and Board of Directors
2006
November 16, 2006
Speakers: Mike Way, Vice President of Material Management and Facilities Services, and Lisa Hardesty, Healthcare Support Services Specialist at Bronson Healthcare Group
Topic: “It’s Good to Be Green”
September 21, 2006
Speaker: Christopher Pyzik, WMU Campus Architecture & Interior Design
Topic: Sustainable Design and LEED at WMU – Health and Human Services Building
May 25, 2006
Speaker: Paul Murray of Herman Miller
Topic: The Power of One
March 2, 2006
Speaker: Rich VanderVeen of Mackinaw Power
Topic: Energy Alternatives; Wind Power
2005
November 18, 2005
Speakers: Brad Newman, Land Use Policy Educator for St. Joseph County -
Topic: General Land Use Issues and Trends
Monte Bordner, Owner/President of Bordner Farms – Topic: A Farmer’s Perspective on Land Use
Maury Kaercher, St. Joseph County Extension Director – Topic: Maintaining Land for Agricultural Purposes
September 21, 2005
Speaker: Amy A. Butler of DEQ Environmental Science and Services Division
Topic: The Economic Development and Growth through Environmental Efficiency (EDGE2)
April 26, 2005
Speakers: Keith Winn, LEED AP of FTC&H,
and Mark Zoeteman, P.E., Leed AP of FTC&H
Topic: High Performance, Healthy Buildings, and LEED
January 19, 2005
Speaker: Bill Stough of Sustainable Research Group, LLC
Topic: The Economics of Sustainability… How it Can Enhance Your Bottom Line
2004
September 13, 2004
Presented in partnership with the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
Speaker: The Southwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum Steering Committee
Topic: Green Roofs: The Competitive Edge.