West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum Annual Meeting 2017 June 19, 2017 University Club of Grand Rapids
Presenters Alison Sutter, SpartanNash President, WMSBF Daniel Schoonmaker Executive Director, WMSBF Sara Meyer, ERM Vice President, WMSBF Steve Ramus, Perrigo CSR Committee Chair Eric Foster, Progress Strategies+ Social Equity Consultant
Annual Meeting Alison Sutter, SpartanNash President of the Board West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
Board of Directors 2017-2018
Officers 2017-2018 Sara Meyer, ERM President Steve Ramus, Perrigo Vice President David Rinard, Steelcase Secretary Bill Morgan, Morgan & Morgan CPAs Treasurer Alison Sutter, SpartanNash Immediate Past President
Outgoing Board Members Steve Teitsma Progressive AE Chad Gunnoe Aquinas College Jason Kehr Valley City Electronic Recycling Phillip Greene Grand Rapids Public Schools
Staff Daniel Schoonmaker Executive Director Aaron Bouwkamp Program Manager
President s Award Winner: Jason Kehr Recognizes a professional for his or her contributions to the growth and development of West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. Directly responsible for increasing membership by 5%. Contributor to Michigan MSW Economic Valuation Study. Board member since 2014. Waste Task Force member since 2013.
Major Accomplishments 2016 Michigan Municipal Solid Waste Economic Valuation Study Merger with Michigan s Great Southwest Sustainable Business Forum GLISA Climate Resiliency Toolkit Project Michigan s Premier Sustainable Business Event Program Imagine Trash Partnership Program
Upcoming Events: Membership Meetings City of Grand Rapids / Founders Brewing Biodigester Sustainability at John Ball Zoo Kellogg s Paloma Lopez with Fairphone s Sean Anset Smart Buildings at Whirlpool (MGSSBF) Tour of Holland Energy Park Legacy Costs of Vapor Intrusion
Upcoming: Golf and River Outing Tuesday, August 8 10 am to 3 pm The Meadows at Grand Valley State University 18 or 9 Holes Or Grand River outing Lunch and Beer Sponsorships Available Tickets Available Now
Upcoming: Circular Economy Summit Monday, October 9 12 pm to 4 pm Seidman College of Business Grand Valley State University Keynote Speaker from Ellen Macarthur Foundation (virtual) Three panel discussions With Grand Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership
Upcoming: Triple Bottom Line Bash Wednesday, October 25 6 pm to 9 pm Grand Rapids Ballet The Premiere Event for WM Sustainable Business Professionals Hall of Fame / Ballet Performance Business of the Year / Beer, Wine Kangaroo Kitchen
Sustainable Business Awards New Juried Awards: Waste, Climate, Social Responsibility Plus One Hall of Fame Inductee and One Future Hall of Fame Honoree Selected by Membership Vote: Sustainable Business of the Year Open Nomination Process. Nominees must provide narrative to be considered by awards committee. Committee determines Sustainable Business of the Year Finalists NOMINATIONS OPEN JUNE 25.
Strategic Plan 2017-2020
Four Strategic Focus Areas Strategic Growth Zero Waste and Circular Economy Climate Resiliency Corporate Social Responsibility
Strategic Growth Daniel Schoonmaker Executive Director WMSBF
Strategic Growth Objectives 1. Continuous capacity improvements 2. Improve WMSBF brand 3. Targeted audience campaigns 4. Leadership committees and working groups 5. Sustainability resources and support 6. Midwest s premier regional sustainable business education and networking program
Working Group Opportunities Working Groups / Committees Leadership Committees: Climate, Social Responsibility Regional Committees: MGSSBF, Muskegon Event Committees: Bash, Winter Conference, Outing Pending: Food Waste, Green Teams Task Force Solid Waste Task Force Equitable Sustainability Task Force Pending: Green infrastructure
Muskegon Capacity Build Grant from Community Foundation of Muskegon County Partnership with Muskegon County Two events in FY 2017 2018 Increase visibility and network Focus on recycling, value of natural resources
Acknowledgements Alison Sutter Dave Rinard Sara Meyer Bill Morgan
Circular Economy and Zero Waste Daniel Schoonmaker Executive Director West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
Zero Waste Objectives 1. Address low-hanging fruit waste diversion opportunities in commercial and industrial operations 2. Increase the number of local organizations with formal ZWTL goals
Creating A Circular Economy 1. Promote a circular economy mindset and the understanding that waste has economic value. 2. Reduce food waste in West Michigan
Acknowledgements Jason Kehr Kristen Wieland Dar Baas Phil Greene Ken Freestone Lynn Mulder Lynn Spurr Autumn Sands Bill Stough, Katie Venechuk Sara Damm
Climate Resiliency Sara Meyer, ERM Vice President WMSBF
Climate Change Mitigation 1. Normalize discussions of climate change through educational opportunities and by highlighting the commitment of local organizations. 2. Identify and fill gaps in local greenhouse gas mitigation efforts.
Climate Change Adaptation 1. Educate businesses and other stakeholders on their operational vulnerabilities to climate change and potential adaptation strategies. 2. Develop regional capacity for green infrastructure and low impact development.
Acknowledgements Sarah Chartier Doug Tamboer Wendy Ogilvie Sara Meyer
Corporate Social Responsibility Steve Ramus, Perrigo CSR Committee Chair WMSBF
Corporate Social Responsibility 1. Promote and support social responsibility 2. Create and maintain relevant benchmarks 3. Involve professionals not actively involved in environmental issues.
Equitable Sustainability Objectives 1. Identify and address gaps in environmental strategies, assess whether social impacts are being accurately valued. 2. Promote diversity and inclusion within the sustainability field. 3. Promote adoption of sustainable business practices by minority-owned businesses, and define potential for minorityowned business owners and entrepreneurs to enter the sustainability field.
Acknowledgements: Alice Jasper Brian Wolters Sharon Darby Steve Ramus Sara Yob
Equitable Sustainability Eric Foster, Progress Strategies+ WMSBF Equitable Sustainability Consultant
Equitable Sustainability Project WMSBF Diversity & Inclusion Policy Define baseline, benchmarks and best practice Deliver sustainability support to minority-owned businesses Identify opportunities Call to action
Thank You wmsbf.org