BALLE 2011 Conference Agenda
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 | Wednesday, June 15, 2011 | Thursday, June 16, 2011 | Friday, June 17, 2011
Please note that on-site registration opens Monday, June 13 at 2:00 PM at Fairhaven Commons!
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 includes breakfast and lunch.
The day will consist of:
A Welcome from BALLE and Slow Money
Place Matters: New Mexico Presentation: What does it take to meet regional needs with regional
resources? This presentation will set the stage for the day as the lens through which we will explore
communities’ capital requirements and capacities.
The Legal Landscape: Most great community-capital ideas are, unfortunately, illegal under existing
securities laws. What are the key rules that community-capital pioneers must be mindful of, and some
of the emerging openings?
Investment When Place Matters Panel:Three community capital innovators will share their personal
experiences using ‘place’ as their investment lens. Each of these pioneers combine philanthropy, equity,
loans, and capacity support, to grow thriving local networks of entrepreneurs using regional resources
to meet regional needs.
Rapid Fire Case Studies: This will be a tightly-run showcase of seven practical grassroots innovations for
accelerating community capital. Each model is currently in practice, has been effective, and will be
presented by the pioneers who are leading the work. Each presenter will have 20 minutes to present his
or her model and to answer clarifying questions.
Regional Discussions: Participants will sit with others from their region to explore which of the models
presented are most relevant to their communities, and to get advice on applicable models from
resources in the room. Our goal is for participants to develop concepts for their communities, and to lay
the foundation for a peer support network over the coming year.
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Bringing it All Together - A Closing from RSF Social Finance
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
How to Build a BALLE Network Workshop
Academic Instructional Center West, Room 304
Learn 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, you will pick up
best practices and develop a plan for your community. We will cover the following aspects of network
development, growth and success:
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Getting started and catalyzing community change
Operations and staffing
Communications and community-based marketing
Fundraising and partnerships
Membership benefits and recruitment
Volunteer management
Step-by-step program planning for community campaigns
You’ll leave equipped with key principles, tools and relationships for building business and community
innovation through the building blocks of a local living economy.
Registration includes breakfast and lunch, a 100+ page workshop binder, and a DVD of sample
materials and program ideas to share in your community.
Volume discount: $99 for each additional registrant from same community. (If multiple people are
registered at the same time, the volume discount will automatically be applied. If you register
separately, please email us for a discount code.)
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
LLE Tour: Organic Valley Dairy Farm Tour
Meet at the Fairhaven Commons/Dorms Parking Lot
Travel through the verdant farmlands of northwest Washington to the Wolfisberg family’s organic
dairy, part of the Organic Valley cooperative. As you walk the pastures, you’ll hear their inspiring story
and own reflections on the benefits of cooperative dairy farming. Tour-goers will learn about the
importance of cows foraging on grass, discover what the milking parlor and milk house are all about,
and explore the topics of holistic care and humane animal treatment with an Organic Valley
veterinarian. Delicious, organic snacks will be provided at the farm.
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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. Discover how this
project was funded by local investors.
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
LLE Tour: A Green Building Urban Expedition
Meet at the Fairhaven Commons/Dorms Parking Lot
Take 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. Get an insider’s
view of urban sustainable development, and learn the basic how-to of designing a successful Eco-Home
Tour in your community. Moderate biking/physical ability required. The bicycle and a local Northwest
microbrew at the end of the tour are included.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Pre-Conference
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
BALLE Network Leaders Exchange and Network Leader Only LLE Tour (new!)
The Leopold Ballroom, 1224 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham
Registration is complimentary for current dues-paying BALLE networks.
A small $20 fee for breakfast and lunch will be 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 is designed by network leaders for network leaders, and is 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:
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Network Leaders will enjoy this exclusive walking tour of downtown Bellingham’s “Best of Sustainable
Connections” impacts. See Think Local First, Toward Zero Waste, Community Energy Challenge, Green
Building and Food & Farming impacts on the ground – even visit the SC office and see the green roof!
This walking tour will stretch your legs, your mind and your network as you will have an opportunity to
build closer relationships with key network leaders (people who can make your jobs easier!) from
around North America.
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
LLE Tour: Growing the Food Economy : City to Country (NOTE THIS TOUR IS FULL)
Meet at the Performing Arts Center
Tour innovative and sustainable food and farm businesses that demonstrate the region's
interconnected food community. Travel to nearby farms with views of the Cascade Mountains. Along
the way, experience what’s working in farm-to-institution projects, meet participants in the cutting
edge "Food to Bank On" beginning farmer business training, tour the farmers market, learn about the
Farm Fund microloan, and get a firsthand look at the newly launched “Eat Local First” campaign. A
delicious, seasonal lunch is included.
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
LLE Tour: Manufacturing the Triple Bottom Line
Meet at the Fairhaven Commons/Dorms Parking Lot
Hop 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. Learn 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 is included.
Conference Kick Off
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Welcome Reception and Conference Opening at Performing Arts Center, Outdoor Plaza
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.
6:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Living Economies Expo Open in Performing Arts Center Lobby
7:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Opening Night Presentations at Performing Arts Center
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7:30 PM
BALLE Conference Opening Session
Passing of the Prayer Bundle: Judy Wicks, cofounder, BALLE; Jamee Haley, Lowcountry Local First;
Derek Long, Sustainable Connections
Lummi Blessing
Welcome from Don Shaffer, RSF Social Financ
Welcome from Michelle Long, executive director, BALLE
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 at Viking Commons
8:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Keynote Presentations at 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
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9:20 AM
Will Raap of Gardener's Supply
Introduced by David Korten
9:45 AM
Intermission
10:15 AM
Regionalizing Supply Chains: How to Make a Local Living Economy Pizza
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 at Viking Commons
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Living Economies Expo
Performing Arts Center Lobby
The Expo is open all day, but this is 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
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Track: A New Economic Agenda for the 21st Century
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
Track: Innovative Business Models and Ownership Structures
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
Track: Business Case Study Showcase
Session: Conscious Fashion: Local Perspective, Global Impact
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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
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Tactics and Tools)
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
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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
Track: Accelerating Community Capital
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
Track: Business Case Study Showcase
Session: Local Manufacturing: A New Model for Meeting National Markets with Regional (Sustainable)
Resources
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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
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Tactics and Tools)
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
Parade to downtown with march-inspiring musical accompaniment -- meet at WWU's Red Square.
Dinner (see the yummy options here) at the green building centerpiece of Bellingham — the Market
Depot. Dinner served from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Local music favorites The Librarians to twist your music bellies with good old fashioned American roots.
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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.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Conference
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Breakfast at Viking Commons — Sponsored by Puget Sound Energy
8:30 AM - 12:45 PM Keynote Presentations
Performing Arts Center Concert Hall
8:30 AM
Farmer Jane: Women Changing How We Eat
Moderator: Merrian Fuller of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Panel:
Erika Allen of Growing Power
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
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 at Viking Commons
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
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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 is open all day, but this is 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
Track: A New Economic Agenda for the 21st Century
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.
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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
Track: Accelerating Community Capital
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, Don Shaffer of RSF Social
Finance, Elizabeth U of Finance for Food
Track: Business Case Study Showcase
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
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Tactics and Tools)
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.
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Speakers: James Akers of ShopLoaf, Katrina Scotto di Carlo of Supportland, David Averill of
Groundwire will moderate
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Programs)
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
Track: A New Economic Agenda for the 21st Century
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
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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
Track: Accelerating Community Capital
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, Don Shaffer of RSF Social Finance, Leslie Christian of Portfolio 21 Investments, Amy Cortese,
Author and Journalist
Track: Business Case Study Showcase
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. Erika Allen will talk about working in Chicago to engage and transform
communities by supporting people from diverse backgrounds in developing community food systems.
Speakers: Peter Warshall of Dreaming New Mexico, Nicola Williams of the Sustainable Busniess
Network of Greater Boston, Erika Allen of Growing Power, Laura Ridenour of Sustainable Connections
will moderate
Track: The Rise of Collaboration and the Relationship Economy (Tactics and Tools)
Session: The Revolution will be Twitterized: Leveraging Online Technology to Build Your Network
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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
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. Dinner served from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
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.
Thank you to our sponsors, helping to make this gathering possible!
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