Conference Tracks
Chicago Marriott Downtown - Magnificent Mile - April 21-23, 2008is organized across 4 distinct content tracks:
Click on a program option below to jump directly to a detailed description:
- Event Marketing- Designed by the editors of Event Marketer Magazine to showcase best-practices and insights into green event marketing strategies, issues, and programs. (more)
- Event Design- Programmed by the editors of Event Design Magazine to provide designers and creative directors with the latest ideas and solutions for creating greener events, exhibits, and environments. (more)
- Special Events & Meetings- Created by the editors of Agenda Magazine to provide special event and meeting planners with ideas and insights for creating more eco-friendly events, including event themes, food & beverage planning, site/venue evaluation, and more. (more)
- Conventions and Expositions- Designed by the editors of EXPO Magazine to provide convention and trade show organizers with the latest information and ideas for greening your shows. (more)
Hear from some of the leaders in the green event space. Learn what the pioneers have learned and walk away with ideas and insights that you can apply to your own green marketing initiatives.
Thursday, June 12
Using Events to Provide a Green Rub-off
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
No green marketing program is ever really complete unless your customers understand that your brand or product is “going green.” Learn how Discovery Communications is leaning on events to get the word out about its green-focused programming. Get a dozen tips for making sure your greenness doesn¹t go unnoticed and find out how to communicate eco-friendly, how to show off without showing off, and how to continue the green conversation after the event doors close.
- David Shackley, VP-Global Events, Discovery Communications
How Sun’s JavaOne Conference Tackled Green
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
For Sun Microsystem’s event marketing team, the 2007 JavaOne Conference was also an opportunity to incorporate Sun’s corporate initiatives for a greener way of doing business, a belief that weaves its way into both its products and in the way the organization thinks and acts. Doing this meant a review of the way the JavaOne conference was planned, created, and executed – as “green” was considered with every decision. The centerpiece to this plan was an industry-leading strategic blueprint of what a green event can and should accomplish given the inherently energy-intensive activities of moving people and building things.
- Marcy Scott Lynn, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
- Scott Schenker, VP, George P. Johnson
Green Mobile Tour Survival Guide
2:45-3:45 p.m.
Mobile tours have long been some of the un-greenest things on the road. Until now. It is possible to roll out a green tour, but you need to do your homework. Get a full overview of every green-able mobile tour facet, and walk away with the information you’ll need to switch your own tours into drive.
- Steve Woods, CEO, emg3
Strategy: Converting to a Green Event Portfolio
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Lexus is turning “eco-luxury” into more than a buzzword, as the company uses a burgeoning event portfolio to not only show off hybrid vehicles, but bring the company’s green mojo to life for consumers. Find out how you can begin to convert your own portfolio to green, what can and cannot be converted, and how long it all takes. Ask questions, get some answers from Lexus.
- Kimberley Gardiner, Event Marketing Manager, Lexus
Friday, June 13
Exhibits: Green Trade Shows
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
The one part of the marketing mix that has traditionally not been environmentally friendly is now going green. Take a seat and get some advice from one of the world’s largest tech brands on how to green your booth portfolio. Learn what green exhibits really are, what they cost, and why they’re worth it.
- Glenda Brungardt, Event Marketing Manager, Hewlett-Packard
The Green Event Imperative: The Time is Now
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.
A look at the first annual research study of senior marketing executives on green and sustainable event marketing practices from the Event Marketing Institute. EMI will highlight the finding of a major study showing how companies are incorporating sustainable practices into their corporate marketing and events. Learn how marketers are planning to improve their stewardship while staying ahead of the curve.
- Michael Westcott, Managing Director, Event Marketing Institute
Planning & Executing a Green Experiential Tour
2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
Grab your pen and take a seat as Better Homes and Gardens takes you inside its Living Green Tour, the 15 market sustainability-focused initiative co-produced with Clorox Green Works. Find out what it took to plan the program, how long it all took, and what the green tour is all about. Learn about the planning process developed to assure a unique and valuable consumer experience while delivering hands-on exposure for green marketers and their products. Then get a handle on the budgeting phase, what went into it, and how green-based event costs differ from traditional budgets. Ask questions and get answers.
- Alain Begun, Associate Publisher, Marketing and Brand Development, Better Homes and Gardens
(top)
Gain access to some of the most progressive event designers and creative directors who are successfully incorporating eco-friendly materials and designs into their programs.
Thursday, June 12
Reduced Environmental-Load Exhibits
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Exhibits have long been some of the un-greenest things around. Not anymore. Get a full handle on how to design with green in mind, fabricate with green in mind, then flip green I&D into drive. It’s possible, and you need to begin to understand the realm of the green exhibit as more clients begin requesting eco.
- Jeff Baker, CEO, Image 4
Bringing Green Products to Life
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
For companies with a powerful green product story to tell, as well as a green corporate philosophy, the design goals are doubly challenging. How do you create an effective communications solution to sell green technology while doing so in an environmentally-sensitive manner? Embed the green philosophy into your processes early and thoroughly. Go inside a Toyota design case study that shows how the auto giant created a green event program from beginning to end.
- Britta Couris, Creative Director, George P. Johnson
Green Material Report
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Event designers are the chefs and the materials are your ingredients. To go green, you need to use green. Learn how to embrace green materials in the design and fabrication process. Get a handle on a few favs, and uncover a few off-the-beaten-path materials you may want to consider. Learn the benefits of them all, and walk away with a material hit list you can start rockin’ as soon as the Summit ends.
- Karen Carney, Principal, Art of Area Design
Turning Your Design Department Green
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
It takes more than one advocate to service clients with green solutions. It takes a team. Get tips and advice for turning your design department into a lean, green creative machine. Find out how to train your staffers to think green, how to best motivate them to design green, and how to take the team as a whole into the green revolution. A critical session for every single designer of events, exhibits and environments.
- Armen Gharabegian, CEO and Design Director, Ethos Design and Lounge22
Friday, June 13
Green Museum Design
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Permanent installations require a different shade of green. Hear from one of the museum community’s top green experts on what green installation really comprises. From the strategy to the materials to the install to the maintenance, you’ll get a handle on designing green museums, advice that will pay off in other areas such as executive briefing centers, lobby installations, and more.
- Brenda Baker, Director, Exhibits, Madison Children’s Museum
Welcome to Eco-Lighting
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.
Advances in green lighting are growing exponentially every day, which means all green designers need to understand it in order to leverage it. Find out what eco-lighting really is and what it isn’t, how you can use it and where it works best. Ask questions and walk away with a full-on green lighting survival guide that will benefit all of your events, exhibits, and environments.
- Howard Werner, Principal, Lightswitch
- Kelly Roberson, Senior Lighting Designer, Lightswitch
Behind the Design: Turning Your Business into an Eco-Profitable Operation
2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
This isn't personal... It's business. What you may consider a trend is quickly becoming a reality. It's not enough to understand and create green events and exhibits: You need to create a sustainable business operation first. Take a seat and get a handle on outside the event and exhibit industry that will affect everything we all do for a living. Then we'll focus on your company with insights to ideas for preparing the company behind your events and exhibits for a greener future.
- Tom Bowman, President, Bowman Design Group
(top)
Hear from event and meeting planners who have already staked out the green space and learn from their experiences.
Thursday, June 12
Going Green, One Shade at a Time
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Transforming an existing event into an environmentally-sensitive production is no easy feat, but there are simple and inexpensive ways to pull it off. In this session you’ll learn how small changes like replacing regular light bulbs with LED versions; donating leftover food— even turning down the thermostat -- can make all the difference and will get your events on the right track to a fully-green future.
- Rebecca Mebane, Director of Conferences & Meetings, National Recycling Coalition
- Deborah R. Popely, Founder and President, Green Event Source
Creative Green Event Concepts
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Listen in as our expert faculty takes you behind the scenes for a look at how they created and executed their most creative green events. You’ll learn how they overcame obstacles, the tradeoffs they made (or didn’t make), the decisions they had to make, and the benefits they derived.
- Nikki Riley, Director of Program Management, Sierra Business Council
Green Venues
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Event facilities across the country are gearing up to go green—offering environmentally friendly menu options, waste-management services, voluntary towel and sheet reuse and more. But how green are they really? And how much more can you expect to pay when producing an event at a green venue? Attend this session and you’ll learn how to determine if your venues are really green and what questions to ask to ensure you get the right answers.
- Leslie Lukacs, Founder and Chair, Venues and Special Events Recycling Council; Project Manager; SCS Engineers
- Marc Mowrey, Lead, Green Venues, U.S EPA
- Jeff Slye, Director, Environmental Initiatives, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Creating High-End Green Events
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Green may be the rage, but can the luxurious glitz and glam of high-profile VIP events really be eco-friendly? The answer is YES! In this session you’ll learn how to pull off an Oscar-caliber event without sacrificing the high-end experience.
- Danielle Venokur, Founder, dvGreen
Friday, June 13
Green Event Budgeting & Measurement
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Implementing green practices will affect your budget and your bottom-line. In this session you’ll learn how to understand, plan and weigh the costs and benefits of going green, including budget planning, benchmarking, and measurement best practices.
- Steven P. Salsberg, Salsberg Group, Vice Chairman Council on the Environment, New York City
Greening Your F&B – From Menu Choices to Waste Control
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.
Choosing a menu for a Green event can be tricky: Organic, local, farm-raised—what’s the real difference? Should you focus on organic fruits and vegetables vs. animal products? How much more should you expect to pay? Once the event is over, how do you responsibly donate the unconsumed food? In this session our experts reveal what’s involved in sustainable catering and what your best bets are for benefiting the earth, the community—and your wallet.
- Leslie Nilsson, Proprietor/Executive Chef, Sage American Kitchen and Sage Events
- Shelley Wolfe, President, Wine & Dine Events Group
- Bruce Riezenman, Founder, Park Avenue Catering
Production Green: Best Practices and Smart Choices
2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
From lighting to décor, production choices have a huge effect on the environmental impact of a large-scale event. But larger events often require more of everything – more seating, more lighting, more electricity, more décor, more floral – which can complicate eco-friendly decisions. This session will delve into how to make smart choices for eco-friendly events without compromising your event’s creativity, production value or attendee experience.
- Georgia Malki, Co-Founder and President, Seven-Star Inc.
- Joseph Malki, Co-Founder, Partner, CBDO, Seven-Star Inc.
(top)
Learn from leading show organizers and event services companies and facilities that are leading the way in creating more environmentally sensitive conventions and trade shows.
Thursday, June 12
Your Green Show Strategy, and What It’ll Cost You
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Everybody’s talking about Green, but what’s it really mean? You’ve got recycling bins in the hall and recycled carpet on the floor – is that enough? Do you really need a carbon analysis of your event? In this session you’ll learn how to create a green strategy that makes sense for your organization, your attendees, your exhibitors – and your budget.
- Kathleen Kaiser, EVP Business Development, SustainCommWorld, The Green Media Show
- Georgia Malki, Co-Founder and President, Seven-Star Inc.
How to Respond to Attendee and Exhibitor Pressure to Go Green
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Corporate green policies will soon extend beyond the office walls to encompass all vendors and partners that touch a corporation. But are your members, attendees and exhibitors prepared to pay the price for their insistence on green events? How can you meet their demands without bearing all the cost? Attend this session and you’ll learn how to weigh your options and make the right choices.
- Karen Chupka, Senior Vice President, Events & Conferences, Consumer Electronics Association
Municipal Mandates that will Drive Green Requirements at Your Event
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
As convention centers are pushed to reduce their carbon footprints, show organizers will be under pressure to do the same. In this session, city leaders share their thoughts and plans on how the green movement is changing the way they do business, and how you’ll have to change to do business in their facilities.
- Mark Palmer, Municipal Green Building Coordinator, San Francisco Dept. of Environment
- Paul Ledesma, City Government Zero Waste Coordinator, San Francisco Dept. of Environment
- Chris Geiger, City Toxic Reduction Coordinator, San Francisco Dept. of Environment
Adding Green to Your RFPs
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Did you know there’s more than one kind of recycled carpet – and that one costs quite a bit more than the others? Learn from the experts how to write “green” into your RFPs so that you’re comparing vendors fairly – and getting what really matters to you.
- Joe Pestka, National Account Manager, Freeman
- Scott McKye, President, Kleertech
- Jo Dickson, Project Manager, New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media
Friday, June 13
50 On-Site Green Practices You Can Implement Today
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Best practices, ideas and suggestions from the front lines. Two industry veterans share their advice, along with tips from other eco-friendly show that have been featured in EXPO magazine.
- Sandy Voss, Group Show Director, New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media
- Amy Allen, Associate Director, Hanley Wood Exhibitions
Site Selection Checklist: Is that Facility Really Green?
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.
Though many are making green claims, there are actually just a handful of LEED certified convention centers in the country. Cut through the clutter of green marketing-speak and learn to evaluate facilities on “real” green practices. Attend this session and you’ll learn to develop a plan for a green site inspection.
- Jeff Blosser, Executive Director, Oregon Convention Center
- Arlene Campbell, General Manager, Direct Energy Centre
- Bob Sauter, Assistant General Manager, The Moscone Center
Working with Venues, Contractors and Caterers to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
Your industry suppliers are a first step to greening your show. Learn from a show manager and three vendors how to partner to produce green events. What extra preparations are involved and what’s the cost to show management? You’ll get great ideas you can apply to your event.
- Jeff Hall, Executive Chef, Moscone West
- Kathleen Hennessey, Recycling Manager, The Moscone Center
- Carol Ingersoll, GES Exposition Services
