Expo draws global 'green' speakers with something to say to NW Arkansas

April 26, 2010 - PRLog -- The NWA Green Expo will open free to the public April 30 and May 1 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. The event is hosted by the Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and presented by Walmart, Sam’s Club and Good Housekeeping Magazine.

Dr. Alan D. Hecht, Director for Sustainable Development in the EPA’s Research and Development Office, said the year 2010 brings even tougher challenges.

“Now more than ever, the concept of sustainability is crucial in designing our cities and in manufacturing our goods and services,” Hecht said. “A new partnership of business, government and people is needed and I want to showcase some of the exciting new ideas on sustainability that will help us all move into the 21st century.

“The Northwest Arkansas Green Expo with its seminars and workshops is a perfect opportunity to bring these issues directly to business and government leaders and engage them in constructive discussion.”

Hecht will be one of nine speakers in the Speaker Series at the NWA Green Expo. The event launches at 8 a.m., Friday, April 30 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. At 11:00 a.m., the Expo doors open to two-action packed days of events, exhibitors, services and supporters of green business and sustainable initiatives.  

Eric Jackson has a message for Northwest Arkansas that will resonate with anyone working in the sustainability field for a large company, institution, or governmental agency.

Chief Sustainability Officer and President of Conservis Advisory Services, Jackson said,  “Sustainability programs have taken hold in all segments and sectors of the economy, and my focus is on Fortune 5000 corporations and similarly sized institutions and governmental agencies. The business community of Northwest Arkansas, including Walmart and its vendor universe, make this an important destination for our message.”

Catherine Lasser of IBM Corporation is convening a global series on how to build smarter cities, which started in Berlin last year and will conclude in Shanghi this year. Lasser, VP and CTO for the Distribution Sector of the IBM Sales & Distribution Division, comes to NWA Green Expo with a timely message for this fast-growing area.

“This Expo is a great opportunity to share the thoughts and visions of a smarter city as part of a smarter planet responsibility,” Lasser said.

Hecht, Jacskon and Lasser will join the speakers’ stage with Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle; Stanley N. Alpert, antitrust litigation and counsel for Constantine Cannon, and author of The Birthday Party: A Memoir of Survival; Michelle Mauthe Harvey, Project Manager and Corporate Partnerships Program with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF); and Derrick Mains, CEO and Founder of GreenNurture. The Series will be emceed by Marty Metro CEO of UsedCardboardBoxes.com.  Tickets for the Speaker Series are $10 in advance and include breakfast.

Doors open for the Expo portion of the event at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 30 and close at 5 p.m. On Saturday, May 1, doors open at 9 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. Among the workshop and activities planned are a shoe drive for Souls 4 Souls, Coca-Cola recycling, rain-barrel making, electric appliance recycling, gardening, healthy cooking, along with mad science, music, arts and crafts for the kids. All events are free, with the exception of the Speaker Series breakfast.

For detailed information and stories on the speakers and activities, visit http://www.NWAGreenZine.com, the official publication for the event. For details on the Expo, visit http://www.NWAGreenExpo.com.

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Creative Coop publishes digital magazines Biz2Biz NWA and NWA GreenZine for the Northwest Arkansas marketplace, home to Walmart and Sam's Club. Both magazines are carbon-neutral and focus on small business enterprise and sustainability.