Registration is now open for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility’s (VBSR) Annual Spring Conference:25 Years of Changemaking in Action. VBSR’s largest event of the year, and Vermont’s largest gathering of socially responsible business professionals, will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the University of Vermont’s LEED Certified Davis Center in Burlington. Event features include a keynote fromBen & Jerry’s HomemadeCEO Jostein Solheim, plus 15 workshops, 40 exhibitors, 300+ attendees, several networking sessions, a localvore menu underwritten byBlack River Produce, a Vermont-themed cocktail party, closing remarks from the Honorable Governor Peter Shumlin, and “Creating a Thriving Vermont Business,” a plenary session comprised of local leaders fromThe Alchemist,Cx Associates,Vermont Woodworking School, andGreen Mountain Power. Complete details and registration can be found atwww.vbsr.org.
“VBSR was founded 25 years ago by a group of dedicated and forward-thinking business people who wanted to change the way business gets done,” noted VBSR Executive DirectorAndreaCohen. “Supporting People, Planet, and Profit, the multiple-bottom-line approach to doing business, has endured and proven successful. As we celebrate VBSR’s quarter-century anniversary, we’re thrilled to gather with the early adapters and the next generation of socially responsible leaders. Jostein and Ben & Jerry’s have been part of this movement from the start, there couldn’t be a more fitting keynoter for this conference as we look towards what the next 25 years brings VBSR and Vermont.”
Vermont’s business, policy, education, and nonprofit communities typically attend the daylong business conference. Participants will learn new ways to integrate social responsibility into their organizations, discuss public policy, and network with other professionals committed to conducting business that values not only financial success, but also the well being of employees, the environment, and the community. Registration on or before May 6 is $150 for VBSR members, $200 for non-members, and $35 for full-time students and members of the Vermont legislature. Online registration, carpool, food, and lodging information, complete conference agenda, and workshop details can be found atwww.vbsr.org.Carpooling is encouraged!
Jostein Solheim, now in his fourth year as Chief Executive Officer atBen & Jerry’s Homemade Inc.,is not your average CEO. Solheim continues to champion the iconic ice cream maker as it navigates its next chapter in business history. The vision, according to Solheim, is that Ben & Jerry’s must continue to aspire to be a social justice company that just happens to make ice cream. The native of Norway challenges the roughly 500 Vermont employees to practice the company’s belief to “love its fans more than they love Ben & Jerry’s,” both with new and innovative flavors and in creative ways to continue to give back to the community. Jostein is proud to continue the company’s focus on Social Mission projects such as values-led sourcing, supporting Fairtrade, non-GMO labeling, being established as the first wholly-owned certified B-Corporation and other progressive endeavors.
VBSR’s Annual Spring Conference is generously supported by Conference Localvore UnderwriterBlack River Produce, as well as Conference Underwriters:Business Energy Action, Cabot Creamery Cooperative,City Market, Image Outfitters, Interrobang Design Collaborative, Let’s Grow Kids!, Recycle Away, The University of Vermont Medical Center, Vermont Business Magazine,Vermont Digger,Vermont Economic Development Authority,Vermont Creamery, Vermont Public Radio, and Vermont Rural Ventures.
Sponsors include:A.N. Deringer, Inc., Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Vermont, Burton Snowboards, Business Culture Consultants, Casella Resource Solutions, Champlain College, Chroma Technology, Concept2,Dealer.com