VBSR Southern Vermont Summit to Explore Clothing Industry, Nov 17

EILEEN FISHER’s Director of Social Consciousness to Keynote

Is the clothing industry sustainable? Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) members and friends will have a chance to discuss this issue and more at VBSR’s Southern Vermont Summit on November 17. Amy Hall, Director of Social Consciousness for the women’s clothing designer EILEEN FISHER, is set to keynote the event which will run from 3-7 PM at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden in downtown Brattleboro. Registration information can be found at www.vbsr.org.

“We are honored to have Amy Hall keynote this event,” said Russ Elek, VBSR Communication and

Membership Manager. “We know Vermonters care about where and how their clothing is made, but in

the grand scheme of things, this isn’t an issue that gets a lot of attention. VBSR has talked about and

tackled many issues in the world of sustainability over the past several years and with this being our

25th Anniversary Year, we’re looking forward to presenting a program that gets our members and

guests really thinking about the total impact we have on our environment and communities.”

As Director of Social Consciousness and a member of the Leadership Forum for EILEEN FISHER,

Hall supports the company’s efforts to practice “business as a movement.” She collaborates internally

and externally to guide the company toward ever-increasing human, environmental and economic

sustainability, including co-leading the company’s Vision2020 work. She currently chairs the advisory

board of Social Accountability International and serves on the boards of Made-By and the American

Sustainable Business Council.

More than 50 business leaders have already preregistered for the event. In addition to the keynote

presentation, underwritten by National Life Group, Hall will also participate in a Q&A and VBSR will

hold a short annual meeting to update attendees on the organization’s work and financial standing

from the past year. Rounding out the evening, guests will enjoy a networking reception in the space,

featuring catering from The Works as well as a cash bar.

The Southern Vermont Summit is open to the public and anyone interested in the triple-bottom-line

approach to business. The event is free for VBSR members and state representatives, $20 for

nonmembers. In addition to support from National Life Group, the event is underwritten by B Lab,

Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, Let’s Grow Kids, Merritt & Merritt &

Moulton, Vermont Community Loan Fund, Vermont Kitchen Supply, and VPR.

Support also comes from VBSR Champion Members: AllEarth Renewables, Ben & Jerry’s,

Gardener’s Supply, Dinse Knapp McAndrew, Keurig Green Mountain, Green Mountain Power,

Marketing Partners, New Chapter, Renewable NRG Systems, Seventh Generation, SunCommon,

VSECU, and Villanti Printers.

Sponsors include VBSR Gold Members A. N. Deringer, Inc.; Black River Produce; Blue Cross & Blue

Shield of Vermont; Burton Snowboards; Business Culture Consultants; Cabot Creamery Cooperative;

Casella Resource Solutions; Champlain College; Chroma Technology; City Market; Concept2;

Dealer.com; Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel & Hand; FairPoint Communications; Gravel and

Shea; Hubbardton Forge; Ivy Computer, INC; KeyBank; McKenzie Country Classics; Merchants

Bank; Middlebury College; Northeast Kingdom Community Action; People's United Bank; Small Dog

Electronics; SymQuest Group Inc.; The Alchemist; The Farmhouse Group; TruexCullins Architecture

and Interior Design; University of Vermont; University of Vermont Medical Center; Vermont Business

Magazine; Vermont Creamery; VEIC; VEDA; & Vermont PBS.

Registration and complete event details can be found at www.vbsr.org.

Founded in 1990, VBSR is a statewide, non-profit business association with a mission to advance a business ethic that

values multiple bottom lines: economic, social, and environmental. Through education, public influence, and workplace

quality, VBSR strives to help 760+ members set a high standard for protecting the natural, human, and economic

environments of the state's residents, while remaining profitable. Learn more or join the cause at www.vbsr.org.

Event Location

United States