WNSF Presents our 1st Round Table Event with Expert Led Discussions 

Thursday, February 16, 2012 

6:30pm -8:30pm 

Elysian Fields

Free

Join us for a lively evening of networking and discussion around the topics of social media and sustainability, soft and hard skills sustainable professionals need, creating a structure for sustainability success, building performance and biomimcry in design. 

Because we will be switching tables, please bring cash for drinks so the waitresses cans serve us more efficiently. 

Details: 

~ 5 designated tables, each with unique topic led discussion. 

~ Attendees chose 3 of the 5 topics to join in on.  

~ 3 rounds: 25 minutes each with a 5-minute break between rounds.  

~ Topics are chosen when you sign in at the event. (First come/first serve)

Topics are:  

Biomimicry in Design

Learn about Biomimicry as a sustainable design strategy, share your experiences applying nature’s solutions to forms, processes or systems, and explore a new method of strategic-thinking using the Life’s Principles.

Bernadette Havok is a Seattle-based Industrial Designer. Her interest for sustainable design solutions led her to Teague, where she explores sustainable thinking strategies within future aircraft interior designs. She also loves organic farming and developing an organic vineyard in the Skagit Valley.

Building Performance

Learn about the new energy benchmarking, validation and reporting requirements for commercial properties.  Are you familiar with initiatives such as and  The Seattle 2030 District, a public-private collaborative working to create a high-performance building district in downtown Seattle? What opportunities does this provide for women who’d like to be involved with the construction and property management industries?

Gayle Hoffman - Building Performance Expeditor for MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions will lead the conversation. Gayle is a resource and energy conservation project manager / coordinator specializing in outreach and education, renewable energy and energy management training and implementation.

Creating a Structure for Sustainability Success

How to create a structure in your organization to measure, manage, improve and communicate sustainability performance in the following areas; carbon foot-printing, GHG emissions, set goals, implement sustainability programs, sustainability reporting, stakeholder and employee engagement and communications.

Ruth Lee is a Senior Business Consultant at Sustainable Business Consulting. Ruth has worked with over two dozen organizations to help them manage climate issues.

Emily Knudsen’s is a Consultant at Sustainable Business Consulting with a focus on communicating sustainability performance. She uses data points and stories to launch organizations’ efforts.

Discussion of Soft & Hard Skills Needed by Sustainability Professionals - ...or are they? 

Are you fluent in sustainability? What are the Skills and Competencies sustainability professionals need?  Rank of hard and soft skills.  Are they the key in your work?  What other skills and competencies are important to your sustainability career? Peer to peer sharing.

Christy Nordstrom is the Professional Development Program Manager at International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) inspires co-creative sustainable solution sand facilitates the transformation of innovation into action and develops ISSP’s online elearning events.

Social Media 

Studies show that social media is becoming more crucial in corporate sustainability. Stakeholder engagement and corporate transparency, to name two, are incredible reasons to start using it more.  

Join Andrea Learned (herself a well-known Tweeter/Google+-er in the CSR/Sustainability space), to see how social media can enhance your brand or organization's sustainability storytelling. Learn more about her background on her blog .