For the last four years, SJF held Cleantech CEO Panels in New York City and the events allowed experts to share their successes and pass along tips for others interested in navigating this bold new field. This year we’re celebrating the growth in clean technology and similar green businesses here in the Southeast by moving our panels to our hometown of Durham, NC. Furthermore, we’re expanding the event into a full-blown, two-day Summit on the New Green Economy. We hope the Summit will inspire you to help continue the momentum for green businesses and industries.
When we started our Cleantech CEO Panels in 2005, there were some doubters of the idea of sustainable industries that were profitable and created many jobs. But over the last two years this concept was embraced, as concern over global warming and energy security grew. And investment has expanded: private cleantech investment skyrocketed from $912 million in 2004 to more than $4 billion in 2007. Although 2008’s economic downturn threatened this progress, the committed work of advocates and a broader understanding of the connection between green strategies, quality job creation and more equitable and fundamentally sound economic growth have enabled green jobs to become a core element of our country’s economic recovery strategy.
The Southeast is poised to become a leader in the emerging green economy and we’re excited to bring cleantech CEOs and numerous other experts and leaders to North Carolina. Nicholas Parker, of Cleantech Group LLC, will kick off our Summit. His firm has helped catalyze the exponential growth of North American cleantech investment to $5.9 billion in 2008. Later in the Summit’s first day, Parker will moderate a “Cleantech Investment Outlook” panel, in which speakers will discuss emerging trends and challenges in the cleantech industry. The panel will include: Mary A. Bacon, of Ewing Bemiss & Co.; John Moore, of Acorn Energy, Inc.; Bruce Kahn, of Deutsche Asset Management; and Tom Darden II, of Cherokee.
We’re also excited to have Jeff Wolfe, CEO of SJF portfolio company groSolar, as one of our keynote speakers. Wolfe’s Vermont-based firm makes and installs solar energy systems that provide hot water, electricity and heating in a more environmentally conscious manner. groSolar is just one of many SJF portfolio companies that has proven investment in clean technologies not only helps the environment, but also can lead to business success.
We hope you’ll join us at the Summit to learn about cleantech investment and numerous other topics related to our mission of promoting good job growth and environmental sustainability.
Get more information on our Summit sessions here: http://www.sjfund.com/?id=339
Check back here for further updates about the Summit, and please let us know what you’re thinking about our new blog!
