WMSBF Hosts Forum on Tire Industry Sustainability; The Transgender Experience

/in , /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted a forum presentation discussing sustainability in the tire industry and, separately, the transgender experience, for its May Membership Forum at Kendall College of Art & Design.

Featured speaker Ashley Fahey, Sustainability Principal at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, offered insights into sustainability in an industry many of us only think about once every few years — when we need new tires. She discussed how the industry is evolving to meet the needs of the mobility revolution, some material innovations that Goodyear has been working on, and the company’s new strategy for addressing sustainability throughout the organization.

A West Michigan native and graduate of Aquinas College’s Sustainable Business Program, Ashley worked in Sustainability at Steelcase for the last seven years. Shortly after earning her Executive MBA at Michigan State University in 2018, Ashley came out as a transgender woman and relocated to Northeast Ohio for an opportunity with Goodyear. Ashley also provided insights into what employers and co-workers should know about the transgender community as they focus on the social leg of sustainability, and shared her personal experience transitioning to a new state, a new job, and a new gender.

WMSBF Hosts Forum on Diversity Case, China Sword Recycling Impacts

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted its monthly forum on a best-in-class diversity program and a round table discussion on how local organizations are responding to the rapidly emerging recycling markets crisis created by international trade policies at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s this week.

View photos of the event on Facebook here.

Kelly Wilczak, Workforce Program Specialist at Mercy Health, highlighted several of the health care system’s diversity best practices, including its evidence-based hiring process.

The recycling discussion was held as an open forum for participants to discuss their challenges and gain insights from mutual perspectives. Four speakers framed the conversation with remarks from varying perspectives: Matt Flechter, Recycling Market Develpment for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, introduced the issue and its impacts. PADNOS Sales Associate Lynn Mulder and Kristen Wieland of Kent County Department of Public Works shared how lower prices and fewer buyers are impacting what can be recycled by local businesses. Steelcase Environmental Scientist Heidi Frasure shared how the office furniture maker has been forced to make investments and adopt new practices in order to maintain its recycling program.

The September Forum was presented by Mercy Health Saint Mary’s.

West Michigan Food Waste Summit at GRCC featuring JD Lindeberg

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and partners hosted the West Michigan Food Waste Summit this week at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College, the capstone event of the Western Michigan Food Recovery Council pilot project.
The half-day event provided an opportunity for businesses, institutions and other stakeholders to learn about food waste and discuss local challenges and opportunities for food rescue and recovery.
Keynote speaker JD Lindeberg of Resource Recycling Systems discussed the connection between food and soil, linking organics recovery and food production.
Additional speakers at the Summit included Janine Oberstadt of Creative Dining Services, Michael McFarlen of FireKeepers Casino & Hotel, Kate Binder of Bell’s Brewery, Adam Brent of Cocoa Corporation, Mallory Weber of Feeding America West Michigan, and Daniel Schoonmaker of West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.
The West Michigan Food Waste Summit was presented by Creative Dining Services.

WMSBF Hosts Forum on Building Material Reuse and Talent Retention & Development

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted a luncheon discussion at Davenport University featuring seperate presentations on building material reuse and people focused solutions for talent development and retention for its April education and networking program.
See photos of the event on Facebook here.
Mike Bauer, Founder and CEO of Detroit Audio Lab and Chris Rutherford, Executive Director of Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit, discussed how their organizations are leveraging building deconstruction to forward job creation and circular economy improvements in Detroit.
Milinda Ysasi, Executive Director of The Source shared insights on the need for comprehensive support structures to improve employee performance, retention and address structural inequities in the West Michigan economy.
Presentation available below:

The WMSBF April Forum was presented by Davenport University.

WMSBF Hosts Meet the Media Panel Forum

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted a “Meet the Media” networking and education luncheon at West Michigan Works featuring representatives from local news outlets that cover topics surrounding sustainability, environmental issues, and social equity.
See photos of the event on Facebook here.
Video recording of the event is available here.
The panel shared observations regarding the state of sustainable business and sustainability in the region, how their organizations approach stories and determine news value, and discussed key local headlines from their coverage. The panel included Kiran Sood Patel, Managing Editor of The Rapidian, Garret Ellison, Environment Reporter for MLive.com & The Grand Rapids Press, Tim Gortsema, Managing Editor of Grand Rapids Business Journal, Mariano Avila, Inclusion Reporter for WGVU, and Shelley Irwin, Host and Producer for WGVU Morning Show and WGVU-TV.
This month’s meeting was presented by West Michigan Works!

WMSBF Hosts February Forum on Water & Workforce Training

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted a luncheon discussion at Amway World Headquarters featuring presentations on two critically important sustainabiliy issues – water and workforce training – for its February education and networking program.
Dr. Bill Pink, President of Grand Rapids Community College, discussed the connection between workforce training, community strength and sustainability.  His presentation is available below:
– Connecting Workforce Training to Community Strength & Sustainability
Dave Van Wylen, Dean for Natural and Applied Science at Hope College, discussed the myriad of international, domestic, and local problems created by humanity’s relationship with water.  His presentation and a video is available below:
– Water – Precious, Precarious, Problematic, Perplexing, Promising


The February Forum was presented by Amway.

December Membership Meeting

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted a luncheon discussion at Kendall College of Art and Design, featuring presentations from Perrigo and Grand Rapids Whitewater for its December education and networking program.
Photos of the event are available on our Facebook page.
Matt Chapman, Project Coordinator for Grand Rapids Whitewater (GRWW), provided an update on plans to remove dams and restore the rapids to the Grand River. The presentation illustrated historical uses of the Grand River, showcased the complexities of the project, provided a current project update, and explored the environmental, economic, and social benefits associated with a revitalized Grand River system.
Steve Ramus, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Perrigo Company plc, discussed the company’s environmental and social initiatives, including its Environmental Stewardship program, Ethical and Social Compliance in the Supply Chain, annual CSR report, and compliance with the many different customer sustainability/CSR requirements.
Presentations available below:
– Grand River Revitalization & Rapids Restoration
– Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability at Perrigo
Thank you again to Kendall College of Art & Design for hosting this month’s meeting, and to the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds for sponsoring.

Review: A Wealth of Flows – A Circular Economy Workshop

/in /by

The workshop featured local and national leaders in design and manufacturing that outlined a path for purposeful decisions and collaboration.
Keynote speakers included Ken Webster, Head of Innovation at The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, author of The Circular Economy: A Wealth of Flows, and Nathan Shedroff, Associate Professor, Industrial Design at California College of the Arts.
Presented by Grand Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership and West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum with additional support from Grand Valley State University, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, Steelcase, and other partners.

Review: September Meeting at Aquinas College

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted a luncheon dialogue reflecting on the importance of internal and external partnerships, collaboration and diversity in moving forward elite sustainability initiatives this week at Aquinas College.

Photos of the event can be found on our Facebook page.

Featured speakers included the husband-and-wife partnership of Sean Ansett, a veteran of multi-stakeholder collaborations on behalf of major brands and civil society such as the Bangladesh Safety Accord, and Paloma Lopez, Global Director of Sustainability Activation for The Kellogg Company, responsible for embedding sustainability into the company’s business.

Lopez highlighted the necessity of working with people from different backgrounds, skillsets and perspectives when initiating sustainability programs, demonstrating the need for integrated sustainability functions and to be fluent in the many languages of business found throughout an organization.

Ansett shared his experiences working on behalf of corporate and social enterprises within multi-stakeholder partnerships to facilitate environmental, labor and economic outcomes.

Thank you again to Aquinas College for hosting this month’s Meeting.

Review: September Meeting at Aquinas College

/in /by

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum hosted a luncheon dialogue reflecting on the importance of internal and external partnerships, collaboration and diversity in moving forward elite sustainability initiatives this week at Aquinas College.
Photos of the event can be found on our Facebook page.
Featured speakers included the husband-and-wife partnership of Sean Ansett, a veteran of multi-stakeholder collaborations on behalf of major brands and civil society such as the Bangladesh Safety Accord, and Paloma Lopez, Global Director of Sustainability Activation for The Kellogg Company, responsible for embedding sustainability into the company’s business.
Lopez highlighted the necessity of working with people from different backgrounds, skillsets and perspectives when initiating sustainability programs, demonstrating the need for integrated sustainability functions and to be fluent in the many languages of business found throughout an organization.
Ansett shared his experiences working on behalf of corporate and social enterprises within multi-stakeholder partnerships to facilitate environmental, labor and economic outcomes.
Thank you again to Aquinas College for hosting this month’s Meeting.

How We Help

THE FORUM
WASTE AUDITS
FOOD WASTE
EQUITY
CLIMATE

Connect

  • P.O. Box 68696
    Grand Rapids, MI 49516
  • 616.422.7963

STAY CURRENT

Oops! We could not locate your form.