March 29, 2010

Green Behind the Scenes: 2010 Green Business Symposium to Take Place April 2

The Green Business Initiative Student Association, a joint venture between Oregon Law and the UO Lundquist College of Business, will present the third annual Green Business Symposium, “Green Behind the Scenes,” on Friday, April 2, at the University of Oregon in Portland.

The symposium is a gathering of business leaders, policymakers, and legal experts for this one-day event featuring four open dialogue panels on current topics in the field. Each panel features a guided discussion about innovations and issues particular to that topic.

The symposium will also feature and opening address by Representative Earl Blumenauer and a keynote address by David Chen, principal of the Equilibrium Capital Group.

While still a student at Lewis and Clark College, Rep. Blumenauer spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, Rep. Blumenauer has created a unique role as Congress’ chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy and economically secure. From 1996 to 2007, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he advocated for strong federal policies that address transportation alternatives, provide housing choices, support sustainable economies and improve the environment. Now a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Budget Committee, Rep. Blumenauer also serves as Vice Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

Mr. Chen’s focus on sustainability is a result of his work in venture capital, regional economic development, and energy policy. In 2007, he was a visiting executive at the Meyer Memorial Trust, developing an investing thesis on mission related investing (MRI); this tool has since been adopted by several institutions. In late 2007, he formed Equilibrium Capital Group, an investment firm focused on growth equity investment opportunities in the area of sustainability. Most recently, Mr. Chen was a general partner at OVP Venture Partners, joining the firm in 2001. Prior to OVP, Mr. Chen founded GeoTrust (acquired by Verisign in 2006) and The Ascent Group; was vice president of marketing for Mentor Graphics; was an associate at McKinsey & Co; and was an early team member in 1978 at Solectron.

To register for the event, visit the symposium website.

“Green Behind the Scenes” Panels:

Foundations for a Sustainable City
How to foster sustainable development through public and private initiatives including comprehensive urban planning, financial incentives, progressive policies, and developmental standards.

Moderator: Robert Young
Assistant Professor
Department of Planning, Public Policy & Management
University of Oregon

Steve Dotterrer
Principal Planner
Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

Mia Birk
Founder and Principal
ALTA Planning and Design

David Bragdon
President
Metro Council

Arnold Cogan
Principal
Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC

Spending the Green
An analysis of the collaborative financing mechanisms available for smartly “spending the green,” including American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds.

Lee Hall
Program Manager
Smart Grid and Demand Response
Bonneville Power Administration

Josh Skov
Principal
Good Company

Brian Doherty
Partner
Miller Nash LLP

Margi Hoffman
Senior Vice President, Oregon Operations
Strategies 360

Scaling Sustainability
An analysis of the policies needed to successfully bring emerging sustainable technologies to market.

Moderator: Dan Carol
Co-founder
The Apollo Alliance

Mark Frohnmayer
Founder and President
Arcimoto

Burton Hamner
Founder and CEO
Hydrovolts, Inc.

Barry Woods
Principal
Barry T. Woods, LLC

Ocean Yuan
President
Grape Solar

Peter Mostow
Partner
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Building the Business Case for Renewable Generation
A demand-side look at the opportunities and challenges inherent in building a business case for renewable electrical generation.

Moderator: Justin Klure
Partner
Pacific Energy Ventures, LLC

Karen Reed
Of Counsel
Bateman Seidel

Tom Osdoba
Managing Director
Center for Sustainable Business Practices
UO Lundquist College of Business

Jim Lobdell
Vice President
Portland General Electric