“Breaking through the barriers, and breaking records, at the 2011 Colorado Sustainability Conference”

As the year comes to a close, we at Catamount Institute are also closing the books on a record-breaking Colorado Sustainability Conference.  With the theme of “Breaking through the Barriers”, this year’s conference was a showcase of local, regional and national talent. From National Geographic contributing writer Joel Bourne’s “2050 Challenge” to Global Exchange founder Kevin Danaher’s call for a revitalization and awareness of stewardship and citizenship, our attendees were educated and inspired to raise the bar on sustainability within their businesses, their community and their personal lives.  For the first time in the conference’s history, we had:

• Over 370  attendees (a 170% increase compared to 2010)
• 38 Exhibitors (sold out expo hall…with a demand for more space next year)
• 4 nationally-recognized keynote speakers
• Over 40 speakers presenting in 20 Breakout Sessions (120% increase in sessions compared to 2010)

Our attendees represented a diverse cross-section of the community, including:  small businesses, teachers and students, government and active-duty military, non-profits and public sector employees. We were also honored to be able to  work with The Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado for the first time.  By bringing their statewide roundtable participants to Colorado Springs, their members were given the opportunity to also attend the Colorado Sustainability Conference. But most importantly they were able to network with and learn from our many sustainability experts within the region, while providing our community leaders a better understanding of the state of sustainability within other regions of Colorado.

Our sustainable business expo hall boasted 38 booths this year, showcasing cutting-edge technology, community-driven ideas and locally-owned businesses.  From Sunshare’s solar garden to Ranch Foods Direct’s humanely raised local meats, our attendees were exposed to the best our state has to offer.

We at Catamount have many people and organizations to thank for the incredible success of this year’s conference.  First, hats off to our sponsors and in-kind donors for supporting not only this conference, but the belief that education and collaboration are the keys to a successful and sustainable region.  To our continued partnership with Sustainable Fort Carson and the many people who diligently work every day to put their post at the forefront of sustainability.  To Nick Kittle for  enlivening, enlightening and entertaining our attendees as the master of ceremonies for this year’s conference.  As those that also were able to attend his breakout session know, he is one of the many young, intelligent and energetic  stakeholders within our community that are hard at work making this region the best it can be.  And to all of you that attended the conference, thank you not only for your support of Catamount Institute, but for supporting the future of your community.  Thank you also to all that responded to our online survey.  We have gained valuable feedback from your praises and critiques, and will work hard to incorporate these into the 2012 conference.

But finally, and foremost, a heartfelt thank you to the Catamount staff, Red Energy Staff and numerous volunteers that made this year’s conference not only possible, but such an amazing success.  These talented and hard-working individuals put in thousands of hours over many months in planning, coordinating and executing this conference.  Thank you to Darlene Jensen, our Executive Director and the Catamount Board of Directors for their expertise, guidance and unwavering support of our mission.  Thanks to Jesse Rochette and Tracy Jackson, the dynamic duo behind all of our school education programs.  To Leslie Wirpsa for her help with in-kind donations and speading the word throughout the community.  To Cheryl Sims for keeping our books and bottom line in order, to Christina Rochette for creating, updating and overseeing our website.  To Jennifer Elledge for her assistance in securing keynote speakers and selling out the expo hall.  To Chris Aaby for creating our beautiful Colorado Sustainability Conference brand and marketing materials, and to Lindsey Baker for finding and coordinating an amazing delegation of volunteers.

As we end this year, we are looking excitedly to what the future holds for Catamount Institute and the Colorado Sustainability Conference.  Watch for updates and announcements in this newsletter and online as we set the date and begin planning for the 2012 Colorado Sustainability Conference.  We are honored and humbled by your support of this event, and look forward to bringing you an even more amazing conference in 2012.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Whitney Calhoun, LEED AP BD+C

With a target audience of business owners, educators and decision-makers in the private, public and military sectors, the conference's goal is to raise awareness of sustainable best practices and to empower attendees to lead the way to positive change.  This year’s conference, themed “Breaking Through the Barriers” is challenging both presenters and attendees to raise the bar on sustainable practices within Colorado and beyond.

We are proud to of our 2011 Keynote Speakers!

Featured session presenters also included Mike Bowman of 25x25, Jennifer Gallegos, Director of Coffee Business Development for FairTrade USA and Ted Ning, executive director of LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability).

Breakout session presenters included representatives of Fort Carson, NREL, the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO), Whole Foods, RNL Architects, EPA, Colorado Springs Utilities, the City of Fort Collins Sustainability department, the City of Colorado Springs, the USGBC Colorado and the American Sustainable Business Council.  Breakout sessions covered various topics, including:

• Net Zero best practices
• The Economics of Sustainable Business
• Sustainable Communities
• Sustainable and Local foods
• Water conservation
• Renewable energy and alternative fuels

Catamount Institute, a 501(c) 3, is a regional non-profit whose mission is to inspire ecological stewardship.  Situated at the base of Pikes Peak, and serving the Pikes Peak region of Colorado, our organization works to fulfill this mission in two main ways:  offering environmental education to our children and through our Pikes Peak Sustainable Business Network (PPSBN).  Catamount Institute acts as the bookends of our community:  from the school rooms to the board rooms, we are working to educate our leaders of tomorrow as well as our leaders of today in sustainable practices.

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