Sierra Business Council Sierra Solutions Conference: Big Ideas
for a Small Planet
Released
on: October 8, 2008, 6:20 am
Press
Release Author: Velocity7
Industry:
Environment
Press
Release Summary: MAMMOTH LAKES, California—The Sierra Business
Council and Sierra Nevada Conservancy hosted the Sierra Solutions
Conference October 3-4. Over 200 members gathered from across
California to share insights and learn from leaders in housing,
sustainable development, carbon sequestration, and sound energy
policies and practices.
The
Sierra Business Council’s (SBC) mission embraces community,
environment and the economy, and this was reflected in the broad
range of speakers and topics.
About Sierra Business Council
The Sierra Business Council serves the entire Sierra Nevada region.
As a nonprofit association of more than 750 businesses, agencies,
and individual members, Sierra Business Council is committed to
promoting a new perspective on regional wealth while emphasizing
collaboration in planning and policy making.
Press
Release Body: MAMMOTH LAKES, California—The Sierra Business
Council and Sierra Nevada Conservancy hosted the Sierra Solutions
Conference October 3-4. Over 200 members gathered from across
California to share insights and learn from leaders in housing,
sustainable development, carbon sequestration, and sound energy
policies and practices.
The
Sierra Business Council’s (SBC) mission embraces
community, environment and the economy, and this was reflected
in the broad range of speakers and topics.
During
the day Thursday, 20 high school students from urban and rural
areas throughout California were out on the trail hiking, rock-climbing
and exploring the Sierra through SBC’s Sierra Nevada Youth
Empowerment Program. Engendering the next generation of stewards
is a priority with Sierra Business Council, and with the support
of the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council,
these students participated fully in the entire conference, adding
their important voices throughout the conference and to the closing
comments.
Thursday
evening some 100+ guests shared their experiences at the Sierra
Leadership Institute Alumni dinner, celebrating the success of
SBC’s Sierra Leadership Institute (SLI).
The SLI is an annual collaborative leadership training session
founded in 1996 and is designed to improve individual professional
skills while enhancing the civic infrastructure of our region,
over 250 Sierra Leadership Institute alumni currently work throughout
the Sierra, contributing to the quality of life and economic well
being of the region.
SBC
Founder and Past President, Lucy Blake, opened Sierra
Solutions with a return to the values that began the Sierra Business
Council, looking forward to a vision where business leads for
integrated success in environment, economic and social solutions.
Chief
Executive Officer Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, Rusty Gregory,
made sure everyone felt at home for the Sierra Solutions Conference.
Mammoth Mountain is the first ski resort in California to put
in place a measurement program with the California Alpine Resort
Environmental Cooperative (CAREC). A tour of the erosion control
test plots at Mammoth Mountain was held on Sunday, October 5.
In the opening remarks, Gregory noted the need for balance in
embracing unique opportunities as an organization. “Mammoth
is long-term orientated, but also focused on surviving the short-term,
so we get to those long term goals.” Mammoth Mountain Executive
Chef Reed Hearon provided memorable meals using local foods, showcasing
ranches and farms in the Eastern Sierra with extraordinarily delectable
results.
Sierra
Business Council honors outstanding community member
efforts with the annual Vision 2020 Award. This award is designed
to recognize those firms and individuals charting the course for
a sustainable future by the year 2020. The conference dinner on
Friday opened nominations for this prestigious award.
The
SBC's Board of Directors will select the award winners from member
nominations and present the 2009 awards on March 19 in Sacramento,
California. Sierra Business Council’s 2009 Vision 2020 Awards
Celebration will feature presentations from Vision 2020 Award
winners, comments from past winners, a Slow Food Dinner and of
course, important news from the Sierra Nevada. SBC established
the Awards in 1996 to recognize and reward innovation and leadership
in the Sierra Nevada region.
“We are honored every year by the remarkable accomplishments
of our friends and neighbors; they are the people in our communities
who do the heavy lifting to make our futures bright. One of our
greatest pleasures is being able to recognize them for their innovation
and hard work,” said Rich Morrison, Chairman of the Board,
Sierra Business Council.
“The
Vision 2020 Awards are being held in Sacramento as a
way to bring the importance of the Sierra Nevada in California
to the State Capitol. This change is both symbolic and practical
in communicating our message to the population of the entire state,”
commented Steve Frisch, SBC president.
Web
Site: http://www.sbcouncil.org/
Contact
Details: Nikki Streegan nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530.582.4800