• The SEEN
The Sustainable Enterprise & Entrepreneur Network (SEEN) is a growing community of businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs working together to achieve ecological,
social, and financial success.
Congratulations to the Charter SEEN Members:
SEEN
Report & Media on Monday, July 12th, 2010
What Kind of City Supports a Green Economy?
The SEEN heard from two local green development and building entrepreneurs to discuss how principles of city design could expand the marketplace for local green business, help shift our economy toward greater resilience when faced with peak oil and climate change, and ultimately keep it a fertile place for innovation and prosperity. Robert Morache, president of New Earth Strategies and Susan Cosentini, president of New Earth Living, LLC delivered presentations on the social and physical aspects of green cities. They explained how business owners and entrepreneurs could support the cultivation of a green city environment that would in turn support their businesses and communities.
Robert Morache discussed fundamental principles of community development for planning a green city. He described city design that cares for quality of living and influences people's sense of opportunity and social justice, so long as it includes increasing population density as the core of green planning, which can reduce car traffic, increase local business, and strengthen our ecosystems and in turn our local resources. He also discussed how his design and sustainable development consulting company, New Earth Strategies, is currently making progress on projects that incorporate these principles. Rob encouraged collective involvement with local planning initiatives to ensure a strong support base and sufficient responsibility for the way we build our communities.
Susan Cosentini, an urban eco-village planner, discussed some of the more sensitive social and ecological design principles that are essential to green city planning. These include creating quasi-public gathering spaces for group recreation, food production and other sustainable community uses. She explained that powerful urban design principles and conscious communication tools could help to foster a strong sense of community wherein people are sensitive and receptive to each others' concerns and needs. Sue described the 5-2-One Initiative of New Earth Living's projects, which asserts that we can reduce the ecological footprint of five people or households down to that of one person or household through combined efforts, intention, commitment, and creativity.
Rob and Sue concluded by fielding questions from the SEEN audience comprised of green businesses owners, local planning officials, and sustainably-minded people. Avenues that locals could engage in for green planning support were revealed. Please see below to listen to audio and view pictures of this event.
If you'd like to contact the Hub to discuss this event or if you would like us to get you in contact with the presenters, please email Events@greenresourcehub.org.
-
Robert Morache, president of New Earth Strategies, is a design and sustainable development consultant with a focus on housing and pedestrian oriented communities. He has taught design at Syracuse University, presented on land use and transportation issues at Cornell, and has 20 years experience in the architectural field.
- Susan Cosentini is President of New Earth Living LLC, a community oriented development company focused on creating environments that are socially, ecologically, and economically sensitive within local and global contexts. She has 25 years of experience in the construction field as the owner of Cosentini Construction and is a co-creator of the Conscious Communication Workshop, a program that resolves conflict and builds relatedness by teaching the skills of effective listening.
SEEN
Report & Media on Monday, June 14th, 2010
Building Online Community For You & Your Business or Organization
A diverse trio of social media entrepreneurs converged at La Tourelle Resort and Spa to update the SEEN audience on the latest innovations for developing online communities. The group consisted of Matteo Wyllyamz (creative media consultant & instructor), Liz Field (social media & communications manager), and Todd Hamilton (online media & tech consultant). Each delivered a 15 minute presentation on web programs, stories and principles for building online community. They then formed an expert panel and fielded questions.
Matteo Wyllyamz (@mouselink) explained how the information age requires us to change the way we view mass media marketing, and showed how the traditional models of one-to-many are no longer effective. Examining this paradigm shift, he described how BP spent millions of dollars to influence the public's perception of the oil explosion, yet could not compete with real-time waves of tweets, posts, and videos condemning BP's unethical practices. He encouraged SEEN members to look to social networking websites, like Twitter and Facebook, as sources of untapped marketing potential and both civic and customer engagement. For example, Twitter can be used for instantaneous data feeds between a business and the community of its customers - to announce special merchandise sales, new business, daily food specials, sponsored performances, etc... Then, spinoff sites emerge, like Twitter Search and Matteo's own Twithaca, which uses Twitter's open source programming platform to collect Tweets containing specific terms, at specific times, from specific locations. Matteo impressed upon the audience that new social networking tools like Twitter can be used to create successful marketing campaigns founded upon community engagement.
Liz Field discussed the marketing utility of Facebook, while noting the shifting away from traditional notions of privacy and interactivity. She covered the various features that a business or organization can use on Facebook, like creating brand specific Pages and Groups which can foster open dialogue between customers, critics, and partners. By appropriately managing these features, interested parties and customers can stay in the loop with new updates, sponsored events, sales, and even responses to criticism. By focusing on the kind of engagement you and your business or organization has with others over social networks, she suggests that you can learn to choose the connections that you want and those you want to avoid. Liz emphasized social media involvement that generates more opportunities to build community, and healthy management techniques that provide the tools to navigate those opportunities successfully.
Todd Hamilton gave perspective on social media as a way to build and engage in community, as well as a sneak peak to his latest website project, Bubbalon. He simplified the worldwide popularity of social media platforms, like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, as the "more social" and connected reality we share today, which can be used for powerful feedback and engagement. Todd characterized this as so transparent that public awareness and response happens whether or not we design for it, and demonstrated how the "old world, old way" of attempting to control a message is over. Focusing on social feedback, Todd introduced his project, Bubbalon and its relationship with the SEEN. Bubbalon is an online community of enthusiasts, citizens, businesses and customers who have the ability to rank, discuss, and compare anything and everything. From obscure widgets to fine dining, users can associate feelings with their ranking, comment, and research any specific object(s) of their choosing. It's free and open to the public. Bubbalon can be used to get a pulse of the marketplace and generate a relationship with the community, which they will be doing with the SEEN. Todd concluded by discussing how the internet and social media have changed the ways we get involved, consume, and interact; therefore, choosing to be transparent and engaged can increase our overall potential for success.
The event wrapped up with a very eager Q&A session. The audience questioned time commitments needed to implement this style of marketing, the choice of engagement, and what tools can the public use to keep track of their priorities amidst an exponentially growing exchange of information. Please see below to listen to the audio of this event and view pictures from that day.
If you have questions, concerns, or feedback please feel free to contact the Green Resource Hub at Events@greenresourcehub.org.
Speaker Bios:
Matteo Wyllyamz currently describes himself as a "Beatnik superhero, disguised as geek, loitering at the intersection of Art and Science." He is currently working as an independent teacher, trainer, consultant, designer, artist, and author. His interests include futurism and "technorealism," and he is co-founder of Mouselink Media, an Ithaca-based internet marketing and advertising group that focuses on targeting hyperlocal content through online newspapers, blogs, ebooks, social media, and search engine optimization. Matteo lectures both regionally and nationally, and facilitates internet marketing and graphic design workshops through Tompkins Cortland Community College and Alternatives Federal Credit Union, among other venues.
Liz Field is always wondering how to best communicate with others in order to meet mutually beneficial goals. Her professional experience ranges from journalism and music promotion to marketing and program development in a non-profit setting. She currently works at Hospicare as the Communications Specialist and is starting a small, multi-media communications and consulting business. She also serves as the PR chair on the Vitamin L Advisory Board & for the MLK Community Build, and has consulted with several area non-profits on how to expand their reach via social media.
Todd Hamilton calls himself a Jack of all Tech, Refiner of Passion and Agent for Change. In plain English, he helps people get the most from their passions using internet technologies and social media. Todd believes in a connected future, where technology brings people closer together and the power of ideas and thoughts is multiplied. Todd works with a variety of clients from small businesses, authors, artists and organizations to international internet start ups. Todd is currently focusing his efforts on developing Bubbalon.com, an internet startup hoping to harness and magnify the power of our feelings.
SEEN
Sunday, June 6th
The SEEN at Ithaca Festival's
Gorges Green Expo & Taste of Tompkins!
The Ithaca Community and its creative spirit is surely one to be celebrated, especially now! Given the whirlwind of events across the globe and right here at home the game has changed, the direction and attention of our communities have shifted, and our local sustainability movement receives great meaning – new life in its purpose.
There is no doubt that Ithaca has had ecological drive for a long time, yet now the immense portion of green organizers and ideas taking root in our marketplace, among civic groups, and all generations is truly inspiring. Our time has come and the SEEN is committed to support the showcase of this transformation whenever and however possible. 
We are fortunate to have such a showcase at the Ithaca Festival. The Gorges Green Expo & Taste of Tompkins is a wonderful venue to share the innovations and milestones our growing sustainability community is reaching at an ever increasing rate. So the SEEN has partnered with Ithaca Festival to encourage your participation, highlight this great event, and to host a lively exposition of what our budding marketplace has to offer.
Please take this opportunity to invest in the Ithaca Community’s showcase of YOU! Learn more at www.ithacafestival.org
For anyone interested in experiencing the showcase: We will keep you updated as we get closer and closer to this great weekend. Go here for more information about the Gorges Green Expo & Taste of Tompkins.
Monday, May 10th
Meet the Next Generation of Innovators
in the Sustainability Movement
Inventive, groundbreaking, sustainably-oriented teens presented the terrific changes they have been working on. These students from three different programs in the greater Ithaca area shared what they've accomplished and some of their intentions for the future.
The groups are:
Localvore and Youth Farm Project
ScienceWorks
Scroll below for more info on their projects.
Working with talented coordinators, these teens are following the example of local, sustainably-focused leaders. These same students are likely to be following career paths in sustainability. They will be the entrepreneurs and skilled employees of the future. Your presence at this event supports their endeavors and can provide the feedback they need to succeed.
The purpose of this SEEN event is to create ways to connect youth and businesses in sustainability. It is our collective responsibility to foster the efforts of these students and provide experiences that will continue to motivate them to pursue a better global legacy than they've inherited. As Cornell Sociology professor Rose Goldsen used to say, "What we show our young people today is what they become tomorrow."
This is a fantastic and determined glimpse of how the future may well be unfolding!
Overview of the Youth Groups Presenting
Green Guerrillas Youth Media Tech Collective is an innovative, grassroots job-training program. This unique program values teen's creative insights and capacities to transform their reality as leaders and participants for change. Green Guerrillas make their own media by analyzing important social, political, economic and environmental issues which affect their lives. Green Guerrillas connect the dots between 500-year-old issues of prejudice, inequality, oppression, and discrimination with the increased use of policing, exploitation, resource extraction, and incarceration nationwide and abroad.
Coordinators: Jason Corwin and Leslie Jones
Localvore and Youth Farm Project of Lehman Alternative Community School promotes bioregionalism and the local food system. The students volunteer on local organic farms in exchange for produce donated to their school lunch program. This year's partnership is with the Full Plate Farm Collective and Southside, GIAC, and LACS students. Students also raise money by making pestos, salsas, and hot sauces to sell to friends and families. Plans in the future may include commercializing this process. The students would like to learn how to make the whole production and processing system green. Mentors and experts to volunteer and help would be greatly welcomed.
Coordinator: Dan Flerlage
ScienceWorks, a program at the Sciencenter, connects motivated youth with scientists and community members through leadership projects relating to sustainability. Their mission is to promote more efficient use of energy, foster concern for the environment, and take direct action toward the preservation of the Earth. Through the Green Business Challenge (GBC), ScienceWorks will challenge local businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by operating in a more efficient and sustainable manner. This provides participating businesses the opportunity to save money, reduce harmful emissions, and lead our community toward a more sustainable future.
Coordinator: Katie Levedahl
March 8th, 2010
Tompkins County's Sustainability Team with Cheryl Nelson
Cheryl Nelson, the acting Administrator for Tompkins County Department of Public Works, presented Tompkins County's sustainability efforts to the SEEN. The DPW maintains and operates county infrastructure, and Cheryl's office coordinates Airport, Facilities, Highway and Solid Waste Management divisions - a powerful position for implementing sustainable practices in Tompkins County government.
Did you know that Tompkins County is a leader in green purchasing and in reducing energy and waste? 
Do you know about the county's innovative sustainability plan?
Cheryl experienced the shifts of living this region went through, and so realized her purpose to build a sustainable agenda for the county. She described growing up in Groton when frugal, yet rich culture and ideas were abandoned at the boom of consumerism during the late 20th century. Age old techniques such as face to face contact and thrifty lifestyles were seen as old fashion and taboo in America’s new disposable consumer economy. Nelson objects to this mentality and decided to bring back the frugal axioms in a paradigm shift for the community. By finding support from inspirational locals like Gay Nicholson, she was able to enliven a coalition of individuals who wanted to live more responsibly for future generations.
Highlights: The county has implemented an environmental procurement initiative, which pushed government offices to purchase recyclable paper and led to the first Green Vendors Fair. Eco-friendly vendors from all over the country informed County departments on socially responsible decisions for purchasing resources. She and her team converted public works vehicles to bio-diesel fuel and crafted a 20 year green plan for the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport. She shared how education on all levels of governmental hierarchy has been a huge barrier to reaching sustainability goals. Like most large institutions there is a steady influx of old and new employees with outdated practices, and information is often lost in translation. To mediate inconsistencies that arise, Nelson focuses on coordination efforts, newsletters, and constant engagement of employees and community groups. Her leadership and teamwork helped make Tompkins County Government a national leader in sustainable practices. Her talk closed with four words, “Think globally, act locally."
February 8th, 2010
The SEEN enjoyed another great event with Greg Pitts! Greg’s presentation was insightful and informative on financial management and socially responsible investing. He began with the lesson that money is debt and that you can evolve this understanding to create wealth. Greg highlighted key areas to manage finances as a small business or individual, especially: maintaining and contributing to savings; living on less then you earn; establishing Payroll Deduction IRAs like a Roth or Traditional, and their advantages; offering savings products at little or no cost; requesting investment products that are socially responsible; sharing useful references.
The 3 strategies: “investing while taking your beliefs into account”
1. Screening - Using tools like socialinvest.org to find mutual funds that are rated with detailed criteria, enabling you to find what best matches your values. There are other subscription based tools which value a company's performance in each area of social impact.
2. Shareholder Advocacy - Greg emphasized the importance of pulling together multiple shareholders through Shareholder Engagement Networks, and socially responsible mutual funds which exercise advocacy. These networks foster a collective demand for companies to act more responsibly and sustainably.
3. Community Investing - The hardest of the three, often with the smallest financial returns yet largest total benefit in your daily life. Such activities like pooling resources in a cooperative, maintaining accounts in locally charted banks & credit unions, joining community groups like Salary Circles which spend on local projects. For example, Ecovillage's installation of their own fiber optic cable, becoming their own ISP and phone provider while saving a lot of money.
Greg Pitts comes to financial planning and investment management after a career as the Director of Environmental Programs for a high-tech research consortium; as an energy and environment consultant; and as the managing partner for the development of the second residential neighborhood at EcoVillage at Ithaca. He has a degree in Physics from Kalamazoo College and earned a Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University.
Greg offers hourly financial planning and fee-only investment advice and management to individuals as well as small businesses. He is a member of Garrett Planning Network, a network of hourly financial planners and a member of the First Affirmation Financial Network for socially responsible investment management.
January 11th, 2010
The Green Resource Hub was thrilled to have Bob Bechtold speak at our first SEEN event of the new year at La Tourelle Resort & Spa. Bob Bechtold is the president and founder of Harbec Plastics, Inc. As his company has grown, he has found new creative ways to make it greener. Those attending the event learned about the barriers companies can face when greening their business and about how creativity and perseverance can overcome those barriers.
Harbec Plastics is a progressive injection molding company located in upstate New York, which provides a full service of model making, precision mold making, and complex precision plastic injection molding. His company believes strongly in the value of Eco-Economics and during the past decade he has developed and managed a cogeneration project, which currently produces all their electricity, heat, and air-conditioning requirements. Harbec is one of the first companies in the world to successfully implement a completely micro-turbine powered cogeneration plant. During the same period, Harbec has attained ISO 9000 and QS 9000 certifications for quality control and assurance, and they have received ISO 14000 certification to demonstrate environmental responsibility. Most recently they added a renewable portion to Harbec's on site power plant, which was a 250 kW wind generator. The company's vehicle fleet is 100% Green and includes all-electric, hybrid-electric, alt-fuel CNG, and Bio-diesel. Their latest building expansion was done in conjunction with the principles of LEEDS and includes features such as in-floor radiant heating, daylight gathering, and double insulated siding and roofing. In 2002, Harbec was awarded the EPA Energy Star for Small Business and in 2003 it received the Society of Plastic Engineers’ - Environmental Stewardship Award. Bob serves on the Board of Directors of Clean Air / Cool Planet, Ahead Energy, and the Regional Advisory Board of HSBC.
The SEN becomes the SEEN
Through 2009, the Green Resource Hub hosted events to serve the many green businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs that grace our region under a program that came to be known as the Sustainable Enterprise Network (SEN).
In the new year, we expanded our name to the Sustainable Enterprise & Entrepreneur Network (SEEN) to better express the scope of our network. We've learned that while our community has seen tremendous growth, our connection to individual entrepreneurs has been slower to happen.
The Finger Lakes region is undeniably rich in individual sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs who, for various reasons, aren't currently affiliated with an existing business or organization. These individuals comprise a valuable and often under- tapped part of the sustainable business community, and we hope to more clearly embrace them by including "entrepreneurs" in our name and more actively inviting entrepreneurs to our network. We're also thrilled with the range of creative marketing options our new acronym offers.
The SEEN. The more we say it, the more positive and dynamic it becomes
December 3rd, 2009
We are happy to report a successful lunchtime discussion with Michelle Bernhart, the president of True Blue Communications, on Thursday, December 3rd. Sixteen local business owners, entrepreneurs, and government representatives gathered for at the Hub office to share ideas and ask questions regarding the challenges of communicating concepts in sustainability. Michelle has 20 years experiences running strategic communication programs. She helps businesses and organizations see sustainability as a key business driver and strategic advantage.
The Hub is non-profit organization serving the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. We are grateful to our many sponsors and partners in our efforts to build a more sustainable future. For more about the local sustainability movement, visit Sustainable Tompkins.
