GBENN Summit 2016 

Join us for the 2nd National GBENN Summit taking place on October 19-20, 2016 in St. Louis. Green business programs interested in networking, learning, and sharing best green business engagement strategies for success should plan on attending. Summit itinerary. 

GBENN defines a green business program as a specific program organized to support the development and implementation of sustainability practices in businesses for a defined region or state.  All summit content is designed for information dissemination and sharing among programs and not the individual green businesses.

Goals for the 2016 Summit:

• Strengthen the dialogue and advance collaborative opportunities that began at the 2013 Summit 
• Share best practice information across programs and foster collaboration that advances the unique objectives of green business programs
• Advance strategic development goals of the Green Business Engagement National Network - driving greater network impact
• Create collaborative programming that strategically stimulates network growth 
• Engage new green business engagement programs in the network, fostering networking and relationship-building between programs

Summit Highlights (see Summit itinerary for more details):

• Two (2) day conference including keynote and plenary sessions (October 19 and 20)
• Lunch provided on both days
• Tour of Botanical Gardens
• Networking reception on October 19 (additional fee)
• Informal get together on the evening October 18 for early arrivers
• Many opportunities to network and convene with other green business programs

The  Missouri Botanical Garden will host the GBENN 2016 Summit in the Commerce Bank Center for Science Education, a facility certified by both LEED and ENERGY STAR. In partnership with the St. Louis Regional Chamber, the Garden coordinates the St. Louis Green Business Challenge.

A tour of the Missouri Botanical Garden is included in the Summit registration. Founded in 1859, the Garden is a 79-acre oasis in the City of St. Louis, where beauty grows in seasonal displays and year-round features including Seiwa En, the largest authentic Japanese garden in North America; a tropical rain forest recreated inside the iconic Climatron®, the world’s first geodesic dome conservatory; and Victorian-era gardens surrounding the country home of Garden founder Henry Shaw. The Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a globally respected center for science, conservation, horticulture, education and sustainability. 

The City of St. Louis is known for the Gateway Arch, the world-champion St. Louis Cardinals, and its location at the confluence of the fourth-largest watershed on Earth. The greater St. Louis region is rich in cultural diversity, music and the arts, parks and green space, and great food. Lambert St. Louis International Airport is an affordable travel hub served by Southwest and many other airlines. 

Conference Hotel is Drury Inn and Suites

Drury Hotels, a participant in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, is the host hotel for the GBENN Summit. Book your hotel early at the Drury Inn & Suites, 2111 Sulphur Ave., Saint Louis, MO for a special conference (Government) rate of $112 per night or $125 for a 2 room suite (holds up to six people).  Book your room online. Reservations may also be made by calling 1-800-325-0720; refer to the Group number of 2268595. The cutoff date for the special room rate is Monday, September 19, 2016.  After that, rooms are regularly priced and based upon availability.  All rates are subject to the prevailing city, county and state taxes.

The hotel has many amenities including free hot breakfrast, free hot food and beverages every evening from 5:30p-7:00p, overnight parking and free internet.

Call for Presentations

GBENN is seeking proposals for presentations and sessions at the Summit.  The proposal deadline is June 30, 2016.  Here's the online submission portal.