GBENN In-Person Gathering - 2021 

"Navigating the Future of Sustainable Business Programming Together"

Because in-person networking and making connections nationally is what makes our summit events so valuable to our members, we will also host an in-person gathering on September 23 and 24, 2021 at the D-Barn Reception Hall in Longmont, Colorado. The event will be 1.5 days and will include facilitated training sessions for program growth and reflection. We will host national networking opportunities, as well as a facilitated GBENN strategic development session. We will also host a data tracking and metrics training session for those programs interested in growing data capture efforts.

Pre-Conference: Wednesday, September 22

6:30 or 7pm MT: Evening Gathering at Outworld Brewery

We’ll have an informal gathering of attendees that are coming into town the evening before the Summit. We’ll arrange transportation for those that are available and provide heavy appetizers.

Day 1: Thursday, September 23

8:30am: Continental Breakfast at the D-Barn Reception Hall (catered)

9am: Welcome and Introductions; Overview of the Day

9:30am: Professional Development Session: Hosted by the Prosono Group

The session will focus on an overview of how to increase the agility of our organizations and programs by designing small experiments that can help us understand the best path forward from a multitude of directions and options. This session will feature a presentation and then a hands-on group activity. 

11:30am: Break and Lunch at the D-Barn Reception Hall (catered)

1:30pm: Sustainable Business Program Sessions: 

• Funding Green Business Programs 
• Data Collection and Metrics – A Deep Dive

 3:30pm: Wrap-up and Reflection – Overview of Day 2

4:30pm: Solar Tour at Agrivoltaic Learning Center and evening dinner at a farm to table restaurant

Day 2: Friday, September 24, 2021

8:30am: Breakfast Snacks at DBarn Reception Hall and Networking

9:00am: Facilitated GBENN Strategic Development Session 

1:00pm: Brief Lunch Break at the D-Barn Reception Hall (catered)

2:00pm: Wrap-Up and Reflections – Event Complete!

2:45pm: Optional: GreenBizTracker Meeting – CAGBN (1 hour)

The D-Barn Reception Hall can hold up to 200 people comfortably, so there will be plenty of room for social distancing. We will follow all State of Colorado COVID safety guidelines throughout the event, such as maintaining social distancing, wearing masks when applicable, providing hand sanitizer, etc. Some events will be outdoors and most will be in the reception hall. We will offer reimbursement-based travel scholarships as well for those interested in attending. We anticipate hosting 30-40 people at this in-person event and we’d love to have you join us!

Qualified organizations that become GBENN members for 2021-2022 receive a FREE registration for one individual to attend the 2021 GBENN Gathering. Members who paid dues for 2019-2020 and renew their membership for 2021-2022 will receive a 2nd free registration for that organization. We will forward to GBENN members a discount code that can be used during the registration process. 

The GBENN in-person gathering will be held at the D-Barn reception Hall.  

The Dickens/Lashley Barn was built approximately 1916 by Senator Theodore Lashley. This structure is designated a historic structure by The City of Longmont and Boulder County.

 The barn was used as a dairy barn for part of its long history. The barn was slated for the dump to make way for a new affordable housing complex. In 1996, ed and used on the end walls. A new 2" x 6" tongue and groove floor was installed. The barn has been insulated from top to bottom. Air conditioning and 5 zone heating was installed. the Connelly's  (D-Barn current owners) moved the barn, all in one piece, to the present site. Since then the barn has undergone extensive renovation. The old shingles were removed and the entire barn power washed. The old flooring was remov

There is much to do in Longmont, Colorado, a city with 22 square miles, more than 300 days of sunshine and a spectacular vista of the Rocky Mountains.

Agriculture has played an integral role in Longmont’s history with sustainable farms and award-winning Farmers Market. Glimpse into Boulder County’s history at the Agricultural Heritage Center or enjoy a farm-to-table dinner on a local farm. Cheese lovers can tour Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy, try your hand at cheese making or just experience our locally-owned European bistro and market, Cheese Importers. Longmont is home to an extensive arts and entertainment scene that includes galleries, teaching studios, performance stages, theaters and music venues.

From strong agricultural roots and rich history to outdoor recreation, cultural attractions and craft dining scene, Longmont offers a wide range experiences that are fun for the whole family! For more information: https://www.visitlongmont.org.

Getting to the 2021 GBENN Gathering and Booking a Room at Nearby Hotels

You can get to the GBENN Gathering (Longmont, CO) by flying into Denver airport. There are great SouthWest flights right now. Book your flights early to get the best possible rates.

Longmont is about a 50 minute drive from the Denver Airport. There are a variety of transportation options available including the Longmont Shuttle Service or Green Ride Longmont. Both services offer a discount for more than one passenger. ($49 each way + $15 for a 2nd passenger and $5 for each additional passenger). Must book the group together on the same shuttle to receive the discount. The shuttles takes you directly to the Hilton Garden Inn. When we get closer to the event, we will suggest carpooling options.

The Gathering hotel will be the Hilton Garden Inn Longmont which is a short distance from D-Barn Reception Hall, the location of our gathering. We have secured a room block for our event at $149/night. Please book by the September 1 deadline to receive the special rate.  Reserve your hotel stay here.