5.22.2008 - 12:40pm ET

(CSRwire) EDISON, NJ - May 22, 2008 - Addressing the sustainability mega-trend that has corporate leaders vexed and perplexed - the SustainPro(TM) Conference & Exposition is the first event where corporate operations leaders in manufacturing, marketing, IT, procurement, facilities, energy and distribution/transportation will converge to build cohesive B2B sustainability and sustain productivity strategies for their organizations. It will take place October 29-30, 2008 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Organizers expect over 2,500 participants.

The event will feature over 100 speakers including top industry experts, user case studies focusing on shared experiences of the best practices of SUPR Seal(TM)-rated companies and a showcase of top sustainability strategy suppliers essential in building an organization-wide plan. Major industry associations will also be participating as part of the Corporate Sustainability Alliance, or www.CSANow.org "alliance of associations" movement.

"The professionalization of operations-level corporate sustainability practices fills the most urgent business knowledge need we have today," said Jay Whitehead, conference chairman. "Climate change and energy issues have businesses in a vice grip, and the SustainPro Conference mission-building sustainable corporate operations - is the only way to survive this crisis."

For many corporate operations and procurement executives - the flow of information across their organizations has been fragmented as it relates to sustainability practices. While corporate goals may be in place, more times than not, an operational strategy is not in place to realize those goals. SustainPro will assist operational executives with the tools, strategies and timelines to better position them as a strategic resource throughout their organizations.

"Integrating sustainability into corporate operations is mandatory," said Joseph Wolfsberger, VP Environment Safety and Health at Eaton Corporation. "But there are precious few road maps for such a complex integration." The SustainPro Conference experience will focus on helping operations-level executives in B2B companies in 14 industries build that road map and establish the professional networks necessary for long-term career and organizational viability.

The SustainPro conference will feature over 100 presenters in four tiers: Headline-Maker Keynotes, Industry Expert Keynotes, Industry Expert & Professional Service Case Studies and Job Function Expert Case Studies. Topics will include:

• Building the Economic Case for Operational Sustainability
• Evaluating New Technologies for Sustainable Operations Solutions
• Sustainability's Mandatory New Role in Operations Careers
• Vendor and Partner Selection with Sustainability as Key Criteria
• Commercializing Sustainable Applications and Products
• Selling Sustainability Up In The Organization
• Governmental Resources for Accelerating Development of Sustainable Operations
• Practical Uses of Alternative Energy Sources, Such as RE • Governance of a Greening Supply Chain
• Designing Operations with Cradle-to-Cradle Life Cycles
• Building Operations Around The Reality of GHG Offsets
• Operating Organizations: Before and After Sustainability Initiatives
• Testing Sustainable Operating Ideas and Business Models
• Establishing Peer-to-Peer Professional Networks on Sustainability

For more information please contact:

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