5.12.2005 ET

(CSRwire) BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA - The Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI) today announced the graduation of its second class of MBAs in Sustainable Business. A pioneer in the field of management training, BGI's unique program educates students to create and manage successful, profitable businesses that are also socially and environmentally responsible.

BGI prepares its graduates to "fill a demand," says Rick Bunch, BGI's executive director. He cites an Arthur D. Little study in which 95% of the companies surveyed viewed sustainable development as important to the future of their companies. "I think it's one of the reasons why our program has nearly doubled each year it's been around, and why we've seen a threefold increase in applications over last year at this time."

BGI's innovative program continues to grow despite nationwide decreases in MBA applications. Top MBA programs across the country are seeing 30% drops in applications, according to Business Week.

Kevin Hagen, principal of Shuksan Energy Consulting and a member of the graduating class, is not surprised, "Sustainability is the next big trend in business. Huge corporations are in the process of transitioning to more sustainable business models-within the next five years, I think MBAs trained in sustainability will become mission-critical employees. BGI is providing the training necessary to fill this rapidly emerging need."

With innovation a key thread throughout BGI's curriculum it's fitting that the class of 2005 chose Dr. Janine Benyus, acclaimed author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature as this year's commencement speaker. Biomimicry is an emerging science that seeks sustainable solutions by mimicking nature's designs and processes. Velcro is perhaps the most widely known example.

"In business, change begins with innovation," says BGI co-founder Gifford Pinchot III. "We train our students to think outside the box and invent entirely new ways of thinking about product design and manufacturing. I'm certain the best, most sustainable products are yet to be invented, and they'll likely be inspired by nature."

"I'm also certain that the best, most sustainable companies will eventually be led by our graduates. They're an extremely bright and enterprising group-the world will definitely be hearing from them in the future," added Pinchot, who is the best-selling author of Intrapreneuring: Why You Don't Have to Leave the Corporation to Become an Entrepreneur and an innovation consultant to Fortune 100 companies.

Commencement services for this year's graduating class of 14 will take place on Bainbridge Island, Washington, at the IslandWood environmental learning center at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.

About Bainbridge Graduate Institute
Founded in 2002 by Gifford and Elizabeth Pinchot and Dr. Sherman Severin, BGI's groundbreaking MBA in Sustainable Business is designed to prepare leaders to build businesses that are economically successful, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable. What makes BGI unique is its innovative curriculum, which delivers the core competencies of a traditional MBA program, while infusing corporate ethics, environmental sustainability and social responsibility throughout every course.

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