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Green Summit to Champion Innovative Business Strategies and Best Practices for Sustainable Enterprises

Green Summit to Champion Innovative Business Strategies and Best Practices for Sustainable Enterprises

Published 05-13-09

Submitted by SJF Ventures

DURHAM, NC. - May 13, 2009 - SJF Ventures announced today that the 'SJF Summit on the New Green Economy: How to Make it Work' will be held in Durham, NC, June 2-3 at the Durham Convention Center. Four keynote speakers will share a variety of perspectives on cleantech investment and green jobs development, eight CEOs from cleantech companies will discuss innovative business strategies, and more than 15 investors, economic developers, and green job leaders will share best practices. Attendees will meet green economy visionaries and learn innovative strategies to successfully tap into this growing sector.

"The time is now for entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers, and community leaders to come together to share strategies for investing in and building the new green economy," said David Kirkpatrick, Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures. "Billions of federal stimulus dollars are available to help kick start new sustainable businesses that will become market leaders as we emerge from the recession." SJF manages two funds which have invested in 29 companies that now have aggregate revenues of $500 million, 128 facilities, and 4,600 employees.

The SJF Summit on the New Green Economy, which coincides with SJF's 10th anniversary, will be launched with a keynote from Nicholas Parker of Cleantech Group LLC, which has helped catalyze the exponential growth of North American cleantech investment to $5.9 billion in 2008. The summit also will include keynotes by: Jeff Wolfe, chief executive officer of groSolar; Majora Carter, principal of Majora Carter Group; and Martin Eakes, founder and CEO of Self-Help Credit Union and the Center for Responsible Lending.

SJF has presented Cleantech CEO Panels for the past four years on Wall Street, but this year is expanding the event and bringing it to its headquarters location of Durham, NC. "SJF is a proud leader in green business innovation and sustainable community development," said Bonny Moellenbrock, Executive Director of SJF Advisory Services. "As we celebrate 10 years of investing in and assisting green and socially responsible enterprises, we are pleased to bring this year’s event from Wall Street back to Main Street as we share best practices and highlight successes of the green economy."

Two CEO panels will feature leaders from fast-growing zero-carbon and zero-waste enterprises who will share innovative cleantech strategies, key growth drivers, and green jobs success stories. Cleantech CEOs and just a few of the 43 green investment, business, government, and community leaders to present include:

  • Janet Cowell, NC State Treasurer; Raleigh, NC
  • Michael Nark, Prenova; Atlanta, GA
  • John Moore, Acorn Energy Inc.; Montchanin, DE
  • Tom Darden, Cherokee Investment Partners; Raleigh, NC
  • Joseph Brakohiapa, CleanPower Finance; San Francisco, CA
  • Bruce Kahn, Deutsche Asset Management; New York, NY
  • Michael Profit, Intechra; Jackson, MS
  • Mark Wilson, Ryla Teleservices, Inc.; Kennesaw, GA
  • Vien Truong, Green for All; Oakland, CA
  • Garald Cottrell, Bio-Gen Energy Solutions; Greensboro, NC
  • Tom Boucher, Native Energy; South Burlington, VT
  • Phil McMullen, Thrift Recycling Management; Lakewood, WA
  • Dan Hoversten, Salvage Direct; Titusville, PA
  • Chris Martin, CleanScapes; Seattle, WA
  • Maria Kingery, Southern Energy Management; Morrisville, NC
  • Kevin Trapani, The Redwoods Group; Morrisville, NC
  • John E.P. Morrison, Advanced Energy; Raleigh, NC
  • Deb Parsons, Investors' Circle, San Francisco, CA
  • Deborah Gallagher, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment; Durham, NC
Sponsors of the event are Reitler, Brown & Rosenblatt LLC, Ernst & Young, Hutchison Law Group, Acorn Energy, Greenfire Development, Our State, and Justmeans.

The ‘SJF Summit on the New Green Economy' standard registration fee is $275 and non-profit, government, or student registration is $195. Register at www.sjfund.com. Media representatives can register by contacting Anne Claire Broughton at: broughton@sjfund.com or (919) 530-1177, ext. 403.

About SJF Ventures and SJF Advisory Services
(www.sjfund.com):

SJF Ventures is a venture capital fund that focuses on cleantech, business services, web-enhanced services, and consumer brand companies. The fund works with experienced management teams that are driving exceptional growth and positively impacting the world. SJF Ventures specializes in companies with revenues of $1 million to $20 million seeking equity capital of $1 million to $5 million. SJF manages two funds which have invested in 29 companies that now have aggregate revenues of $500 million, 128 facilities, and 4,600 employees. SJF Advisory Services is an affiliated nonprofit that provides entrepreneurial assistance, trainings and research. Over the last ten years, SJF has assisted 1,500 entrepreneurial companies through workshops and direct advisory services. SJF has offices in Durham, NC, New York, and San Francisco and invests throughout the U.S.

SJF Ventures logo

SJF Ventures

SJF Ventures

SJF Ventures is a venture capital fund that focuses on cleantech, business services, web-enhanced services, and consumer brand companies. The fund works with experienced management teams that are driving exceptional growth and positively impacting the world. SJF Ventures specializes in companies with revenues of $1 million to $20 million seeking equity capital of $1 million to $5 million. SJF manages two funds which have invested in 29 companies that now have aggregate revenues of $500 million, 128 facilities, and 4,600 employees. SJF Advisory Services is an affiliated nonprofit that provides entrepreneurial assistance, trainings and research. Over the last ten years, SJF has assisted 1,500 entrepreneurial companies through workshops and direct advisory services. SJF has offices in Durham, NC, New York, and San Francisco and invests throughout the U.S.

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