CHESTNUT HILL, MA. - February 2, 2009 - Finding opportunity in difficult economic conditions will be the theme of the 2009 International Corporate Citizenship Conference to be held March 29-31 in San Francisco. The annual conference organized by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship is expected to attract some 500 executives responsible for directing corporate citizenship activities in global companies.

"Leading companies are not retreating in the area of corporate citizenship," said Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship Executive Director Bradley K. Googins, Ph.D. "These difficult times require more creativity and innovation and smart companies are finding new opportunities." Examples and best practice cases of these new opportunities will be featured during the 2-1/2 day conference and emphasized by the speakers. Through the breakout sessions and keynote speeches, participants will also gain new skills and knowledge.

Keynote speaker John Elkington, leader in the corporate responsibility field for more than 30 years, will provide a global perspective on the current business climate and the value of social and environmental innovation. Author of 17 books, including the classic "Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business," Elkington focused his most recent book on how social entrepreneurs are creating new markets and changing the world.

Dev Patnaik, called an "innovation guru" by Fast Company magazine, will provide the bold and creative insights he offers companies such as HP, Nike and Target when called on to help develop new products and processes. Founder of Jump Associates, Patnaik is the author of the newly released book "Wired to Care". With his engaging style, Patnaik will explain why he believes empathy is a key competitive differentiator for companies.

Finding economic opportunity has been the hallmark of the career of Van Jones, one of the most inspirational environmental champions and social entrepreneurs in the United States. The results-driven visionary is the founder of the Oakland-based organization, Green for All, which promotes green-collar jobs and opportunities for the disadvantaged. Named as a Time magazine 2008 Environmental Hero, Jones played a key role in the historic 2007 federal legislation that authorized $125 million in funding to train 35,000 people a year in green-collar jobs. He is also the author of the recently released best-selling book "The Green Collar Economy".

Dan Bross, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Microsoft will be among the 500 conference participants. "Today's economic crisis has not only shaken the foundation of the global financial systems but has raised fundamental questions of corporate responsibility," said Bross. "The conference provides a unique opportunity to share best practices and learn from leaders of companies that value corporate responsibility as core to their business strategy."

For more information about the conference or to register go to www.corporatecitizenshipconference.com.

Currently, the conference has 21 corporate sponsors including lead sponsor Intel and convening sponsor Dow Chemical Company. Other sponsors are: Accenture, ARAMARK, Baxter, CH2M HILL, FedEx, Fidelity, Haley & Aldrich, Kaiser Permanente, Levis Strauss & Co., Microsoft, Mohawk Fine Papers, Northrup Grumman, PetroCanada, Sprint, State Street, Target, Toyota, TransCanada, UPS, Verizon and Wells Fargo.


About the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship is a membership-based research organization associated with the Carroll School of Management. It is committed to helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. As a leading resource on corporate citizenship, the Center works with global corporations to help them define, plan and operationalize their corporate citizenship. Through the power of research, management and leadership programs and the insights of its 350 corporate members, the Center creates knowledge, value and demand for corporate citizenship. www.BCCorporateCitizenship.org

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