For decades, Vermont has been known for growing businesses that are worldwide innovators in clean energy and environmental stewardship. The state is also an epicenter for businesses, outside of typical "green" industries, that lead the way in social and environmental best practices while remaining highly profitable. The University of Vermont Continuing Education offers the opportunity for people to learn from these experts in one of the leading places for sustainability studies through its summer institute "Sustainable Business: Practices in Support of People, Profit and Principles," a five-day summer program at its Burlington, Vermont campus, that takes place July 11-15.

Attendees learn the design, organization and management principles, and practices that have made Vermont enterprises sustainable and profitable from the very entrepreneurs and business leaders who have forged the way. More importantly, they can apply what they learn to their own careers and businesses.

"The primary goal of the Sustainable Business program is to bring business leaders together in Vermont so they can connect directly with the thought leaders at the university and throughout Vermont who are helping pioneer the redesign of business for the twenty-first century," said Matt Sayre, director of UVM's Institute for Global Sustainability. "UVM helps students establish a supportive network of like-minded professionals, and then return to their companies and communities as knowledgeable champions of positive change."

The program is led by Jon Erickson, Ph.D., president of the U.S. Society for Ecological Economics, Managing Director of the Gund Institute and professor at the Rubinstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and the Environmental Program at UVM. Featured speakers include Jeffrey Hollender, founder and former CEO of Seventh Generation and co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council; David Blittersdorf, founder of NRG Systems and president and CEO of AllEarth Renewables; as well as professors and practitioners from the University of Vermont, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Rhino Foods, Gardener's Supply, Green Mountain Power, Ben & Jerry's and more.

Attendees go on to transform their careers. Program alumnus Brendan LeBlanc came to the program because he wanted to open one of the nation's first CPA firms to conduct audits of businesses' sustainability and corporate social responsibility practices. He had the background with positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Fidelity Investments, Control Solutions International and Accume Partners. At UVM, he gained the knowledge, credibility and certification he needed to open his firm, LeBlanc & Associates. Now, he is at the forefront of measuring the financial impact of sustainable business initiatives and practices, working with clients, like Ben & Jerry's and Stonyfield Farm, who he opened relationships with during his time at UVM.

Like no other school, UVM leads the way in integrating green and environmentally responsible practices and has received numerous high rankings in ratings of green colleges by organizations that include Forbes Magazine, the Sustainable Endowment Institute, and Kaplan College Guide. The state of Vermont has ranked at the top of "greenest state" lists for several years running, including Forbes Magazine in 2007, by a Pitney Bowes Business Insight survey in 2009, the website 247wallst.com in 2010 and again by website Greenopia.com in 2010.

For more information, visit http://learn.uvm.edu/sustainable-business. For questions regarding registration or fees, please call University of Vermont Continuing Education at (802) 656-2085, or toll free at (800) 639-3210.

About University of Vermont Continuing Education

Continuing Education (CE) helps thousands of non-traditional students continue their education at the University of Vermont. Through collaborations with the various colleges and schools, CE offers courses and programs to help students explore their options to advance or change their careers.

University of Vermont Continuing Education, The

University of Vermont Continuing Education, The

The University of Vermont Continuing Education program is pleased to announce Sustainable Business Practices in Support of People, Profits and Principles. This five-day, intensive summer program offers you the opportunity to learn and apply new principles of designing, organizing and managing a business based on sustainability.

More from University of Vermont Continuing Education, The