Past Events

VEC’S 2006 ENVIRONMENTAL EXPO

STRATEGIES FOR LEADERSHIP IN VERMONT’S GREEN ENTERPRISE ECONOMY

Vermont Business & Industry Expo 2005, Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, South Burlington, Vermont, May 25-26.

VEC exhibited at this important statewide trade show, displaying and distributing materials from member firms and connecting them with more than 200 other businesses of every kind. We were pleased to make a variety of good contacts, and to demonstrate to the general business community that there is a growing environmental segment in Vermont, with excellent products and services that are available right here in the Green Valley. Twenty-four members provided materials for our booth!

Vermont Brownfields Redevelopment Conference, Capitol Plaza Hotel, Montpelier, April 18, 2005

VEC presented this solutions-oriented conference to foster broader awareness of brownfields projects as an economic development opportunity and to stimulate discussion about ways to enhance Vermont's program. Speakers included Vermont ACCD Secretary Kevin Dorn, Governor James Douglas, and EPA New England Administrator Robert Varney. The three panel sessions represented the varied perspectives of eleven experts, including brownfields program administrators from Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts; environmental engineers; attorneys specializing in brownfields; non-profit advocates of brownfield development; real estate developers; and regional planning commissions. Session I: Overviews of Federal & State Brownfields Programs. Session II: Challenges & Opportunities for Brownfields Redevelopment. Session III: Moving Forward in Vermont -- Optimizing the Value of the Vermont Brownfields Program. Table displays by eight firms and informal networking rounded out the day's agenda. VEC is happy to provide copies of the Powerpoint presentations for all speakers; call (802) 485-2455.

Green Valley Career Day, Marsh Lounge, Billings Center, UVM, Burlington, April 12, 2005

VEC and UVM co-presented this second annual green job fair to bring together students in environmental fields with Vermont businesses and prospective employers.  Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie made opening remarks, and twenty Vermont environmental businesses exhibited table displays and networked with around 75 students from UVM and other colleges. Firms interested in participating in future such events are invited to contact VEC at any time.

Americana 2005 Environmental Technology Trade Show, Montreal Convention Center, Montreal, April 6, 7 & 8, 2005

VEC occupied a corner booth at this enormous, three-day international expo, displaying and distributing materials from 22 Vermont firms and colleges. The show featured exhibits by over 400 firms and was attended by around 10,000 visitors. The VEC booth had an unexpectedly heavy and steady stream of visitors and served as home base for ACCD Secretary Dorn and Commissioner Quinn, who graciously spent a day facilitating networking for Vermont environmental firms. In all, VEC handed out several hundred brochures of various member firms and logged 90 new contacts from Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. We were pleased to discover that Vermont is viewed in a very favorable light as a "green state" with shared global values and good business practices. This positive perception can provide an advantage for Vermont firms and suggests good potentials for international trade. Firms interested in participating in future international shows should consider joining VEC at Globe 2006, in Vancouver.

September 21, 2004: Fourth Annual Environmental Expo: “The Green Valley,” at Norwich University.

Keynote: “Environmental Industry Overview: Rearview Mirror on 2003, Outlook 2005,” by George Stubbs, senior editor, Environmental Business Journal. Other presentations and discussions: “Edgy Green Technologies”: environmental branding, membrane interface profiling, READ and BioSentry products, business-academic partnering opportunities, the case for renewables, business capitalization and growth for start-ups.

December 3, 2003: Panel discussion, “Land Use Permit Reform,” in Montpelier.

Panelists: Elizabeth McLain, Michael Zahner, Sen. Ginny Lyons, Elizabeth Courtney, Tim Mueller.

September 29, 2003: Panel discussion, “Stormwater Issues In Vermont,” in Montpelier.

Panelists: Chris Kilian, Jeff Weinberg, Jon Grovemant, Dr. Alan McIntosh, Juli Beth Hoover.

June 13, 2003: Third Annual Vermont Environmental Expo, in Montpelier.

Keynote: "Federal Brownfields Initiatives," by Susan Studlien, Director, Office of Site Remediation and Restoration, US EPA Region 1. Discussion groups: international opportunities; technical issues on brownfields; economic issues on brownfields redevelopment.

March 31, 2003: “Economic Development in Vermont’s Environmental Sector,” at Norwich University. Presentations and panel discussion by:

• Governor James Douglas
• Elizabeth McLain, Secretary of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
• Kevin Dorn, Secretary of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development

June 25, 2002: Second Annual Vermont Environmental Expo, in Montpelier.

Keynote: “Stormwater, Brownfields, and On-Site Septic Systems,” by a team from Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Discussion groups: watershed issues and opportunities; on-site septic systems; academic-business partnerships; federal contracting opportunities; international contracting opportunities.

February 2, 2002: Winter Networking Event, at Norwich University.

Keynote: “EPA Initiatives: Brownfields, River Quality, Counter-terrorism, Legislation, Enforcement, Energy Infrastructure, and Voluntary Programs” by Robert Varney, US EPA Region 1 Administrator.

June 12, 2001: First Annual Networking and Environmental Industry Expo, at Norwich University.

Keynote: “The Environmental Industry in Vermont,” by Molly Lambert, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce. Discussion groups: watershed management; international marketing opportunities; higher education-business partnerships; federal contracting opportunities.

Contact Daniel Hecht, VEC Executive Director
dhecht@norwich.edu
(802) 485-2455

Copyright © 2006