Sustainable Business Leadership course designed for current and future biz leaders
August 4, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2011 – Bellingham, WA
Media Contacts: Mariah Ross, Sustainable Business Development Manager
mariah@sconnect.org, 360.647.7093 x105
Nate Langstraat, WCC Public Information Officer
nlangstraat@whatcom.ctc.edu, 360.383.3310
Sustainable Business Leadership course designed for current and future biz leaders
Bellingham, WA – Whatcom Community College (WCC) and Sustainable Connections have teamed up to launch an innovative new certificate program offering participants the chance to create and implement meaningful, cost and waste-saving sustainability practices in their professional and daily lives.
The Sustainable Business Leadership course will include the fundamentals of sustainability with a focus on the triple bottom line of a business, or how to make it operate well for the people involved, make a profit, and leave minimal impacts on the planet. The first of three in the series within the certificate program, the course will be offered in the fall quarter (9/20-12/8) at WCC. Students can register for credit or non-credit.
With an emphasis on energy, water, waste and local foods, students will have the opportunity to discover how individuals, organizations, and governments can manage resources in a responsible manner, and be able to experience the importance of triple bottom line businesses in supporting an overall healthy community.
“This is an excellent opportunity for business people and students to make connections in building sustainability in the business community,” Instructor Mariah Ross says. “In this course, students will learn directly from business leaders, see success stories in our community and then take those practical skills into businesses where both the student and business benefit.”
The Certificate course is designed for managers, leaders, entrepreneurs and employees – and essentially individuals who want to be agents of change within their respective organizations and/or in their future careers. Students will get to see what area businesses are already doing and work on an action learning project within their own organization or other local organizations and also learn about the introductory elements of transparency in business, employee ownership and employee issues such as living wage and job flexibility.
“Practical sustainability skills are proving to be invaluable at businesses not only in Whatcom County, but around the country,” Ross says. “Customers more and more are demanding that businesses make a positive impact in their community both socially and environmentally. Businesses need people who can help make that push from within.”
Students will come away with a solid understanding of sustainability in a business/organizational context and a host of strategies for implementing change.
It encouraged that interested individuals have professional work experience or have completed a basic series of business, economics, political science and/or related coursework.
Instructor Mariah Ross is the Sustainable Business Development Manager at Sustainable Connections, and works with local businesses to help implement sustainable business practices. She also serves as the Green Chair for the Ski to Sea Race Committee, where she established a successful recycling program for the Ski to Sea weekend and created a carbon offset program for all racers.
Sustainable Connections is a local non-profit membership organization of 650+ NW Washington business and community leaders working to transform and model an economy built on sustainable practices. Visit www.sustainableconnections.org for more information.
Whatcom Community College is a comprehensive two-year college serving over 7,000 students quarterly. Whatcom offers transfer degrees, professional training programs, as well as basic education, job skills and enrichment classes. For more information about Whatcom Community College, please contact Nate Langstraat at 360.383.3310 or visit www.whatcom.ctc.edu.
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