Tag: Sustainable Innovation Meetup

We’re excited to launch a new season of the Sustainable Innovation Meet Up on Thursday, September 18 from 8:00–9:30 AM at Mothfire Brewing in Ann Arbor.

This month’s session—“Crafting Community: Sustainability & Creativity at Mothfire Brewing”—features David Becker, Co-Founder of Mothfire Brewing. David will share how sustainability and local partnerships are at the heart of Mothfire’s mission.

This September event also serves as a lead-in to the Sustainable Future Forum, part of a2tech360—our region’s biggest week celebrating innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Event details
Wednesday, September 18
8:00–9:30 AM
Mothfire Brewing, 713 W. Ellsworth Rd., Ann Arbor
Coffee and light breakfast will be provided

The Sustainable Innovation Meet-Up is a monthly gathering that highlights corporate sustainability innovations and fosters networking and community. Each session brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders to exchange ideas, learn from local case studies, and spark collaborations that drive positive change.

We’re grateful to our sponsors—Ann Arbor SPARK and the Green Business Challenge—for supporting this series. Like the new look? Thanks to Cathy Colson for graphic design.

Join us for the June Sustainability & Innovation Coffee Meet Up.

50 States of Sustainability: Lessons from Veridian
A short film and live Q&A on reimagining development in America

Join us for an inspiring morning under the tent at Veridian at County Farm! We’ll screen the 20-minute documentary 50 States of Sustainability: Veridian, followed by a live conversation with sustainable development leaders Matthew Grocoff and Sara Hammerschmidt.

This event offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at a groundbreaking net-zero community. Hear from the team reshaping how we think about housing, neighborhoods, and the future of development.

• Veridian at County Farm (tent on site)
• Wednesday, June 4, 2025
• 8:00–9:30 AM
• Rain location: onsite garage
• Optional site tour to follow

Thanks to Cathy Colson for graphic design.

 A big thank you to our sponsors, the Green Business Challenge and Ann Arbor SPARK.

Visit Sustainability & Innovation Events to sign up for our email list or to learn more about this series. Hope to see you there!

Join us for the May Sustainability & Innovation Coffee, a monthly gathering of changemakers, entrepreneurs, and leaders advancing climate and sustainability solutions across Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

This month’s conversation explores the future of water in a changing climate.

We’re excited to welcome two featured speakers:

• Val Brader – Principal at Rivenoak Law and Rivenoak Consulting, and former Director of the Michigan Agency for Energy. Val brings deep expertise at the intersection of law, policy, and clean energy innovation.
• Joel Brammeier – President and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a leading voice on freshwater protection, policy, and community engagement throughout the Great Lakes region.

Michigan’s legal history viewed water as a common enemy and prioritized converting swamps into farmland. As precipitation patterns change, Michigan faces increasing concerns about flooding. At the same time, the state must consider how to manage areas where water levels may be lower than ever—potentially requiring new limitations on water use. Given these challenges, what lessons can Michigan, a water-rich state, learn from its arid “frontier” sister states as its own climate becomes more volatile?

• Bamboo Ann Arbor 200 2st Street, Ann Arbor
• Thursday, May 15, 2025
• 8:00–9:30 AM

Free and open to all—come curious.

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Gratitude

Thanks to Lauren Bigelow for making the connections to Val and Joel.

So appreciate Bamboo for providing the space. Thanks to Cathy Colson for graphic design.

 A big thank you to our sponsors, the Green Business Challenge and Ann Arbor SPARK.

Visit Sustainability & Innovation Events to sign up for our email list or to learn more about this series. Hope to see you there!

Join us Wednesday April 16, 2025 for our monthly Sustainability & Innovation Coffee Series.

Details

Topic: Moving Beyond Shareholder Primacy

Short termism and shareholder primacy have dominated the business landscape for the past four decades, with devastating consequences for society and the environment. 

Join us to learn more about what it will take to move beyond capitalism’s present worship of shareholder primacy, including corporate transformations to re-embed purpose through reforms to major economic institutions, including business education.  For more, see Hart’s new book, Beyond Shareholder Primacy.

• Speaker: Stuart L. Hart, Professor in Residence, Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan
• Emcee: William Crane, CEO OrbAid
• Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
• Time: 8 – 9:30 am
• Where: Venue by 4M, 1919 South Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Registration, coffee, and pastries all free of charge courtesy of our sponsors.

If you have a copy of the book, please bring it to have it signed. You can get a copy at Literati and from Schuler Books.

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Gratitude

Thanks to Cathy Colson for graphic design.

So appreciate Venue for providing the space.

A big thank you to our sponsors, the Green Business Challenge and Ann Arbor SPARK.

Visit Sustainability & Innovation Events to sign up for our email list or to learn more about this series. Hope to see you there!

Join us March 19, 2025 for our monthly Sustainability & Innovation Coffee Series.

Details

Topic: KLA’s Michigan Story and Sustainability Journey

Hear from KLA’s first Ann Arbor employee about the company’s growth to over 650 employees in Michigan and their sustainability journey and global impact. 

• Speaker: John McLaughlin, Global ESG Leader and Ann Arbor Site Lead, KLA
• Emcee: William Crane, CEO OrbAid
• Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
• Time: 8 – 9:30 am
• Where: Bamboo Ann Arbor, 200 S 1st St, Ann Arbor, MI

The event is free of charge. Coffee and pastries courtesy of our sponsors.

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Gratitude

Thanks to Cathy Colson for graphic design.

So appreciate Bamboo Ann Arbor for providing the space.

A big thank you to our sponsors, the Green Business Challenge and Ann Arbor SPARK.

Visit Sustainability & Innovation Events to sign up for our email list or to learn more about this series. Hope to see you there!

Join us February 19, 2025 for the monthly Sustainability & Innovation meetup.

Details

Topic: Argument for Climate Optimism in 2025
How government and private sector innovation are creating a comprehensive portfolio of economical climate solutions

• Speaker: Matt Kirsch, Principal Business Development Partner at NorthStar Clean Energy
• Emcee: Dunrie Greiling, PhD
• Date: February 19, 2025
• Time: 8–9:30 am
• Location: Cahoots, 206 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor

Registration, coffee, tea, and pastries all free of charge thanks to our sponsors.

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Gratitude

Grateful to Cathy Colson for graphic design.

So appreciate Cahoots for providing the space.

Thank you to our sponsors, the Green Business Challenge and Ann Arbor SPARK.

Visit Sustainability & Innovation Events to sign up for our email list or to learn more about this series. Hope to see you there!