Student Sustainable Business Conference

An annual event centered around understanding current sustainability issues, hearing from professionals, and learning how to make real change.

Student Sustainable Business Conference 2023

The Student Sustainable Business Conference has been a gathering place of students and sustainability professionals since 2013. Thousands of students have participated and some of the world's leading companies including Verizon, Interface, Land-o-Lakes, and General Motors. The 2023 conference was held on April 5th at 5:00pm in 217 Business Building with Andy Kaufman, chief investment officer of Community Capital Management, and other key sustainability leaders speaking. Kaufman delivered his keynote speech, "Navigating the Controversy of ESG Investing", which was followed by a networking event with local entrepreneurs, business leaders and change-makers, and include refreshments.

The conference is organized by Penn State’s undergraduate chapter of Net Impact, an organization aligned with the mission to accelerate the integration of sustainability in business. It is co-sponsored by the Center for the Business of Sustainability, is free for students, and offers the opportunity to hear from and connect with experts in the sustainability sphere.

The networking event featured:

Andy Kaufman, chief investment officer of Community Capital Management
Kaufman oversees the fixed income and equity portfolio management team for CCM. He is responsible for all asset allocation decisions and fundamental research for the firm’s mutual funds and separately managed accounts. Prior to working with CCM, Kaufman worked at BlackRock and Mercantil Commercebank. Kaufman currently serves on the Smeal Sustainability Advisory Board and the Entrepreneur Backed Assets Fund Board.

Eli Andrews, co-founder and CEO of re-SKU
Andrews is recognized for his work in building social ventures from the ground up. With the use of best practices to achieve lasting, positive impacts, Andrews is a leader, innovator and climate advocate that is always seeking benefits for the world around him.

Shizuka and Sam Buckley with Christian Baum from Giv Local
Giv Local is a payment technology company that prioritizes excellent service, integrity and making a positive impact. It is the only BCorp and 1% For the Planet member in its industry.

Jasmine Fields, sustainability program officer for State College Borough
Fields has worked for State College for more than four years. Starting as an Americorps member, she has progressed to the sustainability program officer and oversees major sustainability projects for the borough.

Spud Marshall, author of Designing Creative Communities, co-founder of 3 Dots Downtown and the co.space, and founder of My Creative Community LLC
Marshall is a social entrepreneur and is actively involved in building creative communities. As the founder of My Creative Community, he works to support groups in designing engaging experiences for their communities.

Denise McCann, executive director of Centre Helps
Centre Helps’ purpose is to serve people with unbiased support in their time of need. With core values of empathy, empowerment, respect, commitment, and community, Centre Helps has a mission to empower anyone in crisis or need with a 24/7 emotional support hotline.

Judd Michael, agricultural sciences faculty member
Michael’s expertise lies in sustainable business strategies, human capital optimization, manufacturing costing, pallets, transport packaging, and biomass. He is a Big Ten representative to the Green Sports Alliance and holds an Outstanding Research Award for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Jeannette Miller, assistant clinical professor of entrepreneurship
Miller has worked in emerging markets for over a decade, specializing in economic development and business start-ups. She has had a leadership position with the U.S. government, worked for multinational management consulting firms, and has been an entrepreneur.

Jordan Taylor, executive director of Out of the Cold
Out of the Cold’s mission is to “answer the call to serve those experiencing homelessness in our community by providing shelter, food and support services during the transition to permanent housing.” The organization is working toward a day when homelessness is a rare, brief and one-time event.