Overview Green Teams are a recognized trend in the workplace. But the story that is still developing is how green teams can contribute to measurable organizational and environmental goals over time. The question of value, or ‘return on investment’ (ROI) is top of mind with green team leaders, and business executives in general. What type of benefits can green teams be instrumental in helping to deliver, and how are they best organized to do so?

In our research and in this online conference: we address how green teams can define and demonstrate value, effectively align interests and company priorities, help to deliver results with limited time, and best interface with executive leaders and functional managers. For leaders at functional and executive levels, we address how to engage volunteer green teams in advancing organizational business and sustainability goals. This includes providing effective support and oversight, while respecting the time and interests of green team volunteers, and maintaining green team enthusiasm. Our research features a framework for the business value ‘maturity’ of green teams, and highlights key success factors for green team programs, including: supported engagement in awareness and behavior change activities, processes for idea generation and action, and effective connection to formal sustainability efforts and responsible departments within the organization.

Speakers Anneke Hohl, Senior Analyst at AltaTerra Research, will present an overview of AltaTerra’s green teams research and report findings. Lorin May, Senior Manager, Environment Programs at eBay, will discuss how eBay is engaging employees on sustainability and green teams. The session will be moderated by Don Bray, President of AltaTerra Research, and will include ample time for questions and discussion.

Key Topics This online conference addresses key value-related questions facing green team leaders and volunteer members, as well as company executives and business function managers. For executives and business function managers

• What are best practices for engaging volunteer green teams in ways that can really help advance the organization?
• How do we respect the time and interests of green team volunteers, while engaging them on advancing corporate business and sustainability goals?
• How do we provide effective support and oversight, yet maintain the enthusiasm of grassroots green teams?
• How can green teams help to increase operational efficiency and/or develop innovative ‘green’ products and services?

For green team leaders and green team members

• How can we define and demonstrate our value?
• As a green team, how can we be more relevant to our organization?

How can our actions contribute to the overall sustainability efforts of the organization?

• How do we effectively align our interests and company priorities, and help to deliver results with the time we have?
• How do we best interface with executive leaders and functional managers?
• What support do we need?

Who Should Attend

• Green Team Leaders & Members
• Sustainable Business Professionals
• Employee Engagement Specialists
• Senior Executives seeking to establish/engage Green Teams
• Business Function Managers, e.g. HR, EH&S, Corporate Communications, Product Development, Facilities, IT

About the Presenters Anneke Hohl is a senior analyst with AltaTerra Research. Anneke’s research focuses on employee and workplace solutions, including employee engagement, benefits, and green teams. Anneke started her career in human resources. She holds a master’s degree in professional communication and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Clark University in Massachusetts. Lorin May is senior manager of environment programs at eBay, Inc., where she partners with eBay employees and users to promote more sustainable business practices and shopping choices. Lorin helped to build eBay’s employee Green Team, a group of more than 2,400 employees around the world who support environmental causes in their local communities and work to improve the environmental performance of eBay's operations. Prior to joining eBay, Lorin was a consultant at Business for Social Responsibility, where she supported global companies in a variety of industries on community and stakeholder engagement projects. Lorin holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley Walter A. Haas School of Business and a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Don Bray is co-founder and president of AltaTerra Research. He has led a broad range of market research and consulting engagements in corporate sustainability, green IT, carbon management, and renewable energy systems. He is a frequent author, speaker, and discussion moderator on emerging solutions for energy efficiency and corporate sustainability. Prior to AltaTerra, Don served as a managing partner for Accenture. He continues to be actively involved in energy and environment related initiatives with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Don earned a master’s degree in engineering management from Stanford University, and a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of California at Davis.

Contact Information