Think Green, Go Green – Green Energy Business Opportunity Conference Highlights the Importance of a Green Economy

Green Energy Business Opportunity Conference trailblazers who have demonstrated excellence in the Green Economy. Report and photos by Ibrahim Dabo.
Above: Honorees pose for a photo. Green Energy Business Opportunity Conference honors companies and agencies that have contributed significantly to the Green Economy. Report and photos by Ibrahim Dabo.

In an era where almost every major organization and government agency—and individuals, too—are thinking “green”, also comes opportunities and education in a move to help foster the technologies that make green energy initiatives a reality.

The Energy Power Reception provided networking opportunities for organizations and agencies actively involved in the Green Economy.
The Energy Power Reception provided networking opportunities for organizations and agencies actively involved in the Green Economy.

Energy, Efficiency, and Renewables are seen as “The New Frontier.”

That is why between May 12-13, 2010, The Presidents’ Roundtable, Inc. powered the Green Energy Business Opportunity Conference, held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland.

The event featured high profile speakers, moderators and panelists.

An Energy Power Reception, which provided an unprecedented opportunity for business and government agencies with active roles in the Green Economy to network, kicked off the entire conference.

The reception was followed by an Energy Star Award ceremony.

The Energy Star Award Recipients were chosen from the following categories: Education (Baltimore City Community College and LA Trade-Technical College), Green Economy Innovator (The Dream Collaborative), Public/Private Partnership (Department of General Services and BITHGROUP Technologies, Inc), and Diverse Supplier Outreach (Johnson Controls, Inc).

Stanley W. Tucker, President of The Presidents' RoundTable, welcomed participants at the conference and presented the awards.
Stanley W. Tucker, President of The Presidents' RoundTable, welcomed participants at the conference and presented the awards.

Stanley W. Tucker, president of The Presidents’ RoundTable said his organization is pleased to support the green initiative, especially as this year promises vital developments for minority entrepreneurs and businesses in general.

“We are all facing challenges not imagined,” Tucker said. “This economic climate and emergence of focus on the green economy and energy efficiency is going to change the landscape, which makes this Green Energy Business Opportunity Conference a valuable venue for obtaining critical and current information.”

Representing Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown was Raymond Skinner, secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Ray Skinner spoke on Maryland's Weatherization Assistance Program. More than $61 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will be geared toward that program.
Ray Skinner spoke on Maryland's Weatherization Assistance Program. More than $61 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will be geared toward that program.

“We are very fortunate here in Maryland that the Federal priorities and the State’s priorities are so closely intertwined,” Skinner said, adding that Governor O’Malley’s EmPOWER Maryland Program aims to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015.

“Under the governor’s leadership, our State has embarked on an ambitious initiative to include energy efficiency of our homes and communities in new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and to make smarter choices about how we plan our communities,” Skinner said, adding that this is what Maryland’s Smart, Green & Growing Initiative is about.

Mr. Skinner said his agency has received over $61 million for their Weatherization Assistance Program to conduct energy audits and improve energy efficiency in the homes of more than 6,800 working families while creating more than 300 green technology jobs.

Mr. Skinner said the average family will save about $413 a year in their energy bill once their home is weatherized.

An expo and industry networking added a monumental value to a well worth and well attended two-day event.

L-R: Stanley Tucker and Lucious Anderson (Vice-President for Business & Continuing Education, Baltimore City Community College).
L-R: Stanley Tucker and Lucious Anderson (Vice-President for Business & Continuing Education, Baltimore City Community College).

Some of many key names to have participated in the conference include Elijah Cummings (United States Congress), Alvin Collins (Secretary, Maryland Department of General Services), Christian Johansson (Secretary, Maryalnd Department of Business and Economic Development), Luwanda Jenkins (Special Secretary, Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs), Gregory Minott (Founding principal, D.R.E.A.M Collaborative), Robert Wallace (President, BITHGROUP Technologies, Inc), Douglas Nazarian (Chairman, Maryland Public Service Commission), and Kenneth W. DeFontes Jr. (President and Chief Executive Officer, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company – BGE).

See Photo Album Below:

Green Energy Business Opportunity Conference – 2010

Also See:
·  Goal.com Exclusive Interview with former Africa Editor, Ibrahim Dabo
·  Cain Contracting Named MWMCA’s MBE of the Year; Governor O’Malley Talks about Maryland’s Positive Job Creation
· MWMCA to Host Its 7th Annual Spring Breakfast; Gov. O’Malley and Other Influential Leaders To Be Honored
·
Visionary Marketing Group Recognizes Diversity And Empowers Business Professionals At Its 11th Minority Business Summit
· University of Maryland Medical System Has Strengthened Ties with Minorities, Says COO Herbert Buchanan
. Exclusive Interview/Profile: How Randal Pinkett Pulled Off Five Degrees To Lead A Multimillion Dollar Company
. “Future 50” Executives Honored at SmartCEO’s Star-studded Awards Gala in Baltimore
. Minority Businesses Prepare For Multi-million Dollar Gaming Industry In Maryland

2 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *