Program Agenda: Growing Chicago’s Green Business and Clean Tech Economy

Thursday, Sept 4, 2008
Gleacher Center – Chicago, Illinois

8:30 – 9:00 am – Welcome and Opening Remarks
Mayor Richard Daley (invited)
Howard Learner, Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center
Jerry Roper, President, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

9:00 – 10:00 am – Vision—Chicago: A Green Business & Clean Tech Center

Discussion Leader:
Howard Learner, Environmental Law & Policy Center

Sector Experts:

Geoffrey Culm, Bank of America
Sadhu Johnston, City of Chicago
Michael Polsky, Invenergy

10:00 – 11:00 am – What’s Here? Green Biz—Clean Tech State of the Chicago Region and Opportunities

Discussion Leader:
William Abolt, Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure

Sector Experts:
Lauren Bigelow, Clean Tech Ventures
Jon Creyts, McKinsey
Andrew Perlman, GreatPoint Energy

11:00 – 11:30 am – Networking Break

11:30 – 12:30 – Financing for Green Business and Clean Tech – What’s Needed and What’s Available

Discussion Leader:
David Weinstein, Chicago Enterprenurial Center
Illinois Innovation Accelerator (i2A) Fund

Sector Experts:
John Banta, Illinois Ventures
Lois Scott, Scott Balice Strategies
Ellen Wesley, Next Gen. Power

12:30 – 1:45 pm Luncheon—Chicago’s Future: Clean Energy Headquarters

Discussion Leader:
Steve Daniels, Crain’s Chicago Business

Sector Experts:
Said Al-Hallaj, All Cell and Sun Phocus
Tom Casten, Recycled Energy Development
Andris Cukurs, Suzlon Wind Energy
Peter Duprey, Acciona
Stefan Noe, Midwest Wind Energy

1:45 – 2:00 pm – Wrap-up & Next Steps

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