Jeffrey Potent, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, and leaders in the Catskills local-food movement will introduce sustainable business practices in a two-part workshop starting Tuesday, Nov. 19. Potent and five other specialists will guide participants to assess current adoption and integrate sustainability into business plans and day-to-day operations.
During the sessions, which conclude on Tuesday, Dec. 3, participants will learn how to reduce environmental impacts, improve material and energy efficiency, and incorporate sustainable product attributes into company image and marketing.
Presented by Transition Catskills, funded by an education grant from the Catskill Watershed Corporation, and co-sponsored by Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE), the training is free and open to Catskill farmers, value added processors, aggregators, restaurateurs and retailers who see value in operating sustainably and would benefit from additional information, perspectives and networking.
Potent is Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He teaches corporate sustainability and sustainable agriculture and consults and speaks publicly on these topics.
In addition to Potent, the workshops, which will be conducted at the Bushel Collective in Delhi, will feature:
Jim Manning, Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE) — Taking stock: Inventory your resources.
Tanya Moyer, Mulligan Creek Acres — Business management 101 for sustainable businesses: Good business practice and beyond the business norm.
Sandy Gordon, former Albany County livestock farm owner/operator —Business management literally from the ground up.
Lauren Melodia, CADE – Distribution and marketing
Richard Giles, Lucky Dog Farm – Choosing and walking your own path.
Space is limited at the Bushel, 106 Main St, Delhi, and advance registration is required for the program, which runs from 8:30 a.m. until Noon each day. To get more information or register, contact Kristina Zill at kz@transitioncatskills.org
