– April 20, 2009 – the Progressive Business Leaders Network (PBLN), in conjunction with the New Voice of Business, will host the Summit on Sustainable Business in Washington’s Russell Senate Office Building. The Summit is a gathering of top policymakers from Congress and the Obama administration and nearly 100 progressive business leaders, who are coming together to help chart a new course for our economy and address challenges in housing health care, education and the environment.
The current economic crisis has shown that an economic system that encourages businesses to focus only on quarter-to-quarter performance is not sustainable. Long-term economic growth is built on business practices and public policy that are good for business, society and the environment. To help invent this sustainable economy, CEO and Top Officers who are innovation leaders from entrepreneurial businesses from multiple sectors, will begin a discussion with leading policy makers to help create lasting solutions to some of our most daunting challenges.
“While our economy and our country are reeling from the effects of shortsighted business practices and public policies, responsible business leaders are called upon to use their experience and knowledge to help find lasting solutions,” said PBLN President and Eduventures CEO Tom Dretler. “Some of the brightest minds in business and policy are coming together at this Summit to help chart a new course towards a more sustainable economy.”
The Summit begins with a keynote session that will be video linked with the Business 4 Environment Global Summit in Palais des Congres in Paris. Throughout the day, working groups will be convened on housing and economic development, health care and life sciences, education, and energy and the environment. Some of the attendees include:
- Sen. John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Rep. Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee
- Rep. Ed Markey, Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
- Gloria Larson, President, Bentley University
- Josh Boger, Founder and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals
- James Roosevelt, Jr., CEO of Tufts Health Plan
- Paul Sagan, CEO of Akamai Technologies
- Eileen Claussen, President, The Pew Center on Global Climate Change
- Geoff MacKay, CEO, Organogenesis
- John McDonough, Advisor to Senator Ed Kennedy on National Health Reform
- Roberto J. Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy.
- Sarah Wartell, Executive Vice President, Center for American Progress
- Mitch Tyson, CEO of Advanced Electron Beams
- Jeff Carbeck, Co-founder and CTO, WMR Biomedical
- Jeff Anderson, Co-founder, Clean-tech for Obama, and CEO, Clean Economy Network
For more information on the Summit on Sustainable Business, please visit: http://www.pbln.org
About PBLN
The Progressive Business Leaders Network is a group of entrepreneurial business people who believe in profits, people and the planet. We understand that economic growth can only be sustained over the long term if it is done in a way that benefits society and the environment. We aim to change public policy and business practices to benefit society and the environment, creating growth today that lasts for generations. We bring progressive business leaders together to learn about sustainable business practices and public policy, connect with others who share their values, and engage with policymakers to create change. For more information, please visit http://www.pbln.org
