BOULDER – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will deliver the morning keynote address on the role that natural surroundings play in work, health and identity as Americans at the Boulder Earth Conference: Bold Ideas for Business and the Environment.

The daylong conference, previously called the Green Summit, is being presented by the Boulder County Business Report on June 12. It focuses on sharing knowledge, ideas and technologies to advance sustainable business practices regionally, nationally and globally.

Kennedy will present “A Contract With Our Future,” a discussion on how he believes good environmental policy is good for business, the economy and posterity.

Kennedy will provide examples and tell stories to illustrate how sound environmental policies and procedures can save money and the planet in the long run. His talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Ryan Martens, founder of Boulder-based Rally Software Development Corp., will present the afternoon keynote address. Martens’ talk, “Think Like an Agilist: My Road to Rally for Impact,” will share insights on how the company has grown and become a publicly traded company while also becoming a leader in sustainability.

Martens will talk about Rally for Impact, a program that lets engineers focus on solving global problems, and a variety of sustainable initiatives the company has led or participated in.

After Kennedy’s talk in the morning, a series of five short presentations will be made on the following topics:

Green fatigue

This talk by Stephanie Brady and Gia Medeiros is intended to help people recharge their batteries in the challenge to make a difference in the world through work, environmental policies, products and services.

Several years ago, they began a mission to create meaningful impact with their work. They found inspiration in their own environment. Brady, with Ideas for Growth, will share five secrets of the Pando tree and what this symbol of sustainability can teach about re-energizing and redefining commitment to work.

Medeiros, with 520 Collective, will share an example of this ecosystem approach through the story of Community Commons, the effort to bring business, community and corporate leaders together with the goal of healthy, thriving communities. Together, they will challenge the audience to fight fatigue by planting new insights in their ecosystem and by seeding ideas for personal renewal within the sustainability movement.


Millennial workforce

The millennial generation, ages 18 to 33, raised on technology and constantly connected to one another, is highly educated, entrepreneurial, cause-oriented, civic-minded and idealistic. It also is anti-establishment and has high expectations of others. It is brand loyal, buys locally and is an essential talent pool for businesses with environmental ethos, products and services.

Businesses that don’t learn how to recruit, manage and retain millennials will find themselves at a severe disadvantage in the near future. In this talk, Luke Vernon, chief operating officer of Eco-Products Inc., will share insights on how companies can harness the contributions of this age group in established and startup companies.


Investing

The terms impact investing, social entrepreneurship and sustainable venturing describe the concept of investing for positive impact.

Bruce Carpenter, founder of HUB and an attorney at the Campbell Law Group, will explain who impact investors are, why and how they choose companies to invest in, and how the funded products and services impact the region, Colorado and the world.


Brand messaging

Many companies have made great strides during the past 15 years in developing key strategies to integrate the message of sustainability into their brand, but some companies’ sustainability messaging is still stuck in the ‘90s.

Katie Dunn of Weldon Hyde will discuss how to build sustainability into a brand to attract new customers.


Clean technologies

Trent Yang with AMG National Trust Bank will talk about investing in clean technologies, and Will Toor, director of the transportation program at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, will speak about the latest developments in electric vehicles.

The Colorado Legislature passed six bills this year that are intended to facilitate electric-vehicle adoption.

After Martens’ talk in the afternoon, three breakout panels will take place concurrently. The topics are on the benefits of being a B-Corp., a discussion on whether future utilities will serve customers or other masters, and Denver’s mission to become a major hub for industries that have spawned in Boulder.


B-Corp certification

More than 742 companies in 60 industries across 27 nations have chosen to become B-Corp certified. Panelists from Boulder and Denver B-Corp companies will talk about why they chose B-Corp certification and how it’s impacted their internal operations and commitment to sustainability. The panel also will discuss how the passage of Colorado’s Benefit Corporation law will affect B Corps in the state. Seth Henry of the Campbell Law Group will moderate the panel that includes Kim Coupounas of Boulder-based GoLite, Mark Fisher of Boulder-based Inspire Commerce and Pete Dignan of Denver-based ProtoTest.


Businesses’ power needs

Businesses need reliable energy supply and predictable pricing. What they may not know is that the more they demand utility-sponsored programs to help them save money through energy-efficiency upgrades, the more likely the programs are to continue.

There’s an ecosystem of utilities, nonprofits and local governments working to help businesses leverage the multiple benefits provided by utilities. Bill LeBlanc of The Energy Group will moderate a panel of local experts that will discuss the “beyond the energy savings” reasons to maximize participation, how renewable energy will integrate into the way utilities operate, and how commercial energy customers are likely to see continued innovation and service offerings in coming years.


Denver vs. Boulder

Look out, Boulder! Denver’s putting you on notice. Denver’s on a mission to become a major hub for technology and other startups, the organic and natural-foods industry and other “creative class” companies.

Denver is investing money to relocate companies there. What’s Denver’s vision today and for the future? Can Boulder compete with its limited opportunities for larger companies and with Denver’s alluring new downtown housing developments and booming nightlife? Hear a spirited debate on pros and of staying “in the bubble” versus “doing Denver.” The discussion will include information on Denver Downtown’s $250 million advertising campaign that promotes Denver as a technology mecca and recruits organic and natural-food companies.


Awards

Two awards ceremonies will be held during the conference. The Western Disposal Diversion Awards will be handed out at 1:30 p.m., and the Colorado Green Building Guild will present its Boulder County Green Building Awards at 4:30 p.m.