Emerging from the Economic Crisis, Using Sustainability to Transform your Organization

New research points to a new businessimperative to begin to implement Sustainability into everyday businessstrategy. The "new normal" is forcing entrepreneurs to rethink - and insome cases completely reinvent - their businesses, moving from areactive stance into a more strategic, proactive one.  

Specializing in sustainable development solutionsfor corporations, the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) ishosting its North American Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)certification workshop on February 9 – 10, 2010. This unique two-dayintensive program supports Executives and Sustainability professionalsacquire the skills and competencies required to grow and to becomequalified CSR practitioners. Sustainability can increase efficiency andbe cost-effective in a growing, developing, and highly competitiveindustry that is dramatically shifting standards and priorities instrategic development.

"Our workshop in North America represents theculmination of years of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainabilityexperience of CSE in the European and International markets," says CSEPresident Nikos Avlonas, having worked with more than 4,000professionals in 12 countries. Mr. Avlonas is one of the workshoptrainers with extensive international experience in StrategicSustainable Development Advisory Services .The February workshop willprovide opportunities for companies to build authenticity into theirCSR programs and have CSR practitioners certified by CSE and theInstitute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), the wellknown international institute for environmental training. 

According to a recent study by the NaturalMarketing Institute (NMI), almost 90 percent of the U.S. populationbelieves it is important for companies to not just be profitable, butto be mindful of their impact on the environment and society. Just over70 percent of consumers state that knowing a company is mindful oftheir impact on the environment and society makes them more likely tobuy their products or services, and almost 50 percent indicates itmakes them more likely to buy their stock.[1] 

The CSR Practitioner's workshop is certified bythe Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), and isdesigned for all professionals responsible for the management of CSR,Marketing, and Public Relation activities. General Managers, PublicRelations Managers and Sustainability and Environmental Professionalswill advance their CSR understanding, acquire the skill and knowledgethat will bring added value and authenticity to their company, and alsoearn an official business qualification.

The ultimate goal of the CSE workshop in NorthAmerica is to provide the tools and training that will instill thegrowing importance of corporate social responsibility into companystrategy and also help them demonstrate ethical business practices.This will in turn build corporate and community recognition insustainable business through the examination of current best practices.With specialized, detailed and highly focused training, the CSEworkshop will cover: 

·      CSR & Sustainable Development Concepts

·      Global Warming & Climate Change Issues

·      Future trends & legislation in the U.S. & Worldwide on Corporate Responsibility

·      The Stakeholder Approach & CSR

·      CSR Communication & Reporting

·      Global Standards/Models/Guidelines & Tools for practical CSR integration (GRI, UN Global Compact, EFQM)

·      A CSR Action Plan for your organization (prerequisite for CSR practitioner Qualification)

CSE will be hosting a Sustainability RoundtableDiscussion on February 9th at 5:30 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco. The eventtitled, "Emerging from the Economic Crisis, using Sustainability toTransform your Organization", will help participants think about howSustainability applies to their current business models, and discusswith other like-minded individuals the business barriers to adoptingSustainability. 

To improve your organizations' and/orinstitutions' Sustainability and bring positive impact and added valuefor all stakeholders, enroll in CSE's North American Workshop at www.cse-northamerica.org, contact Nick Andrews at 773-714-5065 or via e-mail at nick@cse-northamerica.org.