VCU School of Business Foundation - Center for Corporate Education
in Partnership with Environic Foundation International
The CIS Program will be offered again in Fall 2012. If interested, please see the registration page for more details.
The pathway toward a more sustainable future presents vast opportunities in a range of business segments as global challenges become the key strategic drivers for companies over the next decade.
- Executive Summary, Vision 2050, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Dear Prospective Certificate in Sustainability Seekers:
As globalization has been during the last several decades, sustainability is emerging as a megatrend of the 21st century. Global population will increase from todays 6.9 billion to 9 billion by 2050. To meet the needs and growing expectations of that population, resource and material efficiency will have to improve 400% to 1000%! That will require innovation on a massive scale in all sectors of the economy and present tremendous opportunities for those who understand this new reality and are properly prepared and positioned.
In response to companies expressed need for such individuals, Virginia Commonwealth University has partnered with Environic Foundation International to build a unique program that analyses the twenty-five most powerful global forces that will drive change in the 21st century and examines how companies are successfully responding.
Each session of the program combines analysis of the implications of one or more of the forces by recognized business leaders or international experts with individual and group work to develop personal analysis and decision-making skills. Sessions cover long-term changes, emerging trends, new business models, case studies, and a host of examples of change-driven innovation so that students learn to recognize opportunities where they may have previously seen obstacles.
First offered in the fall of 2010, the Certificate in Sustainability develops individuals who can recognize opportunities arising out of the need to adapt to changing markets, attitudes, policies, and practices. Because of the programs universal relevance, past participants have included Fortune 500 company managers, individual entrepreneurs, technical and service industry leaders, government officials and nonprofit officers.
Program Co-Sponsors
Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Richmond Times Dispatch
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Course Topics
Why Sustainability is Critical to Business
New Business Models
Population and Emerging Markets: Growth and Impact
Ecosystems: Undervalued Capital Assets
Biotechnology and Environmentally Sound Technologies: Learning from Biodiversity
Water and Agriculture: Supply meets Demand
Energy and Transportation: Powering Business
Consumption, Production and Waste: Business Lifecycles
Climate and Poverty: Elephants in the Room
Health and Education: Drivers of the Future
Finance and Trade: Powering the Shift to Sustainability
Culture, Justice and Peace: No Peace, No Markets
Decision-making and Public Awareness: Getting to Yes
Integration: Seeing the Forest and the Trees
Application: Individual Projects
Program Leaders
Dr. Van R. Wood (Ph. D.) VCU Professor of Marketing and Philip Morris Endowed Chair in International Business
Mr. William R. Godfrey (R.A., M.S.) President, Environic Foundation International
Mr. Robert M. Clarkson (M.B.A.) Director of Planning, Environic Foundation International
Environic Foundation International
Locally-based since 2007, Environic Foundation International is a non-profit research and education foundation incorporated in 1971. Since 2002 EFI has concentrated on the development and delivery of sustainability education for college, university and post-graduate audiences. Its twenty-five door, internationally peer-reviewed, methodology has been widely praised by academic institutions and international organizations alike.
Program Speakers
Mark Cross Senior Vice President, MeadWestvaco Corporation
David Berdish Manager of Sustainable Business Development, Ford Motor Company
Douglas Farley Vice President of Operations, Owens and Minor
Charles L. Stiff Director, Environmental and Safety Compliance, Altria Client Services
Lisa Moerner Director of Environmental Policy, Dominion Power
Ed Barry Director, Sustainable World Institute, Washington, DC
Jacek Ghosh Director of Sustainability, VCU
VCU CIS Program Former Students
David Black Manager, Heritage Farms, LLC
Chris Durrer - Director, Office of Licensure and Certification, Virginia Department of Health
Stuart Grattan - President, Grattan Associates, P.C.
Sara Hessenflow Harper - Partner at Environmental Consulting Firm
Ken Krause - Director, Global Product Stewardship, MeadWestvaco
Bob R. Peck - Director, Fortune 500 Company
Catherine Warner, Principal, One Environmental Group, LLC.
How to Apply
Send your resume or bio and a letter of interest to Dr. Van Wood at vrwood@vcu.edu. Once you are accepted into the program, Dr. Wood will direct you towards the registration page for final registration and payment.
For More Information
Please visit the VCU Center for International Business Advancement (CIBA) - www.ciba.vcu.edu or contact Dr. Van Wood at: Office804.828.1746, Cell804.519.2022
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