Dr. Julie Fox Gorte to speak on managing risk amid climate change
United States of America (Press Release) December 18, 2007 --
DENVER, December 18, 2007 – Julie Fox Gorte, Ph.D., senior vice president Pax World Management, will present a keynote address on sustainable investing and why investors are eyeing companies that have adopted a sustainable business model at the 2008 Sustainable Opportunities Summit, Feb. 27-29, in Denver.
Ms. Gorte is responsible for sustainable investing and overseeing environmental, social, and governance-related research on prospective and current investments at Pax World Management Corporation, a socially responsible investment and mutual fund company with nearly $3 billion in assets under management.
According to Gorte, sustainability is the key to long-term profitability for businesses. “If you are not operating in a sustainable manner, you can probably be profitable for a while, but not forever,” she said. “There has never been a time when it was more important for businesses to be at least environmentally conscious.”
“What businesses need to know is that increasingly all investors, not just social investors, are interested in a company’s sustainability and carbon footprint,” Gorte added. “This represents a significant shift among the major players in the investment community. In just two short years environmental factors are now taken into account for buy, sell and hold recommendations. Companies only looking short term – with regard to sustainability – will not be able to remain profitable long term.”
The 2008 Sustainability Opportunities Summit is sponsored by CORE (Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy) and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business. It will explore how companies can financially benefit from and reduce risk by addressing climate change and establishing corporate “green initiatives.” The Summit also offers students the chance to put forward their best ideas for new businesses in the clean tech arena via the Cleantech Venture Challenge. More information about the Sustainable Opportunities Summit, including speakers, programs and registration information is available at http://sosummit.org. To arrange an interview with Julie Gorte or one of the other Summit speakers, please contact Bill Green, Metzger Associates, at 303-786-7000 or bgreen@metzger.com.
About the Summit and the Cleantech Venture Challenge
The Sustainable Opportunities Summit is an annual event now in its third year. The Summit includes both business sessions and the Cleantech Venture Challenge, an international student business plan competition featuring plans that provide innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The Summit will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Denver Southeast from February 27th to the 29th, 2008.
About CORE
Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy (CORE) is Colorado’s leading sustainable business trade association that enhances the economic vitality and competitive positioning of its members by assisting them in integrating socially and environmentally responsible business practices into profitable commercial enterprises. CORE develops cutting-edge training and education programs, provides valuable tools and resources, and assists its members in developing and sharing best practices. More information about CORE and its members is available at corecolorado.org.
About the Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business
The Leeds School of Business is consistently ranked in the top 10 to 15 schools in the nation for entrepreneurship education. The school’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship recently received the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ Award for Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education for its Sustainable Venturing Initiative and is recognized among top programs that have found innovative ways to help students who are studying sustainability and entrepreneurship.
http://leeds.colorado.edu/entrep
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Ms. Gorte is responsible for sustainable investing and overseeing environmental, social, and governance-related research on prospective and current investments at Pax World Management Corporation, a socially responsible investment and mutual fund company with nearly $3 billion in assets under management.
According to Gorte, sustainability is the key to long-term profitability for businesses. “If you are not operating in a sustainable manner, you can probably be profitable for a while, but not forever,” she said. “There has never been a time when it was more important for businesses to be at least environmentally conscious.”
“What businesses need to know is that increasingly all investors, not just social investors, are interested in a company’s sustainability and carbon footprint,” Gorte added. “This represents a significant shift among the major players in the investment community. In just two short years environmental factors are now taken into account for buy, sell and hold recommendations. Companies only looking short term – with regard to sustainability – will not be able to remain profitable long term.”
The 2008 Sustainability Opportunities Summit is sponsored by CORE (Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy) and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business. It will explore how companies can financially benefit from and reduce risk by addressing climate change and establishing corporate “green initiatives.” The Summit also offers students the chance to put forward their best ideas for new businesses in the clean tech arena via the Cleantech Venture Challenge. More information about the Sustainable Opportunities Summit, including speakers, programs and registration information is available at http://sosummit.org. To arrange an interview with Julie Gorte or one of the other Summit speakers, please contact Bill Green, Metzger Associates, at 303-786-7000 or bgreen@metzger.com.
About the Summit and the Cleantech Venture Challenge
The Sustainable Opportunities Summit is an annual event now in its third year. The Summit includes both business sessions and the Cleantech Venture Challenge, an international student business plan competition featuring plans that provide innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The Summit will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Denver Southeast from February 27th to the 29th, 2008.
About CORE
Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy (CORE) is Colorado’s leading sustainable business trade association that enhances the economic vitality and competitive positioning of its members by assisting them in integrating socially and environmentally responsible business practices into profitable commercial enterprises. CORE develops cutting-edge training and education programs, provides valuable tools and resources, and assists its members in developing and sharing best practices. More information about CORE and its members is available at corecolorado.org.
About the Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business
The Leeds School of Business is consistently ranked in the top 10 to 15 schools in the nation for entrepreneurship education. The school’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship recently received the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ Award for Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education for its Sustainable Venturing Initiative and is recognized among top programs that have found innovative ways to help students who are studying sustainability and entrepreneurship.
http://leeds.colorado.edu/entrep
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