Green Building [event] Consultants?
By Martin Smith
As part of our natural evolution as a firm, we’ve been leading the charge to build connection within the green building industry. Our passion and purpose have driven us to produce the nation’s largest net zero building conference for five years running and, while we never initially set out to be in the business of events, it has become a large part of what we do based on our corporate principles and, frankly, sheer demand. Since 2014, the Net Zero Conferences have been our cathartic passion project towards connecting, educating, and inspiring an industry towards a purpose – to create a healthier, greener, cleaner built environment. Maybe it’s because we’re a certified B Corporation that we feel compelled to do this – or maybe it’s why we’re a B Corp.
My name’s Alex Spire. I have the privilege of driving our Net Zero Conferences to success and am currently developing our Net Zero 2018 Conference, scheduled for September 12, 13, & 14. This year, we’re expecting 900-1000 attendees this year – a number that still shocks me considering our inaugural event in 2014 had just 140 attendees. We’re excited to give the stage to 75+ speakers and have 9 workshops lined up with the world’s leading green building organizations. You can learn all about the Net Zero 2018 Conference at www.netzeroconference.com and can register here. Check out some photos from Net Zero 2017 below!
A hallmark session at the Net Zero Conferences, the Southern California Utility Panel brings together leadership from Southern California Edison, SoCalGas, and LADWP for a moderated discussion with questions from the audience
VG Founder & Principal, Drew Shula, addresses a packed room at Net Zero 2017
Net Zero 2017 Happy Hour in the Expo Hall
Though the Net Zero Conference is the lifeblood of our Events department, they say practice makes perfect and after a few years of hosting Net Zero, we were noticed by the Emerging Technologies Coordinating Council (ETCC).
Fast forward to 2018; we’re now working with the ETCC to help produce their semiannual Emerging Technologies Summits, which occur every 6 months in Northern California (Spring) and in Southern California (Fall). The latest summit, the 2018 Spring ET Summit, drew 200 attendees to the University of California, Davis for a day of discussions surround emerging technologies, best practices, and the latest innovations in Industry, Agriculture, and Water. The highlight video from the 2018 Spring ET Summit can be viewed here, and please feel free to browse the pictures from the event below.
Jim Parks of SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) surprises Summit attendees by performing original composition entitled “The E.T. (Emerging Technologies) Blues”
Speakers, attendees, and ETCC members mixing and mingling over dinner and drinks at the Summit’s Evening Reception
VG Founder & Principal Drew Shula (left) and Marketing & Events Coordinator Alex Spire (right) welcome attendees to the Summit at registration
Andrew Blume of BlueHouse delivers a passionate keynote address about sustainable urban agriculture to a full room of 200 attendees. Blume’s keynote speech was also streamed live and for free to nearly 200 remote attendees, too!
You can also find Verdical Group every year at the United States Green Building Council: Los Angeles Chapter’s annual Municipal Green Building Conference & Expo (MGBCE). We’re been proud to help USGBC-LA by providing logistics, program, and marketing support! This year, we celebrated the 17th annual MGBCE alongside friends and colleagues in Downey, CA. Check out our coverage of the event here.
We strive to inspire our industry with our events, provide a platform for vocational enhancement, and, ultimately, build healthier cities. At Verdical Group, our purpose pushes us forward and we’re proud to embody the principles of a B-Corp. We’ve got the wind in our sails; we will be producing events for a total of 2,000+ attendees this year and the future is looking bright!
If you’re ever curious to learn more about our events, please reach out to our team. We hope to see you in the audience, or on stage soon!
