Expert Q&As

Mars Incorporated, the international confectionary and pet food company best known for making M&Ms, Snickers, and Mars bars, has been making significant headway in its sustainability program, including renovating its Hackettstown, New Jersey headquarters to be more energy and water efficient. Lauren Nodzak, spokesperson for Mars Incorporated North America, explains some of the technical ins and outs of the renovation and also tells of future plans for the company's eco-transformation.

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Author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers You're Broke Because You Want to Be and It's Called Work for a Reason, Larry Winget has just released his latest book, Your Kids Are Your Own Fault: A Guide for Raising Responsible, Productive Adults. Combining a tough-love attitude with the author's own parenting experiences, the book rejects common ideas with a new brand of behavioral discipline, covering everything from dinner table manners to fostering a professional attitude. In one chapter, Winget focuses on financial responsibility, a quality which he feels is lacking not only in today's children, but in today's business world as well. Addressing this topic, Winget provided MGB with a sneak peek into the chapter, and with practical advice that can benefit not only concerned parents, but the fiscally challenged as well.

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A leading brand of luxury automobiles, Audi has consistently shown ingenuity when it comes to building intelligent and eco-friendly vehicles. Recently, as part of an overarching "awareness campaign," the company premiered their "Season of Audi" television ads during the holidays. The ads, which depict Audi cars using LED technology to outshine elaborate and inefficient winter light displays, did not emphasize upscale amenities, but focused on superior performance and sustainable innovations instead. Meanwhile, Audi has also paved the way in terms of clean diesel fuel, engine efficiency, and aluminum frames, all of which contribute to creating a better vehicle with fewer emissions. Chief Marketing Officer of Audi America, Scott Keogh, spoke with MGB to share more on how Audi has evolved beyond luxury and become a role model for environmentally-conscious design as well.

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Margaret Lydecker founded Green Drinks New York City, a monthly environmental networking group that is part of Green Drinks International, in 2002. Since then, she's grown the New York City chapter to over 13,000 members and has been a key contributor to expanding Green Drinks’ international network to over 650 cities around the world, covering every continent. These networking events not only raise awareness of the sustainable lifestyle, but provide a forum for people to effectively connect with other like-minded people around the world.

Lydecker, who studied environmental law at Vermont Law School, is also principal of Brite Green Sustainability Advisors LLC, a green research and consultation company that works with companies to find green solutions and develop and implement a roadmap of environmental responsibility. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies such as DuPont and Knoll Furniture, and currently, Lydecker is an advisor to VH1 and MTVN on their green initiatives. Lydecker has been interviewed for numerous blogs and magazine articles, and will be included in the soon-to-be-published book The 100 Most Powerful Green Women, written by Rebecca Harrell, co-producer of the Sundance Festival award-winning film FUEL.

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Founded in 1946, Simonton Windows, a Fortune Brands company, has built their reputation on high-quality and impact resistant windows and doors. But the company has also developed an increasing focus on energy efficiency, offering a line of Energy Star qualified products. President and COO, Mark Savan, encourages his clients to choose these ecofriendly options and on December 15, 2009, was one of several business leaders invited to meet with President Obama to discuss the future of sustainable residential building. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Senior Advisor to the President Valerie B. Jarrett were also present, and the group addressed possible ways to promote more energy efficient homes in the U.S. Savan shared more on the incentives and options discussed, as well as the affect of the economy on green industry.

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Headquartered in Wappingers Falls, NY, Rueste International Limited offers a new, breakthrough technology that can change the way homes and businesses are wired. Unlike conventional electrical wiring systems, Rueste's N2A (Neural Network Architecture) system does not need a central controller, instead functioning as a "loop-wired system" that requires significantly less copper wire. According to Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, founder and director of the Research Institute for the Environment in Hamburg, Germany, N2A reduces "the use of precious metals in an average installation" by up to 80 percent, and the technology increases energy efficiency by 59 to 89 percent. Providing dramatic energy cost savings, President of Rueste, Dr. Karl-Heinz Froehner, believes that N2A is the future of electrical wiring technology and shared more on the innovative system with MGB.

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The Brooklyn Navy Yard (www.brooklynnavyyard.org) is a modern industrial park in a historical setting, dating back to 1802. With tenants representing a variety of industries like construction, theatrical set design, computer and office supplies, contracting, refrigerated distribution facilities, media communications and promotions, motor overhauling, and metal fabrication, the Navy Yard "is capable of handling any type of business." They're building steadily, and their occupancy rates- and the number of jobs being generated- are encouraging indeed.

MGB spoke with CEO Andrew Kimball about the Navy Yard's recipe for success.

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President and owner of Manhattan-based Plant Fantasies, Teresa Carleo has built her full-service landscaping, maintenance, and floral decor business on 22 years of hard work and dedication. With an impressive clientele of New York City developers and companies, Carleo’s green thumb has been sought after by real estate heavyweights like Macklowe Properties, The Trump Organization, World-Wide Holdings Corporation, and Jack Resnick & Sons, just to name a few. In recent years, Carleo has seen an increasing demand for green roofs, which have become one of Plant Fantasies’ specialties. These environmentally-friendly solutions provide building tenants with a beautiful outdoor space and help create new ecosystems in an urban environment. Carleo shared insight on green roofs with MGB, and discussed how she found her calling as a successful entrepreneur.

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EarthKind Energy is a young company, founded in January 2007. The founders spent that year getting all their ducks in a row- and by 2008 , EarthKind (www.earthkindenergy.com) had become the state’s leading authority on Solar Thermal technologies. They’ve conducted more public education and trainings on the subject than any other public or private entity in New York, and developed the most extensive statewide network of installers. EarthKind trained dealers currently sell and install 20% of the solar thermal installations in the state of New York.

MGB spoke with founder Ron Kamen, currently the President of the New York Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA), about the state of solar tech in the Great Northeast.

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Dr. Sylvia Earle has been exploring the oceans since 1953. She has been called "Her Deepness" by both The New Yorker and the New York Times, has been named a "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, and was Time magazine's first "Hero for the Planet." Earle has participated in over 75 National Geographic expeditions, logging more than 6,500 hours underwater, as well as lectured in 70 countries and authored more than 170 publications. Her new book, The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One, with a forward by Bill McKibben, is being called the Silent Spring of our era. She is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and 2009 TED prize recipient as well as the founder of Deep Search Foundation.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Earle will be the honored guest at Green Drinks New York City's annual holiday party, themed "Our Oceans" (to be held at 15 East 27th Street; greendrinksnyc.com). She will also speak on Monday, December 7, 2009 at the Explorers Club Public Lecture Series' Second State of the Oceans Forum: "Facing the Crisis, Reasons for Hope," at The Explorers Club, (46 East 70th Street; www.1planet1ocean.org; 212.628.8383). MetroGreenBusiness.com caught up with Earle prior to her New York appearances.

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The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is the largest botanical garden in any city in the U.S. and is known as a national historic landmark. Founded in 1981 and nestled in the Bronx, the garden is an expansive, 250-acre living museum with over one million different trees, flowers, and other plants. NYBG has always made education a priority, aiming to get the public interested and involved in the fascinating world of horticulture. As a result, the Continuing Education program was created for adults who wished to either create a new hobby or explore a career related to horticulture or landscaping. Jeffrey Downing, vice president of education, manages NYBG’s educational departments and was happy to share more about the program and the variety of courses offered. Visit conted.nybg.org for more information.

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AMB Property Corporation is a leading owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, focused on major hub and gateway distribution markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia. As of September 30, 2009, AMB’s global portfolio totaled approximately 156.1 million square feet (14.5 million square meters) in 47 markets within 14 countries.

And at AMB, sustainability is a big part of a nimble corporate strategy that’s helping them thrive through hard times. MGB talked to AMB’s Steve Campbell about how it all fits together.

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Marty Stevens-Heebner calls it “the next evolution in style,” and one may certainly hope so. The rich hues, eye-popping weaves, and fanciful graphics of her Rebagz eco-chic handbags make a statement in themselves- and the story of how they’re made adds depth to the fun, as does knowing that part of the proceeds are going to good causes.

And Stevens-Heebner is having fun. Her design firm, Half the Sky Designs, won a Best Small Business in California award in 2009, her work has been featured in numerous magazines, and a growing roster of A-list celebrities are rockin’ Rebagz. “We don’t think you need to shout and scream to change the world,” is the refreshing sentiment on the Rebagz website (www.rebagz.com). “Rock it with style instead.”
Indeed.

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The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) is a state financing and development agency that aims to create jobs and strengthen New Jersey’s economy, providing businesses with the means to expand and contribute to the community. A member of the organization since 1991, Caren Franzini served as deputy director before being named chief executive officer in 1994. Franzini has become a leader for economic recovery, and under her direction the EDA successfully granted over $500 million in financial assistance, incentives, tax credits, and investments to New Jersey businesses in 2008. Franzini has also received numerous awards for her work, including the New Jersey Chapter of NAIOP's Industry Service Award, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association's Paul L. Troast Award, and the Wharton Club of New York's Joseph Wharton Award for Social Impact. Taking time out of her busy schedule, Franzini explained to MGB how the EDA works and how businesses can take advantage of the organization’s opportunities. For more information, visit www.njeda.com or call 1-(866) 534-7789 to speak to an EDA Business Development Officer.

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Insulspan, a manufacturer of insulated panels for more than 27 years, strives to create and maintain the highest quality standards in the structural insulating panel industry today. By subjecting their product to rigorous tests and always trying to provide the most energy-efficient building products for the home, it's no wonder Insulspan was voted one of 2007's Top 10 Green Products, and has high hopes for continued success and sustainability. Tony Mammone, involved in the structural insulating panel industry for more than 20 years and currently the product manager of Insulspan, spoke with MGB about what Insulpan's newest technologies mean for the company, what sets Insulspan apart, and where the company sees itself in the future.

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Founded by brothers Jack and Michael Hidary, Global Solar Center (GSC) is an up-and-coming destination for all things solar in the ever-expanding market of alternative energies. GSC serves residential and commercial customers by analyzing and endorsing the best suppliers and installers in a market drenched in dealers whose quality is largely unknown. By offering free quotes concerning costs and incentives for those who decide to go solar and providing a network of reliable, quality installers and manufacturers, GSC is leading the way in solar energy and efficiency services. Michael Hidary, managing director and co-founder, spoke to MGB about how going solar is green for the environment and your wallet.

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He's been called "the prototype of the new entrepreneur whose success lies in steadfast character, passion for life and an ability to marry social responsibility with ground-breaking products and services" by the Center for Hispanic Leadership. His early years in the corporate world culminated in becoming president of the billion-dollar Norway Seafood Company at the tender age of thirty.

Combining lessons learned from his immigrant parents with his observations on the corporate world of the third millennium, Glenn Llopis thinks he sees a path out of the quagmire that the world seems to be mired in- and he's eager to share.

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Since 2005, Deanna Polizzo has worked with NorthMarq Capital, and is currently a vice president and senior producer for their New York City regional office. She is responsible for expanding the origination of debt and equity for commercial properties in the tri-state area, and has also securitized more than $4.5 billion in commercial mortgages throughout her career. Before joining NorthMarq, Polizzo worked with Column Financial, Greenwich Capital Markets, and also served as a vice president with Greystone & Co. in New York. This extensive experience, combined with knowledge of markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northern Midwest, makes Polizzo an ideal speaker for the upcoming Hudson Valley Green Real Estate Development Conference in Kingston, NY, which she will be attending this month. Polizzo took the time to answer a few questions for MGB concerning NorthMarq Capital’s role and the company’s outlook on the real estate markets.

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Originally founded in Charlotte, NC, NCFI Polyurethanes was created in 1964 through a partnership between research chemist Dr. H. W. Bradley and the Barnhardt Manufacturing Company. Now located in Mount Airy, with more plants throughout North Carolina, Georgia, and Utah, the company has grown into one of the leading manufacturers of flexible polyurethane foam. One of their most successful products is Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation, and NCFI offers people the chance to establish their own businesses and become GoldStar certified applicators of SPF. NCFI prides itself on providing a thorough training process and exceptional support system, ensuring that their SPF experts are the best in the field. Senior Vice President Nelson Clark answered a few questions from MGB on NCFI's role in green building and the insulation industry.

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Rick Alfandre, president of Alfandre Architecture, is a LEED accredited professional and has been specializing in sustainable design and building for over 28 years. A leader within the New York Hudson Valley’s green movement since 1976, Alfandre is a founding member of the Hudson Valley Branch of the United States Green Buildings Council. He and his firm also work in connection with the Builder’s Association of the Hudson Valley, as well as the New Paltz and Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Through this cooperation with building officials and the community, Alfandre has become known for his collaborative approach to sustainable building and his advocacy for health-conscious design. Meanwhile, Alfandre will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Hudson Valley Green Real Estate Development Conference this October in Kingston, NY.

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