Herman Miller Greenhouse Facility:: 10201 Adams Street  Holland, MI (map)

March 8, 2009 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Dave Muyers, of New North will be presenting on sustainable innovation.  Eric Vandam, Director of Production Operations at Herman Miller, will be presenting on HMPS, Herman Miller Performance System.  This system is based on the principles of the Toyota Production System.  A tour of their facility will follow.

*** When registering, please indicate your interest in the tour so we may provide an appropriate number of tour guides ***

Space is limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Wednesday, March 3. Cost of attending is $10.

There is a $10 arrangement fee, payable by cash or check at the event. Credit card payments may be made prior to the event through PayPal (no PayPal account is necessary) here. A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments.

Meeting Sponsored by:

Grand Rapids Community College :: 151 Fountain NE  Grand Rapids (map)

February 8, 2009 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Kevin Wisselink of The Rapid will discuss their services including vanpooling and ride-sharing.  The second speaker has yet to be confirmed and will be announced in the next week.

Space is limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Wednesday, February 3. Cost of attending is $10.

There is a $10 arrangement fee, payable by cash or check at the event. Credit card payments may be made prior to the event through PayPal (no PayPal account is necessary) here. A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments.

GRAND RAPIDS – The West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (WMSBF) is proud to announce that it will be awarding one $5000 scholarship to a local college student in 2010.

The goal of the WMSBF is to encourage the adoption and implementation of sustainable development business practices aimed at improving corporate profitability while simultaneously enhancing the long-term health of the environment and welfare of the community.   We believe that long term and lasting success depends on both expanding the pool of sustainability savvy professionals and a transformation of the higher education system.   Towards this end, the Sustainability Scholarship program was initiated in 2007 to assist students at local colleges and universities in their studies. 

Since the program’s inception, scholarships have been awarded to five students who demonstrated their interest in sustainability in business.  The scholarships are funded through an annual golf outing held in August.

The scholarship is open to any student of a Kent, Ottawa, or Muskegon County college or university who will be entering their senior year in 2010.  Interested students are asked to submit a two-part essay outlining their knowledge of sustainable business practices and suggestions as to how their school might integrate triple-bottom-line thinking into its curriculum.  “Our previous awards have been given to some very talented students,” said scholarship committee co-chair Greg Metz of Lott3Metz Architecture, “We look forward to reading some excellent essays.”

The recipient will be announced in April.

More information, including the scholarship application, can be found on the WMSBF website or by contacting Kyle Ten Broeke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Applications must be received by no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 5, 2010.

The West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum membership represents a broad cross-section of large area industries, medium and small-sized businesses, and individual contractors. Together, we are dedicated to developing the expertise and the means necessary to achieve our triple bottom line objective. We strive to expand and share our knowledge base through monthly meetings featuring guest speakers, periodic seminars and conferences, and special projects. 

Cascade Engineering :: 3400 Innovation Ct SE  Grand Rapids (map)

January 11, 2009 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm            

A representative from Cascade Engineering will be discussing the business plan – focused on ‘Base of the Pyramid’ strategies – they are developing for their Hydraid water filter.  Deb Steketee of Aquinas College will also be discussing their new Sustainable Business Certification program. 

Space is limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Wednesday, January 6. Cost of attending is $10.

There is a $10 arrangement fee, payable by cash or check at the event. Credit card payments may be made prior to the event through PayPal (no PayPal account is necessary) here. A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments.