Our Accelerate Sustainability Workshop is a leadership experience designed to help you move sustainability initiatives forward at your business or organization. Participants will learn how to effectively communicate sustainability goals to build leadership buy-in, including how to frame return on investment (ROI) and connect environmental efforts to broader economic and other priorities at your workplace. Join us Friday, April 17 from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM to learn, connect, and commit to action.
You will gain practical leadership strategies, drawing from Sustain Dane’s 15+ years of experience inspiring action across our community. The workshop features case studies from local businesses, tools for navigating uncertainty, and opportunities to learn from and alongside peers who are equally committed to sustainability.
Participants who make progress on their goal over the course of the year will receive a 2026 Sustainability Accelerator designation at the annual Sustain Dane Summit.
Topics covered include:
- Tools & skills to communicate sustainability in ways that resonate with leadership, especially at this time of shifts in priorities.
- Local business case studies featuring implemented initiatives in areas such as energy efficiency, renewables, food management, and alternative transportation.
- Strategy & resources to help build an internal team and take action at your business, including framing the work within the Dane County Climate Action Plan
- Networking and exchange ideas with peers working toward similar sustainability goals in Dane County
We invite you and a colleague to join the Accelerate Sustainability Workshop – if you’re just getting started, looking to re-energize, or have success stories to share with others.
The program is open to the public with a purchased registration. This program is also part of the Sustain Dane Membership. Membership includes complimentary attendance to our programs. Learn more about becoming a member.
Interested in past Accelerate Sustainability Workshop participants & projects? Check out annual ASW reports here —100% of past program participants would recommend the workshop to a colleague. Our programs and workshops with businesses have included 200+ organizations in Dane County and completed over 700 sustainability projects.
Featured Speakers:
Janelle Taylor, Housing and Sustainability Manager at Attic Angel Community
Janelle Taylor, inspired by the 2025 Accelerate Sustainability Workshop, led the launch of Attic Angel’s Trim the Trash initiative to reduce waste and improve operational efficiency. The program empowers community members to identify outdated practices and eliminate redundant tasks while standardizing waste receptacles across the organization. Janelle will share how the initiative was developed, the impact it has had, and key lessons learned that other organizations can apply.
Janelle Taylor oversees all functions at Attic Angel Community’s 123-home independent living campus and leads sustainability initiatives across the community. Working at the intersection of housing and environmental stewardship, she leads strategic sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact while enhancing quality of life for older adults. She collaborates with residents, staff, and community partners to implement environmental initiatives and foster a culture of sustainability. Janelle is also committed to advancing social equity, supporting the Attic Angel Belonging Network and serving as Director of Development for Pride Theatre Productions.
Jackie Drake, digital media strategist at designCraft Advertising & Bryna Goeking, digital media specialist at designCraft Advertising
Jackie and Bryna relaunched a transportation initiative at designCraft focused on reducing commuting-related emissions, after attending last year’s Accelerate Sustainability Workshop. Their project tracks employee commute methods and remote work to measure the CO₂ savings generated by alternative transportation choices. In this session, they will share how they calculate and monitor these metrics, and how they engage employees to choose more sustainable transit options.
designCraft Advertising is a Madison marketing agency committed to providing effective advertising and promotional services to independent small businesses and to nonprofits that focus on equity, social justice, and sustainability. As a UW-Madison graduate with a BA in communications, Jackie Drake specializes in social media and copywriting, though she enjoys dabbling in everything from enewsletters to graphic design. Bryna Goeking graduated from UW-Madison with a BA in journalism and sociology. She specializes in social media management and assists with digital campaigns.
Tim Walters, Senior Account Representative at MGE & Mark Lydon, Key Account Manager at MGE
Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) will share insights from their work with local businesses, highlighting common energy inefficiencies and opportunities identified through energy assessments. They’ll also discuss growing interest in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, along with an overview of their shared solar program and how businesses can get involved.
Tim Walters is a Senior Account Representative in the Business Customer Relations Department at Madison Gas and Electric. He has been with MGE for over 16 years and is known for building strong relationships with his customers through attentive service and a collaborative approach. Mark Lydon is an empathetic and curious professional working at the intersection of energy and language. As a Certified Energy Manager, he has spent nearly two decades guiding capital‑intensive engineering investments in both new and existing buildings. His work spans identifying energy‑saving opportunities, developing project scopes, administering complex projects, and leading diverse teams.
Venue Information
This workshop will be in person.
Goodman Community Center
Lau Christensen Room Conference 72 Brassworks Building
214 Waubesa St, Madison, WI 53704
Scholarships
Is the ticket cost a barrier for you? Full or partial scholarships are available. Please contact samantha@sustaindane.org to learn more.
