Join us Friday, November 7 for the 17th annual Sustain Dane Summit, a conference for sustainability leaders to learn, connect, share, reflect, and build new skills. This year the Summit will be held at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Connect with fellow leaders in our vibrant local movement for the sustainability event of the year!

Program Agenda:

• 8:00 AM — 8:45 AM Arrival, Coffee, & Networking
• 8:45 AM — 10:30 AM Keynote with Arielle King
• 10:30 AM — 11:00 AM Break
• 11:00 AM — 12:15 PM Housing + Sustainability
• 12:15 PM — 1:15 PM Lunch, Raffle, & Networking
• 1:15 PM — 2:15 PM Ideas to Impact: Local Businesses Taking Action
• 2:15 PM — 2:45 PM Earth Signals: Collaboration of Music & Science
• 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Live Forward Awards
• 3:00 PM Closing & Networking

Arielle V. King will be joining us as our 2025 keynote speaker.

Arielle King is an environmental attorney, educator, and strategist who works to make environmentalism irresistible. She is the host of The Joy Report podcast, which explores the people, stories, and solutions making an impact. With a background in environmental law and a deep commitment to education, Arielle brings a powerful blend of joy, truth, and grounded history to her work.

At the Summit, Arielle will draw from conversations with changemakers across the country—from ocean conservationists to brands prioritizing circular economies. She will facilitate conversation on emerging climate trends, the challenges today, and how we can each find our climate-forward niche. Her keynote will energize us to lead with resilience and purpose in building a more equitable, sustainable future.

Housing + Sustainability

Housing is a cornerstone of community well-being, influencing everything from social connection and public health to economic stability and climate resilience. Affordable housing plays a vital role within this broader housing ecosystem, ensuring access and equity for all. This session will explore the relationship between housing and sustainability. We will explore collaborative approaches to both preserving existing homes and developing new homes that incorporate sustainability into local housing solutions.

A panel will share diverse perspectives: a visionary outlook for our housing future, the history and current housing challenges, and the implementation of local geothermal, weatherization, and other measures. There will also be time for participants to discuss what they would put on their sustainability scorecard for housing.

The panel, moderated by Abigail Corso, Chief Strategist at Elevate, will include:

• Elmer Moore, CEO & Executive Director, WHEDA
• Sarah Neujahr, Principal, New Year Investments
• Torrance Kramer, President, Accurate Airtight Exteriors
• Olivia Parry, Senior Planner, Dane County Planning and Development

Learn more about the panelists here.

The Housing + Sustainability session is a continuing education course approved by the American Institute of Architects’ Continuing Education System to count as one Learning Unit (LU) for Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) credits.

Ideas to Impact: Local Businesses Taking Action: 

Businesses play a critical role in addressing climate change, and their actions can spark ripple effects across our community. We will share how Sustain Dane works alongside organizations to turn ideas into project action. This session will bring local stories to life. A panel of three individuals will share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in their journey of implementing environmentally responsible practices at work that contribute to a more sustainable future for all. 

Featured Speakers 

• David Hanson, Account Manager, EZ Office Products
• Molly Kolano, Director of Health, Safety, and Sustainability, Noah’s Ark Waterpark
• Ben Austin, Sustainability Manager, J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc 

Electric Delivery Truck: Hear from David Hanson the Account Manager of EZ Office Products about their multi-year journey to add an electric delivery truck to their fleet. The electric truck charges at their warehouse that is powered by 100% wind energy through the MGE Green Power Tomorrow program.  

Fiberglass Reuse & Recycling: Learn from Molly Kolano, Director of Health, Safety, and Sustainability at Noah’s Ark Waterpark who has researched and implemented a fiberglass reuse and recycling program for multiple water park’s decommissioned slides. 

Glidepath to Carbon Reduction: Ben Austin, Sustainability Manager at J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc will share practical steps taken at their offices and job sites to reduce carbon emissions, their plan for further reduction, and the process of promoting sustainability among employees.  

This dynamic panel will offer insights into sustainability solutions and the journey of the people making it happen. Panel will include a workshop discussion, and attendees will leave equipped with innovative ideas and strategies. Join us for this opportunity to learn from and contribute to the conversation on sustainable practices in our community. 

Earth Signals: Collaboration of Music & Science

Science and music can open new ways of understanding our changing climate and planet. This session introduces Earth Signals, a transdisciplinary project that transforms ocean and climate science into sound. Born out of collaboration between UW–Madison faculty in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and the Mead Witter School of Music, Earth Signals uses data sonification and original composition to illuminate the global impacts of El Niño. 

Participants will hear an excerpt of the Earth Signals: El Niño performance, blending jazz and classical traditions with climate data. After this, participants gain insights into the creative process of turning science into art by hearing from the composer of the piece, Ben Ferris, and a Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Elizabeth Maroon. The conversation will explore how creative methods are vital for climate education and reflect on the role of art in advancing climate understanding and action. 

Live Forward Awards

The Sustain Dane Live Forward Awards acknowledge change-makers and inclusive leaders who are locally promoting thriving sustainability, community healing, and resiliency. The nominee’s work impacts one or more areas of holistic sustainability: a healthy environment, equity & social well-being, and a just economy.

Congratulations to this years awardees:

• Huda Alkaff, Wisconsin Green Muslims
• Jessica & Erika Jones, Giant Jones Brewing

This year we had 14 nominees for the Live Forward Awards. Learn about this exceptional group of change-makers here.

Member Registrations

Member organizations receive complimentary registration based on their membership size and level. See below for the number of registrations for each size & level.

Thank you to our sponsoring partners and supporting members!

Interested in additional visibility at the Summit? Learn more in the sponsorship packet here. Sponsorship levels range from $500 to $10,000. Through sponsorship of the 2025 Summit, you can:

• Elevate your organization’s commitment to sustainability in Dane County
• Participate in meaningful learning, networking, and professional development
• Gain business development as a leader in corporate social responsibility
• Be visible through extensive marketing, press releases, and online promotions

Email Spencer Bierman at spencer@sustaindane.org to discuss your desired sponsorship level. For maximum recognition opportunity, secure sponsorship by September 30, 2025.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available—email hello@sustaindane.org for info.

Registration Deadlines

Register by October 31 to ensure we can accommodate dietary requests and to receive a printed name tag.

Getting There

Check out RoundTrip for alternative transit methods. Parking for the Monona Terrace.