A conference for sustainability enthusiasts to learn, connect, share, reflect, and build new personal and professional skills. The 2026 Sustain Dane Summit will be on Friday, November 6 at the Monona Terrace.

Sponsor the 2026 Summit

Summit Agenda

Sustain Dane Summit

Join us on Friday, November 6, 2026, for the 18th Annual Sustain Dane Summit at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center from 8:00 AM–3:00 PM. The Summit brings together people from across sectors to learn, connect, reflect on progress, and build skills for creating a more sustainable and resilient future.

Creating meaningful climate solutions requires both individual actions and systemic change. This year’s Summit will explore how these approaches work together, using our food system as a powerful example of how everyday choices, community initiatives, and broader policies can collectively shape a more sustainable future.

Keynote: Ingredients to a Sustainable Food System

Sarah Lloyd and Michelle Orge will be joining us for our 2026 keynote session. From the food on our plates to the fields where it is grown, our food system is shaped by a web of environmental, economic, and social actions. This session will unpack those connections and explore how change happens at different levels – from the choices we make every day to the systems that shape those choices.

Sarah Lloyd is a farmer, researcher, and rural sociologist who brings a deep understanding of the connections between people, land, and our food system. Through her work and lived experience, Sarah explores how farmers, communities, and institutions can build more resilient and sustainable food systems. She works off-farm for the Soil Health & Agroecological Living Lab at University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota, and the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative.

Michelle Orge is the President and Executive Director of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, supporting 16 counties in southwestern Wisconsin. After 15 years in the restaurant industry, she made the move to food banking in 2001. Michelle is the Vice President and Treasurer of Feeding Wisconsin, Treasurer of Feeding America’s Midwest Association of Food Banks, and engages in local, regional, and national initiatives and committees, and conversations relevant to food systems and food security and its root causes.

On the Menu: Chefs & Sustainability

Local restaurants sit at the intersection of food, business, and community. Learn how local chefs at your favorite restaurants are helping shape a more sustainable food system. These chefs will offer a unique perspective on the opportunity and challenges of creating meaningful change in the food system with strategies that can be applied across industries. Together, these chefs will discuss climate change impacts on the food industry, sustainable business practices, and the importance of strong relationships between local producers and restaurants.

We will hear from:

Chef Evan Dannells, Lola’s Hi/Lo Lounge and Cadre
Christy McKenzie, Pasture & Plenty
Chef Elena Terry, Tall Grass and Wild Bearies
Chef Annemarie Maitri, Bloom Bake Shop, Lallande, and Waltzing Matilda’s

Local Businesses Taking Action in Sustainability

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. A panel of three individuals will share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in their journey of implementing environmentally responsible projects at work that contribute to a more sustainable future. Panelists will also reflect on how these projects fit into their business’ broader sustainability efforts and the impact they’re making. Click here to read more about the panelists’ projects.

Featured Speakers:

Billy McGrail, Director of Supply Chain and Distribution, Kleenmark
Lauren Brahm, Interior Design Project Specialist, EUA
Adam Schmidt, Business Planning Lead, Midwest Solar Power

Year in Review: Data Centers, Composting, & Building Energy Savings Program

Join us to discuss ideas that have been top of mind in our community. Learn about the programs and conversations that shaped sustainability this year. Presentations will include:

The data center landscape in Wisconsin including use of community benefit agreements and local policy changes
Composting and food waste programs reducing landfill waste and increasing soil health through the Dane County Scrap Stops
The Building Energy Savings Program (BESP) in Madison that has improved energy efficiency in large commercial buildings

Presenters include:

Anna Haensch, Associate Professor at UW-Madison
Wyeth Augustine-Marceil, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator at Dane County Waste + Renewables
Jessica Price, Sustainability & Recilience Manager at the City of Madison Mayor’s Office

Live Forward Awards

The Live Forward Awards honor local changemakers and emerging leaders who are creating positive impact through sustainability, community well-being, and resilience. Award recipients receive a $250 recognition award and community-wide recognition for their contributions at the Summit.

Congratulations to all the 2026 nominees:

Angela Puerta, Musician & City of Madison
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals WI, EHS Team
Employees of Pellitteri Waste Systems, Inc.
Gloria Castillo Posada, MGE
Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin
Jessica Hannebert and Catherine Frerker, Climate Changemakers Madison
Martin (Martye) Griffin, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District
Nate Good, Operation Fresh Start
Ryan Holley, The River Food Pantry
Sara Booth, UW Hospital
Troy Farm and Kids Garden
Urban Triage

You can learn more about all nominees here.

Sustainability at the Summit

View the images below to see what choices we make to make the Summit more sustainable. We are intentional about the venue, catering, and choices we make as we plan the Summit. From using reusable cutlery to the meal choice for all attendees.

In addition to these choices, we purchased and retired solar RECs representing 13,000 kWh of solar generation from four City of Monona solar sites through Legacy Solar Co-op’s Switch-to-Solar program. A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) represents the environmental benefits of generating electricity from renewable energy. One solar REC generally represents the renewable attributes of 1,000 kWh of solar generation. When a REC is retired, its environmental benefit is permanently claimed on behalf of the purchaser and cannot be claimed by someone else. The 13,000 kWh represents approximately 10.1 tons of CO₂ offset. View our Renewable Energy Certificate here.

2025 Summit Photo Gallery

Check out photos from the 2025 Summit below. Click the arrow that appears to the right of the image to advance.

Sponsor the 2026 Summit

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 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 Sonali at sonali@sustaindane.org to discuss your desired sponsorship level.

Member Registration

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

Attendees that are requesting time for professional development from their employer can download this sample email text.