Sustainability leaders and representatives from some of the world’s most influential brands met in San Diego on June 2-5 for the Sustainable Brands 2014 Conference, seeking to share and receive ideas and inspiration to build better, more resilient corporations for people, the planet and profit.
The Sustainable Brands Conference is predicated on the idea that innovative, sustainability-focused individuals should come together and channel their ingenuity and diverse perspectives into new ideas and more urgent actions. The conference affords an opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and industries with the shared goal of improving global sustainability efforts.
Caesars was well represented at the conference with a half-dozen employees in attendance to serve as guest speakers and to participate in workshops and networking events throughout the conference.
Eric Dominguez, Caesars’ Corporate Director of Facilities, Engineering & Sustainable Operations, contributed his perspective to a leadership and strategy panel, “The Path to Net Positive: Principles, Practical Metrics and Communication Tactics.” The panel examined emerging trends and drivers as a vehicle for reimagining brands for true, long-lasting sustainability.
In the time spent in between sessions, Eric enjoyed networking with like-minded professionals and trailblazers in the field. “The atmosphere was lighter after the sessions and people let their guard down to interact and get to know each other. I love the idea of getting smaller groups of members together to do a deep-dive on a topic discussed in the morning plenary.”
Jessica Rosman participates in a panel discussion at the 2014 Sustainable Brands Conference in San Diego.
Jessica Rosman, Caesars’ Director of Supplier Diversity and Sustainability, participated in a supply chain and procurement panel entitled “Leadership in Sustainable Purchasing: Key Approaches, Policies and Tools.” She spoke on the massive potential of sustainable purchasing to reduce unwanted environmental and social impacts, and the corresponding challenges. Her remarks on how Caesars treats the supply chain as an opportunity to empower its communities and to support diverse or women-run supplier businesses were a memorable component of the panel. Watch the post panel interview with Jessica Rosman here.
As an attendee, Lindsay Garcia, Caesars’ Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager appreciated the diverse viewpoints and experiences presented, which served to shift her perspective to consider new solutions to stale challenges.
Lindsay was especially inspired by the “Intrapreneurship for the Win: Skills, Tactics and Tools for Effective Change Agents” breakout session from the second day of the conference, which prompted her to rededicate herself to examining the whole picture when measuring a corporate footprint. She is hoping to adopt a new strategy when it comes to employee involvement in sustainability. As Lindsay aptly sums it up, “Enable, provide some structure, and then get out of the way! This allows team members to build on and create self-made communities.”
The Sustainable Brands event planning team redoubled their efforts for 2014, working closely with vendors and stakeholders to ensure sustainable operations. The entire conference was carbon neutral, water neutral and zero-waste, with 100% local food sourcing.
In all, the Caesars team returned with valuable insights and techniques that they are excited to implement, furthering sustainability efforts throughout Caesars Entertainment.
