This blog post is proudly presented by the 2024 Sustainable Business Summit Visionary Sponsors, M&T Bank and Rich Products. Their leadership and support help drive sustainability forward in our community.

 

2024 Summit Recap

 

On November 14th, the Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable (SBR) hosted its annual Sustainable Business Summit at the historic Richardson Hotel in Buffalo, NY. Themed “Translating Risk to Resilience,” brought together sustainability professionals, community leaders, and over 65 businesses and organizations, to explore how businesses can address today’s challenges and build a resilient future for WNY.

 

Why the Summit Matters

 

The Sustainable Business Summit is more than just a gathering—it’s a cornerstone event for the WNY sustainability community. Attendees consistently share that the Summit provides them with actionable insights, meaningful connections, and inspiration to implement sustainability initiatives in their organizations. For many, it’s the only locally focused sustainability conference they attend all year. This unique opportunity to hear from industry leaders, learn best practices, and collaborate with peers is invaluable for those committed to creating a more economically and environmentally resilient WNY.

Bringing the theme to life, Summit vendor, thinkParallax engaged  attendees with a simple yet powerful question: “What does resilience mean to you?” Responses ranged from protecting ecosystems and conserving resources to growing through challenges, empowering change, and building energy independence. Explore how attendees defined resilience and captured the spirit of the Summit by watching thinkPARALLAX’s recap video.

 

From Milestones to Momentum

The Summit kicked off with a warm welcome from Executive Director Anna Attea and Board Chair Whitney Skeans, celebrating SBR’s growth and the exciting milestone of our 10th anniversary. We also took time to recognize the incredible achievements of our member businesses with the Sustainable Business Awards—stay tuned for more on that!

 

Next, Dr. Tracy Fanara delivered an engaging keynote on the interconnectedness of nature, business, and life. She explained that nature operates in patterns, and our ability to work with or disrupt these patterns depends on timing and execution. Dr. Fanara stressed that there are no absolute solutions to challenges, but trade-offs, where gains in one area often come at the expense of another.

Drawing on lessons from nature’s resilience, she emphasized the importance of adaptability and swift action for survival in ecosystems and business. She encouraged businesses to focus on small, strategic changes that can drive meaningful impact. However, innovation requires a willingness to embrace failure, learn quickly, and adapt. Dr. Fanara urged leaders to take responsibility for environmental stewardship, prioritize building strong communities, and act now to create a sustainable and resilient future.

 

Engagement Sessions: Knowledge in Action

Our Engagement sessions explored a variety of topics, from renewable energy and waste management to fostering diverse voices in sustainability, setting achievable goals, and addressing transportation challenges within the business community. Led by experts and community leaders, these sessions offered valuable insights, sharing both challenges and successes. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of sustainability and left with practical strategies for turning risks into resilience.

A key theme throughout the day was the power of collaboration and the value of diverse perspectives. Many speakers emphasized that sustainability efforts require real investments—time, money, and talent—and encouraged open, honest conversations about these commitments. By fostering a community dedicated to meaningful changes, organizations can make tangible progress while gaining financial, social, and environmental benefits. Every organization’s path to addressing environmental or business risks will look different, and finding the right approach is key.

 

Voices from the Summit

At this year’s Summit, we had the privilege of hearing from Amanda Harris, Senior Marketing Manager – Health and Authenticity at Rich Products, who co-led a breakout session on “Addressing the Ambition to Action Gap” alongside Justin Imiola from Anthesis Group. For Amanda, participating as a speaker wasn’t just an opportunity to share insights, it was a meaningful chance to connect with others tackling sustainability challenges.

 Reflecting on the experience, Amanda shared:

“I was thrilled to be a part of this year’s SBR Summit, especially to address such a critical topic as Translating Risk to Resilience. During the presentation, Justin and I discussed how to go from setting your company’s ambition, understanding your stakeholders, and assessing your data to building a strategic roadmap and action plan. During our session, I was impressed by the participation and encouraged by the questions, feedback and context shared that we are “all in this together.” 

Amanda emphasized a key takeaway for attendees: you are not alone in navigating the complexities of sustainability. Her advice? Start small and keep building. Every organization’s journey is unique, and success comes from finding what works for your business, developing actionable strategies, and inspiring others to join you along the way.

For Amanda and Rich’s, sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s embedded in how they do business. Rich’s sponsorship and participation in the Summit reflect the company’s strong commitment to sustainability. Amanda shared:

“The food industry drives one-third of global carbon emissions, so we have a responsibility to prioritize sustainability. We focus on three key areas: Planet, Plates and People. Rich’s focus on Renewing Planet is driven by our goal to protect and preserve natural resources.  ​Rich’s focus on Nourishing Plates is driven by our goal to provide our customers with quality products and an assortment of options that our customer can trust to be always safe and responsibly made. And Rich’s focus on Prioritizing People is driven by our goal to empower our associates, customers and communities to thrive by fostering an environment that is inclusive and equitable.”

Amanda highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving sustainability forward, emphasizing how Rich’s views learning and sharing as key to meaningful progress. “The theme, ‘we’re all in this together’ continues to resonate,” Amanda noted. “At Rich’s, we believe in listening and learning from others across industries.  it’s critical to listen and learn from others across different industries. By working together, asking important questions and sharing success stories, SBR is cultivating a strong network of peers who share a common goal.“

Anne Pfunter, SBR Board Member and ESG Analytics and Reporting Manager at M&T Bank echoed this sentiment. She emphasized the camaraderie and strength of the local sustainability community, aligning with M&T’s focus on making a meaningful impact by investing in people, fostering prosperous and inclusive communities, and preserving the planet, anchored by strong governance and ongoing stakeholder engagement.

“This year’s Summit invigorated my excitement for the sustainability work happening in our region,” Anne shared. “I left the event with fresh ideas to bring to my work and valuable new connections with passionate peers.”

Looking Ahead

 

The WNY Sustainable Business Roundtable’s 2024 Sustainable Business Summit reinforced why events like this are crucial. They provide a space for businesses to share ideas, learn from each other, and forge partnerships that advance sustainability in our region.

As we look to the future, the WNY SBR remains committed to facilitating the exchange of knowledge and collaboration needed to help businesses achieve their sustainability goals. Together, we can create a resilient WNY that thrives economically and environmentally.

For those who couldn’t attend, now is the time to get involved. Learn more about membership and how you can contribute to this vibrant community of changemakers. Let’s continue to turn risks into opportunities and build a brighter future for Western New York.

Summit Photography by Stephen Gabris