Sustainable Business Summit - WNY Sustainable Business Roundtable

The Sustainable Business Summit is the Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable’s annual flagship event and the region’s premier platform for sustainable business leadership.

This year’s Summit will take place on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 500 Pearl in Buffalo, NY. The 2026 theme, Clarity in a Changing World, is a challenge and an invitation to cut through the noise, confront uncertainty, and discover what sustainable business success can look like. The 2026 Sustainable Business Summit is a chance to step back, find your footing, and leave with the focus and tools to move your business forward with clarity. Expect honest conversations, fresh perspectives from inside and outside WNY, and concrete moves you can make the moment you're back at your desk.

The program will feature an inspiring keynote speaker, expert-led breakout sessions, and energizing networking, all designed to help turn sustainability ideas into practical action.

Registration Now Open

Why is this Topic Important?

The world isn't slowing down, and your business must adapt alongside it.

At a time when businesses face more change, complexity, and competing demands than ever before, clarity has become a business imperative and a necessary component of success. The question isn't whether your business will face disruption, but whether it is resilient to the changes that are coming:

What are the risks on your horizon?
Are you ready to navigate these risks, or are you waiting to find out?
How will your organization adapt when the ground shifts beneath it?

Sustainability has long been a tool for building stronger, more resilient organizations. But today, we are navigating uncharted waters. The businesses that will lead in the years ahead are those that embrace sustainability as the strategic framework that sharpens decisions, strengthens teams, and builds organizations ready for whatever comes next.

Tickets

SBR Member Tickets: $195

General Admission: $275

Non-Member Early Bird: $225 - Ends October 1st

SBR has recently transitioned to a new member management and event platform. If you are not seeing the member price and you believe you should be, please ensure you are logged in. If this is your first time logging in to the new system, please click the link under “Forgot my password” and follow the on-screen instructions to access your account. Login Here or Create an Account.

At SBR, we never want the cost of admission to become a barrier for sustainability progress. Should you require financial assistance to attend our Sustainable Business Summit, please reach out to our Executive Director, Anna Attea, and she will be happy to assist you.

Keynote Address

We’re thrilled to announce Marissa Rosen, Founder and Principal Consultant of Climate Social, as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Sustainable Business Summit!

Climate Social is a strategic communications micro-agency helping organizations and thought leaders tell their sustainability stories and create impact.

Marissa combines expertise in public relations, social media, branding, and content creation to help clients inspire action. Climate Social serves leading startups, SMBs, academic initiatives, and global nonprofits, including South Pole, LanzaTech, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

xr:d:DAFwHQyXQWM:6,j:7951526279471597591,t:24030913

She holds a B.A. from the University of Missouri and a Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. She previously led sustainability communications at TriplePundit and Sustainable Brands, led stakeholder marketing for the U.S. DOE's Energy Efficient Buildings Hub, and consulted startups at the Wharton Small Business Development Center. A sought-after speaker and podcast guest, she serves on the boards of the League of Minority Voters, Communitopia, and the Global Water Alliance, and was named a 2026 RealLIST Pittsburgh Connector by Technical.ly.

Marissa advocates that the right story, told the right way, can change minds, move communities, and shift markets.

Morning Workshops

You asked for more opportunities to learn and take a deeper dive into key topics, and we listened. This year, we are bringing back optional pre-summit workshops to kick off your Summit experience. These sessions offer a focused look at sustainability operations and leadership before the main program begins. Choose from two workshop options and take your Summit experience even further. Tickets are $40 for members and $50 for non-members.

More information and tickets coming very soon.

About the Venue

500 Pearl

Our event on November 17th, will be hosted at 500 Pearl in Forbes Theater.

With Buffalo’s rich history of adaptability serving as a powerful model, 500 Pearl and Forbes Theater exemplify the change undergone by the region. From Pan-American grandeur to rust belt decline to the modern age, Buffalo has handled change like no other city. Built in 1914 and reopened in 2019, Forbes Theater is a prime example of weathering change and coming out better for it. As a backdrop for the 2026 Sustainable Business Summit, this venue reminds us of the beauty that can come through hard times and how we can emerge on the other side more resilient and adaptable. 500 Pearl and Forbes Theater encourage us to reflect on our history and imagine where we can end up in today's changing world, making it an ideal setting for exploring sustainable business practices and celebrating innovation.