Following up on Michael’s post about SJF Institute’s Summit on the New Green Economy, I am posting a profile of Bonny Moellenbrock, Executive Director of SJF Institute, from the Fall 2009 issue of Sustainable Enterprise Quarterly published by UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Center for Sustainable Enterprise . Bonny Moellenbrock (MBA/MRP ‘98) is a pioneering woman in the field of using venture capital to affect positive change. Graduating right as the Center for Sustainable Enterprise was launching 10 years ago, she has been at the forefront of bringing her passion for the environment to her work at SJF Institute (formerly SJF Advisory Services), an allied non-profit organization to the venture capital fund SJF Ventures. SJF Institute provides entrepreneurial, workforce and sustainability assistance services Read More
Monthly Archives: September 2010
Alumna Profile: Bonny Moellenbrock (MBA/MRP ‘98), Executive Director, SJF Institute
Workforce Development in the Emerging “Green” Sector
Earlier this week, I volunteered at the SJF Institute’s conference on the New Green Economy (http://www.sjfinstitute.org/), which had 300+ attendees and range of people – investors, cleantech entrepreneurs, energy and building contractors, academics, and students. Most of the conference centered on cleantech investment and entrepreneurship, and there were several great panels. One of the panels I sat in on was titled “Green Building Training Strategies”, which I think, was the only session related to workforce development. That in itself is interesting, because much of the transition towards cleantech will require a skilled and strong workforce (although entrepreneurs did talk about the importance of building and growing strong teamsin other panels). Panelists in the green building training session mainly worked in Read More
Patrick Donohue (MBA ‘04) Launches the Hoop Fund: A Fair Trade Investment Fund
How can consumers invest in improving conditions in the developing world, while enjoying and sharing their investment? This was one of the core questions that led Patrick Donohue (MBA ’04) and his co-founders to launch the Hoop Fund: an angel-funded startup that enables consumers to invest in and champion the makers of Fair Trade products they love from the developing world. Patrick and his colleagues are building on the model that Kiva pioneered, using 0% interest loans of $25 or more to invest in the growth of entrepreneurs in poor communities. While Kiva mainly focuses on individual entrepreneurs, the Hoop focuses on community enterprises, ones that provide many of the basic services for their communities. These farmer or artisan co-operatives Read More