Sustainability Opportunities for Small Businesses

Date and Time

Thursday Jun 4, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CDT

Location

Zoom

Fees/Admission

Free

Website

SCORE Registration

Contact Information

Lauren Barker
Send Email

Description

Small businesses often see "sustainability" as a luxury, especially when time and

resources are the most valuable asset. Business owners may want to increase the environmental sustainability of their operations but knowing where to start or finding the time to research opportunities can feel overwhelming.

But what if going green meant keeping more green in your bottom line? Implementing sustainable practices isn’t just good for the planet. It’s an essential business strategy for reducing utility bills, optimizing operations, and attracting a rapidly growing base of eco-conscious consumers.

Join us for this action-oriented webinar where we break down how Illinois small

businesses can leverage the Illinois Green Business Program and its resources. We’ll share key sustainability strategies for every company, highlight free resources and incentives available to local businesses, and show you how to gain a competitive edge by aligning your business with sustainability.

You will gain:

The ROI of Sustainability: How energy efficiency, waste diversion, and water conservation directly impact your cash flow.
Cost-Saving Opportunities: Strategies that every business can take to reduce costs and increase operational efficiency
Utility and State Resources: How to tap into free site assessments, technical assistance, and stackable local utility incentives (like ComEd and Nicor Gas).
Marketing Your "Green": How to utilize your sustainability actions to differentiate your brand and build customer loyalty.

Featured Guest Speakers

Zoharia Drizin, Sustainable Business Advisor at the Illinois Green Business Association, is a sustainability professional with skills in market analysis, business support, and project management. In her role, she provides technical assistance to small businesses seeking to implement sustainable practices and recognize businesses for their achievements. She also provides support and training to increase the use of safer, more sustainable foodware in local businesses by supporting purchasing programs for PFAS- free food contact materials. She is passionate about Climate Mental Health, intergenerational climate communication, and immersive travel. She is a proud Chicagoan, and love learning about and working in Chicagoland’s diverse communities.

Cassie Carroll, Assistant Director at the EnergySense Resilience Center, serves in a leadership role for the organization, while overseeing three core resiliency programs: the Illinois Green Business Program (6 projects), implementation of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Climate Action Plan, and community engagement under the Illinois EPA Public Water Infrastructure Program. Leveraging her multifaceted experience, she excels at identifying and understanding organizational needs and translating them into actionable, impactful programs. Cassie’s work at EnergySense is a small part of her larger involvement in sustainability & resiliency efforts throughout the state and nationally, which includes founding the Illinois Green Business Association in 2008 and co-leading the Green Business Engagement National Network since 2015, a consortium of over 30 green business programs in 16 states working to expand resilient

business practices nationwide. She also supports the St. Thomas More Interact Club on behalf of Champaign West Rotary and serves on the Board of Trustees for the University YMCA in Champaign, IL.

Andrew Clarke, Certified Business Mentor, SCORE Chicago

Andrew Clarke has been a mentor with SCORE Chicago for two years.

He is also Lead Consultant and President & Founder of Ground Floor Partners. In this capacity, he has advised hundreds of businesses on business strategy, marketing, operations, acquisitions, partnerships, organizational restructuring, change management, and other issues.

He has worked with companies in a wide variety of industry verticals, including energy and environment, medical equipment, biomedical labs, healthcare services, advertising, technology and telecommunications, finance, residential and commercial real estate, insurance, retail, food service, music/entertainment. He has also worked with universities and nonprofits.

From 1979 to 1994, Andrew was a scientist and engineer, working in a variety of technical and management positions in academia and industry. Andrew holds advanced degrees from University of Rochester, University of California at San Diego, and University of Wisconsin.