John S. Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, kicked off the Oregon Association for Minority Entrepreneurs’ “Oregon Small Business Forum” meeting this morning with a keynote talk to attending business leaders from the State of Oregon. The theme of the event was “Greening Business for Economy and Ecology.”
Broadcast remotely to the attendees via California, Shegerian shared ERI`s commitment to sustainable business and urged other entrepreneurs to follow his example. In his presentation, Shegerian discussed the urgent importance of sustainable practices and the overall value of green business and the green collar workforce in Oregon, California and beyond.
Joined by fellow speakers from the Internal Revenue Service, PGE, and other representatives from sustainable businesses, Shegerian spoke of the need for business leaders in Portland and all over the United States to embrace the “Green is Good” concept and the burgeoning green collar workforce, not only to benefit the environment, but also to help with their own bottom lines.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be asked to speak at the Oregon Association for Minority Entrepreneurs’ forward-thinking group`s terrific green event,” said Shegerian. “Our country has a long way to go in terms of improving our business based environmental impact, but with these hurdles come exciting opportunities for economic development. The green revolution is not a fad, it is an essential part of the US business infrastructure and very much here to stay. The entrepreneurial and innovative minds of local businesspeople in Oregon are ahead of the curve in many ways – and we look for them to join us in stepping up to accept their green DNA, help to build the nationally growing green collar workforce and meet environmental challenges head on.”