The Green Today, Jobs Tomorrow event held May 11 was a smashing success!  Six team members from all three locations attended the event:  Karl Kaufman, Cory Chavis, Kathy Redman, Renea Huth, and Julie Foster. Registration had to be closed because the Lansing Center was filled to the max.  Nearly 1,400 inspired attendees from state agencies, workforce development, colleges and universities, and small businesses like AGC heard numerous speakers share plans for Michigan to become a national leader in green manufacturing and wind turbine manufacturing.  Senators Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow and DELEG's Skip Pruss opening the event with a breakfast for all attendees at 8 am.  Two one hour breakout sessions were held in the morning followed by lunch with keynote speaker Van Jones, President Obama's Green Jobs Czar and author of The Green Collar Economy with an additional breakout in the afternoon.

Breakout session topics included:  Reinventing the Automobile, Southeast Michigan Leading the Way to a New Green Economy, Growing Energy, Agrictulture, it's a Changing Environment, Green Training through Partnerships, Pieces of the Puzzle and many others!

Responses from AGC attendees were nothing but positive.  According to Renea Huth, AGC's Corporate Career Services professional, "This movement is, and should continue to be, the silver lining that saves our State of Michigan - GREEN GREEN GREEN!"  Kathy Redman, Lansing Office Manager, states, "It was exciting to see the outpooring of authenticity in the desire to turn the downward spiral of global ecology economy issue around.  With this much drive to transform how can we be stopped!?"

The AGC booth was "the best booth at the conference," according to an attendee.  We were the only booth who actually had a "green" decoration:  a planter with bright, spring flowers that a lucky attendee won near the end of the afternoon. Decked out with colorful AGC banners and even a replica of an energy efficient home complete with wind turbine and solar panels, the booth received an estimate of 500 inquirers throughout the day.  We received nearly 30 attendees who wanted more information regarding our programs or offerings.  They will receive our e-blasts and monthly e-newsletter.