GBNN Summit 2026 - December 3 - 4 in San Diego

Register for the 2026 GBNN Summit

Attendees can expect a deep dive into the next generation of sustainability, including strategies for leveraging new technology or best practices, scaling local program initiatives, and increasing the reach and impact of program efforts. This is the premier opportunity for green business program directors, staff, and sustainability leaders to recharge, collaborate, and learn about innovative practices that are shaping the green business movement across the country. Register.

Priority deadline for registration is November 15. After that date, the registration price will go up by $50 or to $500 for non-GBNN Members.

2026 GBNN Summit Schedule - Day 1

Thursday, December 3 - 8am - 4:30pm PT

8:00–8:30 AM - Registration and Light Breakfast

8:30–8:45 AM Welcome to Day 1

GBNN welcome, overview of the schedule, and housekeeping.

8:45–9:30 AM Opening Keynote

Speaker to be announced.

9:35–10:50 AM - Building Corporate Partnerships to Power Small Business Sustainability

Corporations and small businesses share common goals, such as lower costs, stronger communities, and credible sustainability progress. In this moderated panel, representatives from Intuit, IKEA, and Sony Pictures will discuss how large companies partner with small businesses, why they have chosen to partner locally, and the challenges partnerships can help overcome. A structured conversation is followed by audience Q&A, leaving attendees with ideas for approaching corporate sustainability teams in their own communities to build local impact.

Moderator: Lacey Raak, California Green Business Network (CAGBN)

10:50–11:20 AM - Break

11:20 AM–12:20 PM - Using Tools to Manage Programs and Impact: Green Business Tracker

Whether your program already uses GreenBizTracker or is exploring other program management tools, this session shows how tools help green business programs manage their work and track impact. Presenters share a new video overview of Green Business Tracker (GBT), walk through updates to its measures and metrics, and report findings from an internal audit, with open Q&A for current users and newcomers alike. 

Presenters: Jo Fleming and Courtney Faulkner, Environmental Innovations / CAGBN

12:20–1:20 PM - Lunch

1:20–2:30 PM Afternoon Session #1

Details to be announced.

2:30–4:30 PM Brewery Technical Training and Tour

A behind-the-scenes technical tour of a brewery in San Diego, CA. Travel from the hotel runs 2:30–3:00 PM, followed by a 60 to 90-minute training and tour.

4:30–6:30 PM - Networking Event (Location to be announced)

Book Your Stay at the Bahia Resort Hotel

A GBNN negotiated room block was established for your convenience at the Bahia at a discounted price of $199/night. Room block cut-off date is November 1, 2026. Room requests after cut-off-date based on space availability.

Need a Travel Scholarship?

A limited number of travel allowances for up to $200 will be granted to summit attendees on a first come basis. Priority given to speakers and Summit volunteers. Travel scholarships must be applied for in advance and will be reimbursed after the Summit. Expense receipts must be provided for reimbursement.

2026 GBNN Summit Schedule - Day 2

Friday, December 4 - 8am - 5pm PT

8:00–8:30 AM - Coffee and Light Breakfast

8:30–8:45 AM Welcome to Day 2

GBNN welcome, overview of schedule, and housekeeping

8:45–9:30 AM Keynote

Speaker to be announced.

9:30–10:30 AM - Closing the Loop: Coaching and Data-Driven Waste Diversion for Small Businesses

Reducing waste is one of the easiest ways for a small business to cut costs, but many don’t know where to start or how to track impact. This session shares lessons from the Circular Business Academy, which pairs hands-on coaching with the Rego waste analytics tool to help businesses start implementing circular waste management practices. It covers the approach, the cost savings participating businesses have measured, and how green business programs can use this model in their own communities. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for helping businesses divert waste and make the case for circular practices.

Presenter: Aidan Lawton, Cities of Englewood, Littleton, and Sheridan, CO

10:30–10:45 AM - Break

10:45 AM–12:30 PM Meeting Businesses Where They Are: Equity-Centered Outreach That Works

Reaching small businesses that green business programs have historically missed takes more than a flyer or email. This session pairs program strategy with hands-on practice. First, learn how prebate/rebate programs and partnerships with community-based organizations help programs connect with Spanish-speaking owners and Environmental Justice communities. Then join “Talking Sustainability to a Business Owner,” a short presentation on ROI-first outreach followed by an interactive round table role-play, where participants try out the roles of business owner, sustainability coordinator, and evaluator and give each other feedback. Attendees will leave with outreach strategies and conversation techniques they can use in their own communities.

Presenters: Jane Tovar, San Francisco Environment Department; Berenice El Gharamti and José Luis Ramos, Monarca Group

12:30–1:30 PM - Lunch

1:30–2:30 PM - Serving Up Safer Meals: Engaging Businesses in Using PFAS-Free Food Packaging

Restaurants and food businesses are a natural fit for green business programs but moving them toward PFAS-free foodware takes planning, outreach, and recognition. This session presents four food-business case studies that show how programs engaged owners, marketed the effort, supported implementation, and recognized participants, along with results from the Safer Foodware Initiative and tips for building a similar program on a limited budget. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for recruiting food businesses and launching a PFAS-free foodware effort in their own communities.

Presenters: J Allen Heise, Michigan Sustainable Business Forum; Zoharia Drizin, Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA)

2:30–2:45 PM - Break

2:45–4:45 PM GBNN Strategic Session

Details to be announced.

4:45–5:00 PM - Closing and Thank You