Speaking Engagements
• 2010 UT Sustainable Business Summit
• 2009 International Service Club Leaders Conference Keynote
• 2009 Re-energize Texas Statewide Student Conference
• 2009 Green Cities, Huntsville, AL
• 2009 National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice – Austin Chapter Leadership Conference
• 2009 Wimberley Moving Forward
• 2007, 2008, 2009 Austin Green Living and Home Products Expo
• 2008 Jewish Community Association of Austin’s Women’s Retreat
• 2007-2008 Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposia (6 dates)
• 2007 BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) National Conference, Berkeley, CA
• 2006 Texas Bioneers Conference, Houston, TX
• 2006 Launch of National Plug-In Partners campaign, Austin City Hall
• 2004 National Trails Conference, Hyatt Hotel Austin, TX
• 2004 Socially responsible Investing Panel, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX
• 2004 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality State Conference – Austin Convention Center
• Guest lecturer at local Universities: University of Texas, St. Edward’s, UT, Huston-Tillotson
• Numerous TV interviews on News 8, KXAN, Fox 7, KVUE, K-EYE, AccessAustin
• Numerous radio interviews on KUT, KGSR, KOOP, KLBJ, 99.3 FM
• Guest speaker for the following organizations:
• Austin Independent Business Alliance • Sierra Club • Foundation Communities • Austin Clean Energy Events • Austin Sustainable Business Council • Clean Water Action • Co-op America Business Network • Design~Build~Live • Texas Campaign for the Environment
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Details on a variety of topics covered at specific events: June 23, 2014Keep Texas Beautiful 2014 Conference
Connections that Make a Difference
Brandi\’s job was to deliver the opening address to set the tone for a statewide conference with participants from 370 affiliate organizations around the great state of Texas. This included a mix of people from a broad swath of the political spectrum. Her assignment was to acknowledge them, inspire them and give them useful take-aways. She came through with flying colors in spite of having only four days notice to prepare!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ February 19, 2010Austin Women in Technology 2010 Conference
Keeping Austin Local and Green
At a conference focused on career women Brandi brought in a connection to the natural world and personal well-being. She \”taught them to fish\” by sharing key resources for participants to find companies and resources to buy local and buy green as well as take advantage of the green initiatives of the City of Austin. She gave an overview of her personal decision-making protocol for making choices that have the least environmental (and in many cases financial) impact.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
February 17, 2010
O2 Society Inaugural Lunch and Learn
Austin EcoNetwork and Austin CarShare
Brandi was selected as the speaker for the inaugural Lunch and Learn event of the O2 Society, a support organization of the American Lung Association. She covered the the ins-and outs of two programs she helped launch in Austin – the Austin EcoNetwork and the Austin CarShare program.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
February 5, 2010
2010 UT Sustainable Business Summit
Sustainable Start-ups
On a panel of green business entrepreneurs, Brandi provided the perspective of a) having a business whose business is promoting environmental activity b) someone who has met and learned about hundreds and hundreds of green businesses and organizations via her work being the green business screening coordinator and helping publish the National Green Pages for Green America, as an event producer for multiple Earth Day festivals and Green Festival, and as the founder of the Austin EcoNetwork which ties together news and activities of Austin\’s green scene.
She shared ideas on how to help a business stand out among the growing number of green companies. Her infectious can-do attitude inspired MBA students and professionals to really use their careers to make a difference in the world.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
December 8. 2009
Hispanic Austin Leadership Class of 09-10
Healthy and Green Living
For the second year in a row, Brandi was a featured speaker during the Hispanic Austin Leadership\’s \”Environment Day\”. She provided useful tips for greening your life at home, at work and everywhere in between. Participants were inspired to take on being leaders within their communities to help their families and peers understand the many choices they can make to care for themselves and the environment.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
November 29, 2009
Service Club Leaders Conference 2009
Sustainability for Service Clubs and the Planet
Brandi provided the lunchtime keynote address to an audience of the chief elective and administrative representatives of national and international organizations of local community-serving clubs with membership bodies collectively representing over 5 million people (ie. Kiwanis International, Rotary, Optimist, Toastmasters International, American Mensa LTD, The U.S. Junior Chamber (Jaycees), etc). Brandi connected with and inspired the audience members and even prompted the leaders to commit to developing sustainability policies for their organizations.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
May 11, 2009
Green Cities – Huntsville, AL
Local government/non-profit/business partnerships to promote sustainability
Brandi was invited by Seven Star, Inc. to share lessons from Austin with Huntsville, Alabama Mayor Tommy Battle and 200+ of his hand-picked government, business and community leaders to help kick off their local sustainability initiative. Brandi brought to life the \”Austin Model\” which has been written about in textbooks, sharing examples of historic and current efforts to weave the activities and interests to foster research, government policy and industry development to create Austin as a leader, first in the micro computer chip industry and now in climate-related leadership including renewable energy and smart grid industries.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
March 18, 2009
National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice – Austin Chapter Leadership Conference
Changing the World Through Environmental Leadership
Brandi engaged Criminal Justice professionals in a lively conversation about creating a world worth living in. She introduces environmental issues to an audience that was largely new to eco-terminology and had them on the edges of their seats!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
March 10, 2009
Hispanic Austin Leadership
Austin\’s Environmental Issues and Opportunities for Leadership
Brandi kicked off this year\’s Hispanic Austin Leadership final retreat with an overview of key environmental issues for Austin and providing opportunities for engagement, from the personal to policy level.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
March 8, 2009
Wimberley Moving Forward
Citizen Foodie/Citizen Gardener
Addressing engaged Hill Country citizens, Brandi explained the \”power of the fork\”, making the case that sustainable, locally grown food plays critical roles in human and environmental health as well as regional food security. Brandi inspired attendees to plan and complete Earth Day service projects around Wimberley, TX.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
March 1, 2009
Austin Green Living and Home Products Expo – Austin Convention Center – Sustainability & Renewable Stage
Aligning Your Green Values & Your Life
Social entrepreneur Brandi Clark led exploration of what it means to live a life in alignment with ones values. She focused on ways to integrate green values into family, home, garden, career, volunteerism, vacation, as well as choices of food, transportation, purchasing and investing.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
February 28, 2009
Austin Green Living and Home Products Expo – Austin Convention Center – Sustainability & Renewable Stage
Grow Food Everywhere!
Converting lawns (the largest crop that feeds no one) into life-sustaining gardens is a rapidly growing trend and one of Brandi\’s more fervent passions at this time. Attendees left ready to turn a patch of green into a plot of food after hearing about real-world examples of businesses, homeowners, schools, churches, even organizations like the Capital Area Food Bank that are turning yards, medians and other places into productive food gardens.
Co-Presented by Brandi Clark, Founder of Citizen Gardener and founding member of City of Austin/Travis County Sustainable Food Policy Board, and Natalie Marquis, General Manager of the green award-winning Habitat Suites Hotel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++