NAEM Announces 2014 Conference Topics

September 3, 2013 /3BL Media/ - The National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) today announced the topics for its 2014 professional development conferences for environment, health and safety (EHS) and sustainability leaders.

“We have spent the past few months speaking with members to understand the issues that companies will be addressing next year,” said NAEM Executive Director Carol Singer Neuvelt. “We are confident that the topics we’ve identified will offer timely strategies for those who aspire to advance their EHS and sustainability programs.”

The conference season will begin in Washington, DC on March 4-5 with “Innovations and Best Practices in Corporate Water, Energy and Waste Management”, hosted by the United States Postal Service. Program Director Mike Mahanna said the issue will be a core focus for companies next year.

“Price volatility and resource scarcity have made conservation a key priority for most industries,” he said. “This conference will showcase what leading companies are doing to define the scope of their programs, set goals and report on their progress.”

In mid-May, the association will present “EHS and Sustainability Metrics, Materiality and Reporting” on the metrics companies are using to measure their performance internally and how they report those results externally.

“Since we launched our ‘Green Metrics that Matter’ initiative in 2010, we’ve continued to keep our members up-to-date with the latest practices in setting goals, tracking metrics and providing transparency to external stakeholders,” Mr. Mahanna said. “As we transition into new protocols that emphasize materiality, this conference will provide a forum for members to discuss their evolving strategies in this area.”

On August 5-6, Chrysler Group will host “Advancing Compliance Assurance and EHS Management Systems” in Auburn Hills, Mich.  Mr. Mahanna said the association’s continued emphasis on compliance management reflects its importance to successful environmental stewardship programs.

“The environmental management profession continues to evolve, but the basis of an effective EHS program remains the strength of its management system and how thoroughly it is integrated into business practices,” he said. “This conference will bring together a diverse group of EHS professionals to discuss the most effective ways to ensure compliance, reduce risk and drive business results.”

The association will wrap up the year with its annual EHS Management Forum on October 22-24 in Austin, Texas.  Deputy Director Virginia Hoekenga said that after more than 20 years running, the Forum is still the premier professional development event of the year.

“With an agenda that is developed by a committee of EHS and Sustainability leaders, the Forum is the best opportunity for environmental professionals to hear how their peers are solving similar problems in a variety of contexts,” she said. “If you can attend just one professional development event next year, this is the one you should put on your calendar.”

For more information about NAEM's conferences and webinars, please visit www.naem.org.

About NAEM
The National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) empowers corporate leaders to advance environmental stewardship, create safe and healthy workplaces, and promote global sustainability. As the largest professional community for EHS and sustainability decision-makers, we provide peer-led educational conferences, benchmarking research, online content and an active network for sharing solutions to today's corporate EHS and sustainability management challenges. Visit NAEM online at www.naem.org.