WESCO sustainability summits energize purchasing to go green
Industrial distributor provides MRO buyers with value added services that include training programs
By Susan Avery -- Purchasing, 11/19/2009 2:00:00 AM
WESCO distribution held a series of sustainability summits in seven cities across the country in 2009 that have proven so popular with its customers and prospects that the company has extended the events schedule into next year.
Purchasing professionals and other executives responsible for sustainability and environmental initiatives at their companies attended the educational events in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, New York, Boston and San Francisco this year. WESCO now is finalizing plans for additional summits in 2010, with the schedule set to resume in March.
"Sustainability is a corporate responsibility and a strategic priority at WESCO," says John Engel, CEO. "It is also a board-level issue for many of our customers. WESCO is taking a leadership role in the electrical distribution industry by working with our supplier partners in providing cost-effective, environmentally friendly products to our customers."
WESCO regularly holds educational sessions for its customers in the manufacturing and construction industries, selecting topics based on their interest and feedback. In 2008, similar events focused on employee safety.
"Customers, many of whom have a sustainability program in place or in development, have been reaching out to us for assistance to achieve their environmental responsibility and sustainability objectives," says Mike Ludwig, director responsible for WESCO's sustainability initiative.
"Educating our customers on the business case for green is a critical part of the sustainability movement," he says. "Most attendees at the summits recognize the importance of green and sustainability, but just aren't sure how to begin or how to proceed. By bringing together national and local sustainability experts, and combining that with educational tracks and a technology showcase, attendees quickly learn that going green is a profitable move for their organization."
Each summit covered topics related to how large companies can develop and implement sustainability programs that are cost effective and get results. Atop the agenda is the keynote presentation "Building our energy future: Innovation for the new American century," by Andy Karsner, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy. Craig Ebert, managing direct at ICF International also spoke at the sessions on the topic of "Getting started: Demystification of sustainability programs." WESCO executives were on hand to welcome and provide insight to attendees at the events.
Also on the agenda were representatives of local chapters of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) of which WESCO is a member.
Dan Geiger, executive director, USGBC—Northern California chapter, represented the organization at the summit held in San Francisco in September. His role, he says, was to present attendees with an overview of LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System certification process.
"This region has regulatory measures with aggressive goals for reducing energy consumption and the building sector is arguably the most important sector to involve to meet the goals," Geiger says. "Through its summits, WESCO is helping to educate people on what it means to them, how it affects their business and what they need to get ready for what I would consider to be the new economy for the building sector."
Each summit has a local flavor too, taking advantage of speakers from organizations based in the region where the event takes place. At the summit held in Boston in August, for instance, there were representative from local utilities NSTAR and National Grid as well as the Green Roundtable and New England Energy Management. Ludwig says WESCO develops the agendas for each summit based on pre-event surveys that identify important local sustainability issues and topics.
Break-out sessions provide additional opportunities for attendees to learn more about environmental issues. Topics include project funding and sustainable green buildings as well as a case study presentation on sustainable data systems by representatives of Sun Microsystems. WESCO's lighting and power quality experts lead the sessions on sustainable green buildings.
WESCO's sustainability summits also feature a technology showcase developed to educate attendees on the latest in green and sustainable products from more than 30 manufacturers of electrical, data communications and MRO products.
Ludwig says WESCO worked with the USGBC on the summits, to select cities where the events are held and to develop the event's topics and speakers. They picked San Francisco and Chicago because these cities are demonstrating leadership in legislating green building codes and New York because it has potential to make gains in taking existing buildings green.
Results of a survey of attendees at the conclusion of the summits show 97% say their time at the events was well spent. Ninety-four percent said the summit "got down to the business of green and what to do next."
WESCO also has a mobile trade show that travels to smaller metropolitan areas around the country educating customers in these regions on issues related to the same topic. Recently, the mobile trade show has been to Portland, Maine; Charlotte, N.C. and Tampa, Fla.
And, WESCO has recently published the second edition of its green buyers guide, which includes a new section on solar energy.
MRO Buyers' 30-day price expectations, October
Commodities most likely to rise in price
| UP | DOWN | SAME | INDEX | CHANGE ** | |
| Index: Above 50 = rising; below 50 = falling ** From last month www.purchasingdata.com |
|||||
| Lift truck batteries | 31% | 0% | 69% | 65.4 | UP |
| Lubricants | 27% | 8% | 65% | 59.6 | UP |
| Special fasteners | 22% | 4% | 74% | 58.7 | UP |
| Cutting tool inserts | 14% | 0% | 86% | 57.1 | DOWN |
| Electric motors: 1–30 HP | 23% | 9% | 68% | 56.8 | DOWN |
| Motor controls | 17% | 6% | 78% | 55.6 | DOWN |
| Valves | 10% | 0% | 90% | 55.0 | UP |
| Grinding wheel | 7% | 0% | 93% | 53.3 | UP |
| Gears | 13% | 6% | 81% | 53.1 | DOWN |
| Lighting fixtures | 18% | 12% | 71% | 52.9 | DOWN |
| Adhesives | 11% | 5% | 84% | 52.6 | DOWN |
| Test instruments | 8% | 8% | 83% | 50.0 | DOWN |
| Nonfriction bearings | 13% | 13% | 73% | 50.0 | DOWN |
| Speed reducers | 0% | 0% | 100% | 50.0 | DOWN |
| Pressure instruments | 0% | 0% | 100% | 50.0 | EVEN |
| Temperature controls | 0% | 8% | 92% | 46.2 | DOWN |
| Filters | 0% | 13% | 88% | 43.8 | UP |
| Pumps | 0% | 13% | 88% | 43.8 | UP |
| Seals & gaskets | 0% | 17% | 83% | 41.7 | UP |
| Lift trucks | 0% | 25% | 75% | 37.5 | DOWN |
MRO Briefs
10/15/2009Federal Reserve says the recession is ending
09/10/2009Plan on paying higher office rent next year.
12/15/1999
Now Playing: 
