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2008 The second annual Environâ€" ment and Business Conference will be held at the University of Waterloo on March 26. The conference attracts top speakers that will bring together local business leaders, entrepreâ€" neurs, community leaders and students interested in green business. "Never in time has the enviâ€" ronment had such a strong influence on business leaders, employees and consumers," said Sarah Brown, the conferâ€" ence chair. "In order to survive, it is cruâ€" cial for businesses to place enviâ€" ronmental consideration at the forefront of their decisionâ€"makâ€" ing." The second annual UW Environment and Business Conference will provide deleâ€" gates with practical business solutions to real environmental Hundreds honoured the exceptional contributions of 50 individuals and organizations who were nominated for Busiâ€" ness Excellence Awards at the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce‘s annual gala on Feb. 21. UW to host business conference 2008 Business Excellience Award winners * New Member of the Year Award â€" Brent Ferguson and Local Business Excellence Awards granted issues. Through keynote presentaâ€" tions, workshops, panel discusâ€" sions and networking opportuâ€" nities, the conference aims to provide an interactive forum where delegates can build knowledge and inspiration for integrating green ideas into business practices. * Dr. Thomas Homerâ€"Dixon â€" A global visionary and awardâ€"winning author and teacher, Homerâ€"Dixon helps his audiences understand how our world is changing as he speaks about the Upside of Down: Catâ€" astrophe, Creativity and the Renewal of Civilization. * Marc Stoiber, Change Advertising â€" Stoiber will presâ€" ent practical, researchâ€"based ideas and strategies to help delâ€" * Volunteer of the Year Award â€" Moni Lagonia, RBC Royal Leo V. Tobi, Brentwood Livery * Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award â€" Derek Satnik, Mindscape Innovations _ _ * Business Leader of the Year Award (less than 20 employees) â€" Canadian Blood Services * Innovation Award: Navtech * Workplace Training Award â€" Steed and Evans Ltd. There will be three egates tap into the growing susâ€" tainability movement in order to meet the demands of conâ€" sumers who are increasingly savvy about sustainability. * Tim Jackson, Tech Capital â€" An ultra successful venture capitalist, Jackson is an inspiraâ€" tional speaker whose strategic vision and passionate leaderâ€" ship have been driving forces behind Tech Capital‘s success. The Environment and Busiâ€" ness Conference offers a range of sponsorship and exhibit space opportunities with attracâ€" tive benefits for maximizing the exposure of your organization among business leaders of today and tomorrow. Those interested in attendâ€" ing are encouraged to register for the oneâ€"day event on the Environment and Business Conference website at www.ebconference.ca. * Business Leader of the Year Award (more than 20 employâ€" ees) â€" Melloulâ€"Blamey Conâ€" struction Inc. * Michael R. Follett Commuâ€" nity Leader of the Year Award: Helen Jowett * Environment Award: Reid‘s Heritage Homes Ltd. â€" The chamber has opened nominations for the 2009 awards, which will take place on Feb. 19, 20093