VERGE 2023 Conference

ERM at the Conference Hide

Conference Sponsor
ERM is a proud conference sponsor hosting a charging station at Booth #1227. Visit the ERM team and see how we are advancing sustainability globally.

ERM Contact
Please contact Stephanie Baxter, PE at stephanie.baxter@erm.com if you have any questions.

Learn more about ERM’s Sustainability Services

23 October 2023

Water Resiliency Is Becoming Business Critical: Are Your Executives Ready?

Coho and ERM are proud sponsors of the inaugural VERGE Water Forum, an invitation-only, half-day gathering of leaders at the forefront of creating sustainable, resilient, and equitable water systems. Coho’s Jonathan Lanciani and ERM’s Alison Drury will lead a discussion on how organizations can effectively respond to water risk and be better water stewards in their communities. Participants will explore how to engage a cross-functional group of executives, what it means to achieve water neutrality, how to approach water solution selection and competitive sourcing, and why these investments are needed to protect business continuity and social license to operate. In one hour, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the business-critical nature of water resiliency and learn how to pragmatically execute solutions.

24 October 2023

Carbon Communication: Consumer Awareness, Greenwashing and Emerging Strategies

Join Suzanne Shelton, Senior Partner, Shelton Group, an ERM Group Company , as she participates as a panelist in this exciting session. Sticks and stones may break our bones, and honestly, words can hurt us. Communicating effectively to consumers and internal departments can make or break how our hard work in carbon reduction is digested and implemented. Empty words can be perceived as greenwashing — cue scary music — but well-crafted communication strategies can drive significant progress. Come to learn about the legal implications of environmental claims, how to effectively engage with consumers and discover specific communication strategies for advancing your work.

25 October 2023

The Decarbonization Ecosystem: Partnerships to Decarbonize the Economy

Join Doug Parks and his panelists from Salesforce and Green Impact as they discuss in their session, decarbonization is more than just a one-company solution. It requires multiple participants across the ecosystem to manage data, advise on decarbonization road maps, acquire financing, and implement decarbonization levers. And decarbonization partnerships will need to flourish over the next year or two if we are to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. This conversation will discuss how Salesforce, ERM, and Green Impact work across sectors to find practical solutions for ambitious sustainability goals and best practices in setting up and fostering decarbonization partnerships. Additionally, the discussion will focus on the power of data, the need for advisory support and will touch on Salesforce's integration of the Internet of Things (IoT).

ERM Speaker Hide

Alison Drury

Senior Partner, Global Industry Lead, Technology

Alison Drury is an ERM Senior Partner in the San Francisco office. She is ERM’s Global Industry Lead for the Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) sector. She has 20 years of professional experience managing complex high tech, energy, infrastructure, land development, and industrial development projects. Alison leads and manages a team that services Fortune 100 technology companies on the cutting edge of the most advanced technology: from consumer electronics, social media, and software/hardware to semiconductor manufacturing and data centers. Alison has a talent for building and developing teams to drive innovative solutions and revenue gains within highly competitive industries. Alison works with her team and client base to ensure ERM provides a lifecycle approach to all projects delivered.

Doug Park, Ph.D.

Partner, Climate Solutions, ERM

Doug is based in ERM’s Washington, DC office and has over 15 years of technical experience supporting clients on their decarbonization journey. He leads ERM’s strategic climate change partnerships and oversees all ERM’s activities related to Net Zero Cloud implementation and adjacent climate advisory services. Doug came to ERM from academia with a scientific focus on advanced geospatial technology, climate modelling, and the social impacts from climate change.

Jonathan Lanciani

Partner, Senior Vice President Water and Thermal Solutions, Coho, an ERM Group Company

Jonathan is a trusted corporate advisor with decades of leadership. He has an extensive background in sustainability strategy, corporate water stewardship, water resource management, adaptation and resiliency, thermal recovery, biodiversity and biomimicry. In roles prior to joining Coho, he has been recognized for his experience bridging gaps across technical functions and translating sustainability risks into opportunities for operational improvements at the site and corporate levels. With a boot to boardroom approach, he has been a catalyst for action, shaping a variety of operational sustainability strategies for regional, national, and global corporations addressing their challenges, increasing their capacity, and shifting performance.

Suzanne Shelton

Senior Partner, Shelton Group, an ERM Group Company

Suzanne Shelton is the CEO of Shelton Group, an ERM Group Company, the nation’s leading marketing communications agency entirely focused exclusively in the ESG space. She regularly counsels C-level executives at Fortune 1000 organizations on how to best define and leverage their sustainability approaches to drive business results. Suzanne currently serves on the board of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the executive advisory board of Cyclyx, and recently served on the board of the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA). Suzanne offers insights and inspiration on conference stages around the country, guest writes for the likes of Fast Company, Green Builder and GreenBiz, and directly manages a team of leaders who, collectively, have made Shelton Group a 30-year success story.