Dept. of Commerce: Workshop promotes green entrepreneurship

Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON—Entrepreneurs seeking information on how to start a successful green business should attend the Launching Green Businesses workshop, to be held January 12 from 1-4 p.m. at the UW- Parkside Student Union, Kenosha.

“I believe Wisconsin has a real opportunity to be a leader in green business development,” said Department of Commerce Secretary Richard J. Leinenkugel. “Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to learn from successful green entrepreneurs and also enter a green small business planning contest.”

Featured speakers include:

* Tom Szaky, founder of TeraCycle, Inc., which enables consumers to collect waste the company upcycles into consumer products. The company operates in five countries and has won more than 100 awards.

* Tera Johnson, founder and CEO of Wisconsin Specialty Protein, the nation’s only manufacturer of organic cow, goat, and sheep whey proteins. The firm sources the protein from small Wisconsin family farms and specialty cheese plants.

Participants can also compete for 20 scholarships valued at more than $1,000 to attend a special Business Planning Course for Green Businesses at the UW-Parkside Small Business Development Center.

Cost is $10 of UW Parkside students, $25 for other participants. To register, visit

http://www.racinecountyedc.org For more information, call 262/898-7438.