The Story of E4S

E4S was formed in December 2000 by Holly Harlan, one of Cleveland's leading economic development professionals, and three entrepreneurial leaders who were passionate about the business opportunities of sustainability, Pete Accorti, Brian Schneiderman and Grant Marquit. They started by building a community that was focused on taking action. The first year the monthly networking meetings held at the Great Lakes Brewery averaged 25 people a month. The meetings were focused on helping entrepreneurs launch businesses in a sustainable economy. In addition, the newly formed network took on a project to test the feasibility of sustainable enterprise, Gunter Pauli's project to grow mushrooms on coffee grounds. Though the project was not a success, the relationships they built formed the foundation of an action learning community.

At the end of 2001, the network meetings changed focus. The leadership of E4S thought to focus their meetings on the industries involved in sustainability, the participation in the group doubled. A Business Plan Learners Group was added to the E4S programs to give individual entrepreneurs the skills and resources to launch successful businesses. Four entrepreneurs participated in this first group, two have successfully launched their businesses.

In January 2002, The George Gund Foundation offered to support the budding network and ShoreBank Enterprise Cleveland offered to incubate the E4S program. The monthly meetings became "the" place to connect with those who were implementing sustainability principles in business, government, non-profit organizations and academia. Average monthly attendance grew to 75 people a month in 2002. Both national and local sustainability pioneers presented at the E4S Network meetings and new funding partners came on board including the Cleveland Foundation. The Business Plan Learns Group II worked with 5 more entrepreneurs. All 5 have moved on to entrepreneurial ventures.

The E4S Third Tuesday Network events continued to grow in 2003 to an average of over 100 participants. E4S launched a membership program in April 2003 and awarded the first Champion of Sustainability Awards in November. They partnered with Cleveland Institute of Art, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and SchmidtCopelanParkerStevens on a design contest to encourge industrial design students to use wood pallets to make elementary school furniture. Learning programs continued to focus on business development and workshops with RMI and MBDC were added to begin to support the needs of the E4S network to learn how to implement sustainability principles.

In 2004 the E4S Third Tuesday Network events attracted over 120 participants a month. A new relationship with CASE Masters of Positive Organizational Development brought the talents of executive level students to 5 businesses who were implementing sustainability principles.

The E4S story will continue to be written over the next months.... Come back or call Holly if you want to learn more. 216-451-7755.