Presentation at 6th Massachusetts Green Career Conference

1. Environmental
Entrepreneurship
October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal

2. Or in short . . .
October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal

3. Environmental
Entrepreneurship
October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal

4. October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
• The Entrepreneur’s elevator story of SumCo Eco-Contracting
• The Idealist’s, save-the-world story of SumCo Eco-Contracting
• The Realist’s, machinations story of SumCo Eco-Contracting
• Environmental Entrepreneurship for Everyone

5. The Elevator Story
AMWS
September 30, 2011
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
SumCo Eco-Contracting executes construction projects
that deliver ecological improvements. We are an
integral part of the project team, constructing
projects in which our partners have invested
significant time, money and energy getting to the
implementation phase. Our responsibility is to work
with them to optimize a collective vision on the
ground.

6. October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
What does ecological construction involve?
Credit: Prince William Conservation Alliance

7. October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
We take something like this:
Credit: AECOM

8. October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
Construct something like this:

9. October 1, 2014
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
And let it become something like this:
Credit: Prince William Conservation Alliance

10. The Save-the-world Story
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014

11. The Save-the-world Story
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014

12. The Save-the-world Story
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014

13. The Save-the-world Story
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014

15. What We Do

16. What We Do

17. What We Do

18. What We Do

19. What We Do

20. What We Do

21. What We Do

22. What We Do

23. What We Do

24. What We Do

25. What We Do

26. What We Do

27. What We Do

28. What We Do

29. What We Do

30. The Realist’s Machinations Story
(i.e., What I Actually Did Yesterday)
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014
• Executed Line of Credit renewals & equipment loan
• Scheduled lunch meeting with accountant (right after this
Conference)
• Responded to results of Workers’ Comp Insurance audit
• Prepared revised cost estimate for dam removal and stream
repair projects
• Reviewed and executed contract documents for a dam
removal project
• Reviewed bank reconciliation reports
• Revisited company structure and hiring needs

31. The Realist’s Machinations Story
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014
So you want to save the World, huh?
How ya’ gonna do that?

32. The Realist’s Machinations Story
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014
Insurance?
Business Plan?
Opportunities
Partnerships

33. The Realist’s Machinations Story
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
October 1, 2014
1. Idea
• Industry Associations (EBC; NEWEA; AIM; etc.)
• Work Experience
• Read
2. Plan
• Federal Small Business Administration
• MA Small Business Development Centers
• Mentor(s)
• Classes / Continuing Ed
3. Leap

34. August 28, 2013
Restore.
Create.
Enhance.
Chad Sumner
Principal
Credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service
Environmental Entrepreneurship for Everyone