Robert Pasin

Circularity, 2024: Accelerating the #CircularEconomy, May 22-24, #Chicago #Illinois: https://buff.ly/49HXeGs @greenbiz #circularity #recycling #manufacturing #resilience #supplychains #packaging #waste #plastics #electronics #energy #buildings #builtenvironment #economy #business

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WHY DON'T WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE CHICAGO RIVER TAXI? Probably Chicago's best kept secret - the Chicago Water Taxi. It's a great way to see the city and costs about $3-$4. It is the best bargain going in the city. It doesn't matter if you live here or are a tourist, you will enjoy the water taxi, even if you don't actually need to get anywhere. __________ Torque Real Estate Marketing TORQUE is a real estate marketing agency bringing insight and awareness to the emergence of human experience, properties and the community. #chicagorealestate #office #commercialrealestate #architecture #realestate #realestateindustry #marketingagency #realestatemarketing #marketingagency 

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My spectacularly talented colleague Kori Goldberg has a new article out for GreenBiz Group today on local circular economy initiatives in Chicago. She talked 3 amazing founders; Eva Bugg (REUSO), Lily Wang (Demi Composting) and Garry Cooper (Rheaply) about their companies and their place in the Chicago business landscape. https://shorturl.at/bckGZ 🗒 Side note: They will all be at #Circularity24! Register at https://shorturl.at/ktKQ5 today before rates go up tomorrow. (Use code C24SM10 for a 10% discount) See a bit of that story and a bonus Q&A that didn't make it into the story below... 👇 -------------------- How do you see the circular economy landscape evolving in Chicago specifically? Cooper: There are over 144 million square feet of building spaces [in Chicago]. Unused office furniture, out-of-date lab equipment, and other forgotten building materials collecting dust must find new homes as the clock is ticking on landfill capacity. Bugg: There are 22 million pounds of plastic entering our Great Lakes on an annual basis. We are seeing the effects in our waterways and our landfills are reaching capacity in the next decade. As Chicago begins to run out of space for our waste, alternative reuse solutions are having the spotlight turned on them. Now is our time to shine and keep our city clean. Wang: It’s growing. People always point to the coasts but there is so much happening in Chicago. From initiatives like compost drop-off sites and anaerobic digesters to startups like Rheaply, Mycocycle, and Kadeya — I’m excited to be part of the circular future here in Chicago. Is there anything specific you're looking forward to or hoping to gain from attending the conference? Cooper: Yes! I’m very excited for the Building Forum and the focus around product design, manufacturing, reverse logistics, and building a thriving circular ecosystem.  Bugg: I’m looking forward to connecting with those launching circular solutions in other cities and hearing what has worked and what hasn’t for them. Circular solutions are not a one size fits all approach and learning as much as possible about what has been done to-date in different regions and industries is helpful and motivating. Wang: Meeting and learning from the greatest minds in the circular economy!  As a first-time founder in the space, it’s incredible to have the chance to be in the same room and speak alongside some of my biggest role models.

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Dispelling myths around private equity and identifying ideal targets for PE were some of the topics discussed last week on The Upswing on Good Karma Brands Milwaukee WTMJ. Thank you, Sequoya Borgman Borgman, for sharing your insights. Listen to the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/diwGUAMY #privateequity #businessgrowth

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There is one thing I worry about which doesn’t really get talked about: the Commercial Real Estate in Chicago What happens to Chicago if these old high rise buildings in the LOOP remain vacant? When I think about a future where more of Chicago's commercial spaces risk becoming unused due to a shift towards hybrid work models and certain structural limitations preventing easy conversion to residential use, several critical issues come into focus. ***The older buildings in the Loop are extremely difficult to convert. The mortgage rates are very high and revenue has lowered drastically*** Vacant buildings can lead to decreased foot traffic, which in turn may affect local businesses, potentially increasing unemployment rates. Think about all of the people who have jobs that support each of these buildings. Higher unemployment can lead to increases in crime as economic opportunities drop. Moreover, property values in areas surrounding these vacant buildings could plummet. A decrease in property values impacts property taxes, which fund crucial city services, potentially leading to a downward spiral affecting the quality of life and further exacerbating wealth disparities in the city. With wealthier residents possibly moving away from declining areas, the gap between the affluent and the less affluent could widen, changing the socioeconomic landscape of entire neighborhoods. These shifts raise important questions about the strategic redirection of real estate use in our city. There is so much bullshit being talked about in the local media and a lot of important things NOT being talked about. This is one of those important things that need to be addressed. What creative strategies repurpose these spaces in ways that contribute positively to the community and the city's economy? Discussing and addressing these potential scenarios is crucial. It’s not just about real estate; it's about maintaining the vibrancy, culture and health of our City. I LOVE Chicago and this is the only place I want to call home. This (almost) exact scenario is happening with the downtown markets in NY and San Fran. Think about the ripple effects of what this can lead to and all of the people impacted by it. I'm NOT saying everyone should go to the office everyday. I'm saying the city government in Chicago needs to figure out solutions for this. If you're interested in figuring out solutions, feel free to reach out to me directly. I'm happy to facilitate conversations and strategic actions. If there are any entrepreneurs/business people who are already trying to solve this problem, I am happy to help in any way I can. Orion3 #Orion3 #CreatingConsciousSerendipity

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Way To Go ESG Brands! Named one of 35 U.S. Startups to Watch in the Chicago Business Journal. https://lnkd.in/gKTHyZ_n #OBI4You #ESGBrands

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What is Total Michigan? We capture and share the stories of Michiganders who are reshaping our great state. Our mission: Deepen the bond that Michiganders have with the Michigan brands they love. How do we do this? We interview the people behind the brand, capturing their stories of how they built their business or non-profit.  Each interview focuses on three key elements: What inspired them to build what they built?   What were the challenges they had to overcome?   What can you expect when you go there? These people are having an impact. Whether it is in their community or on a global scale. We are Michigan. We are proud. We are the home to ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things.

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Circularity, 2024: Accelerating the #CircularEconomy, May 22-24, #Chicago #Illinois: https://buff.ly/49HXeGs @greenbiz #circularity #recycling #supplychains #packaging #manufacturing #resilience #waste #plastics #electronics #energy #buildings #builtenvironment #economy #business

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Why not save the planet? I got a lot of messages about my metro Detroit transportation service, The Night Move yesterday. So I’ll share a bit more. From the beginning, it just didn’t sit right, that we’d be running up and down Woodward, burning tons of fuel and emitting way too much of who knows what into the atmosphere. (I’m sure there’s someone who knows…) So we decided that not only would we provide a service to the party people, we’d do our best to serve Mother Earth. We ran our fleet entirely on biodiesel, reducing harmful emissions, and helping the used oil supply chain to reuse spent oil. In addtion, we dontated the equivalent of 1 tree per rider on our “public” transportation shuttle, through a local non-profit. There would be no way to totally eliminate emissions (no EV at the time, and it’s arguable if those emissions are just further up the supply chain), but we found ways to reduce and offset. We dubbed it “eco-conscious transportation”. I’m looking at you #cannabis industry. Vape carts are here to stay, and recycling them is proving to be a big challenge. But there has to be other creative, or not so creative, ways to offset the waste thats being produced. Bonus footage of me saying “ahh” 54 times: https://lnkd.in/dzhRZ-Uy

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🏢 As a sustainability consultant, I have been following Michigan Central's transformation for a few years now, so I was happy to see it opened earlier this month. 🚉 The station sits on a 30-acre campus and will be the hub of Ford’s “future mobility” initiatives. An adjacent building—also renovated by Ford and now called Newlab—is already home to about 100 companies and roughly 600 workers. 🚄 The project's journey holds valuable lessons that can be applied to various aspects of sustainable city development, making it a compelling case study for the future. - 🏙 Revitalizing and reinvesting in a city center. - 🏙 The importance of strong leadership: The massive renovation was completed in a short timespan—six years—because it was a passion for William Ford Jr., Ford’s executive chair and the great-grandson of the company’s founder. - 🚉The role of trains in the future of transportation: A poster child for how trains and train infrastructure can catalyze growth and investment in city centers. - 🏢 Mixed-use venue: Michigan Central will model the kind of mixed-use development that America’s downtowns need. That is, it will have a mix of startups and for-profit companies (heavy on tech); a wide variety of nonprofits that have programming throughout the day; and cultural/dining/entertainment options to attract tourists and locals during evenings and weekends. Read the full article from High Speed Rail Alliance in the link below: https://lnkd.in/etfG8w3V #sustainablity #sustainblecities #greentransportation --------------------------------- Your Carbon Steps - Practical steps for a sustainable future.

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🔗 Are You an Innovator? Unlock Your Potential with These Essential Funding Opportunities: 🚀Renaissance Venture Capital 2024 UnDemo Day - Connect with top venture capitalists and network with hundreds of investors in downtown Detroit. This in-person event includes 1:1 meetings, a lunch & learn, and a live music gathering. Ideal for Michigan-based, venture-ready startups with high growth potential, aiming for acquisition or IPO within 5-8 years. Submission deadline: August 2 - Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eBreKZue ♻️Michigan EGLE Circular Economy Grants - Support the development of circular supply chains in Michigan with grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. Focus areas include Novel Technology, Recycled Content and Material Innovations, Supply Chain Adaptation, Organic Material, and Upstream Innovations. Total funding available is $2.3 million. Submission deadline: August 19 - Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e5YaswKZ 💡NTA Innovate for Critical Sectors of Supply Chain Resiliency - The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI), is calling for research or prototype projects that enhance national supply chain protection. Focus areas include Strategic and Critical Materials, Kinetic Capabilities, Energy Storage and Batteries, Castings and Forgings, Microelectronics, Workforce Development, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Submarine Industrial Base, Space Industrial Base, and Emerging Manufacturing Technology. Submission deadline: September 30 - Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eG55FS63 Don't miss these opportunities to gain the funding and support your venture needs. Apply now and take your startup to the next level! 📈 #Innovation #Funding #Startup #Michigan #Entrepreneurship

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🌟 Company Spotlight 🌟 Out with the old, in with the…upcycled? Nowhere Collective is a circular economic marketplace concentrated in Chicago that connects businesses and consumers to reclaim, reuse, repair, and upcycle the goods we no longer need. 💛 What We’re Loving: 💛 🌏 Climate-centered mission - Nowhere Collective is driven by the desire to use the resources we have already harvested to make innovative products. In doing so, Nowhere Collective limits the furthered exploitation of natural resources and keeps items out of landfills. 🤝 Consumer-producer relations - This marketplace oversees the donations of resources and sale of goods, facilitating exchange and simplifying processes. 👍 Community-building resources - Nowhere Collective regularly hosts markets, called The Trashy Markets, in which communities of environmentally-conscious consumers can attend workshops, exchange goods, and formulate relationships. ⁉️ So What ⁉️ 👏 An innovative combination - Through uniting passionate individuals dedicated to environmental security, Nowhere Collective has made a breathing tapestry out of 100 pounds of reclaimed fabric, constructed an art installation out of nearly 100% recycled materials, and produced workshops for businesses centered around environmental stability. 🧳 Going “Nowhere” think again - By challenging conventional ways of working and the materials with which we work, Nowhere Collective is in actuality, taking the Chicago community “somewhere” beautiful and green. Their success prompts reflection and inspiration: What relation exists between niche interest, consumer passion, and scalability? #reusereducerecycle #impactdriven #nowherecollective #environmentalism #thetrashymarkets #chicago #homemade #madewithlove #circularmarket #unitedcommunity

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Thanks to the Industrial Fasteners Institute for selecting SME Strategy Consulting for your strategic planning in #illinois today.

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OMG!!! Janice Tam and Margaret Peterson are on TV. The live demo is pure🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #ObsessivelyEnthusiasticInvestor #UnreasonablyEnthusiasticInvestor #IrrationallyEnthusiasticInvestor at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund. We look for the people we believe are doing the best work in Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology; Attempting the impossible. Then we go all-in on them. With obsessive and unreasonable enthusiasm. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital #DemandTheImpossible #UnreasonableEnthusiasm #ObsessiveEnthusiasm #IrrationalEnthusiasm

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Circularity, 2024: Accelerating the #CircularEconomy, May 22-24, #Chicago #Illinois: https://buff.ly/49HXeGs @greenbiz #circularity #supplychains #packaging #waste #plastics #manufacturing #resilience #recycling #electronics #energy #buildings #builtenvironment #economy #business

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Caracal Daily Top 5: ⚫⚫⚫ Labour Party, Wisconsin, Washington Post, Italian Gas Stations, T20, plus 1,000 more actionable insights. Read today's ITK Daily here: https://buff.ly/4dmTLAg

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