Contact: Candice Conti 

805-756-7171; clconti@calpoly.edu

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) will host a panel of entrepreneurs at the Corporate Social Responsibility forum on Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Performing Arts Center on campus.

The theme of the forum is the value of corporate social responsibility and how practicing it helps others and increases a company’s success and brand. The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The panel discussion will focus on how considering the economic, social and environmental impacts for all stakeholders contributes to sustainable development. Panelists include:

— Doug Klein, former Walt Disney Imagineer and current managing director of Matchfire, a company that has raised over $150 million since 2001 for brands around the world and created hundreds of award-winning purpose campaigns for celebrities, entertainment studios, Fortune 50 companies and global nonprofits.

— Dan O’Hare, managing principal at Glenn Burdette, the first CPA organization in California to be employee-owned.

— Rafael Pintor, co-founder of Atsa Foods, a snack food company that uses native superfoods to create opportunity in Native American communities and American open spaces.

— Renee Junge, chief marketing officer of Sambazon, a pioneer of fair trade, organic acai products.

During the P.E.N. (Pitches, Exhibits, Networking) portion of the evening from 5 to 6 p.m., the finalists of the eighth annual Elevator Pitch Competition will have 90 seconds to present their pitches in front of the panel for a chance to win $1,000. The winners of the competition will be revealed at the end of the night.

“Attendees to our fall forum will learn how a group of entrepreneurs whose efforts to improve society have benefited their companies,” said Tod Nelson, CIE executive director. “They will also have the opportunity to vote for the Elevator Pitch Competition Audience Choice Award.”  

The forum is presented by Samabazon and sponsored by SESLOC Federal Credit Union and Cuesta College. Advance registration is required. For more details and to register, visit epc17.eventbrite.com.