SAN FRANCISCO – On Saturday, May 19, MBA graduating students from Presidio School of Management will gather to present their long-awaited venture plans – the culmination of two intensive years of study of sustainable business practices.

Since joining the Presidio MBA in Sustainable Management program, soon-to-be grads have been thinking about and clarifying their "big idea" -- a business plan that reflects their commitment to positive social and environmental impact through business. During the final semester Capstone course, the students build their venture plans, integrating all they've learned from the 15 other courses. While all final projects will be on display, only two or three students are selected by their peers to give a 10-minute presentation.

“The Presidio MBA Venture Showcase will feature our third class of graduating students presenting their best venture ideas – all to further the goal of creating a more sustainable world,” said Dr. Ron Nahser, Presidio School of Management Provost. “Upon graduation, Presidio MBAs will return to all sectors of the business community prepared to practice sustainable management and meet the challenges of driving business performance in an effective, ethical and responsible way.”

Highlights from this Saturday’s Presidio MBA Venture Showcase include:

• An energy monitor called Zero Electric that delivers personalized efficiency recommendations to homeowners, helping them save hundreds of dollars on their annual energy bill and reduce their environmental footprint.
• A company called Covive that creates corporate sustainability reports for Fortune 500 firms using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework and partners with sustainable business ventures to build living brands that succeed in the mainstream market.
• A new Goodwill Industries International retail offering called Re-Store that provides artists, designers and resellers a wide selection of furniture components, electronic appliances and clothing for creative reuse projects -- all to reduce the amount of materials sent to landfills and foster the creativity of its customers.
• A new business unit within the Center for Health Professions at the University of California at San Francisco that offers leadership development courses for health care clinicians and organizations committed to improving health care in the U.S.
• Marin Edible Landscaping, a restorative landscaping company specializing in edible plants that offers a variety of services tailored to homeowners' needs, including design, installation, maintenance and education.