Funding Sustainable Development
How do we implement our big idea? How can we assist communities in need? What does circular mean, in this context? How do we fund a new social innovation? Join the discussion...
Meet Tom Lohner, President of Sustainable Development Fund. Lohner is a pioneer in the use of IT and the Internet of Things (IoT) to create ‘Intelligent Buildings,’ and has leveraged his acumen for social impact in Africa. Over his 38-year career in energy engineering he has served as a mechanical and electrical Project Engineer, Sector Manager, and Vice President across an array of consulting firms. He has managed prestigious projects ranging from high rise office buildings, a sports arena, hospitals, mission critical facilities, and citywide energy master plans. He is a registered professional engineer in 5 states, and holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, and an M.S. from the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in Building Energy Engineering. As a faith-based volunteer Tom has served in the Virginia prisons for over 19 years, including as State Chair and Prison Chair for the Kairos Prison Ministry at Greensville, Lawrenceville, Powhatan, and Deep Meadow Correctional Centers.
Sustainable Development Fund is a faith-based non-profit that empowers extremely poor communities through transitions to sustainable development. Lohner explains, “We function as a program manager / planner and engage NGO's, mission groups, and local governments to address the various areas of sustainable development required to significantly impact the community's health, sanitation and economic development.” Lohner and his team engage communities in Kenya, South Sudan and Niger. “Our vision is to create rural 'Circular-Sustainable' communities in developing countries that follow circular economy principles. The result is a planning model that is based on smaller-distributed communities that are interconnected by a multi-modal transportation grid and utilities that are decentralized to eliminate waste and promote environmental accountability.” (https://www.susdev.fund/)
Logistics. Meet entrepreneurs, learn from peers, contribute to the conversation:
- Wednesday November 16th
- 8:30am EST - Coffee & Connection
- 9:00am EST - Presentation & Discussion
- 10:00am EST - Hard Stop
No pre-registration is required. Join us:
Robins School of Business,
102 UR Drive, iLab Room 123
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Parking. Free parking is available in the U5 and U6 lots immediately adjacent to the Robins School. Please enter the main foyer, turn to the left and proceed to room 123 (iLab) on the ground floor.
Please sign in when you enter the room, providing your license plate number.
