The Colorado Mountain College Sustainability Studies Program will host its sixth Sustainability Conference from 9 a.m. to noon on Earth Day, April 22.

“Be the Change” will be accessible via Zoom throughout the College’s nine-county district and beyond. The conference is free and the public is welcome and encouraged to register and attend.

After the conference, three Colorado Mountain College campuses — Breckenridge, Vail Valley in Edwards, Steamboat Springs and Spring Valley — will host Earth Day celebrations that will be free and open to the public.

Matt Hamilton will deliver the keynote address and discuss his perspective on leading sustainability efforts within the corporate sector. Hamilton spent nearly 14 years at Aspen Skiing Co., first as sustainability coordinator, then sustainability manager, and finally as sustainability director.

Hamilton is now director of corporate sustainability at VF Corporation, one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies that focuses on social and environmental operations and products.

The 123-year-old company has 12 brands, including The North Face, Vans, Smartwool and Timberland. Hamilton said VF Corporation produces 400 million units of apparel, footwear and accessories each year. He added that as practitioners, his company is “able to influence and help reduce environmental and social impacts by producing sustainable products”.

The conference will also feature Colorado Mountain College President Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, who will outline the college’s educational and operational visions for sustainability.

Additionally, graduate students in sustainability studies will give short research presentations in five breakout rooms. Virtual participants can choose which breakout room to visit: biodiversity as a goal and a solution; social justice and education; processing infrastructure; food and the future; or rivers, fire and climate action.

Seats for the virtual conference are filling up quickly, according to officials.

For more information on all on-campus activities and to register for the virtual conference, visit ColoradoMtn.edu/sustainabilityconference/.