Green teams are America's future, and next week they'll be front and center in North Carolina. Public-private partnerships that transform communities are key to a more sustainable world, and the subject of a high profile panel at the 2008 Sustainable North Carolina Awards and Expo on Monday in the Raleigh Convention Center.

"Cats and dogs. Stones fans and Beatles fans. Government and business. For the world to go green, that last pair has to click a lot better than the first two," says Billy Warden, panel moderator and founder of Billy Warden Communications & Imagination Group. "Our panelists are all coming off successful public-private partnerships and are ready to equip folks with lessons on how to make it work."

The panel consists of sustainability specialists from the City of Austin, the City of Raleigh, Google, K&D Lang and Triangle Transit ( http://sustainnc.org/public/index.cfm?menuid=196 ). A robust slate of panels and other events awaits conference-goers. Tickets are still available.

Beyond the panelists, the audience will feature a variety of green leaders and consultants. One is Greg Behr, founder of Figurative Hats Consulting, a marketing company with an eye on connecting sustainable enterprises to Gen Y. "Young people are going to make the world a better place," says Behr, "but many groups on both the public and private sides struggle with how to inspire and harness that passion and energy."

WHAT: "Cooperation, Coercion, Collaboration: Local Governments and Sustainable Business," the 2008 Sustainable North Carolina Awards
WHO: Billy Warden Communications & Imagination Group, Figurative Hats, City of Austin, City of Raleigh, Google, K&D Lang and Triangle Transit
WHEN: Monday, November 10, 3 - 4:30 pm
WHERE: The Raleigh Convention Center