BLD Southeast 2026: Full Schedule

8:45am EDT

Opening Remarks

Thursday September 17, 2026 8:45am - 9:00am EDT

Speakers

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen

Elected to the United States Senate by the people of Maryland in November 2016, Chris Van Hollen is committed to fighting every day to ensure that our state and our country live up to their full promise of equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity.

Senator Van Hollen believes that every child deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams and benefit from a quality education, and that anyone willing to work hard should be able to find a good job. That's why his top priorities include creating more and better jobs, strengthening... Read More →

Raj Aggarwal

President, Provoc

Thursday September 17, 2026 8:45am - 9:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom 800 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20052

Main Stage

9:00am EDT

Keynote

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am EDT

Grand Ballroom

Speakers

Aurora Archer

CEO + Founder, The Opt-In

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am EDT
Grand Ballroom 800 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20052

Main Stage

12:45pm EDT

Mini Keynote: 1% for the Planet

Thursday September 17, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm EDT

Grand Ballroom

Speakers

Kate Williams

CEO, 1% for the Planet

Thursday September 17, 2026 12:45pm - 1:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom 800 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20052

Main Stage

2:20pm EDT

Congressional Plenary: Building the Conditions for Shared Prosperity

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm EDT

Grand Ballroom

For more than two decades, the sustainable business movement has shown that companies can build lasting value for shareholders, workers, communities, and the environment. The B Corporation movement now includes thousands of certified companies operating across more than 100 countries and 160 industries. Stakeholder-focused business is no longer merely aspirational; it is a demonstrated business model.

Meanwhile, our nation is navigating significant economic, political, and institutional uncertainty. These challenges cannot be addressed by any one sector acting alone, and this moment calls for more than a return to the previous economic and political normal. It invites a broader question: How do we build an economy that consistently creates lasting value for people, communities, businesses, and the natural systems on which we all depend?

This plenary will bring Members of Congress into direct dialogue with the sustainable business community about what must change for broadly shared and lasting value creation to become the norm, and what business and public leadership need from one another to help drive that transformation.

Speakers

U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, educator, and nonprofit leader. She is serving her fourth consecutive term representing the people of Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. Houlahan is the... Read More →

U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin

Rep. Jamie Raskin proudly represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Raskin was sworn into his fifth Term at the start of the 119th Congress on January 6, 2025.
Rep. Raskin is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary in the 119th Congress. Elected to Congress the same night in 2016 Donald Trump was first elected president, Rep. Raskin has battled Trump’s authoritarian policies daily for a decade. He was named the... Read More →

Aurora Archer

CEO + Founder, The Opt-In

George Chmael II

CEO & Founder, Council Fire

Thursday September 17, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm EDT
Grand Ballroom 800 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20052

Main Stage

4:40pm EDT

Continuing Our Collective Work Together

Thursday September 17, 2026 4:40pm - 5:20pm EDT

Grand Ballroom

Close out BLD Southeast with a candid, human-centered conversation about what it means to keep showing up
for one another and living our values when doing so requires courage. Lavonya Jones, Rodney Bullard, Narissa
Turner, and Nathan Stuck will challenge us to move beyond words and continue our collective work together
through action, accountability, and community.

Speakers

Narissa Turner

Trainer and Senior Facilitator, Habitus

Narissa is a facilitator and trainer at Habitus. Her main roles at Habitus include designing and leading trainings, workshops, and facilitations. Narissa is a trained mediator, and she brings her background in environmental advocacy and strategic planning to her work at Habitus... Read More →