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A discussion of Wal-Mart’s approach to sustainability will be hosted Sept. 25 by the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

 “Leadership, Innovation and Consumers of the Future,” a free, public event occurring from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Koury Auditorium, is part of the “Leaders in Sustainability” series celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the center’s founding.

Matt Kistler, Wal-Mart senior vice president of sustainability, and Kellie McElhaney, an adjunct professor at Kenan-Flagler, will discuss the future of sustainability, trends and consumer behavior, and the roles that executives play in their companies.

UNC Kenan-Flagler established Center for Sustainable Enterprise to help executives and future business leaders understand how social and environmental considerations are changing the competitive landscape of business. The center provides education, research and outreach to business students, executives, and organizations to help them benefit from the opportunities inherent in sustainable enterprise.

Kistler has been in a leadership position for Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiatives since 2005. He leads the office responsible for its environmental sustainability strategy worldwide.  He joined the firm in 2003 as director of private brands for Sam’s Club and has held a variety of roles. He has held management positions with General Foods, Oscar Mayer and Kraft Foods.

McElhaney, a Carolina graduate, teaches a corporate social responsibility course at Kenan-Flagler. She is the John C. Whitehead Adjunct Professor and the founding faculty director of the Center for Responsible Business at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

The event will be followed by a reception. Those who plan to attend are asked to contact the center at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Parking will be available in the business school parking deck. For more information, call (919) 962-1499

Kenan-Flagler contact: Allison Adams, (919) 962-7235, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it