The 2015 Sustainability Leadership Awards Dinner was Amazing! And the Winners are...

Oh what a night! With over 200 attending the 2015 Sustainability Leadership Awards opened at 6:30pm on January 23 with an hour of lively networking, giving nominees and attendees and chance to connect. New introductions were made and old friends reunited, including several who have been involved in Seattle area sustainability since the ‘90s. On their way in to the event, many attendees took advantage of the Tesla car parking shuttle, experiencing a ride in this game-changing electric vehicle. Once inside, looking around the festive MOHAI venue we heard more than once, “Wow, this is amazing!”

Indeed, it was an amazing evening. The attendees took their seats and were served a mouth-watering array of dishes by Herban Feast, a noted “Best of the Northwest” caterer. Terri Butler, Sustainable Seattle’s Executive Director, welcomed attendees and thanked the lead sponsor Seattle City Light, as well as sponsors Saturna Capital, Enwave, UW Surplus, Lead the Difference, and Floral Soil Solutions.

Board Chair, Dave Woolley-Wilson, introduced the evening’s master of ceremonies, Paul Shoemaker, Founding President of Social Venture Partners International. Paul welcomed the crowd and set the tone for the evening in his opening remarks emphasizing the multi-faceted positive impacts of social innovation.

Then, show time! Judges representing each category of award stepped to the stage in sequence, giving the audience insider information about the judging process and the challenges in choosing the winners. As each winner was announced their delight in being chosen warmed the audience, filling the room with energy throughout the evening.

Midstream Terri Butler stepped to the stage to share with the crowd information about Sustainable Seattle’s programs. She spoke about the PNW Resilience Challenge which launched last October, the business programs that provide tools and networking for sustainability professionals, and the community work which is focused on climate impacts and stormwater. She spoke about the wide network of people who are key partners in Sustainable Seattle’s work, then shared a video with compelling comments from four of these partners, Ruth Lee of Sustainable Business Consulting, David Brenner of Riddell Williams, Cari Simson of Urban Systems Design, and Jill Jago, Communications Strategist for GLY Construction.

Garrett Kephart, Sustainable Seattle board member and Point B consultant, followed, asking the audience for their financial support while speaking to the changes happening in the region including rapid growth and more storms due to climate impacts. He emphasized the importance of paying attention to these changes and making sure our communities are well designed and connected so they are resilient into the future.

The final award, the Sustainability Hero, was presented by last year’s Hero, Bill Thorness. His remarks leading up to the announcement touched on happiness and Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness as a compelling way to measure well-being. Then, he went on to deliver happiness to the 2015 award winner, BJ Cummings.

The night wound up with an hour and a half of networking, closing at 11pm when the last attendees drifted out the door.

more about the Awards and nominees

The winners are:

Individual Award

Sustainable Hero: BJ Cummings, founder of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, for her leadership in empowering residents to bring their voices to the table in the "River for All" campaign, building EPA and government support for cleanup of the superfund site. 

Category Awards

Significant Newcomer: Tiny Trees Preschool for its innovative approach to making outdoor preschool education affordable for a wide range of families.

Creative Solution: Co-winners include Forterra and the City of Tukwila for their collaborative approach addressing sustainability challenges in the diverse community of Tukwila, and RE-USE Consulting for finding sustainable alternatives to demolition.  

Setting and Example: The Seattle Mariners for their leadership in sustainable ballpark operations since 2006.

Transportation Changer: Pronto Cycle Share, for providing access to a low-cost, fast, flexible, and convenient transportation alternative.

Resource Impact: Co-winners Pike Place Market PDA and Seattle Tilth for bringing healthy food access to hundreds of Seattle's most vulnerable families and Travelers Against Plastic for their initiative to educate global travelers about the harmful impacts of plastic water bottle usage.  

Transforming Spaces: Co-winners, Highland Park Improvement Club, the Nature Consortium, and Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, highlighting their work in building healthier, vibrant communities in South Seattle.

   

People’s Choice Award

Winners Pike Place Market PDA and Seattle Tilth

Sustainability Leadership Awards 2015

It is the season.. for the Sustainability Leadership Awards!

 Send us your nominations, we know you have some great organizations in mind.

Nominations due by November 14th.
 

Mark your calendars for January 23rd!

We will be heading to MOHAI again this year, celebrating the most inspiring accomplishments in the region that are moving sustainability forward.  Check out

photos from last year! 

Individual Award

Sustainability Hero  

A specific individual who has made a significant and inspiring contribution to the sustainability movement in the Greater Seattle area in their role as a community member or as part of an organization.

Business/Government Awards

Significant Newcomer (The First Step is the Hardest) 

A business that is new to incorporating sustainability into their business practies.  The changes are making a significant impact on the business' resource use and social impacts.

Creative Solution to a Big Problem: Innovator

  A business that has engaged in an innovative approach to a sustainability challenge, reducing resource use and negative social impacts.

Setting An Example: Doing it Right 

( A business that has become a model for their sustainability practices.  The business emphasizes transparency and education in implementing the sustainability practices, providing a demonstration for other businesses to duplicate their efforts.

Community Awards

Transforming Spaces:Landscape or Building

  Project that revived, transformed, or changed the purpose of an urban community space - including parks, streets, and other public spaces.

Resource Impact: Energy, Water, Materials, Waste

Project or campaign that significantly impacted water and/or energy use, air and/or water quality, and/or local food networks at a community-wide level.

Transportation Changer

Transformed and/or impacted how one or more community utilizes or engages with transportation relating to bike and pedestrian safety, transit-oriented communities, and/or public transit.

Annual Event a Tremendous Success

Sustainable Seattle had its annual event at Hidmo this part Thursday December 16, 2010 and it could not have gone better.

The event was the brainchild of Sustainable Seattle, POAGP(Pursuit of a Green Planet), Sustainable Central District and the many contributors and donors. It was an evening of fun, food and games and the ambiance at Hidmo was as per usual wonderful, homey and welcoming. (By the way the food at Hidmo is fantastic and I highly recommend the vegetarian plates.)

We had a large number of preregistered folks who signed up for the evening and more than expected showed up on the night of the event. The evening went swimmingly with the seven different "acts" flowing from one to another like tributaries to a great river. There was laughter, conversation, alcohol and connection and it was very good.

The night also featured performances from local music artists that included Young N Brave, a group of hip hop artists with a message of hope who happen to be on BET on December 22 on the networks landmark show "106 and Park."

We also were honored to have another local star Yirim Seck give us a performance that reminded me of a young Mos Def.

I can't explain how happy I am that this event went so well. We have been in rebirth for this last year and like the phoenix I see bright things for the organization moving forward. I'm not the only one as these comments from other members of Sustainable Seattle can attest.

Andrew comments:

As far as I could tell, everybody was having a good time and enjoyed themselves throughout the night. That was the clearest measure of success, but it wouldn’t have been possible without such great performers and attendees. It was a pleasure speaking with and getting to know many of them. Yirim Seck and Young-N-Brave’s conclusion to the evening was nothing short of awesome. Both artists were that much more impressive live than on record.

Tysan comments:

The annual event was a great way to recognize all the work that so many people have put into sustainability this past year. A crowd of our supporters and new friends gathered over music, laughter and drink to see performances and recognize amazing individuals and businesses who have made it part of their practice to be able to sustain not only themselves, but the planet. The mind-boggling number of contributors to our silent auction and the wealth of talents that the Sustainable Seattle family has got to be shown off, and I was so happy to be able to be a part of this organization for 2010. Collaboration with the Take Back Your Time and the ideas moving forward for the Seattle Area Happiness Initiative make me excited to begin work in 2011!

Tim comments:

There are so many parties to thank for the success of this years annual event I don't know where to begin. I will start by thanking those who were able to attend the event. The number of attendees was impressive and the hard work of many has paid off in grand ways! This event was a fantastic demonstration of the support Sustainable Seattle has again begun to receive throughout the Seattle community and I am confident this will continue to grow in future months.

The awards program and ceremony was deemed a huge success by all parties involved and would like to acknowledge and thank all of the nominees for their work towards improving the sustainability of the Puget Sound region. With all but one award recipient present we received great feedback and thanks from all award nominees and winners. I would again like to thank the judges for their brilliance and expertise, without them the program would not have been possible.

With so much momentum moving into the New Year I am excited for what the future hold at Sustainable Seattle and can truly say what an exciting time it is to be involved with the organization.

Congratulations and thank you to all! Sustainable Seattle ROCKS!

Contributors and Sponsors

Without the support and contribution of the following people this event would have not been as successful as it was. Many, many thanks for all your aid and assistance!

Food/Drink:

Macrina Bakery, PCC Natural Markets, Grand Central Bakery, Gelatiamo, Columbia City Bakery, 23rd & Jackson Starbucks, Honest Tea

Silent Auction Contributors:

Ballard Bee Company

Honey

Seattle Tilth

Maritime NW Garden Guide (book)

Cedar Grove

Two yards compost & 10 bags potting soil

Zipcar

$150 gift certificate

David George Gordon

The Secret World of Slugs and Snails/one hour consulting time

EMP/SFM

4 Passes/SAM membership

Burke Museum

Entrance passes

Eldan Goldenburg

Signed copy of Four Fish

$50 certificates towards STARs workshop, Desk space

Hannah Ahmed

Quilceda Creek red and Amavi Semillon white wine

Brian Allen

Urban Beekeeping lessons

O'Brien & Company

2 hrs sustainability and green building consulting time

Tysan Dutta

Forest Moss soaps, dinner at Herb Farm, WEB Assessment

Al Runte

signed copies of National Parks: The American Experience

STG

4 passes to David Garrett at Paramount Theatre

Frogbox

Moving package: 2 bedroom bundle for 3 weeks

John de Graaf

Afluenza DVDs and books

Aisha Kaba

French lessons, Salsa lessons

Samadhi Yoga

2 months unlimited yoga

Glamspoon

Handmade recycled cashmere & wool patch scarf & arm warmers

Hazel Salon & Organics

Care package

Twig Landscape Design

2hr gardening/landscape design consultation

Catalyst Designs Alena Fisse-Karr

Hand crafted jewelry

Artwork:

Photographs by Eldan Goldenburg

Two art series by Laura Musikanski

Peas! by Elizabeth Sheets

Sarah Jane Lapp New York Party & '04 GOP convention cartoon

Dream a Sound Future Contest Entries

We are getting close to the deadline for the Dream a Sound Future contest entrants. See the following flier for further information. You have a vision that can help shape the future. Share it with us!

First Annual Dream a Sound Future Competition
-a grassroots project to bring about sustainable future-

"The world is as you dream it. Your people dreamed of huge factories, tall buildings, as many cars as there are raindrops in this river. Now you begin to see that your dream is a nightmare. All you have to do is change the dream... You need only plant a different seed, teach your children to dream new dreams." -Shuar Elder from the Amazon forest.

PURPOSE:
To create the vision of a truly sustainable future for the Seattle and Puget Sound area and to bring about effective and lasting collaboration among non-profits, initiatives and individuals with the common goal of sustainability.

WHO SHOULD ENTER:
All Visionaries: individuals, teams, artists, professionals, community or neighborhood groups, families or friends are encouraged to join.

JUDGES:

Abigail Echo-Hawk, Seattle Women's Commission
Sean Schmidt, University of Washington
Shefali Ranganathan, Transportation Choices

Stella Chao, Dept of Neighborhoods
Steven Rainville, OSKA Architects
Vic Opperman, Opperman Design

DEADLINE TO REGISTER:
September 10, 2010

FINAL EVENT:
Winners will be announced at the Final Event at the Seattle Center October 10th, 2010. Public is welcome to attend.

CONTACT:
ania@sustainableseattle.org

AWARDS:

500 Cash

One night at Hotel Max

Dinner at Tutta Bella

Dinner Barge

Coffee with Tom Kundig and a copy of his book

Publication by Mithun

Climbing Certificates from REI

Seventh Generation Gift Basket

Maritime Northwest Garden Guide and Seattle Tilth 1-year membership

REGISTRATION:
See form below.

MORE INFO:
www.sustainableseattle.org
click on Dream a Sound Future

PLEASE HELP US REACH ALL VISIONARIES BY FORWARDING THIS EMAIL!

Dream a Sound Future Registration Form (cut & paste, then fill out and email todream@sustainableseattle.org

)


Name of main contact:

Email and phone (email is required):

Names of other entrants:
Name of organization or group (if applicable):

Goal or goals for the entry (from the B-sustainable.org information commons):

Title of entry and brief description:

Planned medium for entry (i.e. performance, drawings, art, or a model, etc.):

Date(s) and time entry is available to view:

Will you have a confirmed place of viewing the entry or would you prefer to have one provided for you:

Will the confirmed place of viewing the entry be available to the public during the scheduled timeframe (entries that are not available to the public cannot be considered for an award):

Is photographing, videotaping, captured on the web, or otherwise recording your entry permitted? (entries that cannot be memorialized can not be considered for an award):

Other information/Special requirements:

Sustainable Seattle in the News

Sustainable Seattle has been recognized as a world leader in sustainability indicators for many years and in February the Tampa Bay Business Journal, using some of the indicators from Sustainable Seattle and other organizations, awarded businesses certificates of recognition for excellence. The following is a reprint of the article from the Tampa Bay Business Journal and all rights remain with them.

(For the original article click here).

Thursday, February 18, 2010, 1:09pm EST | Modified: Thursday, February 18, 2010, 1:10pm

Walker, Pender, DLA among sustainable companies to be honored

Tampa Bay Business Journal

Eighteen Tampa Bay companies will be recognized Friday at Earth Charter U.S.’s second annual Sustainable Business Awards luncheon. A partnership with the University of Tampa’s Center for Ethics, the event will be held at UT’s Vaughn Center.

The honorees were selected out of a pool of 32 companies nominated by graduate students of Jan Roberts, founder of Earth Charter and an adjunct instructor at UT, a release said.

The students, guided by Roberts and Dr. Daniel Verreault, co-director of the Center for Ethics, developed the award criteria using sources such as Global Reporting Initiatives, Sustainable Seattle, Sustainable Florida and the U.N. Global Compact.

“These companies are setting the standards for Tampa Bay area sustainability practices,” Verreault said in the release. “They are taking a people, profit, planet approach to company policies and also realizing significant cost-savings in their operations.”

Case studies were performed on a single honoree in each of the three categories, based on number of employees, to assess the sustainable measures the companies have put in place.

The law firm DLA Piper in Tampa, the leader in the large company category, put in place its Climate Change Project that aims to provide subsistence farmers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with the means to reduce the effects of deforestation, drought and famine using the sale of greenhouse gas credits to create long-term revenue. DLA Piper attorneys have donated $300,000 to the relief efforts and will continue to invest in the rebuilding of Haiti, the release said.

DLA Piper also offers a hybrid vehicle reimbursement policy and an alternative commuting incentive program for employees who use public transportation, carpool or bicycle for at least 60 consecutive days.

In the medium business category, Pender Newkirk & Co. in Tampa reinvested half its profits in 2005 in software programs aimed at becoming a more paperless company, the release said. Employees can now store files electronically, receive faxes via e-mail, employ electronic payroll and scan documents instead of making paper copies. The office also uses all recycled computers.

Walker Brands, a branding agency in Tampa, is among the honorees in the small business category.

The company is the first privately funded company with a building certified Gold by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the release said. It includes heat flow reduction features, native landscape with less irrigation required, motion-sensored lighting, reclaimed heart pine wood flooring and more than 75 percent exposure to natural light.

As a result, the building’s design has reduced energy consumption by 30 percent and water consumption by more than 40 percent.

The complete list of honorees includes:

Large Business Category, 251 or more employees:Xerox

Progress Energy

McNichols Co.

DLA Piper

Sandpearl Resort

Medium Business Category, 51 to 250 employees:Pender Newkirk & Co.

Infinity Business Systems

Creative Recycling Systems

Creative Contractors

Rev1 Power Services

Coastal Caisson

Small Business Category, 50 or fewer employees:Rising Force Construction

IT Authorities

Nvirotect Services

Walker Brands

Bay Tech Label

Happy Feet Plus

Special Award for Innovation:K.B. Industries Inc.

Tom Garrett, assistant professor of communications at UT, will have his students film the award presentation and conduct interviews with the honorees on their sustainability efforts. The footage will appear on Earth Charter’s Web site.

Based in Tampa, Earth Charter U.S. is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide an ethical framework to building a more sustainable global society.