C.O. Sustainability Awards announced
The 2014 Sustainability Awards were announced by The Environmental Center Thursday night at a celebration at the Cascade Culinary Institute’s Elevation Restaurant.
The Environmental Center received 13 nominations and the winners were selected by a community review committee.
“Sustainability is a big, complex topic,” said Mike Riley, executive director of The Environmental Center. “Achieving it requires patience and perseverance in the face of often daunting obstacles. The Sustainability Awards celebrate the citizens, businesses, and organizations in our community that are dedicated to overcoming these challenges.”
The Environmental Center presented six awards:
Individual : Bill Hull
Small Business : Winter Creek Restoration
Large Business : EartH20
Organization : Bend Area Habitat for Humanity
Special Award—Grassroots Action : Lisa Barnett
Special Award—Sustainability Pioneers : Tom Elliot and Barbara Scott
Matt Shinderman, a previous award winner and key note speaker, explained the importance of the awards. “The individuals and groups we honor tonight are our local sustainability standard bearers. They stand on the shoulders of those who came before them and set the stage for the work we must do ahead. If we harness their energy, passion and commitment, we can create a future that’s good for people and the planet.”
An eight-member citizen committee reviewed 13 nominations and selected the final winners. The committee members were: Serena Bishop-Gordon, The Conservation Alliance; Bruce Sullivan, Base Zero; Daniel Brewster, Cascade Couriers; Susan Baker, Bend Garbage and Recycling; Karen Kassey, 2012 Individual Winner; and Rhonda Ealy, Strictly Organic Coffee Company; JoAn Mann, small business owners; and Jennifer Letz, Environmental Center Board of Directors. This year’s awards were designed and created by local blacksmith Kellen Bateham.
The nominees were scored on the basis of their leadership, innovation, and operating practices with regards to sustainability, as well as their community involvement and promotion of social equity. The nominees’ scores were compared to their peers for each category (Individual, Small Business, Large Business, and Organization) to determine the winner. The review committee also presented two special awards for grassroots action and pioneering efforts in the field.
About The Environmental Center
The Environmental Center educates and advocates for a sustainable future in Central Oregon. We believe that sustainability hinges on how we live our daily lives: at home, at school and at work. The Center’s initiatives include educating kids, promoting zero waste, promoting energy efficiency and renewables, and serving as a hub for sustainability in the region. To learn more about The Environmental Center, visit them online at www.envirocenter.org or visit their facility at 16 NW Kansas Avenue in downtown Bend.
