Over 200 Tampa Bay business and community leaders celebrated this year’s thirteen outstanding companies that were recognized for sustainable business practices at the Fifth Annual Earth Charter US (ECUS) Sustainable Business Awards luncheon held at the University of Tampa on April 12th. University of Tampa MBA students—Matt Easley, Ghadeer Musa, John Lemke and Dominic Grasso– under the guidance of Jan Roberts, Founder of Earth Charter US and adjunct professor in the College of Business, developed the criteria for the awards: people (employee and community wellbeing); planet (environmental health); and profit ( economic viability). They screened the company nominations, followed up with interviews with the finalists, and evaluated and selected the winners, who were approved by the ECUS Board of Directors.
The winners included a LED lighting system manufacturer that uses speaker wire in place of high voltage electric wire; an engineering firm for architects that was named the Green Business of the Year in 2012 by the US Green Building Council; an accounting firm that provides part time workers with the same benefits as full time employees; and a telecommunications company with cost savings of $130,000 last year due to sustainability initiatives.
For more information on the winning companies, please click here.
Connections: a benefit of being a sustainable business winner
Photo below: “Syniverse (at table in foreground) and other attendees enjoying the awards luncheon.”
“I’m happy to report that just after last Friday’s awards ceremony, our facilities management department and property management company will each be contacting two other 2013 Sustainable Business Winners–The Green Can and Delta M companies respectively– to inquire about use of their products and services. Thanks to Earth Charter US, the awareness of such organizations is an invaluable marketing tool for everyone involved.” Kathy Rebel, Quality Assurance Manager at Syniverse.