The Summit of Sustainability Awards program will culminate in an awards breakfast on Oct. 23 at The University of Akron’s Quaker Station Ballroom. Tickets are on sale for $20 each or a table of eight for $160 at www.SummitOfSustainability.org.
Parking is free at the surface lots surrounding the venue. Registration begins at 7 a.m., breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and program begins promptly at 8 a.m.
This is the third year for the countywide awards program that will showcase the best examples of sustainability, like commercial energy efficiency, waste reduction and employee engagement in four categories: small companies with 25 or under employees, large companies with 250 employees or more, Nonprofits/Community and Public Sector (Governmental/Schools).
The panel of five esteemed judges selected the following 2014 Summit of Sustainability Award winners:
Small Companies with 25 or less employees: Salsbury-Schweyer, Inc.
Large Companies with 250 employees or more: Summa Health System
Tie in the category of Nonprofit/Community: Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc. and St. Hilary Parish and School
Public Sector (Governmental/Schools): Old Trail School
This year, for the first time, the judges are giving two Sustainability Medals to recognize specific sustainable activities, outlined in their applications, conducted by Habitat for Humanity of Summit County and Omnova Solutions, Inc.
The awards program will reveal best sustainable business practices going on within our community and will showcase the award and medal winners for others to emulate.
The founding members: City of Akron, County of Summit, Keep Akron Beautiful, the Greater Akron Chamber and ReWorks offer thanks to their partners, the sponsors who stepped forward to launch this awards program, elected to stay and grow the program and with the addition of three new sponsors, work to provide local sustainable mentors for businesses and nonprofits as we strive to be more responsible stewards of our shared environment:
Sustainable Champions – METRO RTA, Sterling Jewelers Inc. and the Akron Zoo
Conservation Leaders – Dominion Foundation, FirstEnergy Foundation, The University of Akron, River Valley Paper Company, Smart Business Network, and Waste Management
Resource Guardian – Affinity Consultants, Inc., and Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Media Sponsors – The Summit-91.3FM and Lockett Media
The expert panel of judges for the awards competition was: Dr. Nicholas Zingale, Faculty Member, Cleveland State University, Dr. Stacy Willet, Faculty Member, The University of Akron, Sam Rubens, Administrator, Akron Regional Air Quality Management District, Robert Marshall, AIA, Principal, Robert Marshall Architecture and Mike Long, P.E., Network Leader, Ohio By-Product Synergy Network.
