June 3, 2015
7th Annual Sustainable Business Awards June 10, 2015
TAMPA, FL — The Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa Bay, Inc. and the University of Tampa Center for Ethics are proud to present the annual Sustainable Business Awards on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at the University of Tampa’s Vaughn Center. Now in their 7th year, the Sustainable Business Awards, sponsored by the Sustany® Foundation, recognize and honor for-profit businesses in the Tampa Bay Area that engage in practices that increase economic opportunities and improve the environment and community.
Businesses will be recognized for contributions in building a sustainable economy in Tampa Bay, while embracing the “Triple Bottom Line” — advancing the interests of People, Planet & Profit through innovative practices, products and services. University of Tampa MBA students, under the guidance of UT faculty at the Sykes College of Business, developed an evaluation process based primarily on Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. Nominated businesses were evaluated by MBA students, who made recommendations to the Sustainable Business Coalition for the Award.
Congratulations to the 2015 Sustainable Business Award Winners: Abby’s Health & Nutrition; Accuform Manufacturing; Java Planet Organic Coffee Roasters, Inc.; JJ Taylor Distributing Florida, Inc.; NaturZone Pest Control; Pasco Iron & Metal; Seminole Heights Community Acupuncture; Sykes Enterprises, Inc.
Over 80 Tampa Bay area businesses have been Award winners, including such leading employers as Syniverse, Mosaic, and Xerox and Premier Eye Care. These businesses demonstrate business practices that embrace social, economic and environmental responsibility.
Lorna Taylor, President and CEO of past award winner Premier Eye Care continues to support the annual event. “Premier Eye Care was honored to receive last year’s Jan Roberts Sustainable Business Patron Award,” comments Taylor, “Today’s leading companies understand that a corporate culture of sustainability is best practice and a core strategic competence. Premier believes our commitment to sustainability, often referred to as the Triple Bottom Line, is responsible for high employee engagement resulting in low turnover and higher efficiencies. A commitment to sustainability is not only the right thing to do, it is good for business. Premier has been named ‘Best Companies to Work for in Florida’ multiple years, and was recently named as one of the top 75 companies in the nation for Millennials. ”
Business leaders from throughout Tampa Bay, past award winners and sustainability professionals will be among the hundreds in attendance at this luncheon event. The event program will include guest speaker Al Illustrato, Vice President of Facilities and Administration at Tampa International Airport. While serving different roles in his more than 25 years at the airport, Mr. Illustrato has been instrumental in many of sustainability-related activities at the airport, from water resource efficiency initiatives to safety measures like an in-line explosive detection baggage system. Core to his role is understanding how the departments he leads connect with each other and the community economically, environmentally and socially. This has never been more important than now as the airport works through a major expansion, using sustainability as a foundational element throughout design, construction, and vendor and guest relationships.
The Sustainable Business Awards made possible through the generosity of sponsors including: Premier Eye Care, The Tampa Bay Times (official media sponsor); The Sustany® Foundation; The Mosaic Company; MLI Marketing Solutions, AACSB; and Carastro & Associates.
Registration Information
What: The 7th Annual Sustainable Business Awards
Who: The Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa Bay, Inc. and the University of Tampa Center for
Ethics
When: June 10, 2015 from 11:30am to 1:00pm
Where: The University of Tampa
Vaughn Center – Crescent Club, 9th Floor
401 W Kennedy Blvd
How: The luncheon is open to the public. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online at the Sustainable Business Coalition website (sbctampabay.org). Sponsorships are available starting at $500 (contact 813.507.1111 for more information).
About the Sustainable Business Coalition: The mission of the Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa, Inc. is to support development of a sustainable economy in the Tampa Bay area by promoting and educating businesses about sustainable business practices that align profitability with environmental and social responsibility for the advancement of People, Planet & Profit. www.sbctampa.org
About the University of Tampa Center for Ethics: The mission of the Center for Ethics is to provide educational and professional resources to promote ethical systems and individual responsibility in the academic and greater business community through close interaction with the University. www.ut.edu/centerforethics/
About the Sustany® Foundation: Founded in 2007, Sustany® supports sustainability through education and programs which advance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. They strive to be the leading facilitator of sustainability through efficient and effective aggregation and investment of resources for Tampa Bay’s citizens today and into the future. www.sustany.org
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