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We'd like to take a minute to welcome our new spring interns. They are an intrepid bunch with a wide-ranging skill set, and we're looking forward to tapping into their knowledge!
Brittany Durbin is a freshly minted graduate of Bucknell University where she studied management and studio art, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Her immediate career plans include beginning her first full-time job with Lord & Taylor in New York City this September, entering their esteemed executive trainee program in order to earn job status as a buyer and financial planner. Ms. Durbin is passionate about helping companies become more (if not entirely) sustainable and plans to make this a part of her career in the future. She currently resides in her hometown of Ellwood City, PA, and enjoys all things "Pittsburgh," tennis, music new and old, and art.
Ida Arabshahi is currently a graduate student in a dual MA degree program at American University and the University for Peace in Costa Rica where she is studying natural resources and sustainable development. She has experience working on a wide range of issues in the environmental field including environmental justice, environmental education, and environmental legislation. Ida is interested in sustainable supply chains and transboundary environmental conflict management.
Joe Vandette is currently pursuing undergraduate degrees in Environmental Studies and Marketing at the University of Utah. His interest in sustainability began while studying resource management at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Joe returned to the States and helped conduct carbon emissions inventories as a volunteer at the University of Montana and as an intern at the University of Utah Office of Sustainability. When not involved with sustainability-related initiatives, Joe can be found outdoors, hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding.
April Hansgate is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology at the University of Maryland. She has a strong background in scientific research, plant conservation, economics, and adaptive management for planning conservation programs.
Claire Miziolek is in her last year as an undergraduate at Cornell University where she has been pursuing a double major in Economics and Psychology. She is interested in combining these skills to assist and promote businesses into more sustainable practices. She was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where she lived next to a forest, sparking her early interest in the environment. She is an active member of the Sustainable Enterprise Association at Cornell and recently became a Master Composter.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
NEWS: Further Evidence Supporting Positive Impact of Engaged Employees
If you aren’t already convinced of the business case and competitive advantage that can be gained by developing employees who are fully engaged in your organization’s work, the 2008 State of Employee Engagement report, published by BlessingWhite, will turn you into a believer. BlessingWhite, a global consultancy that recognizes the important link between employee engagement and leadership development in creating high-performance and sustainable organizations, released it’s annual report on the state of employee engagement in North America just last month. The report highlights global research and shares strategies for implementing employee engagement initiatives. BlessingWhite also presents a framework that illustrates the five levels of engagement and shares best practices gleaned from interviews with managers around the world.
One of the most noteworthy topics the report addresses is the challenge of varying definitions of “engagement.” While some organizations describe engagement as strictly job satisfaction or emotional commitment to the organization, BlessingWhite’s model for employee engagement blends maximum job satisfaction (employees enjoy what they do and do it well) and maximum job contribution (employees recognize the contribution they are making to the organization’s overall goals). The report also differentiates between engaged and disengaged employees in terms of retention, highlighting that engaged employees stay with a company or job for what they give (they like their work), while disengaged employees stay for what they get (favorable job conditions, growth opportunities or job security). BlessingWhite notes the popular correlation between employee engagement and retention, noting that 85% of engaged employees in North America indicated that they plan to stay with their employer through 2008.
One of the key takeaways of the report is that the most successful organizations implement and multi-faceted approach to employee engagement and consider it an ongoing priority, not just a once-a-year event.
Click here to read highlights and key findings of the report: http://www.blessingwhite.com/EEE__report.asp Employee Engagement Report 2008 – North American Overview – Published April 2008
One of the most noteworthy topics the report addresses is the challenge of varying definitions of “engagement.” While some organizations describe engagement as strictly job satisfaction or emotional commitment to the organization, BlessingWhite’s model for employee engagement blends maximum job satisfaction (employees enjoy what they do and do it well) and maximum job contribution (employees recognize the contribution they are making to the organization’s overall goals). The report also differentiates between engaged and disengaged employees in terms of retention, highlighting that engaged employees stay with a company or job for what they give (they like their work), while disengaged employees stay for what they get (favorable job conditions, growth opportunities or job security). BlessingWhite notes the popular correlation between employee engagement and retention, noting that 85% of engaged employees in North America indicated that they plan to stay with their employer through 2008.
One of the key takeaways of the report is that the most successful organizations implement and multi-faceted approach to employee engagement and consider it an ongoing priority, not just a once-a-year event.
Click here to read highlights and key findings of the report: http://www.blessingwhite.com/EEE__report.asp Employee Engagement Report 2008 – North American Overview – Published April 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
NEWS: Survey Says…
A recent study by Sirota Survey Intelligence, a firm that specializes in attitude research, recently published a survey reinforcing the widely known correlation between a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and employees’ attitudes about key drivers and motivators related to job satisfaction. Seventy per cent of the 1.5 million employees from 70 organizations responded that they are positive about their employer’s commitment to CSR. The data indicated that employees who feel positive about the company’s CSR initiatives also feel positive about other key indicators of the company’s success, such as:
- Senior management’s integrity
- Senior management’s inspirational sense of direction
- Organization’s competitiveness in the marketplace
- Company’s interest in employees’ well-being
- Employees’ engagement or pride in their organization
Click here to read the article and survey data: http://www.crmlearning.com/blog/?p=31Workers Satisfied With Company’s Social Responsibility Are More Engaged and Positive
This is certainly not breaking news – in recent years, many studies have been conducted to determine what incentives motivate employees and repeatedly show that more employees are pursuing careers with companies that are socially and environmentally responsible. In addition to the cost savings of implementing “green” operations, employers also enjoy fewer recruiting, hiring and training expenses in the long-term, as companies with integrated CSR strategies are more likely to attract and retain top talent.
- Senior management’s integrity
- Senior management’s inspirational sense of direction
- Organization’s competitiveness in the marketplace
- Company’s interest in employees’ well-being
- Employees’ engagement or pride in their organization
Click here to read the article and survey data: http://www.crmlearning.com/blog/?p=31Workers Satisfied With Company’s Social Responsibility Are More Engaged and Positive
This is certainly not breaking news – in recent years, many studies have been conducted to determine what incentives motivate employees and repeatedly show that more employees are pursuing careers with companies that are socially and environmentally responsible. In addition to the cost savings of implementing “green” operations, employers also enjoy fewer recruiting, hiring and training expenses in the long-term, as companies with integrated CSR strategies are more likely to attract and retain top talent.
Monday, April 14, 2008
NEWS: SSC featured in Entrepreneur.com
Extra! Extra! Read all about Strategic Sustainability Consulting in this month’s issue of Entrepreneur.com – SSC was interviewed and asked to provide insight on the important role employees can play in greening business. With a circulation of over 2 million subscribers, Entrepreneur.com is a great way to spread the word about how easy creating more sustainable businesses can be.
This article shares a story about how the founder of a payroll and HR solutions provider not only ensured that recycled materials and energy-efficient lighting were incorporated in its new offices, but also engaged 14 employees in a Green Team to brainstorm other ways the company can be a good corporate citizen. This level of employee engagement supports the recent findings that over 50% of adult employees feel their companies should do more to be environmentally friendly. I noted in the interview that giving employees these opportunities to contribute outside of the scope of their daily responsibilities creates a sense of ownership and loyalty that conventional employee retention programs do not. These environmentally and socially responsible initiatives give smaller companies the edge needed to compete with bigger corporations.
And for all the executives and senior managers reading out there, here’s a key takeaway for you – lead the initial green efforts by choosing one employee from each department to serve on the Green Team, and work with them to create the scope of the team and set goals for the upcoming year. Help them get of the ground, then stay in the loop and make sure information consistently flows up to the “C” suite.
Read the entire article here:
Green Team: Make your employees part of the solution by tapping them for environmentally friendly ideas by Chris Penttila, Entrepreneur Magazine April 2008
Also, if you’d like to find out how to make your company more eco-friendly, check out SSC’s new Sustainability Marketplace online – visit www.sustainabilityconsulting.com and click on “Visit Our Store” to find publications like “Making Cents out of Sustainability,” “Green IT,” or “Ten Simple Ways to Cut Energy Costs.” Also check out our new webinar, Implementing a Green IT Program, hosted by Jessica Vreeswijk, Founder of GreenITtools.com, on Thursday, May 1.
Register for the webinar here
This article shares a story about how the founder of a payroll and HR solutions provider not only ensured that recycled materials and energy-efficient lighting were incorporated in its new offices, but also engaged 14 employees in a Green Team to brainstorm other ways the company can be a good corporate citizen. This level of employee engagement supports the recent findings that over 50% of adult employees feel their companies should do more to be environmentally friendly. I noted in the interview that giving employees these opportunities to contribute outside of the scope of their daily responsibilities creates a sense of ownership and loyalty that conventional employee retention programs do not. These environmentally and socially responsible initiatives give smaller companies the edge needed to compete with bigger corporations.
And for all the executives and senior managers reading out there, here’s a key takeaway for you – lead the initial green efforts by choosing one employee from each department to serve on the Green Team, and work with them to create the scope of the team and set goals for the upcoming year. Help them get of the ground, then stay in the loop and make sure information consistently flows up to the “C” suite.
Read the entire article here:
Green Team: Make your employees part of the solution by tapping them for environmentally friendly ideas by Chris Penttila, Entrepreneur Magazine April 2008
Also, if you’d like to find out how to make your company more eco-friendly, check out SSC’s new Sustainability Marketplace online – visit www.sustainabilityconsulting.com and click on “Visit Our Store” to find publications like “Making Cents out of Sustainability,” “Green IT,” or “Ten Simple Ways to Cut Energy Costs.” Also check out our new webinar, Implementing a Green IT Program, hosted by Jessica Vreeswijk, Founder of GreenITtools.com, on Thursday, May 1.
Register for the webinar here
Thursday, April 10, 2008
NEWS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting Launches Online Marketplace
"This is another way SSC is reaching out to small businesses and providing simple, practical tools for creating sustainable operations," says SSC President Jennifer Woofter
Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is excited to announce the launch of the Sustainability Consulting Marketplace, an online bookstore where small businesses and individuals can purchase and download helpful tools with tips on sustainability and green living. Customers can choose from an extensive list of publications, such as SSC’s Sustainability 101series, and immediately download them right to their desktop.
Each Sustainability 101 series is comprised of three sections that form a comprehensive resource for businesses as they work toward greening their operations, from initially asking the right questions to harnessing the entire organization's or community's skills and enthusiasm. Customers can purchase and download Sustainability 101 for Healthcare Facilities and Sustainability 101 for Churches, as well as a host of other useful publications with tips and advice for "going green."
"We specialize in helping small and medium size organizations implement sustainability solutions usually reserved for larger companies," says SSC's President, Jennifer Woofter. "The Marketplace is another way we can reach these companies and provide resources and services to help them become more sustainable."
Visit the Marketplace by going to www.sustainabilityconsulting.com and clicking on "Visit Our Store." Check out other publications such as:
Orders of more than 10 publications may qualify for a discount. Contact SSC at info@sustainabilityconsulting.com for more information. |
Friday, April 04, 2008
NEWS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting Ranked Top 10 in 2007 CR Reporting Awards
Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is pleased to announce that it received "Top Ten" rankings for two different categories in the 2007 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Reporting Awards. The CR Reporting Awards, presented by CorporateRegister.com, is the very first global, independent, online awards for CR reporting.
SSC ranked ninth in the category of "Best First Time Report," against 31 other entrants. In the category of "Best SME Report," SSC ranked fourth among 13 entrants. CorporateRegister.com defines SME as a micro, small or medium-size enterprise with fewer than 250 employees.
SSC works with organizations around the world to evaluate the environmental and social impact of their operations, then develops a sustainability action plan with practical steps for clients to take to "green" their footprint. An essential component of those recommendations is a communications strategy for sustainability topics. Strategic Sustainability Consulting hopes its sustainability reports will serve as an example to other small businesses, showing them that sustainability reporting isn't just for big companies-but can be beneficial for all organizations.
"We tell our clients that transparency is the single most important factor in being a responsible organization" said SSC's President, Jennifer Woofter. "Sustainability is on everyone's mind these days, and businesses need to be able to communicate how they are dealing with issues ranging from carbon emissions and climate change to human rights in their supply chain. And that's true for us as well. We're honored and delighted to have received this recognition."
The 2007 CR Reporting Awards included nine categories: Best Report, Best First Time Report, Best SME Report, Best Integrated report, Best Carbon Disclosure, Creativity in Communications, Relevance and Materiality, Openness and Honesty and Credibility in Assurance.
CorporateRegister.com has an established online community of over 20,000 readers of the reports who have a proven interest in, and experience of, CR reporting. These users serve as judges and consider five essential element of each report - Content, Communication, Credibility, Commitment and Comparability. More than 20 industries were represented and 300 reports were entered into the Awards.
Download the 2006 report here: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/pdfs/2006_sustainability_report.pdf
Information about SSC's current sustainability initiatives can be found here: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/pdfs/2007_sustainability_report.pdf
SSC ranked ninth in the category of "Best First Time Report," against 31 other entrants. In the category of "Best SME Report," SSC ranked fourth among 13 entrants. CorporateRegister.com defines SME as a micro, small or medium-size enterprise with fewer than 250 employees.
SSC works with organizations around the world to evaluate the environmental and social impact of their operations, then develops a sustainability action plan with practical steps for clients to take to "green" their footprint. An essential component of those recommendations is a communications strategy for sustainability topics. Strategic Sustainability Consulting hopes its sustainability reports will serve as an example to other small businesses, showing them that sustainability reporting isn't just for big companies-but can be beneficial for all organizations.
"We tell our clients that transparency is the single most important factor in being a responsible organization" said SSC's President, Jennifer Woofter. "Sustainability is on everyone's mind these days, and businesses need to be able to communicate how they are dealing with issues ranging from carbon emissions and climate change to human rights in their supply chain. And that's true for us as well. We're honored and delighted to have received this recognition."
The 2007 CR Reporting Awards included nine categories: Best Report, Best First Time Report, Best SME Report, Best Integrated report, Best Carbon Disclosure, Creativity in Communications, Relevance and Materiality, Openness and Honesty and Credibility in Assurance.
CorporateRegister.com has an established online community of over 20,000 readers of the reports who have a proven interest in, and experience of, CR reporting. These users serve as judges and consider five essential element of each report - Content, Communication, Credibility, Commitment and Comparability. More than 20 industries were represented and 300 reports were entered into the Awards.
Download the 2006 report here: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/pdfs/2006_sustainability_report.pdf
Information about SSC's current sustainability initiatives can be found here: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/pdfs/2007_sustainability_report.pdf
Monday, March 31, 2008
EVENTS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting and GreenITtools.com Host Green IT Webinar
Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is excited to announce a new webinar, Implementing a Green IT Program. This interactive online event, taking place on Thursday, May 1, will focus on the practical steps to improve your organization's environmental impact and performance.
"There are huge environmental impacts associated with information technology," says SSC President Jennifer K. Woofter. "Smart companies realize that pursuing a Green IT program can lower carbon emissions, divert e-waste from landfills, and help achieve a dramatic reduction in energy costs. It's a win-win situation for their financial bottom line and the environment. The trick now is making it easy to implement such a program."
SSC is pleased to present this webinar in partnership with Jessica Vreeswijk, founder of GreenITTools.com. Jessica has spent the last six years providing IT project management, operations management, consulting and technical services in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. GreenITTools.com provides practical, hands-on tools for IT managers in small- to medium-sized businesses to assess and reduce the impact of IT. The Green IT Guide and Toolkit for Sustainable Business offers first-hand advice and best practices based on Jessica's own experience in spearheading a Green IT program.
In this 60-minute presentation you'll learn:
- A five-step process for implementing a Green IT program
- Areas of opportunity and impact for Green IT
- Using the Green IT Toolkit to assess your organization’s IT impact
- Where to find resources to help you get started
This webinar is designed for IT directors, IT professionals and sustainability managers looking to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of the IT department.
Webinar: Implementing a Green IT ProgramDate: Thursday, May 1, 2008Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ESTLocation: At Your Desktop!Cost: $50
To register for this event, click here
About Strategic Sustainability Consulting:
Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impacts. Through sustainability assessments, green office auditing, supply chain management, stakeholder consultations, sustainability disclosure and social marketing, SSC helps organizations embrace their larger societal responsibilities and be the good corporate citizens to which they aspire. Find out more at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com.
About GreenITtools.com
GreenITtools.com was founded to encourage discussion and implementation of 'green' IT practices in small- to medium-sized businesses. GreenITtools.com offers articles, resources, guides and toolkits to build understanding, and demonstrate viability for green IT practices. Visit www.greenITtools.com for more information or professional services.
"There are huge environmental impacts associated with information technology," says SSC President Jennifer K. Woofter. "Smart companies realize that pursuing a Green IT program can lower carbon emissions, divert e-waste from landfills, and help achieve a dramatic reduction in energy costs. It's a win-win situation for their financial bottom line and the environment. The trick now is making it easy to implement such a program."
SSC is pleased to present this webinar in partnership with Jessica Vreeswijk, founder of GreenITTools.com. Jessica has spent the last six years providing IT project management, operations management, consulting and technical services in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. GreenITTools.com provides practical, hands-on tools for IT managers in small- to medium-sized businesses to assess and reduce the impact of IT. The Green IT Guide and Toolkit for Sustainable Business offers first-hand advice and best practices based on Jessica's own experience in spearheading a Green IT program.
In this 60-minute presentation you'll learn:
- A five-step process for implementing a Green IT program
- Areas of opportunity and impact for Green IT
- Using the Green IT Toolkit to assess your organization’s IT impact
- Where to find resources to help you get started
This webinar is designed for IT directors, IT professionals and sustainability managers looking to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of the IT department.
Webinar: Implementing a Green IT ProgramDate: Thursday, May 1, 2008Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ESTLocation: At Your Desktop!Cost: $50
To register for this event, click here
About Strategic Sustainability Consulting:
Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impacts. Through sustainability assessments, green office auditing, supply chain management, stakeholder consultations, sustainability disclosure and social marketing, SSC helps organizations embrace their larger societal responsibilities and be the good corporate citizens to which they aspire. Find out more at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com.
About GreenITtools.com
GreenITtools.com was founded to encourage discussion and implementation of 'green' IT practices in small- to medium-sized businesses. GreenITtools.com offers articles, resources, guides and toolkits to build understanding, and demonstrate viability for green IT practices. Visit www.greenITtools.com for more information or professional services.
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