And the winners of the 2014 Sustain Charlotte awards are…

Congratulations to all these companies and individuals that help to preserve and protect our environment!

Here’s the announcement from Sustain Charlotte:

WHAT A NIGHT!

We’d like offer a heartfelt word of thanks to everyone who helped make our 3rd Annual Community Sustainability Awards + Earth Day Celebration such an inspiring evening!

270 gathered at UNC Charlotte Center City to celebrate the 2014 Sustain Charlotte Awards.

This was our biggest awards event yet — here’s a few numbers!

• 270 attendees!
• 200 pounds of electronic waste collected from attendees for responsible and localrecycling by eCycleSecure!
• 70 nominees honored!
• 18 sponsors!
• 7 elected officials in attendance including: Charlotte Mayor Clodfelter, Charlotte City Council Members Autry, Lyles, Mayfield, Kinsey, and Howard and Mecklenburg County Commissioner Cotham!
• 0 waste created!  All items needed are being reused or composted!

(L-R): Charlotte Mayor Clodfelter, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Cotham, City Council Member Howard

Sustain Charlotte Founder and Director Shannon Binns opened the evening by reminding the audience that, “We are all just a few of the one billion people who are participating in an Earth Day event today, making it the largest civic observance in the world. The tremendous turnout this evening is a testament to our region’s growing awareness and commitment to caring for that which sustains us, and those who will come after us.”

Sustain Charlotte Executive Director Shannon Binns

City Council Member John Autry welcomed the audience by thanking our nominees, and Sustain Charlotte, for making our community better: “It’s wonderful to have a partner like Sustain Charlotte — an organization you can count on for accurate information, strong advocacy, and a passion for a sustainable community.”

 

                        

City Council Member John Autry

Keynote speaker Alicia Roskind, founder and owner of Okra Yoga, Massage, Tea & Coffee, spoke about the importance of vision and intention as Charlotte moves toward a more sustainable future:“The Charlotte 2030 Vision for Sustainability that Sustain Charlotte launched four years ago laid the foundation of possibility and created an open invitation for others in the Charlotte community to create, dream, and inspire change. And those people being honored tonight accepted this invitation and are helping realize this vision, whether knowing it or not, by having their own unique and powerful visions for themselves, our community, and our world.”

Keynote speaker and founder of Okra Alicia Roskind

Ashley Batey of WBTV, generously donated her time and talent as our Master of Ceremonies during the awards presentation.

WBTV Meteorologist Ashley Batey

In addition to highlighting 70 local organizations and individuals for their innovative work to move us towards sustainability, we presented 11 awards to our most outstanding nominees as selected by a panel of Sustain Charlotte volunteers.  

And our 2014 winners are…

Danny Pleasant (far left) and Vivian Coleman accepting 2014 Transportation award on behalf of Charlotte DOT.
2013 winner Ray Atkinson (center) presenting.
Tobe Holmes and Allison Billings (center) accepting 2014 Land Use award for Charlotte Center City Partners.
2013 Buildings + Homes winner Craig Lewis of Lawrence Group (far left) and 2013 Parks + Open Space winner Jim Garges of Mecklenburg County Park & Rec (far right) presenting.

Mike Davis accepting 2014 Energy award on behalf of the NC Sustainable Energy Association.
CMS’s Diana Kooser presenting on behalf of 2013 winner Phil Berman.

Ronnie Goins (L) and Joe Fass (R) accepting 2014 Waste Reduction award on behalf of Eaton Corporation.
2013 winner Jennifer White presenting.

Rebecca Cheatham, June Blotnick, + Mary Stauble accepting 2014 Air Quality award for Clean Air Carolina.

Sustain Charlotte Board Chair Jenifer Daniels presenting on behalf of 2013 winner Leslie Rhodes of Mecklenburg County Air Quality.

Leconte Lee (center) and Nick Nock (right) accepting 2014 Food award for their business, Go-Go Fresco.
Sustain Charlotte Board Chair Jenifer Daniels presenting on behalf of 2013 winner Cassie Parsons.

Julie Stancil, Bridgett Williams + Kelly Merkl accepting 2014 Social Equity award on behalf of MGR Charlotte.
2013 winner Barney Offerman presenting.

Rick Roti, Debra Glennon, + Ron Shearin of the Charlotte Public Tree Fund accepting the 2014 Water award.
Diana Daniels presenting on behalf of 2013 winner Rick Gaskins of Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.

Joe + Pamela Robinson accepting the Sustainable Economy award on behalf of their business, PPRE Forevergreen. 2013 winner Shannon Johnson with Albemarle Downtown Development presenting.

Billy Booe accepting Outstanding Educator award on behalf of winner Cindy Moss with Discovery Education.
2013 winner Regina Guyer of UNC Charlotte presenting.

2014 Overall Outstanding Leader David Walters of UNC Charlotte.
2013 winner Bill Gupton of the Central Piedmont Sierra Club Chapter presenting.

All award plaques made from Forest Stewardship Council certified bamboo – a fast growing resource!

Although there could only be one winner per category, we want to congratulate ALL of our nominees for the amazing work they’re doing!