Sustainable Business Coalition Calls for Nominees for 7th Annual Sustainable Business Awards on June 10

The Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa Bay Inc. and The University of Tampa Center for Ethics is calling for nominations for their annual Sustainable Business Awards, which will be held on Wednesday, June 10, at The University of Tampa’s Vaughn Center.

Now in its seventh 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.

The deadline to nominate a business is Friday, April 24, and the nomination process can be found at www.sbctampabay.org.

Andrew McIntosh, chairman of the Sustainable Business Coalition (SBC) and partner with the law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, said that by bringing favorable attention to business leaders who have embraced sustainability — those who are doing not just the right thing but the smart thing — and collaborate for continued innovation in sustainability, we are helping build a better, more attractive community.

“The term sustainability means different things to different people,” McIntosh said. “Generally, in the business context, the notion of sustainability focuses on achieving positive results in consideration of people, planet and profit. Those interests are intertwined. The development and adoption of best practices with sustainability in mind makes for good business. And as businesses take that approach new talent, new investment and new jobs are drawn to the area.”

The SBC, working in concert with The University of Tampa Center for Ethics and now also with The Sustany Foundation, recognizes “sustainable businesses” in Tampa Bay.

“Through the SBC, we have established and continue to develop a platform through which businesses can be recognized and share best practices with other sustainability-minded leaders,” McIntosh said.

The criteria for a Sustainable Business Award are:

A company that strives to be a good citizen of the Tampa Bay community through programs to improve work environment, employee benefits, community infrastructure and charitable outreach programs.
A company with economic performance that contributes to the overall economic health of Tampa Bay through local hiring or purchasing, product/service innovation based on customer needs, employment growth and reinvestment.
A company that is engaged in contributing to the environmental health of the Tampa Bay area through programs to reduce waste, energy audits, recycling, reduction of the use of toxic substances in operations and/or LEED construction.

Andrew Schaberg, GM of Triad and 2014 award winner, said he was humbled to be recognized as a sustainable business award winner, and that they continue to make progress daily in every decision as it relates to being efficient.

“Our people are the lifeline, our planet is important to nurture and our profit is the reward for doing the right thing,” Schaberg said. “Triad Cleaning Solutions serves its clients in the auto dealership industry, healthcare field and commercial office building space with a sustainable mindset for the long term.”

Herb Goetschius, chair of the Sustainable Business Awards and SBC Board Member, added that “we reach deep into the community to recognize and connect the leaders in sustainability. It is our passion and goal to serve as the foremost organization in the Tampa Bay Region for business leaders who embrace the triple bottom line — people, planet and profit.”

If a company strives to be a good corporate citizen, they may be eligible for the distinction of a sustainable business award in Tampa Bay. A team of University of Tampa business students will conduct interviews and assist in completing the nomination and selection process.

For more information or a nomination form, contact Theo Prodromitis of Out Front Brands, at (813) 810-4268 or theo@outfrontbrands.com or Jennifer Silva of The Sustany Foundation, at (727) 254-9101 or jsilva@sustany.org.

On Friday, April 17, a panel of four industry professionals will present the obstacles and challenges faced in today’s business environment related to whistleblowing.

The panel will be held at The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business, Room 234, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. This “Hot Seat Event” is sponsored by UT’s Center for Ethics. The public is invited, and there is no charge for the event.

Student Films Screened in Moon Dance Film Festival at UT

University of Tampa film students will screen their work at the first annual Moon Dance Film Festival at UT’s Reeves Theater on Tuesday, April 14, at 8:30 p.m.

Aaron Walker, assistant professor of communication, said the festival is an opportunity for UT students both to screen their work and to curate the best work of their peers.

“It’s fully student-run, so it shows how deeply the students care about celebrating the strong work of their peers, but also shows how much desire there is for our FMA students to create venues of success for one another,” Walker said. “It’s a terrific collaboration, and will be a terrific party for film. Plus, the movies are great.”

UT to Host Fourth Annual Human Rights Day Conference April 18

The University of Tampa will hold its fourth annual Human Rights Day Conference on Saturday, April 18. Conference attendees will investigate and celebrate human rights through panels, presentations and creative works from UT faculty and students as well as outside speakers.