Business Leadership Awards honor Mayor Dean, Nissan and state senator on Earth Day

Janel Shoun | 

 
Mayor Karl Dean and Nissan are among the ten individuals or organizations chosen to receive the second annual Green Business Leadership Awards, presented by Waste Management and sponsored by Lipscomb University’s Institute for Sustainable Practice. Winners were recognized at Lipscomb’s Green Business Summit held today, Earth Day at the Nashville Convention Center in conjunction with the Living Well Sustainable Marketplace.
 
Mayor Dean spoke at the Nashville Earth Day Green Leadership Breakfast and received the award for Community Servant Leader of the Year for his response to the citywide floods in May 2010. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and the Nissan Leaf electric car were also honored in the 2011 Green Business Leadership Awards.
 
At the awards ceremony, Lipscomb University President L. Randolph Lowry told the audience of sustainability professionals and advocates that they were the real heroes of the world because they “wake up every morning determined to make this world a better place.”
 
In his remarks, Dean reiterated his commitment to making Nashville a “green” city by recounting many of the city’s accomplishment so far – such as the greenway plan, a funding structure for new stormwater infrastructure, LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) government buildings and advances in mass transit – and encouraged those present to participate in the city’s latest green endeavor – Nashville Energy Works, offering various incentives to get Nashville residents to make their homes more energy efficient.
 
The 2011 Green Business Summit, “Innovations in Sustainability,” is focused on providing insights to grow business and succeed in an increasingly “green” environment. The summit explored business models, practices and opportunities to help companies stay competitive, improve profitability and grow market valuation.
 
Debuted last year, the awards are selected by a committee of five business and non-profit representatives from within a statewide sustainable business roundtable. The committee chose 10 winners this year in the following categories:
 
Mayor Karl Dean accepts his Community Servant of the Year Award from Lipscomb's President Lowry, Galbreath and other officials.
State Sen. Andy Berke accepts his award for Public Official of the Year from Lipscomb officials and awards committee members.
Jeremy Barlowe, owner of Tayst, accepts his award for Sustainable Food Leader of the Year from Lipscomb and committee officials.
Bobby Bandy, owner of Earthsavers and a Lipscomb alum, recieves his Green Service of the Year Award from Lipscomb and commitee officials.
Community Servant Leader of the Year
Mayor Karl Dean for his leadership in the flood of 2010 and his “sustainability” response
  • “In May 2010, Nashville was rocked… and Mayor Dean was the energizer mayor,” said Dodd Galbreath, executive director of Lipscomb’s Institute for Sustainable Practice, and coordinator of the Green Business Summit. “He was comforting people. He was leading by example. Mayor Dean epitomized servant leadership.”
 
CEO of the Year
Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO, Nissan Motor Company
  • Ghosn was honored for his successful turn-around of Nissan in the 1990s and the considerable resources he has put into developing the Nissan Leaf electric car.
 
Green Product of the Year
The Nissan Leaf electric car
  • The committee chose the Tennessee-manufactured Nissan Leaf, which was also recently declared the World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show.
 
Public Official of the Year
State Sen. Andy Berke, representing Hamilton and Marion counties in the 10th District since 2007
  • The pragmatic and bipartisan approach of Berke has resulted in legislation such as the Tennessee Clean Energy Futures Act. He has also been active in the state fighting mountaintop removal.
 
Southeast Regional Green Business Innovator
Tabitha Crawford, president, Balfour Beatty Energy Solutions
  • Crawford has advanced energy innovation through working on the Presidential Climate Action Plan under the Clinton administration, working to develop zero-energy housing for the family of active military and speaking and consulting throughout the state and nation.
 
Tennessee Green Innovator
William Pomakoy, Rhodes Car International
  • This Hendersonville-based small business develops four-wheeled bicycles, some partially motorized, as a new option for moving goods and people around without the use of fossil fuels.
 
Sustainable Excellence by Design
Collier Construction of Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • Collier Construction was honored for creating LEED-certified housing in Chattanooga and the first platinum LEED-certified residential buildings in the state.
 
Sustainable Food Leader of the Year
Jeremy Barlow, owner of Tayst
  • Barlow was honored not only for using local products in 95 percent of his food at his restaurant Tayst, or for achieving three star “green” certification at Tayst, but also for volunteering with various food activist organizations to improve meals in schools and bring healthy food to low-income areas. He also served on Nashville/Davidson County’s Food Policy Council.
 
Green Service of the Year
Bobby Bandy, Earthsavers
  • Bandy was honored for his company’s commitment to bring convenient recycling to the homes, offices and retailers of Middle Tennessee.
 
Sustainable Achiever of the Year
Tiffany Wilmot, president, Wilmot Inc.
  • Wilmot Inc. is a consulting firm that helps companies become more profitable and productive through the use of sound environmentally responsible business practices. Among the projects she has worked on are Al and Tipper Gore’s LEED-certified home and the Music City Center now under construction. She has also worked with Fort Campbell military base, HCA, General Motors, LP Field and the city of Pittsburgh.