Countdown to the 2012 Sustainable Business Awards

After a year of planning, my co-chair, Herb Goetschius, and I have reached the one week countdown to the 2012 Sustainable Business Awards on February 24^th.  Since 2008, Earth Charter US has teamed up with MBA students at The University of Tampa College of Business to honor the most sustainably-focused corporations operating in the Tampa Bay area.  They range in size from global corporations to firms with just a few employees, but their approach to sustainability- as a business practice- is their guiding principle and common foundation.

This year we will have a few special guests, including City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn , City of Tampa Green Officer, Thom Snelling, and our emcee, Terry Tomalin, Outdoor/Fitness Editor of The Tampa Bay Times.

When I first met with Terry about the luncheon, he gave me an interesting perspective on sustainability in our area: If you don’t participate in activities based in our natural resources (fishing, swimming, etc) you can’t appreciate the fragility of those resources. He is an avid paddle boarder and founder of the Tampa Bay Frogman, an annual swim across Tampa Bay held in January benefitting the Navy SEAL Foundation.  While swimming and paddling in our surrounding waters, Terry sees first-hand the effects of litter and pollutants in our water.  As economically focused as I personally tend to be, I am glad to have Terry’s perspective and hope this leads to some cross bay paddles with our area business leaders - just not in January!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (@ecoassets, @janet_harrison) and check out Terry’s new book, Everyday Adventures, A Florida Outdoors Guide.  

Janet Harrison