2012 Community Salute to the Environment

The Center for Environmental Initiatives hosted its 38th annual Community Salute to the Environment on Monday, December 3rd, at Louise Slaughter Hall on the RIT campus.

Wearing safety hats due to on-going construction, participants enjoyed the first tours of the new $38 million home of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, on track to meet LEED Platinum certification.

140 attendees with interests that included environmental sustainability, regional economic growth and business development had the opportunity to network and speak with a range of exhibitors at the reception. The Salute dinner was hosted by Nabil Nasr, Director of the Golisano Institute, and current CEI President. Dinner was followed by presentation of the 2012 Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award and CEI Awards for Environmental Excellence. (See below).

Leecia Eve, NYS Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Economic Development, gave the keynote address on "Economic Development and Environmental Protection," bringing listeners up-to-date on State government plans for regional development and, notably, on issues surrounding Hurricane Sandy reconstruction.

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A big thank you to our 2012 Sponsors!

Finger Lakes ($1,000):

Genesee River ($500):

Erie Canal ($250):

Waterway ($100):

Awards

CEI's annual Elizabeth Thorndike Environmental Leadership Award is named for the organization's founder and was presented to individuals whose work on behalf of the environment has been influential in mobilizing others to implement effective environmental change:

Sally Howard received the award for her work with the Federation of Monroe County Environmentalists and CEI's EPA-funded Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) project. (Presented by William Hallahan of Nazareth College/Secretary, CEI board).

Sandra Frankel, former Brighton Town Supervisor, was recognized for numerous achievements that have improved the quality of the Brighton environment including development of town parks and the Green Brighton Task Force, among others. (Presented by William Hallahan of Nazareth College/Secretary, CEI board).

The newly-created CEI Environmental Excellence Awards are given in several categories to recognize organizations that actually implement effective changes to improve environmental performance.

SWBR Architects, represented by David J. Beinetti and Liesel Schwarz, won in the Buildings category for their LEED certified design of buildings at Nazareth College, SUNY Brockport and RIT as well as numerous other sustainability initiatives. (Presented by Michael P. Storonsky of Stantec Consulting Services Inc./CEI board member).

Dr. Fehmi Damkaci of SUNY Oswego was recognized under the NGO/Education category for organizing the GENIUS Olympiad which engages high school students in a competition to solve a wide range of environmental problems. (Presented by Michael P. Storonsky of Stantec Consulting Services Inc./CEI board member).

Sunnking, Inc., represented by Duane Beckett & Michelle Read, received the Small Business award for founding and growing a profitable and industry-leading business based on selective recycling of electronic equipment. (Presented by Michael P. Storonsky of Stantec Consulting Services Inc./CEI board member).

Rochester Midland Corporation, represented by Owen Foster and Newton Green, received the Large Business award for RMC's strategic focus on improving the environment including, among other efforts, developing "green" products, consulting with customers to further their green goals and creating the Sustainability Network to exchange ideas for profitable and sustainable practices. (Presented by Michael P. Storonsky of Stantec Consulting Services Inc./CEI board member).

The awards given were created by Scott Grove.
The base is made from reclaimed wood and the
tree is made from recycled glass provided by
Monroe Industries.

 

 

Past Events

2011

Realistic Environmental Expectations in a World of Economic Upheaval
Kevin Surace, Chairman and CEO of Serious Energy

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2010

Great Lakes Off-Shore Wind Project
Richard Kessel, President, New York Power Authority

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2009

Lake Ontario Water Quality - Advances and Opportunities
Dr. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Distinguished Service Professor, SUNY Brockport

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2008

Hydrogen: Fuel for Thought
Dr. Thomas E. Drennen, Sandia National Laboratories and Hobart and William Smith Colleges
and Barbara S. Moore, General Motors Corporation

2007

Climate Change Forecast for Upstate New York
Dr. Arthur DeGaetano, Director, Northeast Regional Climate Center, Cornell University

2006

Climate Change in a Carbon Constrained Future
Peter R. Smith, President & CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

2005

Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America’s Energy Challenges
Paul W. Bledsoe, Director of Communications and Strategy for the National Commission on Energy Policy

2004

Acid Rain: Unfinished Business
Dr. Gene Likens, National Medal of Science Honoree