Ray C. Anderson
Founder and Chairman of Interface, Inc.
The story is now a legend: the "spear in the chest" epiphany Ray Anderson experienced when he first read Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce, while seeking inspiration for a speech to an Interface task force on the company's environmental vision. Fourteen years and a sea change later, Interface, Inc., is nearly half way to "Mission Zero". Mission Zero is the company's promise to eliminate the negative impact it may have on the environment by the year 2020 through the redesign of processes and products, the pioneering of new technologies, and efforts to reduce or eliminate waste and harmful emissions while increasing the use of renewable materials and sources of energy. Andersons vision and Mission Zero have forever changed the once petroleum-intensive industry of carpet manufacturing.
An honors graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Ray learned the carpet trade through 14-plus years at various positions at Deering-Milliken and Callaway Mills, and in 1973, set about founding a company to produce the first free-lay carpet tiles in America. Today, he commands the world's largest producer of commercial floor-coverings. Interface has diversified and globalized its businesses, with sales in 110 countries and manufacturing facilities on four continents.
T. M. Franklin Cownie
Mayor of the City of Des Moines, Iowa
A lifetime resident of Des Moines, Mayor Cownie has a long history of civic leadership and community involvement. Prior to joining the Des Moines City Council, Cownie served three terms as chairman of Downtown Des Moines Incorporated, (DDI) an affiliate of the Greater Des Moines Partnership and five terms as the chairman of the City of Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission.
Cownies focus in his second term as Mayor is to continue to promote the Citys goal of creating a sustainable green community for future generations. He established the Des Moines Energy and Environmental Task Force, and his efforts have paid off with the announcement that Des Moines has been selected as the site of only one of four regional centers for the study and measurement of environmental factors. Other recent successes include partnerships to re-forest the city, and the receipt of a federal grant to purchase a fleet of energy-efficient hybrid, and hydrogen-powered, automobiles.
Cownie is also rapidly gaining national recognition through his leadership roles with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Cownie was one of only eight U.S. mayors chosen to formulate regional environmental policies for American cities through his work with the international group, Local Governments for Sustainability.
Named one of the nations cool mayors by the Mayors for Climate Protection, Mayor Cownie believes in looking to the future. Asked about his unfaltering work on environmental initiatives, he says: "I do this because I have a moral compass that tells me its the right thing to do. Its not about me. In my heart and in my head I know its the right thing for the future of our children, for our city, for our state and for this country, if not the world.
Michael M. Crow
President of Arizona State University
Michael M. Crow became the 16th president of Arizona State University (ASU) on July 1, 2002. He is guiding the transformation of ASU into one of the nations leading public metropolitan research universities that is directly engaged in the economic, social, and cultural vitality of its region. Under his direction the university pursues teaching, research, and creative excellence focused on the major challenges and questions of our time, as well as those central to the building of a sustainable environment and economy for Arizona. He has committed the university to global engagement, and to setting a new standard for public service.
Since he took office, ASU has marked a number of important milestones, including the establishment of major interdisciplinary research initiatives. Under his direction ASU has initiated a dramatic research infrastructure expansion to create more than one million square feet of new research space.
Prior to joining ASU, Crow was executive vice provost of Columbia University, where he also was professor of science and technology policy in the School of International and Public Affairs. He played the lead role in the creation of the Columbia Earth Institute (CEI), and helped found the Center for Science, Policy, and Outcomes (CSPO) in Washington, D.C., a think tank dedicated to linking science and technology to desired social, economic, and environmental outcomes. In 2003 CSPO was reestablished at ASU as the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes.
A fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Crow is the author of books and articles relating to the analysis of research organizations, technology transfer, science and technology policy, and the practice and theory of public policy.
James L. Elder
Founder, Campaign for Environmental Literacy
James Elder is a social entrepreneur who uncovers and exploits high leverage opportunities to increase the level of societys environmental literacy. He currently works on issues of advocacy, funding and policy development for environmental and sustainability education, both on his own and in consultation with private foundations; he consults with environmental/sustainability education organizations needing help with developing and implementing new business models and strategic planning; and he advises the environmental literacy efforts of several foundations.
In 2005, realizing that sustainability and environmental education had never developed a political voice at the national level and that no organization was actively working on advocacy, policy and funding issues for EE/SE, he founded the Campaign for Environmental Literacy (CEL). In its first eight months, CEL has led the successful efforts to restore $14 million in funding to federal EE grant-making programs run by NOAA and EPA, funding which had been zeroed out the Administration. CELs current campaign is to win passage of the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which would grant $50 million per year to colleges to establish and enhance sustainability programs.
George Heartwell
Mayor of Grand Rapids
Now serving in his second term Mayor George Heartwell took office on January 1, 2004. During his tenure, city government has "gone green", and a variety of environmental measures have been implemented, including the purchase of renewable resource energy, use of alternative fuels in city vehicles, continued attention to water quality in the Grand River and widespread implementation of energy conservation measures. In January of 2007 the United Nations recognized Grand Rapids as a "Center of Expertise" in sustainability. The Mayor has overseen a period of rapid economic development in Grand Rapids, even during an extended downturn in the Michigan economy. Mayor Heartwell also serves as President and CEO of Pilgrim Manor Retirement Community.
Joe Laur
Vice President - Content, Greenopolis
Steward, Society for Organizational Learning Sustainability Consortium
Joe Laur is Vice President of Content for Greenopolis.com, a web based social network, media and educational center, marketplace and playground fostering learning and collaborative action on green issues. He has spent the last decade as a consultant to organizations in all sectors, focusing on organizational learning, personal effectiveness skills and sustainable development. He studied with Dr. Karl Henrik Robert of The Natural Step and has facilitated learning courses and conferences with Amory Lovins, Paul Hawken William McDonough, John Elkington, Janine Benyus and Michael Braungart, and others. Mr. Laur has worked with whole systems change for over 30 years and is a certified practitioner of Structural Integration, an applied physiology practice invoking whole systems change in human body structures. Mr. Laur was a founding partner of SEED Systems, a consultancy dedicated to learning and action for sustainable enterprise, applying systems thinking, scientific frameworks and organizational learning to foster innovation in companies engaging with environmental and social issues. In partnership with the Society for Organizational Learning, (SoL) (www.solonline.org) Mr. Laur along with colleagues Peter Senge and Sara Schley established the SoL Sustainability Consortium (www.solsustainability.org), an active group of industry leaders in learning and sustainability. He still serves as steward of this consortium, leading collaborative projects among the members as well as coaching individual member projects. This consortium includes members from BP, Ford, Coca Cola, Harley-Davidson, UTC, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Nike, 7th Generation, Waste Management and more.
Mr. Laur is co-author of Learning for Sustainability (2007) and the upcoming Doubleday book, The Necessary Revolution: How Individuals And Organizations Are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World (June 2008) written with Peter Senge, Sara Schley and Brian Smith, and with Sara Schley, co author of "The Sustainability Challenge," published in The Systems Thinker and "Creating Sustainable Organizations" published in the Pegasus' Innovations in Management Series. He received his BFA in 1975 from the University of Wisconsin. He is the father of 5 children.
Peter Wege
Founder of The Wege Foundation
Peter Wege is a philanthropist and environmentalist who is widely known and deeply respected for his work as chairman of The Wege Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From prioritizing sustainability issues at Steelcase (the world's largest office furniture manufacturing company founded by his father in 1912), to penning his views on the relationship between economics and ecology in his book Economicology, to saving the world's rainforests\literally. Wege has consistently prioritized environmental and social issues in word and in deed.
Serving as a transport pilot during World War II, Wege flew to an airstrip at West Point Academy to deliver a plane on a clear and sunny afternoon, but couldn't land for some time because of the heavy clouds of industrial smoke surrounding Pittsburg. That was his abrupt introduction to the circumstances and consequences of environmental pollution. Decades later, he still sees the world through a pilots eyes, with the ability to look beyond horizons and to intuit solutions to the diverse problems facing our environment.
Years ago, The Wege Foundation decided to encourage environmentally friendly building by making it a pre-requisite for award of capital grants. As a result, Grand Rapids boasts the most square-footage per capita of buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program\including the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the first newly built art museum in the world to receive LEED certification.
Wege's environmental commitment also goes beyond his hometown. One winter day in 2004, Wege announced to his staff his commitment to save the Great Lakes. Containing 18% of the world's surface freshwater supply, the Great Lakes are plagued by continued problems with water quality, invasive species and toxic pollution that threaten human health, fish and wildlife, and the recreational and economic potential of the region. He helped found a robust national organization called Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (HOW-GL) which today counts more than ninety environmental groups, representing millions of Americans, among it membership using grassroots people power, backed by several U.S. legislators, working to establish a united strategy to save the Great Lakes.
An alumnus of the University of Michigan's School of Architecture and a World War II veteran, Wege joined Steelcase Inc. and worked his way up through various positions to Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Board. He has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations including State President of the American Center Society, Founder/Trustee of the Center for Environmental Study, Chairman Emeritus of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan and as a member of the National Wildlife Federation President's Council, among many other distinctions.
