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WSLA, GreenBiz team on Women in Sustainability Leadership Awards

New organization announces board of directors, prepares for new edition of awards in April 2021.

Diverse women

I'm excited to share that GreenBiz Group is teaming up with the newly formed WSLA Alumnae Group, which acquired the Women in Sustainability Leadership Awards (WSLA) from gb&d magazine in August. We'll be acting as the organization's media partner to build awareness for the next edition of its awards program.

Composed of previous WSLA award recipients (there are 87 honorees), the alumnae group’s membership includes the most dedicated sustainability professionals in the field who have made significant positive changes to the planet, demonstrating bravery in the workplace and mentoring the next group of female leaders. The group’s summits, service activities and mentorship opportunities are paving the way in sustainability and for future leaders in the field.

WSLA logo

As media partner, GreenBiz will develop and execute an editorial and communications plan to increase awareness and traction for the WSLA Alumnae Group and the virtual awards program, taking place in April. The call for entries will be announced in January, with GreenBiz participating in the judging and selection of the 2021 winners.

I'm honored to say that I'll be personally serving on the WSLA Alumnae Group board of directors. The organization's mission aligns well with GreenBiz’s values of championing corporate climate action that is informed by diverse communities and recognizes the intersection between climate change and racial justice. As more businesses embrace the "social" issues associated with environmental, social and governance strategies, it’s especially important to include, highlight and celebrate successful women and people of color.

"There was no other organization that we considered for our media partner because GreenBiz has a world-class team of communicators and their dedication to both sustainability and transparency mirrors that of the alums. We are truly delighted to be working with this incredible group of people and welcome Heather Clancy as a board member," said Rochelle Routman, president and chairman of the WSLA Alumnae Group. 

Routman, chief sustainability and quality officer for flooring company HTMX Industries, also announced the organization's new board and officers ahead of its general meeting this week. All (except for me) are past WSLA honorees. Aside from Routman, here's the complete list with officers listed first and the remainder listed alphabetically:

  • Lisa Colicchio, sustainability director, Metrolink (Vice President)
  • Heather White, president & CEO, Heather White Strategies, LLC (Secretary)
  • Sandra Leibowitz, managing principal, Sustainable Design Consulting, LLC (Treasurer)
  • Ranae Anderson, global sustainability leader, Universal Fibers
  • Jennifer Berthelot-Jelovic, president and CEO, A SustainAble Production, LLC (ASAP)
  • Heather Clancy, editorial director, GreenBiz
  • Daniele Horton, founder and president, Verdani Partners
  • Janice Lao, ESG director, Helen of Troy
  • Alicia Silva, director and founder, Revitaliza Consultores
  • Kathleen Smith, director, technical support services, International Living Future Institute

"I’m very excited about working with these new officers and the new board. Each of them brings a diverse perspective and valuable experience necessary to launch this new organization into a truly viable and influential force," Routman said. "We want to take the organization further, particularly by mentoring other equally dedicated women in the field., which will result in greater positive change on a global scale in both the environmental and social realms."

Stay tuned for information about the 2021 call for entries in January.

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