President of Shaw Industries, Randy Merritt, to Deliver Keynote at the 2007 N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference
Raleigh, NC, May 19, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Sustainable North Carolina (SNC) announced today that Randy Merritt, president of Georgia-based Shaw Industries, will be the keynote speaker for the 2007 N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference to be held on October 22, 2007 in Chapel Hill, N.C. SNC is a non-profit that works as a catalyst for a sustainable economy through professional education, networking, information, implementation assistance and recognition.
Now in its sixth year, the N.C. Sustainability Awards has become a prestigious honor for organizations that have taken on the challenge of integrating social responsibility and environmental stewardship into their strategy and operations.
“The level of energy and excitement at last year’s conference was simply amazing,” said John Gallagher, managing director of Cherokee Investment Partners, former award winner and a sponsor of the 2007 conference. “It is clear that we have reached a tipping point. Companies in North Carolina and around the world are realizing the value of sustainable approaches to their business strategies and are eager to learn more.”
This high-profile event attracts business, government, nonprofit and academic leaders from across the southeast region. The program has been expanded to include interactive discussions with business leaders and experts on taking sustainability from theory to real world practice. Past speakers have included internationally-recognized authors and experts including: Amory Lovins, Paul Hawken, Bill McDonough and Brian and Mary Nattrass, as well as corporate CEOs such as Sally Jewell of REI and John Replogle of Burt’s Bees.
Under Merritt’s tenure with the largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries has initiated hundreds of environmental initiatives that have positive environmental, economic and social impacts. Collectively, these initiatives are known as the Shaw Green Edge. The Shaw Green Edge demonstrates an investment in long term solutions that build toward a completely cradle-to-cradle company in the future.
“Simply put, Shaw Industries has developed processes that allow its products to be recycled into more of the same products in a perpetual loop,” said Merritt. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to share our experiences and lessons learned on the journey to sustainability at the N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference.”
Shaw Industries was named by Fortune Magazine as the most admired corporation in the textileindustry. Its cradle-to-cradle carpet has garnered a spot on the Fast Company “Fast 50” list for 2007, which identifies “profit driven solutions for what ails the planet,” and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a recipient of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.
Sponsors for the 2007 N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference include Cherokee Investment Partners, Bank of America, The Biltmore Company and the N.C. Department of Commerce. Print media partners are Green@Work magazine and Business North Carolina. For more information on the 2007 N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference, visit www.sustainnc.org/2007awards or e-mail info@sustainnc.org.
About Randy Merritt:
Randy Merritt serves as president of Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. Since joining the company in 1976 as a member of its first training class, Randy has experienced over a quarter century of growth with the company, holding various leadership positions in the Shaw Industries' R&D and sales and marketing groups. Throughout this time, honesty, integrity and hard work have provided a foundation for the Shaw Industries' thriving business, reliable partnerships, trusting employees and healthy communities. Randy continues to drive these values and maintain the company's concern for the welfare of its customers, communities and earth. Maintaining a triple bottom line approach to sustainability, Randy ensures the company's environmental goals align with its quality, performance, value, service and business commitments. Randy holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of South Carolina. An active member of the community, he’s a board member of the Boys & Girls Club, United Way volunteer and former trustee at the Hamilton Medical Center and the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation.
About Shaw Industries:
Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, produces and sells carpet, rugs, ceramic, hardwood and laminate flooring for residential and commercial applications throughout the world. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Shaw is headquartered in Dalton, Georgia and is one of the state's largest and most respected employers. Shaw Industries has hundreds of environmental initiatives occurring throughout the company that have positive environmental, economic and social impacts. Collectively, they add up to the Shaw Green Edge. These initiatives are guided by the company's values, and demonstrate an investment in long term solutions that build toward a completely cradle-to-cradle company in the future. The company remains mindful that it is connected to the community and implements activities that lessen the environmental impact its operations have on the environment.
About Sustainable North Carolina:
SNC is the leading organization advancing sustainable business innovation in the state. Through its annual conference, awards recognition program and the NC Sustainable Business Council, SNC is accelerating the adoption of innovative business practices that optimize environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic development. From small entrepreneurial companies to large multinationals, their members are coming together as catalysts for change toward a sustainable future.
About The N.C. Sustainability Awards:
SNC will bring together decision makers to explore strategies for an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future for the state, and will honor organizations that are leading the way with innovative practices at the sixth annual N.C. Sustainability Awards and Conference on October 22 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill. For more information, visit www.sustainnc.org/2007awards.
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Now in its sixth year, the N.C. Sustainability Awards has become a prestigious honor for organizations that have taken on the challenge of integrating social responsibility and environmental stewardship into their strategy and operations.
“The level of energy and excitement at last year’s conference was simply amazing,” said John Gallagher, managing director of Cherokee Investment Partners, former award winner and a sponsor of the 2007 conference. “It is clear that we have reached a tipping point. Companies in North Carolina and around the world are realizing the value of sustainable approaches to their business strategies and are eager to learn more.”
This high-profile event attracts business, government, nonprofit and academic leaders from across the southeast region. The program has been expanded to include interactive discussions with business leaders and experts on taking sustainability from theory to real world practice. Past speakers have included internationally-recognized authors and experts including: Amory Lovins, Paul Hawken, Bill McDonough and Brian and Mary Nattrass, as well as corporate CEOs such as Sally Jewell of REI and John Replogle of Burt’s Bees.
Under Merritt’s tenure with the largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries has initiated hundreds of environmental initiatives that have positive environmental, economic and social impacts. Collectively, these initiatives are known as the Shaw Green Edge. The Shaw Green Edge demonstrates an investment in long term solutions that build toward a completely cradle-to-cradle company in the future.
“Simply put, Shaw Industries has developed processes that allow its products to be recycled into more of the same products in a perpetual loop,” said Merritt. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to share our experiences and lessons learned on the journey to sustainability at the N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference.”
Shaw Industries was named by Fortune Magazine as the most admired corporation in the textileindustry. Its cradle-to-cradle carpet has garnered a spot on the Fast Company “Fast 50” list for 2007, which identifies “profit driven solutions for what ails the planet,” and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a recipient of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.
Sponsors for the 2007 N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference include Cherokee Investment Partners, Bank of America, The Biltmore Company and the N.C. Department of Commerce. Print media partners are Green@Work magazine and Business North Carolina. For more information on the 2007 N.C. Sustainability Awards & Conference, visit www.sustainnc.org/2007awards or e-mail info@sustainnc.org.
About Randy Merritt:
Randy Merritt serves as president of Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. Since joining the company in 1976 as a member of its first training class, Randy has experienced over a quarter century of growth with the company, holding various leadership positions in the Shaw Industries' R&D and sales and marketing groups. Throughout this time, honesty, integrity and hard work have provided a foundation for the Shaw Industries' thriving business, reliable partnerships, trusting employees and healthy communities. Randy continues to drive these values and maintain the company's concern for the welfare of its customers, communities and earth. Maintaining a triple bottom line approach to sustainability, Randy ensures the company's environmental goals align with its quality, performance, value, service and business commitments. Randy holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of South Carolina. An active member of the community, he’s a board member of the Boys & Girls Club, United Way volunteer and former trustee at the Hamilton Medical Center and the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation.
About Shaw Industries:
Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, produces and sells carpet, rugs, ceramic, hardwood and laminate flooring for residential and commercial applications throughout the world. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Shaw is headquartered in Dalton, Georgia and is one of the state's largest and most respected employers. Shaw Industries has hundreds of environmental initiatives occurring throughout the company that have positive environmental, economic and social impacts. Collectively, they add up to the Shaw Green Edge. These initiatives are guided by the company's values, and demonstrate an investment in long term solutions that build toward a completely cradle-to-cradle company in the future. The company remains mindful that it is connected to the community and implements activities that lessen the environmental impact its operations have on the environment.
About Sustainable North Carolina:
SNC is the leading organization advancing sustainable business innovation in the state. Through its annual conference, awards recognition program and the NC Sustainable Business Council, SNC is accelerating the adoption of innovative business practices that optimize environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic development. From small entrepreneurial companies to large multinationals, their members are coming together as catalysts for change toward a sustainable future.
About The N.C. Sustainability Awards:
SNC will bring together decision makers to explore strategies for an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future for the state, and will honor organizations that are leading the way with innovative practices at the sixth annual N.C. Sustainability Awards and Conference on October 22 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill. For more information, visit www.sustainnc.org/2007awards.
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Contact
Sustainable North Carolina
Cindy Stranad
919-232-5008
www.sustainnc.org/2007awards
Cindy Stranad
919-232-5008
www.sustainnc.org/2007awards
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