CEOs for Sustainability leaders call on region’s businesses to Lead Forward on a sustainable economic recovery

Posted on by Kelsy Black

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 18, 2020


Contact: Ginette Walker Vinski                  
gvinski@sustainablepittsburgh.org
412.258.6646   


CEOs for Sustainability leaders call on region’s businesses to Lead Forward on a sustainable economic recovery

Southwestern PA businesses urged to commit to action on priorities fundamental to a thriving, equitable region:

 

  • Supporting local communities and businesses
  • Advancing racial and ethnic equity
  • Reducing carbon emissions

 

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA –  Today, during a virtual C-Suite Summit, members of the CEOs for Sustainability executive network called upon their peers in the Pittsburgh region to “lead forward” and commit to a sustainable economic recovery. The call to action includes commitment to three priorities that underscore sustainability as a demonstrated strategy for prosperity: 

  • Support local businesses and communities through the pandemic crisis,
  • Advance racial and ethnic equity,
  • Reduce carbon emissions.

“Now is the time for businesses from all sectors to make public their actions toward an economic recovery that benefit everyone,” said Steve Malnight, President and CEO of Duquesne Light Co. and CEOs for Sustainability Co-Chair. “When leadership makes these real commitments, collectively we elevate our region’s competitiveness, resiliency, and desirability for residents and business alike.”

Charles Toran, President of Sci-Tek Consultants and CEOs for Sustainability Co-Chair, shared, “Each of the CEOs for Sustainability leaders are deeply committed to strategic sustainability for their people, their bottom lines, and the quality of life in our communities. By making these bold commitments and measuring progress, we will help lead a recovery that makes our people and economy stronger.”

The Nov. 18 C-Suite Summit, presented by UPMC Health Plan, featured business executives demonstrating how their companies are tackling these goals. Keynote speaker Gretchen O’Hara, Microsoft Vice President of AI Country Strategy and Sustainability Partnership, described Microsoft’s commitment around using technology and partnerships to help create good-paying jobs for people of all skill and education levels and the company’s plans to be carbon negative by 2030. CEOs for Sustainability leaders including Diane Holder, President and CEO, UPMC Health Plan; Haakan Jonsson, Ph.D., Chairman and President, Covestro LLC; Jana D. Lake, President, 3R Sustainability; Jodi Rennie, VP and General Manager, Turner Construction; and Sara Thompson, Principal, Pashek + MTR, all shared insights into their own companies’ sustainability commitments and how they are measuring progress. 

CEOs for Sustainability is thought to be the only group in the United States where CEOs provide regional thought leadership around business sustainability. The executive network represents more than $76.5 billion in total revenues and 316,000 employees (as of early 2020). It is hosted by the nonprofit Sustainable Pittsburgh.

CEOs for Sustainability and Sustainable Pittsburgh have prepared resources and guidance for supporting southwestern Pennsylvania businesses in advancing their commitments. To learn more and get started, visit CEOsforSustainability.org.

The CEOs for Sustainability C-Suite Summit is sponsored by UPMC Health Plan and the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

 

About CEOs for Sustainability

The CEOs for Sustainability executive roundtable is an outcomes-based leadership network for C-suite leaders to share best practices and collaborate in growing the ranks of those that enjoy the benefits of a triple bottom line — for people, planet, and profits. Participating companies represent more than $76.5 billion in total revenues and 316,000 employees as of early 2020. CEOs for Sustainability recognizes that prosperous businesses are at the foundation of a thriving, equitable region. CEOs for Sustainability is hosted by the nonprofit Sustainable Pittsburgh. More information at CEOsforSustainability.org.

CEOs for Sustainability current membership:
3R Sustainability | AE Works | Aquatech International | Architectural Innovations, LLC | AUROS Group | Burns & Scalo Roofing | Covestro LLC | Duquesne Light Co. | DMI Companies | Eat’n Park Hospitality | Eaton | eLoop LLC | Environmental Planning & Design | EPIC Metals Corp. | Evoqua | Giant Eagle | Huckestein Mechanical | IKEA Pittsburgh | Koppers | Kurt J. Lesker Co. | LANXESS | Leybold N.A. | Montauk Energy | Montgomery & Rust | Optimus Technologies | Oriden LLC | Oxford Development | Pashek+MTR | PITT OHIO | Pittsburgh Pirates | PNC Financial Services | The Ruskin Group | Sargent Electric | Scalo Solar | Sci-Tek Consultants | Seven Springs Mountain Resort | Signature Financial Planning | Thar Energy | Turner Construction | UPMC Health Plan | WindStax Energy 

About Sustainable Pittsburgh

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Sustainable Pittsburgh empowers decision-making that builds a fundamentally equitable, resilient, healthy, and prosperous region. The organization works with hundreds of businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and other organizations throughout southwestern Pennsylvania to create a thriving region where stakeholders are connected, sustainability knowledge is shared and applied, and all people can succeed. Learn more at SustainablePittsburgh.org.

 

###