New regional awards program raises the bar for business Published: December 14, 2009 by Beth Ingalls
Keep Sierra Green Businesses of 2009 Placer County Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge Tahoe Mountain Sports Tahoe Adventure Company Integrated Environmental Restoration Services
Incline Village Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort and Casino Law Office of Lara Pearson EV Village The Potlatch Soli Real Estate The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences
Nevada County GreenSmart Truckee's Cedar House Sport Hotel was the setting for the first annual Keep the Sierra Green (KSG) Exemplary Business Awards for 2009. Born out of a shared vision and collaborative partnership between Truckee's Recycling Coordinator Nichole Dorr and Incline Village General Improvement District's (IVGID) Resource Conservationist Madonna Dunbar, KSG recognizes businesses focused on ecological and economic practices in the north central Sierra and foothills. The program has grown into a partnership between the Town of Truckee, IVGID, Nevada County Recycles, Placer County, the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Green Building Association.
Any business located within the town of Truckee, eastern Placer County, Nevada County, Incline Village or Crystal Bay may participate in the regional program, but the annual award goes only to businesses that score highest on an eight-page application. The form is no walk in the park. To qualify as a Keep Sierra Green business, applicants are required to recycle, develop energy, pollution and water conservation programs, define how company purchasing practices are eco-minded, create employee awareness procedures, and complete energy and waste audits. The form also awards points for voluntary programs as well.
Lynne Cody, Nevada County recycling technician, opened up the ceremony by declaring, "We want to set the bar really high and all of you are the first to be recognized...you are the true green leaders in your communities."
As attendees noshed and tension built among the applicants awaiting the announcements, Eli Meyer, president of the Sierra Green Building Association, reminded the crowd that the Keep the Sierra Green program is "not about greenwashing it's about setting a benchmark for people in the community." 'Greenwashing' occurs when companies pose as friends of the environment, but their actual practices and products don't match up to their claims. Kym Fabel, manager of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce added, "All kinds of people and businesses are looking to be green. Green is big."
Visitors Love To Adventure With Us
"Our guides Tyler and Rich were awesome delivering out fun facts on the lake and the history as well as keeping the group together and even chiding us with a little Jaws music. Ha!" Helen L.
"We did the Sand Harbor kayak tour and LOVED every second! First off the staff is great. Katie booked our tour for us and she was so kind and helpful. She answered all our questions and was so sweet. Tucker took us on the tour and he was so knowledgeable and great with our kids. We had four boys in our tour and he told jokes and swam with them. The lunch on the beach was fun and yummy- complete with drinks and cookies. We highly recommend this company and tour. I can't wait to go back again!" -Samantha D.
"I bring large groups to them for team building and they ALWAYS come back happy. They know the soft skills required to help businesses bond and learn." -Barb S.
Kevin - we had a great time yesterday on one of your Guided Snowshoe Tours. Marin was a wonderful guide. She provided a nice balance of keeping us engaged in the environment we were in, guiding us safely, and giving us plenty of space to enjoy being with our family and dogs. Thanks for accommodating our last minute tour - it was well worth it. All the best, Renee
-- Renee
"I went out on the Sunset~Full Moon tour with TAC this week and it was just an exceptional experience, one I'll cherish for a long time. Safe and socially distanced, a great group of folks all visited easily which I attribute to our guide Tyler. He was so welcoming to all of us from the get-go. Organized. Streamlined. Professional. Lots of good information about the lake, the area, and just great upbeat vibes all around. Thank you, TAC!" -Cheryl L.
-- Cheryl L.
I just wanted to send a quick 'thank-you' to you and Micah for the entire two day trip you planned. It was really more than we had hoped for in terms of experiencing Tahoe. It was truly an awesome time; and I know that everyone thought it was incredible. Thanks again, I would recommend this to any other person interested in seeing Tahoe. -Dan