The Sustainable Business Awards are designed to recognize Wisconsin businesses for their efforts in developing sustainable products and processes and to recognize some of the amazing business leaders in the state. Each award recognizes both a large and small organization that has stood out in its specific category.
On November 15th, 2022, the WI Sustainable Business Council presented the 8th annual Sustainable Business Awards at the US Venture Building in Green Bay, WI.
Many businesses play crucial roles in responding to social and environmental challenges, and WI businesses are no exception. We received fabulous and well-written applications this year, making the judges job much more difficult.
If you would like to view past winners, click here.
The 2022 winners are as follows:
Celebrating Sustainability and Innovation in the Upper Midwest
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The Sustainable Business Council is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Sustainable Business Awards! Each year, these honors spotlight companies across the Upper Midwest whose products, services, and leadership are driving positive environmental and social change. Through inspiring nominations and a rigorous selection process, we recognize organizations that are setting new standards for sustainability and innovation.
The 18th Annual Sustainable Business Awards were presented on November 4th in La Crosse, WI, bringing together leaders and changemakers committed to building a more sustainable future.
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2025 Award Recipients
Sustainable Leadership
Sustainability Executive of the Year - Glen Heitkamp
Glen Heitkamp, Vice President of Engineering and Building Optimization at PACE Equity, has led over 175 commercial projects nationwide, delivering measurable environmental and financial returns. He was instrumental in launching the CIRRUS C-PACE program, which incentivizes low-carbon building design with reduced financing rates. Under his leadership, CIRRUS projects have eliminated 116,000+ metric tons of carbon emissions, saved 230 million kWh of electricity and 900,000 therms of natural gas, and generated $60 million in lifetime energy savings across 1.75 million square feet of development.
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With 30+ years of engineering experience, Glen is known for fostering innovation, mentoring teams, and setting new industry benchmarks. He is a recognized thought leader, presenting at national conferences and serving on advisory boards, with a deep commitment to advancing sustainability in the built environment.
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Glen’s work is transforming how buildings are designed, financed, and optimized for long-term sustainability, leaving a legacy of environmental stewardship which we are proud to celebrate!
Sustainability Champion of the Year - Emily James
Sustainable Leadership
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Emily James exemplifies what it means to be a Sustainability Champion, not only through her technical expertise and systems thinking, but through her unwavering commitment to embedding sustainability into the culture, operations, and future of Generac and the broader Wisconsin business community.
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Emily has led the development of robust KPIs that track waste diversion, water use, and energy intensity, while also championing employee engagement metrics and cost-saving outcomes. Her leadership has resulted in the implementation of impactful policies such as ISO 14001 certification, energy management protocols, and site-specific GHG data systems aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
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Beyond metrics, Emily is a cultural catalyst. She founded cross-functional Green Teams, launched the “Drive to Zero” innovation program, and celebrates environmental wins through internal “Success Stories” and public LinkedIn engagement. Her work with the Federation of Environmental Technologists (FET) and the SBC GHG Working Group extends her influence across the region.
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Emily’s leadership is deeply personal. Born on Earth Day, she’s been an environmental steward since childhood. Her volunteerism with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Milwaukee Riverkeeper, along with her leadership in Generac’s Emerging Leaders group, reflects a holistic commitment to community, mentorship, and social impact.
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She doesn’t just lead programs, she inspires people. Emily’s belief that “sustainability is not just a department, but a mindset” has helped transform Generac’s culture and empowered others to lead from wherever they stand.
Sustainable Product
of the Year
Tin Can by Roastar
Roastar’s closure eliminates the need for industrial seamers, allowing for hand application and removing costly equipment barriers. This not only simplifies operations but also reduces energy consumption across the supply chain. The resealable design encourages refill culture, transforming tin cans into durable, reusable containers that minimize single-use waste and support circular packaging models.
Each closure includes a built-in one-way degassing valve that safely releases COâ‚‚ from freshly roasted coffee, preserving freshness while maintaining recyclability. By simplifying sealing and promoting reuse, Roastar helps brands cut greenhouse gas emissions tied to packaging production, transport, and disposal. The multi-layer label construction ensures tamper-evident, airtight protection with minimal material use, and its compatibility with 4", 5.5", and 7" tin cans allows for scalable sustainability across product lines.
Roastar’s Peel & Stick Closure is more than a packaging solution it’s a commitment to environmental stewardship values.
Innovative Service
of the Year
CleanMile by Breakthrough
(A US Venture Company)
Breakthrough’s CleanMile is transforming freight transportation by embedding sustainability into the heart of logistics decision-making. Designed to address hard-to-abate emissions in the transportation sector, CleanMile empowers shippers to measure, manage, and reduce their carbon footprint with precision and purpose.
CleanMile is GLEC-accredited and leverages granular shipment data to calculate emissions across for-hire and private fleet movements. It goes beyond measurement—offering actionable recommendations that balance sustainability with cost, capacity, and service. Clients are equipped with a tailored roadmap to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions, making CleanMile a strategic asset in ESG-aligned operations.
This service has catalyzed measurable impact across multiple customers. For example, post-implementation surveys show a 200% increase in contractors offering heat pump options after CleanMile-facilitated engagement. Clients have reported significant modal shifts, improved carrier efficiency, and expanded use of intermodal and alternative energy solutions.
CleanMile’s regional customization supports compliance with local air quality standards, such as California’s South Coast AQMD, while its expansion into marine and global freight positions it as a leading tool for international ESG reporting. The platform also fosters internal stakeholder engagement by creating a central record of truth and offering advisory services that align sustainability goals with operational realities.
By integrating sustainability into freight strategy, CleanMile advances environmental performance, social equity, and governance transparency across the value chain. It exemplifies the kind of innovation that drives systemic change and earns its place as a winner for the Innovative Service Award.
Thomas L. Eggert Leadership Forward Award
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2025 Winner: Kathy Kuntz
Director of the Office of Energy & Climate Change, Dane County
In a time when sustainability demands not only vision but relentless action, Kathy Kuntz stands as a beacon of transformative leadership. Her work across Dane County and the state of Wisconsin has redefined what it means to lead with purpose, compassion, and measurable impact. Kathy doesn’t just advocate for change, she builds the infrastructure, coalitions, and momentum that make change inevitable.
From pioneering net-zero public buildings to decoding federal funding for local governments, nonprofits, and families, Kathy has empowered communities to act boldly and wisely. Her leadership in securing Inflation Reduction Act benefits for Forest Edge Elementary and the McFarland Public Safety Center exemplifies her ability to turn policy into tangible progress. She is the architect behind Dane County’s Climate Champions Program, the Heat Pump Collaborative, and the Sustainability Leaders Collaborative initiatives that have inspired hundreds of organizations and individuals to elevate their climate commitments.
Kathy’s influence is felt in boardrooms, classrooms, and living rooms. She mentors youth through the Dane County Youth Environmental Committee and the annual Youth Climate Conference, helping young leaders like Isak Drangstveit launch sustainability committees in their hometowns. Her work with K-12 energy education, her national leadership in energy efficiency, and her creation of accessible tools like the IRA explainer website have expanded the body of sustainability knowledge across sectors and generations.
What sets Kathy apart is her unwavering belief in people. She listens deeply, convenes wisely, and leads with humility. Her ability to bridge divides between business and government, urban and rural, youth and elders is a testament to her rare blend of strategic insight and human empathy. Kathy embodies the spirit of the Thomas L. Eggert Leadership Forward Award: she multiplies impact, nurtures networks, and leaves behind a legacy of empowered communities and enduring change.
Kathy Kuntz is not only worthy of this award, but she is also the kind of leader whose story will inspire the next generation of sustainability champions.
2024 Winner: Randy Bertram, retired Sustainability Director
WMEP Manufacturing Solutions
2023 Winner: Jeff Thompson, MD,
Executive Advisor & CEO Emeritus
Gundersen Health System
