SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The Sustainable Leadership Award comprises two distinct categories: Executive Leadership and Sustainability Champion.
​
These awards aim to honor individuals or teams within businesses who demonstrate excellence in delivering both immediate and long-term solutions, yielding documented social, environmental, and economic benefits. Sustainability leaders who embody both the mindset and the value system are the heart of these awards. They celebrate leaders
who foster engagement, mentorship, and implementation of practices that result in environmental, social, and economic outcomes. These individuals generously share their passion, insights, and commitment to their work, earning recognition as influencers in their spheres of influence.
The Sustainable Leadership Awards pay tribute to individuals who champion business practices that serve all stakeholders, from shareholders to employees, customers, and community members. They exhibit an exceptional dedication to sustainable business approaches, serving as examples for others to emulate.​
The Executive Leadership Award will be given to an individual who:
​​
-
Embodies visionary leadership, fostering a comprehensive approach to steering organizational culture toward sustainability.
-
Empowers sustainable decision-making and fosters innovation across the organization, demonstrating tangible social and/or environmental benefits for customers and communities.
-
Articulates a clear message on sustainability and champions their teams, acknowledging and celebrating achievements.
-
Recognizes the significance of educating stakeholders on sustainability and takes proactive steps to do so.
-
Demonstrates consistent commitment and philanthropy, giving back to the community in impactful ways.
-
Advocates for organizational alignment with local and/or global sustainability initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, Green Masters' Program, B Corporation, We're Still In, etc.
-
Establishes a personal connection with sustainability.
​
​
​
​
​​
​
​
The Sustainability Champion award will go to an individual who:
​​​
-
Develops systems that embed sustainability, such as creating metrics, policies, or processes.
-
Works to garner support and align sustainability with corporate culture.
-
Engages stakeholders on sustainability through various channels, while acknowledging and celebrating achievements.
-
Cultivates leadership and innovation opportunities within other departments or individuals.
-
Personalizes sustainability efforts and may contribute meaningfully to their community.
-
Consistently goes above and beyond, irrespective of whether sustainability is their designated role.
​
A sustainability leader can emerge from any role, embracing the potential for change and integrating sustainability principles into day-to-day business practices. The Sustainability Champion Award celebrates the vision and dedication of individuals who often operate behind the scenes.
​
Applications should include a detailed account, and where feasible, quantification of both direct and indirect impacts attributable to the individual.
​
Award Eligibility
-
The business has a presence in the Upper Midwest.
-
The business leader or team is a current SBC member (or the company they work for).
-
The individual has not won an award from us within the last three years in this product
category. -
Self-nominations are normal and encouraged.
-
When nominating, please fill out the questions to the best of your ability. The more detailed applications tend to be scored better by the committee.
-
Applications should include identification and, if possible, quantification of direct and indirect impacts of the individual.
-
There is the ability to upload supplemental data and links at the end.
​
*We are now accepting video nominations.
Please note that this is an optional feature and does not serve as a complete replacement for the nomination form. Videos should be kept to a maximum length of 2 minutes and should address the same questions as outlined in the nomination form. Additionally, we kindly request that any supplementary documentation regarding the nominee that may be beneficial be included.
A sustainability leader can be anyone that embraces the possibilities of change and integrates principles of sustainability into day-to-day business operations. The Sustainability Champion Award recognizes the vision and commitment of individuals that often go unrecognized.
Applications should include identification, and, if possible, quantification of direct and indirect impacts of the individual
​​
PAST WINNERS
​
Michelle Miller, Sustainability Manager NA Symrise
​​
The Sustainable Business Council has honored Michelle Miller, Sustainability Manager for North America Food & Beverage at Symrise, with the 2024 Sustainability Champion Award. Michelle has made a significant impact by embedding sustainability into Symrise’s operations, creating KPIs, policies, and processes that enhance performance across nine North American facilities. Her efforts have successfully aligned sustainability with corporate culture, engaging stakeholders at all levels.
Michelle’s innovative contributions include sustainability dashboards, annual site reports, and strategic roadmaps aimed at achieving Net Zero by 2030. Beyond her corporate role, she actively supports sustainability networks, community initiatives, and mentorship programs, inspiring others to lead with purpose. Her leadership and commitment exemplify what it means to be a true sustainability champion.
​
Scott Louks, Sustainability Manager
(Retired in 2024)
Mercury Marine, Fond du Lac
​
As Mercury Marine's sustainability manager for the last 7 + years, Scott coordinates global sustainability efforts to advance strategy, operations, and culture. In this role, Scott has developed and implemented their roadmap, defining sustainability growth areas. He leads the company’s sustainability committee and reviews and recommends actions on improvement related to their four pillars of energy, environment, product, and people. He takes a wide lens of stewardship and has excelled as an inspirational leader and consensus builder. He has successfully driven
projects to meet goals, uses data and sound rationale to win over senior management, and defines the investment benefits. Scott goes above and beyond both in his personal and professional lives.
​
Kurt Reinhold
Legacy Solar Co-op, Madison
​
Kurt Reinhold, the founder of the Legacy Solar Co-op, challenges conventional business practices and demonstrates cutting-edge environmental leadership through his innovative tax financing mechanism that has facilitated almost 40 solar projects for the Wisconsin community. Reinhold has also created a ‘solar bond’/ revolving loan program, specifically unique to Wisconsin, and has lent out more than $1M in the first 5 years from the start of the co-ops. Reinhold’s enthusiasm for clean, renewable energy is infectious, and he passionately shares his work, vision, and knowledge with others to integrate sustainability into our day-to-day lives.
​
​Learn more about Legacy Solar Co-op and Kurt in this interview
Amanda Goetsch,
InPro Corporation, Muskego
Amanda, a University of Wisconsin science graduate, began her career in sustainability shortly after meeting the CEO of Inpro, a mid-size manufacturing firm in Waukesha County. She effectively communicated the multifaceted benefits of expanding the company’s sustainability program—highlighting gains for the business, the environment, and the local community. This pivotal conversation launched her role as a sustainability leader in the private sector.
Over the past, Amanda has passionately led Inpro’s sustainability efforts, blending smart business strategies with environmental responsibility. She broadened her colleagues’ understanding of sustainability beyond just “being green,” emphasizing its connection to business success and community well-being. One notable initiative was her partnership with Cool Choices, which engaged over half the company in an eight-week game promoting sustainable habits that saved resources and improved well-being
Kevin Tubbs, VP & Chief Ethics, Compliance and Sustainability Officer
Oshkosh Corporation, Oshkosh WI
​​​
Kevin Tubbs led the company’s sustainability efforts since 2012. Under his leadership, Oshkosh has become a recognized sustainability leader, setting and exceeding ambitious goals for energy and waste reduction. The company achieved its USEPA Better Plants energy target two years early and has significantly reduced energy and GHG intensity since 2014. Kevin also championed a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement that offsets about 50% of Oshkosh’s domestic Scope 2 emissions and helped secure a commitment to Science Based Targets for future emissions reductions.
Beyond internal initiatives, Kevin actively engages with external stakeholders to promote sustainability. He co-founded the Northeast Wisconsin Sustainability group and frequently shares insights at WSBC conferences. His leadership has contributed to Oshkosh being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for eight consecutive years. In 2021, he was honored as one of the Purposeful 50 ESG influencers, reflecting his broad impact on ethical and sustainable business practices.
​
Jyoti Stephens,
Nature’s Path, Sussex
​​
For more than 20 years, Jyoti Stephens has been a key leader in sustainability at Nature’s Path. As VP Mission & Strategy, Stephens developed the Nature’s Path sustainability strategies: organic, carbon-neutral, zero-waste, preserve water, giveback, and educate, inspire, and engage. Stephens has led the team that achieved the corporate designation of the first zero-waste certified company with multinational sites, diverting over 90% of corporate waste from landfills. It is clear that Stephens shows outstanding commitment to sustainable business practices and acts as a model for others to learn from.
​
​
​Learn more about Jyoti and how she leads in this interview
