Beth Yurich - Yurich Creative

The Nominator: Carolyn Bentley, Howard Hanna

How has the nominee implemented sustainable business practices in his or her business or organization?
Beth Yurich has taken a business not known for being sustainable and greened it in several different ways. First, in the way her business is run. From the clients she chooses to work with to the way she focuses on educating those clients about why they need to consider the triple bottom line in every decision they make Beth puts sustainability foremost in her every business decision. Second, in the vendors she uses. Beth considers cost as only one of the many equal choices that need to be factored in when making choices about who to work with. She questions her vendors on every aspect of how they are running their business and pushes them to make better choices themselves to then better serve their environmentally responsible clients. Finally, she practices what she preaches. Yurich Creative as a communications business has the same goals they encourage their clients to have, minimized print publications with each done to maximize efficiency, a location established to minimize their impact on the environment (a green- rehabbed building with no commute necessary for its principle players) and a day to day focus on their triple bottom line.

What are the triple bottom line benefits (people, planet, prosperity) of the nominee`s work?
Answered below and above.

How has the nominee inspired you to implement sustainable business practices?
Beth has not only inspired me to implement sustainable business practices, but she has worked to walk me through every step, always making sure I know why we are making the choices we are and educating me to then continue making choices the right way with aspects of my business she and her company are not directly involved in. First, she has introduced me to alternate means of communications that are not as harmful to the environment as standard printing practices would be (and not as expensive which is a big bonus to a startup business such as mine). Second, she has taught me to maximize the efficiency of the pieces I do need to create. Third, I`ve been inspired by her intense drive to be educated on every aspect of everything she does and hold her suppliers to the same high standards. Most communications companies would consider themselves green if they used a printer that printed with soy ink on recycled paper. That`s not enough for Beth. She wants to know the percentage of soy ink, the source of that recycled paper and she pushes her suppliers to do better and achieve more. I am constantly encouraging buyers to push their suppliers to be more green, saying that it is the client that will ultimately drive the market. She is that client and in turn becomes that supplier for her customers.

How can someone else translate the success of the nominee? Is the work of the nominee an example or model that others can follow?
There are two ways Yurich Creative serves as an example or model that others can follow. First, through direct emulation. Every business has to communicate. Whether that`s with its employees, clients, business to business... So every business is making yearly and often daily choices about how those communications will take place. By following Beth`s example and maximizing the efficiency of those communications, and the way any necessary print communications are done, other businesses and individuals can make many choices that benefit themselves and the environment. Second, they can follow Beth`s example by carefully thinking through every aspect of their business and the potential to do what they are doing better. From the choices she has made in greening her home and home office to the food she puts in her body every day and every decision related to her business Beth`s choices are deliberate and carefully considered with the triple bottom line always in mind. Everyone has choices they make every day and options to green aspects of whatever business they are in if they take the time to consider the bigger picture.

How does the nominee actively participate in the sustainability community? How do they collaborate and share their knowledge with others?
First, Beth and her company are both an active personal and financial supporter of E4S events. Rarely have I been to an E4S event without their logo figuring prominently under the sponsors banner. Second, and most substantially, Beth uses her job to educate her clients. She takes the time to meet with you and really talk through your objectives. Then, rather than just start doing what you need to have done (a web page, a postcard...) she goes over her recommendations with you talking about why she is suggesting each item or approach and how they will benefit you both immediately and over time. Each project is viewed as an opportunity to educate her clients on the importance of keeping the triple bottom line in mind in everything we do.