Other Champion Nominees
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability
November 2006

*winner* Champion: Sr. Joanne Buckman, O.S.U., Ph.D., Crown Point Ecology Center *winner*
Nominated by Delle Nadler, Crown Point Ecology Center
Sr. Joanne Buckman is mindful of our purpose to respect the land. She is the protector of the Sisters of Dominic’s vision to provide a greenspace of hope for all who are committed to restoring Earth. The greenspace is Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath, Ohio where Sr. Joanne is Director. The mission of Crown Point is to give a voice to the principles of community, sustainability, justice and spirituality. It is a model in our region for sustainable agriculture and Farm-Based Environmental Education programs.
Crown Point is located on a 130-acre historic farmstead comprised of nine children’s gardens, a 10-acre certified organic farm, woodlands, fields and meadows, and a pond-wetland ecosystem. The farm operation supports an 85-subscriber Community Supported Agriculture (aka CSA) program, an ongoing commitment to share 35% of its harvest to feed the hungry, a market stand at the Peninsula Countryside Farmers’ Market and an annual organic plant sale.
Since 1997, in a unique partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Crown Point’s donation of 182,000 pounds, i.e., 91,000 tons, of vegetables has provided 121,333 meals for the hungry in eight Ohio counties! One recipient reported that Crown Point’s donation was the only reason her family ate fresh vegetables and that she learned how to eat a diversity of vegetables as a result of Crown Point’s donation. Crown Point’s educational internships and apprentice farmer training enables the next generation of teachers and farmers hands-on training in sustainable eating and living, organic agriculture and the importance of community demonstrated by Crown Point’s CSA program and service to the hungry through donations to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. These two educational training programs are Crown Point’s effort to train the next generation of teachers and farmers in sustainability.
Children’s educational programs challenge youth to embrace new knowledge through hands-on experiences on the farm. A whole systems approach to viewing the natural world and students’ relationship to it is at the core of these programs. One objective is to increase children’s knowledge of the food pathway, plant / farm – cultivate / harvest – prepare/cook – eat / table, by engaging children in farm chores, gardening and sampling the vegetables. Often parents say, “I wish this type of experience was part of my child’s everyday curriculum.”
Over the last four years, Sr. Joanne has deepened Crown Point’s impact in the community and has integrated sustainability and the triple bottom line into it operations. Her kindness and generosity to others inspires individuals to take responsibility for our community and the land that feeds us. Since growing up on the shores of Lake Erie, she is a faithful environmentalist. She leads Crown Point to service beyond the scope of any other organization through its donation to feed the hungry. Friends call her a renaissance woman. She is steadfast in bringing Crown Point to everyone as conveyed in this message: “listen to the land, learn its lessons, it speaks to us.”

Champion: Lyndy Rutkowski, Wright Fuel Cell Group
Nominated by: Beth Yurich, Yurich Creative
Lyndy is someone who implements sustainability in every aspect of her life, not just her business. Every time I talk to her I learn something new about local foods, verma composting, living more efficiently and a range of other topics. She is so passionate about her work at the Wright Fuel Cell Group that it’s infecting. Lyndy is a champion because she is implementing and passing on her knowledge of sustainability in a whole systems way of thinking.

Champion: Melanie Kintner, Acting Director
Nominated by: Deirdre McDonnell, Atlas Architectural Services
I would personally like to nominate Melanie Kintner for this year’s E4S Healthy, High Performance Building Champion of Sustainability Award. Though we often take time to celebrate snapshot in time achievements, we often overlook the achievement of perseverance. It is my understanding that Melanie has been involved with the Cleveland Green Building Coalition since near, if not at, its inception. It goes without saying that the organization has been on a roller coaster of sorts through its many changes in leadership. All the while, there was Melanie quietly, humbly carrying it forward.
Whether it is coordinating educational events, graciously welcoming new and old members alike, and even now as Acting Director, Melanie consistently provides her dedication to not only the CGBC but to the ideals of green building in Greater Cleveland as a whole. When many others might have cut and run, she stuck it out. I cannot say that I personally know Melanie, but through the professionalism she has always demonstrated she has gained the respect of many. It is my hope that the CGBC is fortunate enough to have Melanie on their team for many more years to come.

Champion: Melanie Kintner, Cleveland GBC
Nominated by: Scott Gordon
Melanie—and her entire staff for that matter—has been an anchor for us at Rosby`s. Melanie has the technical knowledge to help us through tough problems in supporting green building projects. When she doesn`t know the answers, she gives us solid referrals for the information we need. As a result, we have completed seven LEED accredited projects ranging including the first LEED accredited grocery store (Giant Eagle Brunswick), first LEED accredited house of worship (Wooster Unitarian), high profile projects at CSU (new Recreation Center and the Parker Hannifen Administration Building), the Lorain County Community College (Great Lakes Business Center) and a new project under way that is seeking LEED Platinum certification (Elyria Chronicle Building). Melanie also pushes us to learn more through GBC educational programs and other areas where we just don`t know where to go when new challenges emerge in recycling construction and demolition waste.

Champion: Carol Thaler, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission
Nominated by: Scott Gordon, Rosby Companies
She has been very supportive of our efforts to build a sustainable business around Rosby`s core business units of soil/mulch, local food, and recycling/composting. I don`t know if there is a problem with a governmental entity or employee being nominated, but I would support her nomination.