The
New Schneiderman-Socially Responsible Business Champion
Nominees
Entrepreneurs
for Sustainability
November 2006 - Beth and Dennis Yurich
- Beth and Dennis Yurich
- Maggie Busser
- Caren Henry Glatcz
- Mike Dungan *winner*
- Barb and Margie, Brown Flynn
- Mike Dungan *winner*
Champion: Beth and Dennis Yurich, Yurich Creative
Nominated by: Caren Glatcz, ecokiss
Beth Yurich has been promoting sustainability before most of us knew what that meant. Since the first Earth Fest event in Cleveland in 1990, Beth has given her time and talent and grown a business to help encourage positive change in the community and in corporations throughout northeast Ohio and beyond. Yurich Creative, a graphic design firm, was founded almost 10 years ago on the principles of doing things in a sustainable manner. In that time Beth has often been the first person to initiate a conversation with clients about the environmental impact of their marketing choices before it was “cool” and before it was even welcome in some cases. Now those same clients call her for insights and expertise in this area.
This welcome turn of events doesn’t guarantee success in any industry and Beth still works diligently to educate clients as the industry is constantly changing. Some clients may only want to “talk the talk” and she will kindly share the pitfalls of this approach and if need be, turn down opportunities that don’t fit with her beliefs. Always true to the cause, Beth and her husband/partner have recently downsized their live/work space to be more energy efficient and sustainable in many ways as well as having recently purchased a hybrid vehicle.
In addition to Beth’s day-to-day business demands, she is actively involved in E4S. Yurich Creative is not only a sponsoring organization of the Third Tuesday networking events but they donate their graphic design talents and time to work on various events or committees. With Beth’s ongoing passion and leadership by example, she has been and continues to help make northeast Ohio a greener community for both work and play.
Champion: Beth and Dennis Yurich, Yurich Creative
Nominated by: Deirdre McDonnell, Atlas Architectural Services
I would personally like to nominate Yurich Creative for this year’s E4S Schneiderman Award for Socially Responsible Business Champion of Sustainability Award. As everyone with a small business knows, at times it is hard to distinguish between business hours and non-business hours. Due to this blurring of boundaries the difference between simply saying that one has a green business versus truly leading an overall sustainable lifestyle is evident. We all know far too many of the former and hope to know more of the latter. One such company that distinguishes themselves as sustainable is Yurich Creative.
For those who do not know, Yurich Creative is the product of a young couple, Beth and Dennis Yurich. Both Beth and Dennis brought many years of experience together to form this successful partnership. Through the years they have become active members in the sustainable business arena in Greater Cleveland. Whether it is their quietly advocating for green printing practices, lessening their “footprint,” or simply heading about town in a hybrid, both Beth and Dennis represent sustainability at its best. Again, I would like to nominate Yurich Creative, as it is a highly successful business representing the ideal of social responsibility.
Champion: Maggie Busser, Balanced Living Magazine
Nominated by: Caren Glatcz, EcoKiss
Maggie Busser has been helping to educate and inspire northeast Ohioans to lead a healthier, more balanced, and sustainable lifestyle for over 3 years by publishing Balanced Living Magazine, a vital resource in our community. The publication offers a wealth of information free in 30,000 copies with an estimated 3 times that in readership—a number that has doubled since inception in both copies and pages within the magazine. This success is a testament to Maggie’s vision to empower people to make informed choices about their health, well-being, and the environment in which they live. The impact of her efforts is undoubtedly significant as her publication is the trusted link between these resources within our community and those wanting and needing this very information.
I am constantly amazed how much Maggie has accomplished with just a small core staff. Her business is a collaborative network of resources that allows for the various experts that contribute to the magazine as topics dictate. Although the writers may change, each month there is always a high-quality finished product that is rich with diverse content and relevant advertising in a well-designed format. To do so month after month is impressive. As a result of her consistent growth, Maggie and her team won a COSE Business Planning Challenge award late last year. Just recently, the team moved to a larger space that incorporates Feng Shui and sustainable design elements.
In addition to the magazine, Maggie is actively involved in promoting a sustainable lifestyle in other venues throughout the community. She is a board member and secretary of Mind, Body, Spirit Connected and an E4S Network Development Committee member. She also helps to promote other likeminded charities and events such as Earth Day Coalition, Cleveland Botanical Gardens Winter Wellness Weekend, and an array of holistic education activities at regional health fairs. No matter the venue, Maggie is always promoting sustainability by offering her insights, helping make connections or by simply sharing her enthusiasm and support with others.
Champion: Caren Henry Glatcz, Ecokiss
Nominated by: Maggie Busser Editor, Publisher Balanced Living Magazine, LLC
Caren is a recent entrepreneur in northeast Ohio with her boutique, ecoKiss décor and gifts. Through ecokiss and other social and community action, Caren has created an interesting, accessible way for the mainstream public to become aware of how to integrate sustainable products into their daily lives. Recognizing a need in our community for sustainable gift, clothing and home products, Caren opened ecokiss in the Mustard Seed (Solon location) earlier this year. Whenever possible and appropriate, Caren also supports local businesses by selling their products. The very presence of her unique, stylish and attractive goods induces shoppers to enter her boutique. As they investigate further, Caren educates them on how these products are produced in a better way with sustainable components. She makes information about sustainable living in general (going beyond what is on her shelves) accessible to the masses. Consumers quickly learn from her that shopping for sustainable products can be satisfying, stylish and fun, thus encouraging them to consider sustainability in other elements of their lives.
The uniqueness and attractiveness of the product selection in ecokiss has earned Caren the title of Best Organic House Wares by Scene, and ecokiss was featured as a “where to shop” destination by Cleveland Magazine. A number of her items were also discussed on a segment produced by Channel 3 about holiday gifts. This media exposure not only promotes her company, but also the concept of stylish sustainability to the general public.
In addition, Caren raises community awareness about sustainability though a number of other avenues. She has been an active board member of Earth Day Coalition for the past year. She is directly helping raise awareness of this amazing nonprofit by leading it in taking a fresh look at its marketing efforts. Caren is also active with E4S. As a natural networker, she has helped grow the network and create new connections. She also contributes educational articles to Balanced Living Magazine. Her recent articles have educated northeast Ohioans about the concept of Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) and recycled fashion. Each article has encouraged readers to support sustainable businesses while maintaining—or even improving—their approach to style.
*winner* Champion: Mike Dungan, BIE *winner*
Nominated by: Cary Mathews, David Fox and Tim Fogarty, Business Interiors and Environments, Inc.
It is with great enthusiasm that we nominate Mike Dungan to be this year`s recipient of the E4S Schneiderman Award. Without question, Mike`s leadership by example, his ability to increase and rally awareness in the contract furniture and architectural/design community through the launch of the Zerolandfill Project exemplifies a true champion of sustainability. He is a valued friend and business counterpart and it is a deserving recognition of one so committed to the principles of E4S. (Further nomination details to be posted soon.)
Champion: Barb and Margie, Brown Flynn
Nominated by Melissa Wicinski, Brown Flynn
Please consider Barb Brown and Margie Flynn for your Champions for Sustainability Award. They are the owners and cofounders of BrownFlynn, a community relationship management firm serving various industries. As author Anna Quindlen wrote, “All of us want to do well. But if we do not do good, too, then doing well will never be enough.” BrownFlynn is committed to doing well by doing good.
Led by the imagination and gutsy initiative of its principals, BrownFlynn is changing the world for Northeast Ohio’s business community and beyond. While Greater Cleveland was ranked one of the top ten most philanthropic communities in the nation in 2003, many of its organizations do not see the correlation between social responsibility and business performance. BrownFlynn combines its marketing communications and community relationship management expertise to position organizations to positively affect their community. They practice what they preach in countless ways; however, the Firm’s anniversary celebrations have proven a special time for reflection and innovation when it comes to doing good and doing well. For their five-year anniversary (2001) the Firm created the BrownFlynn Book Club, an idea that has generated awareness and funding for curriculum-related book donations to the Cleveland Municipal School District. To date, via the BrownFlynn Book Club, more than 7,000 books have been placed in the hands of Cleveland’s school children.
Fast forward five years: The firm wanted to continue emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community to achieve business success, but Principals Barb and Margie also wanted to draw attention to recent trends within the nonprofit sector—particularly the change in donor landscape. BrownFlynn created its Circle of 10 to celebrate their 10-year anniversary and raise awareness for outstanding local nonprofit organizations. It is a mixed media campaign that leverages its community partnerships to reach individuals and raise awareness (and dollars) for 10 outstanding nonprofit organizations committed to engaging the next generation of donors in a unique manner. BrownFlynn’s Circle of 10 started with a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Through the process, we selected 10 nonprofit finalists from over 60 applicants to compete throughout 2006 to raise money through online donations. Finalists were selected based on the innovative ways in which they are engaging the next generation of donor, or the innovative strategies they will enact—given the appropriate resources. The winner will be announced in November. They will receive a check from BrownFlynn for $10,000 plus an additional $10,000 in pro bono services from BrownFlynn.
In addition, as a socially responsible company, BrownFlynn demonstrates it commitment to the community and sustainability in the following ways:
- Commitment to Sustainable Cleveland and its Corporate Roundtable
- Margie Flynn’s Leadership Cleveland Class is responsible for Cleveland’s downtown wind turbine
- BrownFlynn was a proud sponsor of the BAWB (Business as an Agent of World Benefit) forum at
Case during October 2006
*winner* Champion: Mike Dungan, BIE *winner*
Nominated by: Scott Gordon
Mike is, next to Holly, the most dedicated Clevelander to sustainable business that I know. He supports his corporate flag, BIE, very professionally without wavering, but never at the expense of diminishing the importance of sustainability to Cleveland, business, and his company. Mike is a peer who is not afraid to push his colleagues to dig deeper and learn. He is a role model for all of us in business who are working to champion and integrate sustainability into our day to day business practices.
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E4S has helped us connect to a network of like-minded individuals. Suppliers like ourselves have the opportunity to help the sustainability industry grow.
- Mike Dungan, BIE
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