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Christina Vernon Ayers
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

The Nominator: Sara Hurand, Iris Design

How has the nominee implemented sustainable business practices in his or her business or organization?
Christina Ayers championed sustainable practices from the Cleveland Clinic`s Facility Management office as an in-house architect and medical planner. Based largely on her determination, the Cleveland Clinic created the Office for a Healthy Environment and appointed Christina Ayers as the first director. As an architect and LEED AP professional, Christina explores ways to move the Cleveland Clinic in the direction of long-term sustainability from recycling and waste management, building and facility management practices, food service practices, and more.

What is the triple bottom line benefit (people, planet, prosperity) of the nominee`s work?
With a forward-thinking, world renowned, large-scale health organization such as the Cleveland Clinic, organization-wide sustainable programs under this new office will have the potential to affect patients, professionals, the city, and the planet on a large scale. Christina`s work with the CCF helps place them as the forerunner for sustainable practices in the global health care industry.

How has the nominee inspired you to implement sustainable business practices?
Christina applies her sincere dedication to sustainable practices to her personal and professional life. From her own home renovations to encouraging responsible practices at work, she has made her life`s work join with her passion for bettering the environment. To her, sustainable practices and just plain practical living are one and the same. She is inspiring because she makes it easy to feel that you can make a difference. She sets an example.

How can someone else translate the success of the nominee? Is the work of the nominee an example or model that others can follow?
As the new Director for the Office for a Healthy Environment for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Christina is paving the way for innovative and practical solutions for health care environments.

How does the nominee actively participate in the sustainability community? How do they collaborate and share their knowledge with others?
Christina Ayers is a LEED accredited architect, member of the AIA, and active researcher into sustainable practices. She is co-founding a national sustainable health care program to assist other organizations in benefiting from the Cleveland Clinic`s knowledge into these new practices.

Schneiderman Award
1. The employees of the organization will work with Christina Ayers, Director of the Office for a Healthy Environment to take their everyday practices and make them sustainable responsible. Employees will benefit ideally from better practices as well as the knowledge that their everyday work is not only connected to the larger community, but bettering it in the best way. 2. Patients of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation are the heart of the organization. A healthier environment, from cleaner better building environments, to less wasteful and toxic practices, to more comfortable patient experiences are some ways patients will benefit from this work. Knowing that the CCF is mindful of these practices may align with patients existing sustainable commitments, and will educate those who are not currently mindful. 3. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation is an extremely large organization with numerous suppliers. Directives under Christina Ayers` leadership under the Office for a Healthy Environment will have large-scale benefits on the supply chain. Suppliers will eagerly provide sustainably minded products and/or adjust their current practices to suit the CCF`s new needs. This is one of the most exciting and productive areas to champion sustainability.

Back to the List of 2007 Sustainability Champions Nominees