For Immediate Release

July 15, 2009

 West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum Elects New Board Members and Officers

 GRAND RAPIDS – The West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (WMSBF) has elected three new board members as well as a new Vice President and Treasurer.  Elected to the Board of Directors at the May monthly meeting are:

•    Phillip Greene, Program Manager of Continuing Education/Professional Development at Grand Rapids Community College
•    Danielle Ouendag, Senior Environmental Specialist at Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber
•      Susan Paauwe, Project Professional at NTH Consultants and past WMSBF board president
  
• ·    Carol Pike at Fusion Business Services

These board members replace outgoing members Levi Gardner of Integrated Architecture, Matthew Tueth of Aquinas College, Frank Schuller of Allied Waste, and Ron Blouw of Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber.

In June, Gayle DeBruyn of Lake Affect Design Studio was elected as Vice President of the Board.  She brings several years of experience in the WMSBF, including co-Chair of the Design Committee, to the office.  Gabe Wing of Herman Miller was elected to the position of Treasurer.  Continuing for a second term as president is Marylu Dykstra, principal of Sirius Resources and David Rinard, Director Global Environmental Performance, of Steelcase Inc. as board secretary.

All new board members and officers join the leadership of an organization that has gone through many changes in the previous year.  In January, the WMSBF separated its long affiliation with the West Michigan Environmental Action Council in order to form its own 501c3 organization, working side-by-side with organizations such as WMEAC and other sustainably-minded entities.  “Now that many of the organizational changes have taken place, we are looking forward to enhancing our educational and networking strengths,” said WMSBF president Marylu Dykstra, “Our new board members have many strengths in these areas, and we are excited about the resources we will be bringing to the region this year.”

Please contact Kyle Ten Broeke at kyle@wmsbf.org or (616) 723-0525 for more information

The West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum is a network of businesses, academic, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to educating and promoting sustainable business practices.   Members meet in rotating locations each month to become more informed on various topics of environmental and social responsibility.

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