LiveGreen: Executive Sustainability Council

Sustainability is important to many of you. We see this in your actions on campus, the questions you ask, and the feedback you give us.

One of you told us “UNMC and Nebraska Medicine need to serve the community by exceeding the current standards and becoming a shining example of sustainability.” We agree. Everything we do has an impact and the med center’s size allows us to be a leader in this field, make a noticeable difference in the world around us, and fulfill our mission to create a healthy future.

UNMC and Nebraska Medicine formally adopted the campus’ first ever Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) in 2014, marking sustainability as a high priority. An Executive Sustainability Council (ESC) was formed to leverage recent activities and further facilitate success in the short and long term.

This council is an executive-level group responsible for ensuring that the strategies outlined in the Sustainability Master Plan are executed, and progress is tracked and demonstrated. The council will consider ways current activities can be expanded and connected with academic and patient-focused activities on campus.

Executive Sustainability Council Members:

Co-Chairs:

• Ali S. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., dean, UNMC College of Public Health
• Chad Brough, chief experience officer
• Ken Hansen, associate vice chancellor and director, campus facilities

Focus Area Leads:

Energy and Water, including Green House Gas Emissions:

• Ken Hansen

Transportation & Campus Planning:

• Jennifer Bartholomew, director, facilities planning and construction

Waste Reduction and Recycling, including Food Services:

• Rick Boldt, manager, disaster planning, Sodexo liaison
• Robert Jennings, manager, materials management

Campus Engagement:

• Melanie Stewart, manager, sustainability

Department Champions:

Information Technology Services:

• Yvette Holly, assistant vice chancellor for ITS
• Brian Lancaster; executive director, information management

Purchasing:

• Tom Strudl, director, procurement and contracting
• Jeff Elliott, director, procurement and materials management

Marketing:

• Bill O’Neill, director, public relations
• Paul Baltes, director, communications

Human Resources:

• Frank Venuto, chief human capital officer
• Aileen Warren, assistant vice chancellor for HR

Academics:

• Suhasini Kotcherlakota, Ph.D., Faculty Senate representative
• Mitch Nohner, Student Senate representative

The first ESC meeting took place last week. In his opening remarks, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., asked the group to further sustainability efforts on campus using our ITEACH values, and to change campus culture for an even larger positive effect. This group is engaged and ready to do just that. You can expect to see more great things soon!