Ei Leadership Recognized for Contributions to Atlanta's Economy & Environment

Michael Halicki & Tim Trefzer at
the LAI Fall Meeting

At the October 4 Metro Atlanta Chamber 2017 E3 Awards, Ei Strategic Ally Park Pride and Sustainable Facilities Initiative Chair Tim Trefzer were recognized for their exceptional contributions to Atlanta's economy and the environment. 

According to the Chamber website:

The Atlanta E3 Awards recognizes companies, organizations, and individuals working to conserve metro Atlanta’s natural resources, develop clean technologies to enhance our economy and environment, support sustainable projects and initiatives, and collaborate on solutions through university connections, marketing, and education.

Elemental Impact (Ei) applauds Park Pride and Tim on their impressive recognition with their respective E3 Awards.

Trident Award
Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) Sustainability Director Tim Trefzer was the E3 2017 Trident Award recipient. An award designated for an individual, versus an organization, the Trident Award recognizes visionary leaders advancing sustainability in Atlanta.

With his stellar sustainability track record, Tim is more than worthy of the prestigious award. Under Tim's leadership, the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) - the fourth largest conference center in the nation - earned Silver LEED Silver certification in 2014; the GWCC is the world's largest LEED-certified conference center!

As host to the 2013 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®, the second most popular sporting event across the globe, Atlanta set a high standard for sporting event sustainability practices. One of the Atlanta Local Organizing Committee (ALOC) stated goals was to make the 2013 Final Four the "greenest games ever." Tim took the helm for achieving the lofty goal.


SUCCESS: the comprehensive ALOC plan culminated in impressive green footprints before, during and after the games. The ZWA Blog article, Final Four green footprints continue after the games, gives an overview of event sustainability stats; the May 2013 Final Four Sustainability Report is the official in-depth report.

Bill Strang presents Tim
 the E3 Trident Award
photo courtesy of the E3 Awards

Post-event, Tim and an EPA colleague drafted the Final Four Sustainability RFP sustainability section. Thus, new industry standards were established!

For the past two years, Tim consulted with the College Football Playoff and the Super Bowl leadership on establishing sustainability standards at their prestigious sporting events. In addition, Tim is the sustainability liaison for the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship and the 2019 Super Bowl host committees. The events are hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, located on the GWCCA campus.


Validating Tim's significant contributions to sporting event sustainability, National Football League Director of Environmental Programs Jack Groh honored Tim, along with two other icons, in his 2017 Green Sports Alliance Environmental Leadership Award acceptance speech:

Tim & Jack at a Super Bowl Event

"There are too many people to thank everyone by name but I need to mention a few. I have been blessed to work with the “three musketeers” of sports sustainability for several years. David Crawford of the Vancouver Olympics, Nate Gassmann of PepsiCo, and Tim Trefzer of the World Congress Center in Atlanta. Three of the smartest and hardest working people in the sports sustainability movement.

My original partner, Ed Augustine, along with Scott Jenkins, David Crawford, and I represent the “old guard.” There are new folks like Erik Distler, Nate Gassmann, and Tim Trefzer who form a new generation of leaders to carry on the work and build the future of this movement."

In August 2017 Tim joined the Elemental Impact Leadership Team as the new Sustainable Facilities Chair (SFI). The Zero Waste in ACTION Blog article, Changing of the Guard: Welcome Tim Trefzer to the Ei Leadership Team!, includes an overview of Tim's professional achievements, along with accolades from the outgoing Co-Chairs; the Ei SFI - GWCCA page lists impressive sustainability accomplishments at the GWCCA campus under Tim's direction.

Community Strong Award
Park Pride Executive Director Michael Halicki accepted the E3 Community Strong award on behalf of the Proctor Creek North Avenue Study (PNA Study) The Community Strong Award recognizes a nonprofit or university program that promotes collaboration and community involvement in making metro Atlanta more sustainable.

Micahel accepts the E3 Community
Strong Award from Mark Berry
photo courtesy of the E3 Awards

Completed in 2010, the PNA Study is a forward-thinking visionary plan for Atlanta’s Westside that addresses a lack of greenspace and the need for stormwater solutions, both long-time challenges for the English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods. The vision is a series of interconnected parks that address stormwater management and the value of neighborhood public parks.

In his acceptance talk, Michael emphasized the tremendous teamwork culminating in the plan's ongoing success with current accomplishments and future park development.

The PNA Study is unique in three distinctive areas:

1. Community-driven, the PNA Study is multi-faceted; local challenges beyond park development including community revitalization, job creation, stormwater management, and public health are addressed.
2. Local technical experts were generous with their contributions. Eberly & Associates provided hydrology expertise and Perkins + Will produced many of the maps included in the plan.
3. A long-term endeavor, the PNA Study has a persistent impact over time. The projects completed in 2010 continue to provide community benefit while future projects build upon the collective impact.

The IMPACT Blog article, The Power of Parks, chronicles the history of parks, the intrinsic value parks bring to the community & the environment, and the Trust for Public Land's ParkScore ranking system. In addition, the article gives an overview of Park Pride's empowering contributions to Atlanta and Dekalb County parks and the communities as a whole.

Beyond their respective 2017 E3 Awards, Tim and Michael were nominated for membership in Lambda Alpha International, a prominent land economics honorary with local and global impact. The IMPACT Blog article, Lambda Alpha International Atlanta Chapter: growing membership, influence and impact, introduces LAI along with its history and designated purposes.

Tim and Michael join Ei Founder Holly Elmore and Ei Advisory Council Member Wayne King, Sr. with ERTHProducts as active LAI Atlanta Chapter members.

Congratulations to Tim Trefzer and Park Pride | Michael Halicki on the Metro Atlanta Chamber's recognition of your valuable contributions to Atlanta's environment and economy. Ei is honored to partner with you all on many of your important projects.