A Man of Controversy; A Man of Action

Jake on the right handing out bags
at a Panther game

Jake Wilson loves a challenge and understands being controversial is at times a necessary characteristic when it comes to changing human behavior.  As the Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful (KMB) Executive Director, Jake has developed and implemented an amazing series of recycling programs since KMB launched in late 2003.  Each year since inception KMB has received the Keep America Beautiful (KAB)President's Circle Award.




"If you are not pissing someone off, some of the time, you are not doing your job properly" is a Jake Wilson quote.  The "Get Your Butts off Charlotte Streets" and "Get Your Ash off Charlotte Streets" street banners/billboards, part of the Swat-A-Litterbug program, ruffled more than a few feathers with Charlotte public officials. 


Controversial and effective, the program is designed to stop smokers from disposing of ashes and butts on Charlotte streets,  Collaborating with the City of Charlotte, KAB and KMB, Jake devised a program where each entity provided 25 cigarette urns in the downtown area for smokers to use.  With a total of 75 urns, the city government now saves money as it takes less time for custodial workers to empty urns than to sweep sidewalks and streets.  

The Swat-A-Litterbug has a call-in feature where citizens may report a vehicle license tag when an occupant is seen throwing trash (cigarette butts/ashes and fast food/beverages, the most common offense) on Charlotte streets.  The caller gives the time, location and item tossed.  Next the vehicle owner receives a notice from the NC State Patrol Commanding Officer stating future such conduct may result in a fine.  Another program feature is distributing around 300 disposable ashtrays per month to promote "keep it in the car".


As Jake has the knack of creating Win-Win scenarios, most of his programs draw accolades rather than controversy.  The Event Recycling at Speed Street earned a 2009 EVIE Award for Best Green Event.  Panther Tail Gate Recycling is a prime example of Jake's facilitating talent at work with the Carolina Panthers, Bojangle's and Charlotte Center City partnering on the successful initiative.  During the 2009/2010 Panthers home games, tailgaters recycled more than 30 tons of bottles and cans, with over 30% of the waste stream diverted from the landfill.

The Recycle and Win Patrol

The Recycle and Win program “catches” residences with contaminant-free recycling bins and rewards them with $100 Harris Teeter gift cards.  Coca-Cola employees follow the recycling collector in a “wrapped” Prius, go through recycling bins with the program sticker, and give county residents the $100 gift card reward.  With an 18% increase in recycling rates, the successful program is staged for expansion to Raleigh, NC, Charleston, W VA, and possibly New Orleans


Mecklenburg County is fortunate Jake Wilson calls Charlotte home.  With his boundless energy dedicated to environmental causes, Jake is a gift to humanity.  Ei names Jake Wilson as the February, 2011 IMPACTOR.  Thank you Jake!

Taking Sustainability to the Next Level

The inaugural International Foodservice Sustainability Symposium (IFSS):  An opportunity to meet national and international heroes and learn how the foodservice industry is ready to catapult into new dimensions of sustainability.  


Co-sponsored by Kendall College and the National Restaurant Association, through its Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability initiative, IFSS promises to be an exhilarating event.  Limited to 150 attendees, IFSS will focus exclusively on the more complex sustainability issues such as emerging technologies, green building and perhaps the most highly nuanced subject of all – sustainable food.

“The IFSS will provide foodservice professionals with the information and tools they need to make critical decisions about complex sustainability issues,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “We have identified sustainability as a key industry imperative in our multi-year strategic plan, and are committed to educating our members on how to increase environmental efforts and boost their bottom line. This symposium is set up to give attendees the objective information they need to find the answers that work for them.”

“For the last several years, I’ve traveled the country talking about sustainability as a journey composed of baby steps,” said Christopher Koetke, dean of the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts and Laureate International Universities Vice President of the Center for Culinary Excellence. “The IFSS is an opportunity to take a giant educational leap that will support your sustainability journey for years to come.”

IFSS is scheduled for May 24-25, 2011 in Chicago, immediately following NRA Show 2011.  For more details visit the IFSS site.

Chris Moyer joins the Ei Team

Chris & Holly 

With the collaboration of the National Restaurant Association, Elemental Impact and ZWZ official, Chris Moyer,NRA Conserve Program Director, joins the Ei Team as Foodservice Industry Advisor.  Along with amazing enthusiasm, Chris brings 14 years of foodservice and hospitality industry experience to Ei.  Check out his impressive bio on the NRA Speaker Bureau.

Ei projects, including the ZWZ program, are staged to catapult to new dimensions with Chris in a leadership role.  Supported by the NRA's vast resources, Chris plans to work with the Team on bringing more depth to existing Ei programs along with developing new collaborative initiatives. 

One to jump in with both feet, usually adorned in bright green sneakers, Chris is co-chair of the Sustainable Food Court Initiative, an Elemental Impact Task Force. 

Welcome Chris!

Happy Birthday Ei!

Happy Birthday to you, Elemental Impact!  On February 05 Ei celebrated her one-year anniversary as a Georgia non-profit.  Wow ~ what a difference 365 days can make!  Visit the Paving the Way to a New Paradigm to learn about the milestones created over the past 12 months.


The foundation is built and the stage set for full-throttle ACTION!  Stay tuned for exhilarating tales from the journey to the New Paradigm. 

Arthur Potts Dawson, A Committed Visionary

Arthur Potts Dawson wants us to take responsibility not just for the food we eat, but how we shop for and even dispose of it.  And he's showing the way ... with impeccable taste.  So begins Arthur's bio on TED, Ideas Worth Spreading.  Arthur's eight minute plus video is invigorating to watch and witness his raw sense of integrity regarding respect of the earth's resources.

Ei named Arthur the January, 2011 IMPACTOR of the month for taking his vision into action with his two London restaurants, Acorn House and Waterhouse. In the video Arthur explains how he addresses each of his five waste categories: time, space, energy and waste.  With his British wit Arthur gives some personal antidotes from his journey, including a mass accidental worm murder incident.

Using the Chinese Medicinal Elements as his inspiration, Arthur plans to open a total five restaurants influences by the elements, wood, water, fire, metal and earth.  Acorn House relates to wood and Waterhouse to water;  there are three more sustainable restaurants slated for future development.

To bring urban dwellers closer to their food source, Arthur opened The People's Supermarket .  According to Arthur, The People's Supermarket is the most sustainable supermarket in the world and he intends to be the first with zero waste.

Arthur Potts Dawson is a gift to humanity and his determination is staged to change standard operating practices in the foodservice industry and beyond.  THANK YOU ARTHUR!

GWCC Rolling in the GREEN!

What an honor to have such a progressive team at Atlanta's anchor for convention business!  The GA World Congress Center (GWCC) was recently awarded a $2.3 million grant for a major lighting retrofit and controls system upgrade through the State Retrofit Program.  As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the funds were secured through GEFA's (GA Environmental Finance Authortiy) State Energy Program.


The funds will be used to replace nearly 1,500 lighting fixtures in the GWCC's 12 exhibition halls and 3.9 million square foot facility.  Each bulb will potentially result in up to 25 percent savings per usage and will last 20 percent longer than the bulbs currently in use.  With an annual power bill of more than $4 million, the potential savings is tremendous both in usage and dollars, the other green.  The project is set to be complete in September, 2011.


As the fourth largest mega convention center in the nation, the GWCC's sustainable practices are important to Atlanta's economic vitality.  Atlanta is a convention-driven city and the health of our convention business is integral to the overall health of our city.  With the GWCC leading the pack as a Charter ZWZ Participant and now with state of the green art lighting, Atlanta is staged to be the winner with strong future convention bookings.


In a ZWZ Blog Post a few weeks ago, GWCCA is congratulated on hiring Tim Trefzer as the first sustainability coordinator of their facilities.  Click here to view the post, GWCCA Walks Their Talk.  Click here to see the official GWCCA press release on the GEFA grant.


Stay tuned as we continue to give updates on Atlanta's flagship convention facility and their crusade to ensure Atlanta leads the pack in sustainability.

An Angel NOT in Disguise

Monica Pearson and John Pruitt with Angel

Angels enter our lives in simple forms and then amaze us with their miraculous feats. Angel Poventud is an  amazing individual who lives up to his name and inspires us mere humans to live up to our Divine potential.  Gifted with an abundance of energy, Angel volunteers 20- 30 hours per week (yes, this is per week) of his spirit to Atlanta communities in projects destined for environmental impact.


A man of ACTION, Angel prefers not to spend his time in meetings. Angel loves to work/play with comrades creating a better place to live using their physical labor to deliver community gifts. At one of his first Trees Atlanta projects in the Summer Hills neighborhood near Turner Field, Angel was impressed by the integrated spirit expressed with the array of volunteers including professionals, neighbors, and veteran volunteers.  Around 40 trees were planted in the neighborhood cul-de-sac and Angel was hooked by the magnitude of immediate impact.


With his beloved Grandmother providing the foundation of unconditional love, Angel understands the incredible possibilities when one lives from the power of the Heart.  Growing up under the envelope of Expressed Love, Angel feels free to explore his passions and created a life filled with devotion to community spirit.


With honor, Ei designates Angel Poventud The December IMPACTOR.  Refer to the Ei IMPACTOR page for additional antidotes where Angel's phenomenal spirit is exhaled with appreciation.


Earlier this month, Cox Enterprises honored Angel as the the Cox Conserves Hero for his unwavering devotion to community via his volunteer efforts to Trees Atlanta, the Atlanta BeltLine and other deserving projects.  Angel gifted his $5,000 award to Trees Atlanta.  Click here to view the fantastic video featuring Angel and his Community Spirit.

For Angel, his tremendous devotion to Community is the expression of his Spirit.  At times he seems perplexed by the appreciation and awards bestowed.  Maybe, just maybe, Angel is the forerunner to the human race that lives from the HEART rather from the Mind or Need.