Kudos to Valley Employers for Clean Air Efforts

Phoenix, AZ (Oct. 5, 2011) More than 1,200 employers in the Valley are working on your behalf to continue the fight to improve air quality. On Wednesday, October 26, Valley Metro’s Champions for Clean Air will be honored at a special awards luncheon at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. CBS Channel 5 Anchor Sean McLaughlin will serve up the ceremony’s carte du jour as Master of Ceremonies.

“At this important event, we focus on the organizations that are making a difference in reducing single occupant trips,” said David A. Boggs, Valley Metro executive director. County officials claim that for every 46 miles traveled, one pound of pollution is emitted.

Both public and private employers will be receiving clean air recognition due to their efforts to comply with the Maricopa County Trip Reduction Program. Awards will range from outstanding commuters to best trip reduction program.

Support from community businesses is imperative in hosting the annual event. SRP, who has a long history of being a foremost environmental leader, is the top sponsor and will be participating in the luncheon festivities.

“As a strong supporter of sustainability, SRP has participated in the Maricopa County Trip Reduction Program for 22 years. At SRP, we offer our more than 4,000 employees a variety of programs that encourage the use of alternative commutes from van pools to light rail to carpooling,” said Lori Singleton, Manager of Customer Program Operations for Solar, Sustainability and Telecom.

Entries vying for top spots in various categories include:

Transportation Coordinator – Companies with 50-149 Employees
Valerie James – Scottsdale Cultural Council
Bonnie Serino - WorldatWork
Juan Barreto – Area Agency on Aging

Transportation Coordinator – Companies with 150-499 Employees
Katie Dunham – Equity Fund Advisors, Inc.
Terry Solis – Friendship Village of Tempe

Transportation Coordinator – 500+ Public Employer
Julie Howard – City of Mesa
Sue Taaffe – City of Tempe

Transportation Coordinator – 500+ Private Employer
Marcia Rightnour – Walmart Distribution Center
Diane Reega – Arizona Biltmore

Trip Reduction Program – 50-149 Employees
Friendship Village of Tempe
Area Agency on Aging
Scottsdale Cultural Council

Trip Reduction Program – 150-499 Employees
Berge Ford
IKEA Tempe
             
Trip Reduction Program – 500+ Public Employer
City of Phoenix
Maricopa County
City of Glendale

Trip Reduction Program – 500+ Private Employer
Scottsdale Healthcare
American Express
Southwest Gas

Leadership
Debbie Badge – Quarles & Brady
Gary Bacon – ARCADIS – Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
Jamsheed Mehta – City of Glendale

Marketing & Creativity – Electronic and/or Print Media
City of Mesa
Gompers Habilitation Center
Boeing Company

Marketing & Creativity – Event or Campaign Under $500
Equity Fund Advisors, Inc.
WorldatWork

Marketing & Creativity – Event or Campaign Over $500
Quarles & Brady
Capitol Rideshare – State of Arizona

Outstanding Telework Program
Scottsdale Insurance Company
ARCADIS – Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program

Bike Program
City of Tempe
Bull Information Systems, Inc.
City of Mesa

Outstanding Commuter – Transit User
Cindi Farmer – ASU
Jean Makin – ASU
Hans “Bill” Sandberg – Maricopa County

Outstanding Commuter – Carpooler
Anthony Navarro & Robert Wooten – City of Avondale
Cindy Hansen – City of Mesa
Mike Dugan & Rose Barton – ASU

Outstanding Commuter – Bicyclist/Walker
Margaret Richey – Boeing Company
Jody Rockmaker – ASU
Scott Mackeigan – Scottsdale Cultural Council

Outstanding Multi-Modal Commuter
Claudia Vazquez – Scottsdale Cultural Council
Janene Welker – ASU
Dr. Rajni L. Nair – ASU
Dawn Parker – Maricopa County
Mariah Silk – Maricopa County
Mara DeLuca – Maricopa County

MAG Livable Communities
City of Tempe
City of Mesa
City of Glendale

Corporate Sustainability
Arizona State University
IKEA Tempe
USAA Phoenix Campus

People’s Choice Bulletin Board
Area Agency on Aging
Southwest Gas
WorldatWork

Winners for each category will be announced at the luncheon on October 26. Results from the awards ceremony will be made available at the Valley Metro website.
To register for the luncheon, contact Valley Metro at (602) 523-6074 or click here. Cost is $40.00 per person or $375 for a table of ten. Registration closes October 19. For more information, call (602) 523-6074 or email us at: cleanair@valleymetro.org.

The Clean Air Campaign is sponsored by the Arizona Departments of Environmental Quality and Transportation, Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa County Air Quality Department and Valley Metro.

Valley Metro RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel bus fleet, low-emissions light rail, a bio-diesel Dial-a-Ride fleet, online carpool matching and bus trip mapping, bicycle safety and telework assistance. Funding is provided by local and federal revenues. A board of 16 governments sets the policy direction for the agency and works to improve and regionalize the public transit system.

All service and projects funded by the Proposition 400 Regional Transportation Plan funds approved by Maricopa County voters in November 2004. 
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