Area Employers Recognized for Clean Air and Green Initiatives

North Texas Clean Air Coalition Hosts Sixth-Annual Working for Clean Air™ Awards

Richard Maxwell with The T and Tom Opderbeck of American Airlines, the winner of the FW Employer of the Year award at the North Texas Clean Air Coalition Working for Clean Air awards luncheon in Fort Worth.

The North Texas Clean Air Coalition announced recipients of the Working for Clean Air™ Awards during a luncheon in Fort Worth on Oct. 20, and in Dallas on Oct. 22. The awards program is in its sixth year of recognizing North Texas’ outstanding workplaces for clean air, sustainability, and green initiatives.

“The Working for Clean Air™ Awards is our opportunity to publicly recognize civic-minded businesses that have developed internal corporate programs to improve the quality of air, our quality of life, and the health of our community” said Cathy Altman, chairman of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition and partner at Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP.

Western Region winners were announced during the luncheon held at Chesapeake Energy in Fort Worth and included American Airlines, Employer of the Year Over 500 Gold; The T, Employer of the Year Over 500 Silver; Clean Green Consulting, Employer of the Year Under 500 Gold; and the City of North Richland Hills, Employer of the Year Under 500 Silver.

State Rep. Carol Kent speaks at the North Texas Clean Air Coalition Working for Clean Air awards luncheon in Dallas.

“We are very proud to accept the Working for Clean Air Gold Award,” said Tom Opderbeck, environmental projects manager for American Airlines. “We look forward to continuing our efforts to improve the local air quality in the communities we serve.”

Eastern Region winners were announced during the luncheon held at Eddie Deen’s Ranch in Dallas and included Raytheon, Employer of the Year Over 500 Gold; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 6, Employer of the Year Over 500 Silver; imc2, Employer of the Year Under 500 Gold; and Carrington Coleman, Employer of the Year Under 500 Silver.

The Clean Air Coalition also honored winners of their “Commuter Challenge” competition, which encouraged North Texans to choose commute alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles and reduce harmful emissions. Eastern Region resident Jerry Wyrick reduced his vehicle miles traveled by 14,252.7 through commuting alternatives and Western Region resident Debbie Boles reduced her vehicle miles traveled by 7,244. The “Commuter Challenge” incentive reduced the number of vehicle miles traveled by over 531,000 vehicle miles and a decrease in CO2 over 467,000 lbs.

Celebrating 16 years of helping North Texans find ways to help clear the air, the Clean Air Coalition encourages voluntary efforts to improve air quality in North Texas through educating, engaging and recognizing the business community. Founding members of the Clean Air Coalition include the North Texas Commission, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas Regional Chamber, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, The T and Denton County Transportation Authority joined shortly thereafter as members. For more information on the North Texas Clean Air Coalition, visit www.workingforcleanair.org.

Complete Winners List

Western Region Winners:

American Airlines, Employer of the Year Over 500 Gold
The T, Employer of the Year Over 500 Silver
Clean Green Consulting, Employer of the Year Under 500 Gold
City of North Richland Hills, Employer of the Year Under 500 Silver
The T, Commute Initiative Employer
Sabre Holdings, Business Operations Employer
Texas Christian University, Fleet Operations Employer
Chesapeake Energy, Community Initiatives Employer
Peterbilt Motors, Innovative Program of the Year
Tarrant County, TryParkingIt.com Employer of the Year – Most Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduced
City of Arlington, TryParkingIt.com Employer of the Year – Highest Participation Rate
Lockheed Martin, Vanpool of the Year
Susie Sweeton, City of Fort Worth, Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year
Debbie Boles, 2009 Commuter Challenge Winner
Doug Black, Commute Cyclist of the Year

Western Region Clean Air Champions:

Texas Department of Transportation – Fort Worth District
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
The Northeast Tarrant Chamber
Tarrant County Family Court Services
Fort Worth Economic Development Corp
BNSF Railway
City of Arlington
Chesapeake Energy
Project Partners, Inc.
ATC Logistics and Electronics
Ash Grove, Texas
Motheral Printing Company
Sabre Holdings
North Texas Regional Council of Governments
Tarrant County
City of Fort Worth
University of North Texas
Lockheed Martin
Bell Helicopter
Peterbilt Motors
Texas Christian University

Western Clean Air Partners

Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
Concussion LLP
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Eastern Region Winners

Raytheon, Employer of the Year Over 500 Gold
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 6, Employer of the Year Over 500 Silver
imc2 , Employer of the Year Under 500 Gold
Carrington Coleman, Employer of the Year Under 500 Silver
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 6, Commute Initiative Employer
Texas Instruments, Business Operations Employer
City of Dallas, Fleet Operations Employer
Denton County Transportation Authority, Community Initiatives Employer
TXU Energy, Innovative Program of the Year
Texas Instruments, TryParkingIt.com Employer of the Year – Most Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduced
imc2 , TryParkingIt.com Employer of the Year – Highest Participation Rate
Diana Sulser, TryParkingIt.com Individual Winner – Most Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduced
Alan Atmos Energy, Vanpool of the Year
Jerry Wyrick, 2009 Commuter Challenge Winner
Laura Woodon, Eastern Region 2009 Otto Wetzel Commute Cyclist of the Year
Larsen, Raytheon, Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year

Eastern Clean Air Champions

Medical City Dallas Hospital
DFW Airport
Downtown Dallas
TXU Energy
North Texas Health Care Laundry
Dallas Regional Chamber
FedEx Office
Internal Revenue Service
State Farm Mutual Insurance
Hie-Electronics
Go Green Couriers
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Mary Kay, Inc.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Grand Prairie Office Complex
City of Dallas
First Southwest Company
MHPM Project Managers
City of Richardson
United States Bankruptcy Court
Denton County Transportation Authority
Corgan Associates

The Clean Air Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is supported by the generosity of local companies who share their concern for the air quality in our region and their mission to encourage voluntary efforts to improve air quality in North Texas through educating, engaging, and recognizing the business community. Established in 1993, The Clean Air Coalition’s founding members include the North Texas Commission, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas Regional Chamber, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) and Denton County Transportation Authority joined shortly thereafter as members. As the only 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to encouraging voluntary efforts to improve air quality in North Texas, the Clean Air Coalition believes that business can both positively impact the environment and earn a profit. Originally founded in response to local air quality challenges, especially ozone pollution, the Clean Air Coalition has educated, engaged, or recognized thousands of companies within its nine-county service area.