Cornerstone Award Finalists Announced

Concord, NH – New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility announced today three finalists for the organization’s highest honor, the Cornerstone Award.

The three finalists are Jeff Baker, President and CEO of Image 4 in Manchester, the Co-op Food Stores of New Hampshire and Vermont, and Trish Taylor, Executive Chef Grappone Conference Center in Concord

The Cornerstone Award is presented annually to an individual, organization, or company exemplifying the concepts of corporate responsibility within their organization and the greater business community in the state of New Hampshire.

The award will be presented by Governor Maggie Hassan and Tom Strickland, President of Sequoya Technologies Group, at NHBSR’s annual conference on Monday, May 12th in Concord.

Applicants are judged on their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices within their workplace/organization, the ways in which they encourage other to engage in sustainability, and promote the value of CSR within the New Hampshire business community. 

“The 2014 applicants demonstrated a wide range of approaches to sustainable business, “ said Michelle Veasey, Executive Director of NHBSR.  “Their efforts truly demonstrate the shared value created by a focus on people, planet, and profits.”

Jeff Baker of Image4, an environmental branding and marketing company, created a business that mirrors his ethics.  His core belief is that a company can create value for clients and the environment, and this belief has not gone unnoticed.  Image 4 is nationally recognized for their environmentally-friendly trade show exhibits and has many LEED certified projects.  Jeff’s impact can also be seen in workplace practices and support for local organizations.

The Co-op Stores of NH and VT is a leader in implementing innovative energy recovery and conservation practices. The member-owned business has developed unique and innovative programs to not only divert waste from their own waste streams, but to also educate and engage their members in sustainable behavior. The Co-op supports the local community in many ways including developing relationships with local food producers, hosting food drives, and supporting community gardens.

Trish Taylor of The Duprey Hotels believed in local food long before it became a trend.  She created and still leads the Green Team at the Grappone Conference Center and Duprey Hotels. She has led efforts in energy efficiency and waste elimination, and spearheaded the creation of a year-round “freight garden” that provides green vegetables regardless of season.  She works hard to develop and demonstrate the value of local food, and shares her passion and knowledge with local culinary students and the community. 

NHBSR’s Cornerstone Award is sponsored by Sequoya Technologies Group of Peterborough.  Sequoya was recognized in 2012 as the award recipient for their unique community program, Sequoya Seeds, which donates time and expertise to Monadnock-area nonprofits selected by Sequoya’s customers.