NATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY COALITION NEWS RELEASE

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
CONTACT: Icy L. Williams, Chairperson 
National Sustainability Coalition 
4724 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217‐1254 
513/242‐1066 or 513/335‐1978 
icywilliams@aol.com   www.nscoalition.com 
 
CINCINNATI ORGANIZATONS JOIN TOGETHER TO BRIDGE GREEN DIVIDE
CINCINNATI, OH – October 22, 2010 – The National Sustainability Coalition and Messer Construction
Co. will co-sponsor a NSC Green Build Boot Camp to provide basic sustainability training to help small and
diverse construction and construction-related firms to “go green.” The initiative is part of a comprehensive
effort by the Greater Cincinnati Green Construction Collaborative to strengthen Cincinnati’s small, minority-
owned and entrepreneurial business community by linking under-resourced companies with sustainability
training, technical assistance to develop and implement a sustainability action plan, and green business
certification to effectively compete in the emerging green economy.

The effort is being spearheaded by Icy L. Williams, former Corporate Supplier Diversity leader at Procter
& Gamble who now serves as chairperson of the National Sustainability Coalition(NSC) . The Coalition
works to create a business environment in urban cities that assists in the growth and sustainable
development of minority-owned, women-owned and small businesses. At the core of NSC’s program is
sustainability courseware, created by subject-matter experts, to build competitive advantage that is
recognized and valued in the emerging green economy. The state-of-the-art web-based components of the
training are delivered by Myca Multimedia through a robust learning management system.

NSC is bringing together a number of local organizations under the umbrella of the Greater Cincinnati
Green Construction Collaborative to foster sustainable the sustainable development of small and diverse
businesses in three overlapping phases.

Messer Construction Co. will host the first phase of workshops located at its headquarters on Fishwick
Drive in Bond Hill. “As the world of construction technology rapidly evolves, so does Messer's commitment
to be at the forefront of these ever-changing standards,” says Tom Keckeis, president and CEO. He adds,
“As Messer strives to move forward by transitioning to new and improved technology, it is critical for our
subcontractors and suppliers to move forward as well,” he adds.

According to Williams, the purpose of the basic training is to support the need for small and diverse
suppliers to better understand the principles of sustainability and green building concepts. Green Build
Boot Camp is a blended format including classroom discussion combined with online curriculum and a
virtual tour of Messer’s headquarters, which has been redesigned into a green building. Attending this
special four-hour workshop on Tuesdays and Saturdays in November, December and January is the first
step in becoming a marketable green supplier in the emerging green construction economy.

The second phase of the program is designed to transition small businesses to sustainable operations,
whereby sustainability‐based thinking, perspectives and behaviors are integrated into everyday operating
procedures and the culture of the company. The skills training is being provided through the Ohio Small
Business Development Center (SBDC), a division of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati’s Economic
Empowerment Center. The African American Chamber of Commerce and the Urban League’s SBDC are
collaborating with NSC to provide online curriculum, specialized workshops and technical assistance that
will help under-resourced businesses design and implement a sustainability action plan to improve the 

environmental impacts of their operations and activities. NSC awards green business certification to 
companies that are improving their environmental stewardship, all while contributing to a better quality 
of life for their communities. A third‐party auditing process is more reliable than self‐certifications and 
ensures the implementation and functionality of sustainable operations. 

Donna Jones, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati says, “Our goal is to
further economic empowerment by helping to bridge the "green divide" in the Cincinnati community. We
need families and businesses in our communities that are not only environmentally and socially
responsible, but also have the knowledge to capitalize on unique opportunities the emerging green
economy represents.”

A more advanced third phase of NSC’s program offers a full sequence of courses at Cincinnati State
Technical & Community College (CSTCC) to prepare small businesses to understand and meet the U.S.
Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (or LEED) standards in such
areas as sustainable design, heating and air conditioning systems and construction management. The
College also includes a course that prepares individuals to sit for the LEED Accredited Professional Exam.
At CSTCC’s Workforce Development Center in Evendale, businesses can get hands-on education and
training in such areas as solar panel installation, geothermal systems, fuel cells and thermal solar
applications. There are also courses for small companies and individuals that are interested in providing
energy audits or retrofitting infrastructures for energy efficiencies.

“Supplier diversity is still a respected value proposition within the industry,” states Icy Williams,
chairperson of NSC. “Suppliers must be prepared to do business in a changing global economy, where all
businesses are being measured by their environmental and social impacts, as well as their sustainability
performance. The ability to operate as a green business and meet the demands of sustainability
requirements is essential to the future growth and success of small and diverse suppliers.“

For more information about how the National Sustainability Coalition can help green your business or your
supply chain, contact Icy L. Williams at 513/242-1066 or icywilliams@aol.com.

# #` #