Champions Award Lunch

 

The Champions Award Lunch recognized creative thinking and innovative approaches to motivating employees to reduce the number of miles they drive.  Many Partners said their company benefited from being seen as a responsible corporation through their partnership with Clean Air Works!.

In 2009, the annual awards lunch was hosted by new Partner, Johnson C. Smith University.  Regional Air Quality Board chair David Franchina emceed the event.  Honorees included:

  • Clean Air Works! Champions Award: Small Partner – RT Dooley
  • Clean Air Works! Champions Award: Medium Partner – AXA Equitable
  • Clean Air Works! Champions Award: Large Partner – AT&T
  • The Executive Champion Award: Rusty Harris – PSNC Energy
  • The Executive Champion Awars: Sam Houser – Houser Transport
  • Innovation Award: Concorde Construction
  • Innovation Award: Harris Teeter
  • Sustainable Award: AbitibiBowater
  • Sustainable Award: American & Efird
  • Sustainable Award: Duke Energy
  • Sustainable Award: Moore & Van Allen
  • Sustainable Award: Piedmont Natural Gas
  • Sustainable Award: Centralina Council of Governments
  • Sustainable Award: Hewitt & Associates
  • Project Leader Awards: Amy Farris – NewDominion / Emily Scofield – RT Dooley / Mariel Littrell – CRVA / Tim Grzesiakowski – Hewitt & Associates / Warren Cook – York Technical College

2008:  In 2008, Clean Air Works! hosted its annual lunch at CPCC's Harris Conference Center.  Partners were recognized for their efforts to improve air quality in the region.  Fred A. Jackson, President & CEO of American & Efird, gave the keynote address, and Regional Air Quality Board members Emmy Lou Burchette and John Eapen emceed the ceremony.  Honorees were:

  • Clean Air Works! Champions Award: Small Partner – Sherpa
  • Clean Air Works! Champions Award: Medium Partner – National Gypsum
  • Clean Air Works! Champions Award: Large Partner – Carolinas Healthcare System
  • Clean Air Works! Champions Award: Large Partner – Time Warner Cable
  • The Executive Champion Award: Frank Dowd IV – Charlotte Pipe & Foundry
  • The Executive Champion Award: Mike Munley – Time Warner Cable
  • Innovation Award: AbitibiBowater
  • Innovation Award: PSNC Energy
  • Spotlight Award: Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
  • Outstanding New Partner Award: AXA Equitable
  • Outstanding New Partner Award: Elmer’s Products
  • Project Leader Award: Dana Voss – Carolinas Healthcare System / Michael DePalma – Piedmont Natural Gas / Don Parris – National Gypsum / Leigh Coble – Charlotte Pipe & Foundry / Starr Haigler – AXA Equitable / Carol Corriher – Rack Room Shoes / Kelly Elman – Citi Fort Mill / Michael Scott – American & Efird

2007: Clean Air Works! held its 2007 Champions Luncheon on October 8 at Harris Conference Center.  Piedmont Natural Gas president and chief executive Tom Skains gave the keynote address, while John Wendel, meteorologist at WCNC, emceed the awards ceremony.  Awardees included:

  • Champions Awards (Large Employer): Duke Energy
 / Citi Fort Mill                
  • Champions Award (Medium Employer): Piedmont Natural Gas
  • Champions Award (Small Employer)
: Bissell Companies        
  • Best New Partner:  C design In / Houser Transport, Inc. / Sherpa, LLC / New Dominion Bank / Vanguard
  • Spotlight Award: Bowater
  • Innovation Awards: American & Efird / Moore & Van Allen


  • Project Leader Awards: Stacie Hicks, Sonia Sons, and Kristen Boyd, First Charter
Ray Fuentes, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
 / Matt Kanes and Linda Benish, Piedmont Natural Gas / Philip Beard and Lisa Rhyne, Duke Energy
  • Executive Leader Awards: Fred Jackson, American & Efird / Mike Forrest, Bowater

2006:  Clean Air Works! held its first Champions Lunch at the end of the Pilot Program in 2006.  On October 24, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway,   eight companies and eleven individuals were honored for their outstanding efforts to reduce ozone emissions and encourage alternative commute options. Mike Collins of WFAE radio and host of Charlotte Talks, emceed the event.  Honorees included:

  • The Innovation Awards were presented to Bank of America and Duke Energy for developing the most creative and innovative solution (promotion, incentives, etc.) to implement its Clean Air Works! project.
  • The Challenge Awards for outstanding overall employer programs were presented to five employers: Alltel - small business; Moore & Van Allen and Harris Teeter - medium business; and American & Efird and Bowater - large business.
  • The Spotlight Award was presented to Piedmont Natural Gas for the most outstanding operations and maintenance program during the project.
  • The Champion Awards went to Ellen Ruff of Duke Energy and Patrick Mumford of Wachovia for showing exemplary commitment to reducing emissions in the Charlotte region through their championing of the project.
  • Outstanding Project Leader Awards went to those individuals who showed leadership, enthusiasm and creativity in the actual implementation of the project at their respective work sites. Those winners included Dawn Reeves and John Eapen of American & Efird; Dale Herendeen of Bowater; Clary Hilliard of Moore & Van Allen; Regina Guyer of UNC-Charlotte; Leah Belk and Terri Priore of Harris Teeter; Tracie Tallant of Central Piedmont Community College and Daria Milburn of Wachovia.