The Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan today highlighted 15 notable alumni as part of a year-long celebration of the pioneering sustainable business program's 15th anniversary. The recognition of these alums' work precedes the announcement of the first annual Erb Distinguished Alumni Award, which will be launched later this fall, with nominations gathered from the entire Erb community and an honoree to be announced in the spring of 2009.
Chosen from an alumni network currently numbering over 140, the Erb Institute's 15 notable alumni list includes some of the most innovative thinkers and outspoken leaders for sustainable business in the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. The list includes:

• Laura Rubin '95, executive director of the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC)
• Paul Hardy '96, director of The Nature Conservancy's Conservation Partnership Program
• Jennifer Layke '97, deputy director of the climate and energy program at the World Resources Institute
• Kevin Greiner '98, CEO of Gas South
• Ryan Waddington, '99, alternative energy research director at Ziff Brothers Investments
• Rob Frederick '00, assistant vice president and director of corporate sustainability at Brown-Forman Corporation
• Asako Nagai '01, corporate responsibility manager for Sony Corporation
• Meghan Chapple-Brown '02, senior advisor at SustainAbility, a think tank/consultancy group
• Nuyi Tao '03, associate with the World Bank in Washington, D.C.
• Scott Baron '04, leads organizational effectiveness and builds scalable processes for Acciona
• Nick Cucinelli, '05 CEO of Octillion Corporation, a startup devoted to producing windows that generate electricity
• Richard Bole, '06, is a sustainable real estate development expert
• Sarah Hines '07 is an executive at the United States Forest Service
• Jessica Lin '07 works for GE's Renewable Energy Leadership Program in China
• Kipp Baratoff '08 is at Equilibrium Capital in Oregon, a venture capital firm focused on clean technology

"In the last five years alone, clean and green technology investing has emerged from a small niche to one of the most powerful forces in capital markets today," said Ryan Waddington '99, Director at Ziff Brothers Investments' energy private equity fund ZBI Ventures. "In this area among others, Erb Institute alumni are leading a new generation of business people for whom sustainability is not just a matter of social or environmental responsibility, but of long-term profitability. I am honored to be part of such a distinguished group and excited about the positive impact that Erb Institute alumni will continue to have on the business world."

For further details on the Erb Institute's alumni community, including biographical information for the list of notable alumni, visit: http://erb.umich.edu/People-and-Partners/Alumni/.

"As the sole member of Erb's first graduating class, I have been amazed to see how the institute has grown, but maintained its commitment to sustainable business research and practice," noted Laura Rubin '95, executive director of the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC). "The HRWC often works with for-profit organizations to accomplish our goals, and I am truly inspired by the nonprofit-corporate partnerships that Erb students, faculty and my fellow alums are forging in order to create a more sustainable future."

In addition to the 15 alums noted here, Erb Institute alumni can be counted among the ranks at BP, CitiGroup, DuPont, General Electric, Interface, MGM, PG&E, Stonyfield Farm, Target and Toyota, as well as at organizations like the Nature Conservancy, Business for Social Responsibility, the World Resources Institute, Trout Unlimited, the EPA, the U.S. Forest Service and the World Bank.

"This list highlights just some of the hundreds of notable achievements of our students and alumni in our 15-year history," said Erb Institute Managing Director Rick Bunch. "In taking this opportunity to formally recognize our alums' passionate commitment to sustainable business practices, we hope to call attention to this growing body of work, and to the importance of programs like Erb in helping foster opportunities for those who want to make a difference."

About the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise
Created in 1996, the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise is a 50-50 partnership between the School of Natural Resources and Environment and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. The Institute fosters professional education, public outreach and scientific scholarship supportive of the transition to sustainability - that is, meeting the fundamental needs of a growing human population in an equitable manner within the means of nature. Utilizing a collaborative approach, the Institute helps business, government and civil society organizations to achieve meaningful progress toward sustainability. Its mission is be a premier source of knowledge and leadership for the achievement of environmentally, economically and socially sustainable development and enterprise. For more information, visit www.erb.umich.edu.