1. How does your department spread awareness of environmental sustainability issues within your company and to your customers?This is an area that we are working hard and use all the communication channels one would expect, but there are two significant efforts that have been very effective. First, the publication of the annual sustainability report. This is the core of all we do. Second, is that the CSR team has done a great job on employee and leader education to help increase the organizational understanding of sustainability.
2. What do you think is the biggest opportunity today for retailers who want to become better stewards of the environment?Getting started and thinking beyond a single issue. Just as customers expect that retailers will support their communities and causes through donations or sponsorships, they also expect you are trying to do right by the planet. Having a recycling program or a green product line isn't going to be enough. You need to be prioritizing your broader environmental impact. Doing so sets you up better to meet future demands and influence possible regulation) and establishes credibility for your signature efforts.
3. How do you think corporate attitudes and action towards environmental sustainability will change in the next five years? The next 10 years?Like the quality movement, I believe sustainability will move from being an initiative or special project into the expected core operations and competency of the business.
4. What is the biggest challenge your department faces right now?Focusing on the work that offers us the biggest levers for results while continuing to be flexible and service focused to meet the day-to-day needs of the company.
5. If your department's budget for next year was doubled, how would you spend it?The budget for our sustainability area is modest because the true progress is being made by the priority working teams and the individual business divisions. Our work is to help the working teams identify and determine the resources necessary so that a business case can be made for investments that keep us on our road maps. So doubling our budget or the dollars going to sustainability would only be useful if we could show the on-going value of the investment. That said, given the high standard we've set for working toward being carbon neutral, having budget to play with in pursuit of the goal would be handy.
6. What led you to pursue a career in retail environmental sustainability? At REI, the public affairs team has been at the hub of the actions around our commitment to community, the company's commitment to the environment and stewardship, and our having an understanding and ability to translate the concerns of internal and external stakeholders. At the point the company decided to take a more strategic approach to sustainability, I was fortunate enough to be asked to lead the effort.
7. Who do you feel is today's most influential public figure regarding environmental issues?Al Gore probably did the most to take an environmental issue and make it accessible and real to the general public. I think that going forward business leaders have the chance to be most influential because we can interface with consumers, employees, the non-profit world and elected officials and because our actions can make a difference.
8. What is your favorite non-work pastime?I have two: photography and bike riding.
9. What book are you reading now?I always have a couple of things going. At present The Art of Racing in the Rain (novel) and Groundswell, about winning in a world transformed by social technologies.
10. What is one thing your co-workers don't know about you?I've been at REI for 21 years so I'm not sure there is much they don't know.
11. If you could invite any four people (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?Thomas Friedman, author and columnist for the New York Times is a fascinating person with whom I would really enjoy having a conversation. Artist and musician David Byrne would also be very interesting because he's so innovative and willing to break convention. One of the Google founders would be fun too because they have proven to be so smart in the amazing growth of their company. And my Dad. He recently passed away and I'd love to have the chance to have dinner with him again. He was a very bright guy and excellent debater who would make the evening lively.