Name: Sunny PresslerTitle: Recycling CoordinatorOrganization: The BroadmoorYears at Hotel: Almost five yearsPrimary responsibilities: “To get the company as much as I can through recycling, and recycle as much as I can.”Hotel’s most significant waste-related accomplishment so far: “The volume of items that we recycle on an annual basis. We are earning between $30,000 to $40,000 a year from our recyclables.”   Hotel’s most significant waste-related challenge: “The biggest obstacle we need to overcome is food waste.”COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.—As someone who loves the outdoors, Sunny Pressler is in her element as recycling coordinator for The Broadmoor in scenic Colorado Springs. She...

Name: Michael MilburnTitle: Director, Energy & Sustainability DepartmentOrganization: LQ Management L.L.C. (La Quinta)Years with company: 12 yearsPrimary responsibilities: “My primary responsibility is to work with all levels of management within the La Quinta organization to develop and implement energy management programs, conservation programs, and sustainability initiatives.”Organization’s most significant environment-related accomplishment so far: “I believe it would have to be when our senior management team recognized that we (La Quinta) had to establish a Sustainability Program in order to do our part in reducing the company’s environmental impact on our communities and planet.”   Organization’s most significant environment-related challenge: “Balancing our...

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.—Wuksachi Lodge, a full-service hotel nestled in the heart of Sequoia National Park and operated by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, recently announced the appointment of new executive chef Jeff Graham to its culinary team. The mountain hideaway also unveiled a new name for its restaurant. Previously known as The Wuksachi Lodge Dining Room, The Peaks is a nod to the towering summits visible through the dining room’s floor-to-ceiling windows.Bringing nearly 10 years of culinary experience to the table and a passion for using local ingredients, Chef Graham shares the Lodge’s commitment to sustainability, as...

Name: Christopher BrophyTitle: Vice President-Corporate SustainabilityOrganization: MGM Resorts InternationalYears in current position: FivePrimary responsibilities: He has a leadership role in developing, executing and communicating the company’s programs for environmental responsibility. He also oversees the planning, analysis, and capital budget management for energy conservation projects at all MGM Resorts International properties, and is responsible for the company’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions inventory and reporting. Brophy reports to Cindy Ortega, the company’s senior vice president and chief sustainability officer.Organization’s most significant environment-related accomplishment so far: “I don’t know how you cannot say CityCenter. It is the most significant environmental construction achievement ever....

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Tourism Vancouver’s recent appointment of a tourism energy specialist is believed to be a worldwide first among destination marketing and management organizations. The role was made possible through sponsorship from BC Hydro with the mandate to guide member hotels, restaurants and attractions in energy efficiency and conservation initiatives.The new tourism energy specialist role will enable Tourism Vancouver to more actively support the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Plan and goal to be the world’s “greenest” city by 2020. The services of the tourism energy specialist will build on the BC Hydro partnership and further assist Tourism Vancouver’s...

BRUNSWICK, MAINE—Green certification specialist Peter Cooke recently joined the Manomet Center after launching several successful and nationally recognized programs—including Maine’s Green Lodging Certification Program—at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).Cooke was previously the assistant director in the DEP’s Office of Innovation and Assistance. During his time in Maine state government Cooke designed and launched the nation’s first green certification program for grocery stores and the third green certification program for lodging businesses. The lodging certification system was adopted by nine other states.“I am thrilled to be joining Manomet and I look forward to working in an organization that...

NORTH MIAMI—To what degree are our academic institutions teaching sustainability in the classroom? If there is one person who knows the answer to this question, it is Nancy Scanlon. She is a professor at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU), an author of numerous books and articles, and a leader in the application and research of sustainable operating practices and climate change adaptation for the hospitality industry. Nancy is also chair of the environmental hospitality special interest group for ICHRIE (International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education). Green Lodging News recently spoke...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels & Resorts announced that Malene Rydahl has expanded her responsibilities and has been appointed in the leadership role in EAME (Europe, Africa, Middle East) for its corporate responsibility program Hyatt Thrive. Her new position as director of corporate communications includes the responsibilities of developing and implementing public relations, corporate communications and media relations initiatives for Hyatt in EAME. She also manages crisis communications and reputation management for the area. Rydahl, trilingual, a native of Denmark, has spent the past 12 years living in Paris where she most recently served as director of communication for Relais & Chateaux.She...

Name: JoAnn ShearerTitle: Green Lodging Program Coordinator, Florida Green Lodging ProgramOrganization: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)Years in current position: 1.5Primary responsibilities: “Receiving designation applications, providing assistance to hotels, doing a lot of outreach, providing information on industry trends and managing the audit process. I do a lot of responding to e-mails and phone calls.”Organization’s most significant environment-related accomplishment so far: “With 684 properties participating around the state, we believe the program has had a significant environmental impact. Our program has been the basis for other programs around the country.” Organization’s most significant environment-related challenge: “The recent economic...

OVERLAND PARK, KAN.—Joe Andrick, general manager of the Overland Park Residence Inn by Marriott, has been named Residence Inn General Manager of the Year for 2011 by Marriott International, Inc. The hotel is managed by True North Hotel Group.Andrick won the award among his peer group of 611 Residence Inn general managers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Costa Rica.“My intuition told me that Joe Andrick was one to watch when I first interviewed him in the early 1990s, and my instinct keeps proving itself over and over,” said Lew Wiens, president of True North...