At the 2024 Sustainable Business Summit, we came together to celebrate the resilience, creativity, and leadership shaping Western New York’s business community. A highlight of the event was the presentation of our Sustainable Business Awards.
These awards honor members making a significant impact on our region’s environment, economy, and communities. They spotlight businesses and individuals proving that sustainability drives success. As momentum builds toward a stronger, more resilient Western New York, recognizing these changemakers is more important than ever. This year’s new application process allowed members to share their work in greater depth, resulting in a remarkable showcase of creative, real-world solutions across industries.
Each award, handcrafted by local artist Calder Wright from repurposed quilted maple and ebony, is a functional piece of art, a lasting tribute to each recipient’s innovation and commitment.
Meet the 2024 Award Recipients:
Innovator of the Year: Sunnking Sustainable Solutions
The Innovator of the Year Award recognizes a member organization that has redefined sustainable business practices with a groundbreaking product or initiative. This year’s winner, Sunnking Sustainable Solutions, tackled a critical gap in their industry: customers increasingly wanted more detailed data on the environmental impact of e-waste recycling.
Sunnking responded by developing an advanced ESG reporting tool that measures the environmental benefits of IT asset disposition (ITAD) and electronics recycling. This tool provides customized insights tailored to each client’s activities, going beyond traditional carbon-focused calculators to include water savings and toxic material avoidance. Sunnking’s innovation not only helps clients meet their sustainability goals but also raises the bar across the industry.
Kali Smith, Director of Sustainability and Compliance, accepted the award from SBR Board Treasurer Sarah Herbst, on behalf of Sunnking, exemplifying their team’s commitment to meaningful sustainability impact.
Leadership in Decarbonization: National Grid
The Leadership in Decarbonization Award honors an organization that has made significant strides in reducing carbon emissions and transforming its operations for a low-carbon future. This year’s recipient, National Grid, has gone above and beyond in its decarbonization efforts.
With a bold goal to achieve net zero emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 by 2050, National Grid has already reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 11.8% since their 2018/19 baseline. A key example of their leadership is the Upstate Upgrade, a $4 billion investment in New York State’s energy infrastructure designed to enhance grid resilience and better withstand extreme weather events.
Suliman Ahmed, Lead Program Manager for US Sustainability, accepted the award from SBR Board Vice President Patrick Goraj, representing National Grid’s long-term commitment to climate action and infrastructure modernization.
Community Stewardship Award: Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation
The Community Stewardship Award celebrates organizations that foster community resilience and well-being. This year’s honoree, Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation, has forged a meaningful partnership with The Foundry, a community-based maker space and educational center.
Through financial and hands-on support, Ciminelli helps The Foundry advance its mission of empowering underserved populations through entrepreneurship and skill-building. From facilitating youth programs like the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) to collaborating on team-building activities, Ciminelli’s efforts reflect a deep commitment to uplifting Western New York’s communities.
Barbara Kenefick, Director of Corporate Services at Ciminelli, accepted the award from SBR Board Member, Amanda Pike, highlighting the company’s dedication to creating long-term community impact alongside The Foundry.
Eric Lindstrom Sustainability Star Award: Nancy Smith
The Eric Lindstrom Sustainability Star Award is named after one of SBR’s founding leaders and honors an individual who has gone above and beyond to build a more sustainable and resilient WNY.
This year’s recipient, Nancy Smith, has devoted her career to land conservation, environmental education, and community collaboration. As former Executive Director of the WNY Land Conservancy, Nancy led efforts to protect over 2,500 acres of forests, wetlands, and farmlands, creating beloved spaces like the Stella Niagara Preserve and Owens Falls Sanctuary.
Nacey Smith with SBR Board member Bonnie Lawrence
Nancy’s work has touched nearly every corner of Western New York, from advancing environmental policy to working with farmers, indigenous communities, and neighborhood groups. Her continued efforts through her consulting work with Cornell Cooperative Extension—where she’s educating residents about the critical role of trees in climate resilience, makes her a true Sustainability Star. Nancy was once called “Nature’s Guardian Angel” by the Buffalo News, and this award celebrates her ongoing legacy of environmental stewardship.
Impact Worth Celebrating
At SBR, we believe celebrating progress sparks more progress. By recognizing the innovative, dedicated, and community-driven work of our members, we hope to inspire others to take bold steps toward sustainability. Whether it’s advancing climate solutions, fostering local partnerships, or driving industry innovation, these awardees are helping shape a stronger, more resilient future for Western New York.
Congratulations to all of our 2024 winners, and to all the applicants who shared their powerful work with us!