Bill Gupton, chairman of the Sierra Club’s Central Piedmont chapter, was recognized as Sustain Charlotte’s Overall Outstanding Leader at the nonprofit's second annual awards Saturday.

Regina Guyer, a director at UNC Charlotte’s The Infrastructure, Design, Environment & Sustainability Center, received honors as Outstanding Educator.

The “zero-waste” event was held at 7th Street Public Market. All materials were reused, recycled or composted.

Mayor Anthony Foxx gave opening remarks. The keynote speaker was Charlotte Center City Partners’ chief executive, Michael Smith, who discussed the value of transit-oriented development in growing the Queen City.

Sustain Charlotte, which advocates for environmental sensitivity in business practices, presented 10 other awards in the following categories:

•Air Quality: Leslie Rhodes, Mecklenburg County air quality program manager
•Buildings and Homes: Craig Lewis, managing principal and director of planning for the Lawrence Group architecture firm
•Economy: Shannon Johnson, Cabarrus County sustainable local economy project manager
•Energy: Phil Berman, executive director of building services for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
•Food: Cassie Parsons, farmer, chef and operator at Harvest Moon Grille
•Parks and Green Space: Jim Garges, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation director
•Waste: Jennifer White, Mecklenburg County Waste Management Advisory board member
•Social Equity: Barney Offerman, Saint Peter’s Catholic Church Social Justice Committee
•Transportation: Ray Atkinson, UNC Charlotte Cyclists Club president
•Water Quality: Rick Gaskins, Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation executive director

See full article