2009 Sustainable NC Awards

2009 Sustainable North Carolina Awards & Sustainable Solutions Expo

Kelly Boone

Description:
Mr. Kelly Boone has successfully joined student desire for real-world experience in sustainability consulting with real–world business problems around sustainability to bring wins to students, organizations and the greater community. The program’s multiplier effect has global reach and significant impact.

Executive Summary:

Kelly Boone is the Director of Business Engagement for the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He manages CSE Consulting, a one-of-a-kind, award-winning program that leverages the expertise of Kenan-Flagler MBA students, staff and faculty to offer world-class sustainability consulting services. CSE Consulting provides business-specific, actionable recommendations that address the triple bottom line: financial profitability, social equity, and ecological integrity. Summer associates are hand-picked from Kenan-Flagler's most promising first-year MBA students for a competitive MBA summer internship.

Boone was instrumental in the Center for Sustainable Enterprise (CSE) receiving the 2006 N.C. Sustainability Award for Innovative Initiatives for the CSE Consulting Program.

CSE developed CSE Consulting to help North Carolina businesses implement sustainable practices. MBA students act as consultants to fill the growing need of businesses in North Carolina for sustainability expertise while benefiting from the unique hands-on learning opportunities. It simulates a real-world sustainability consulting firm where students apply their classroom knowledge to real-world projects. CSE Consulting works with partner organizations including Progress Energy and Bank of America, and is the only program of its kind at a business school, worldwide.

Boone has successfully joined student desire for real-world experience in sustainability consulting with real–world business problems around sustainability to bring wins to students, organizations, and the greater community. Over 30 UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students have found over 30 triple-bottom-line solutions for North Carolina and U.S. businesses. The multiplier effect of this program has global reach and significant impact. The business impacts range from developing a green business certification process that could drive tens of thousands of businesses around the country to become more sustainable to an environmental footprint analysis of a national financial services company that has allowed the company to make strategic project investment decisions related to reducing their environmental impacts.

Boone is a 2001 graduate of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA program with concentrations in Sustainable Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. He led the successful turn-around of a company whose technology portfolio is focused on sustainable, enabling processes. Working directly with the executive management team, he refocused the company’s efforts on a new industry and helped it acquire a key strategic partner. His responsibilities included business strategy and planning, market research and financial projections, and product commercialization strategy and implementation. Previous to his MBA, he consulted in the environmental services industry and worked as a nuclear test engineer. He has a B.M.E. from Auburn University and a M.E.E. from Clemson University.

What specific results have been achieved?

The sustainability consulting projects that UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students work on help companies develop and implement business strategies to respond to social and environmental issues. The students benefit from a powerful learning experience while helping these businesses gain competitive advantage. Over 30 UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students have found over 30 triple-bottom-line solutions for North Carolina and U.S. businesses. The multiplier effect of this program has global reach and significant impact.

Examples of some of the 30 projects include:

North Carolina Department of Commerce An Industry Sector Report and Policy Benchmarking Study: The Department of Commerce advanced the business case for sustainability—translating sustainability practices into strategic business opportunities for North Carolina companies. The project included industry assessments for the chemicals, textiles, biotechnology, and financial services industries, as well as a benchmarking study of state government policies that incentivize sustainable business.

Advanced Energy A SystemVision Business Plan: This project built on Advanced Energy’s successful North Carolina SystemVision affordable housing energy efficiency upgrade/guarantee program and developed a business plan for scaling the program nationally.

Progress Energy Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Impact Study: CSE Consulting explored the market viability of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from the perspectives of all involved stakeholders and estimated the potential impact to Progress Energy’s electricity generation infrastructure in the Carolinas.

CSE Consulting student alumni are leaders in sustainability roles. Examples include:

Mike Waters, Advanced Transportation Manager, Progress Energy

Jessica Meyer, Associate, Procurement Leadership Development Program, Johnson & Johnson

Courtney Betham Phillips, Manager of Digital Analysis, Teach for America

Valeria Orozco, Strategist, Kinetix, LLC

Jared Inselmann, Associate Consultant, Scott Madden and Associates

In what ways are the efforts of this organization/individual unique and innovative?

Boone has created the first program-centered, sustainability consulting firm for MBA students in the country. UNC Kenan-Flagler students are hand-picked, and trained in sustainable business analysis tools to provide real world, business-specific, actionable recommendations that address the triple bottom line: financial profitability, social equity, and ecological integrity.

CSE Consulting offers a wide range of services to companies and organizations, including broadly, social/environmental impact assessment, sustainability benchmarking, sustainability reporting, business case analysis for sustainability, and sustainable business planning.

In addition to the project-based work that Boone has done with UNC Kenan-Flagler students, he has worked to inform the field of sustainability. He has participated in numerous workshops, panel discussions and taught graduate level courses including: Wal-Mart supplier workshop, SAS-sponsored panel discussion on sustainability, AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) Conference for Deans, Essential Skills for Success workshops for graduate students at Duke and UNC Chapel Hill, and MBA and Executive Education courses at UNC. He has served as an advisor to STAR (Student Teams Achieving Results), another experiential learning project in which students serve as consultants on real business problems.

How has the broader community been impacted?

Boone’s work extends beyond individual companies and students in the numerous cases where the projects have a national impact.

In 2007, he led a team of UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students to develop a business plan to assist small- and medium-sized businesses nationwide in becoming more sustainable. Commissioned by UNC Chapel Hill’s Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development for the Institute for Sustainable Development, the business plan developed a model for a green business certification tool that became Green Plus™. The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) recently announced that it will partner with the Institute for Sustainable Development to make Green Plus™ widely accessible to the 1.2 million businesses represented by the ACCE’s chamber of commerce members.

In 2008, Boone led a team of UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students to conduct an environmental footprint study of Bank of America’s domestic U.S. operations and to look at how firms measure their environmental impacts and make strategic project investment decisions related to reducing their environmental impacts. Using this data, the UNC team created several hypothetical environmental initiatives—energy efficiency strategies, purchases of green power, paper reduction programs, and remote workplace initiatives—and modeled them using cost/benefit and corporate strategy analyses. These analyses give both academics and executives for firms, both in the banking industry and in other industries, insight into how corporations assess environmental initiatives in strategic decision-making.

Ruth Tolman wrote on 11/10/2009 :
"Kelly is the epitome of a sustainable business champion! I had the privilege of working closely with Kelly as he started CSE Consulting. His passion for making an impact in the lives of future business leaders (MBA students), talent for innovative thinking and finding win-win scenarios, and relentless entrepreneurial attitude combine to make Kelly a unique and valuable asset to any project in which he is involved. He has tirelessly applied his passion and skills to build a program that both trains and challenges students to become more creative, strategic thinkers, as well as delivers practical, actionable recommendations to make organizations more sustainable. "

Tina Prevatte wrote on 11/10/2009 :
"Kelly’s enthusiasm for sustainable enterprise and entrepreneurship most definitely translates into tangible results within North Carolina’s business community. As an intern with CSE Consulting I was able to experience first hand his commitment to providing MBA students with the skills and experience necessary to become game changing sustainability consultants and entrepreneurs. My ongoing relationship with my client from that summer, NC Choices, is a testament to the fact that Kelly’s work has long lasting positive impacts. With Kelly’s encouragement I led NC Choices through UNC’s Launching the Venture curriculum. I now have the privilege of acting as NC Choices’ Director of Business Development. I get to put the skills and business acumen that I gained at CSE Consulting to work launching a triple bottom line focused business that will act to get more sustainable local meats into local markets here in North Carolina. Kelly has become a great friend and mentor who remains committed to my success, as well as the success of the venture that NC Choices’ is incubating. "

Mark Simon wrote on 11/9/2009 :
"Kelly is truly a champion of sustainability where the "rubber meets the road." His positive motivating energy, networking ability, and program management skills produce real results for his clients. He has made CSE Consulting the right blend of academics and real world business experience for the MBA interns. For this award, Kelly is your man! "

Michael Ligett wrote on 11/9/2009 :
"Kelly is a worthy and admirable candidate for this award. He has been a true champion for sustainability in North Carolina and has trained and inspired countless young professionals who have entered this field due to his teachings and inspiration. He has worked with companies and organizations in all disciplines with a dedicated mission of building sustainability in NC. I couldn't think of any candidate more worthy of this award. "

Ted Plowman wrote on 11/9/2009 :
"Wow! Kelly nominated? This guy not only impresses me with his disruptive intelligence but with his extra-curricular commitment to sustain our most important resources, our community and children. In addition to all his professional pursuits, for the past three plus years Kelly has volunteered as a top notch youth soccer coach at a local YMCA. I know by their enthusiasm for the game that the kids he's coached have benefited from his passion and dedication to the sport and to building better lives. What I don't know is how he finds the time and energy to do all of this! I mean, I figured he was probably just mediocre at his job as a result. Just kidding. This accolade isn't surprising because, as a good friend for many years, it's been my experience that Kelly excels and exceeds expectations in all he does. "

Wes Evans wrote on 11/7/2009 :
"Kelly has been a great mentor, adviser and friend. I met Kelly about two years ago after Andrew Winston's "Green To Gold" presentation at UNC's Center for Sustainable Enterprise. His engaging style led us into a rich discussion regarding a start up business. He encouraged me to submit an application for UNC's "Launching the Venture" program. With Kelly's help, we were accepted. The program proved to be of great value and led us to a deeper engagement with CSE Consulting where Kelly led a team of outstanding MBA students. Kelly and his team helped us develop a much more advanced triple bottom line business model. Kelly continually nurtured us along the way with unselfish participation in brainstorming and coaching session and we anticipate a successful launch in the coming weeks. Kelly's knowledge, skill and passion for helping create and develop sustainable enterpise in North Carolina should be applauded. "

Jessica Meyer wrote on 11/6/2009 :
"What really stands out about Kelly is how far reaching his contribution to sustainability in North Carolina and the broader world is. Through the success of the CSE Consulting projects over the years, Kelly has been an incredible mentor in the area of sustainability to students and business leaders alike. Kelly challenges us all to think broadly and creatively about sustainability and to share our passion with others. "

Jennifer Lapidus wrote on 11/5/2009 :
"We are only in the preliminary stages of a working relationship with Kelly, but already, with the numerous hours he has spent on the phone discussing our project, his level of engagement and enthusiasm has offered us both confidence and clarity that we can attain our goal-- which for us, is a model approach to regional, organic grain-to-flour production in North Carolina. I was thrilled when I found Kelly and CSE here in North Carolina. "

Majed Ardati wrote on 11/4/2009 :
"Kelly Boone has the ability to not only convey the importance of triple bottom line issues but to also connect them to real world applications and situations. Having been through his class and working with him at CSE Consulting, I feel that Kelly is very keen on making sure that we not only understand the concepts but are able to apply them in real life situations that arise in our future careers. Outside of the classroom and work setting, Kelly is always available to talk about projects and topics in sustainability, particularly about developments in North Carolina. I feel that he is very deserving of this award. "

Danvers Fleury wrote on 11/4/2009 :
"Kelly has created an incredibly innovative system in CSE consulting that brings NC based students opportunities of a national and even global scale, while at the same time providing NC based companies with world class consulting services. This "double threat" approach builds great value for our community, and his ability to integrate such a broad vision while maintaining a laser focus in our region is a balancing act most could not achieve, but he does so effortlessly. "

Greg McNamara wrote on 11/4/2009 :
"Kelly has been a true champion of sustainability and a great person to work with. I worked with Kelly last year when he helped moderate and facilitate a panel discussion at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce's Young Professionals Network event on sustainability. His leadership and intention were instrumental to the success of this program. Without his thought, insight, and great perspective, our event would not have such a GREAT success! We are thrilled to be working with him again on our second annual sustainability event this year and know with his help, we will have another incredible event. "

Lisa Jones Christensen wrote on 11/3/2009 :
"Kelly is a very talented and driven person with a sincere passion for sustainability. He is amazing at scoping projects and matching consultants to those projects- while at the same time making sure that the consultants will grow from the experience (as comments from previous consultants can attest). I am impressed with Kelly's commitment to bringing real world problems directly in front of students so that they can leave school even better prepared for the "real world." Kelly is also an entrepreneur at heart who is always on the lookout for breakthrough ideas and opportunities. I am very fortunate to work with him and UNC is fortunate to have him on the sustainability team. "

Napoleon Wallace wrote on 11/3/2009 :
"Kelly Boone is an undeniable resource to the field of sustainability in NC. His scope of work in the space is not only expansive but meaningful, and despite his track record, he continues to keep his vision squarely focused on the prize of integrating sustainability into the fabric of NC business. Whether his impact is measured through the class and count of sustainability leaders he helps to create through his work at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School or through his work as an innovator and consultant to NC industry, he is truly deserving of this honor. "

Mike Waters wrote on 10/13/2009 :
"I had the opportunity to work closely with Kelly while serving as a consultant for the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and highly recommend him for this honor. Learning about sustainability in the classroom is one thing, but the ability to apply it in the real world is much more challenging – and rewarding. What is unique about Kelly is his ability to cover the full spectrum by teaching in the classroom and mentoring future business leaders as they attempt to integrate sustainability principles into actual business models and strategy. The consulting program he helped establish at UNC is truly a great asset for the state and community to help build a more sustainable and prosperous future. "

Patrick Crawford wrote on 10/7/2009 :
"Kelly's gift is that he understands and has interest in businesses across the sustainability spectrum. He can speak effectively about renewable energy one minute and then talk about products to improve the lives of those at the bottom of the pyramid the next. He truly is making a difference for the state of North Carolina. "

Valeria Orozco wrote on 10/7/2009 :
"Kelly was my mentor and supervisor while I was a consultant for the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC Kenan-Flager Business School. His leadership, guidance, insight and support were instrumental to the success of the Center’s consulting engagement with the North Carolina Department of Commerce. During this engagement our team conducted extensive market research and delivered recommendations outlining current and future opportunities for the NC Department of Commerce to grow and attract sustainable businesses across the state in the agricultural biotechnology and textile industries. "

Emily Martin wrote on 10/6/2009 :
"Kelly has been working tirelessly to support the field of sustainable enterprise in North Carolina for many years now. He takes a two part approach by 1) focusing his significant talents on student development through experiential learning and 2) matching students and other resources with companies, particularly NC comapanies, that are dealing with triple bottom line challenges. Kelly is an excellent advocate for the importance of sustainability, especially in the entrepreneurial field, and I certainly deserves to be recognized by the broader community for his efforts. "

Michael Alden wrote on 10/5/2009 :
"Kelly Boone is the champion of sustainable business in North Carolina. I am a colleague who worked at the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the University of North Carolina who would like to comment on his nomination. Kelly Boone's leadership enabled me to personally interact with world leaders in sustainability across six continents in the retail, residential, hospitality, and restaurant industries and use this information to help North Carolina businesses. Kelly’s sustained effort helped me leverage interviews with world sustainability leaders such as the VP of Sustainability for Walmart, the VP of Sustainability at Patagonia, and the VP of Sustainability at Scandic Hotels to help entrepreneurs in North Carolina advance a “triple bottom line.” Indeed, Kelly's networking expertise even enabled me to speak to the individual who coined the phrase, "triple bottom line” and to use this individual’s experience to recommend sustainable solutions for several North Carolina businesses. In summary, whether it was sharing with North Carolina businesses the functionality of composting toilets in the Andes Mountains or carbon storage in Masdar City in Dubai, Kelly’s leadership helped me give North Carolinians the best the world has to offer. He is truly the champion of sustainability in North Carolina. "

Albert Segars wrote on 10/5/2009 :
"Kelly is truly deserving of this award. He has been an inspirational and creative force in introducing students of UNC to sustainable business. His efforts have molded careers and shaped lives. He is also a key force in developing and sharing best practice among the business community. His efforts in UNCs Sustainable Enterprise program have built a unique and mutually beneficially partnership between business and future business leaders. "

About This Nominee>

Nomination Category:
Individual

Kelly Boone
Kelly Boone
UNC Kenan Flagler Business School
CB 3490, 300 Kenan Center Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3490
919.962.5625

Email
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Additional Information

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