2016 Sustainable Quality Award Winners Announced

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - March 21, 2016 - PRLog -- What do an environmental action group, medical center, luxury hotel, and architectural and urban design firm located in Santa Monica all have in common?  They are all recipients of the 2016  Sustainable Quality Awards (http://www.smsqa.com/) (SQA) Grand Prize.

The SQA recognize business excellence across all sectors of Santa Monica's vibrant and diverse economy.  Celebrating its 21^st year, the SQA continues to see remarkable and innovative businesses, representing a variety of industries, coming forward each year.  This year's winners will be formally celebrated at the annual awards ceremony on April 21^st at Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica Hotel.

"Since the launch of the SQA program in 1995, over 140 local business leaders have been recognized for their exceptional performance in helping us realize our goal of a Sustainable Santa Monica." noted Shannon Parry, of the City of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment. "Santa Monica's Sustainable City Plan was created to enhance our resources, prevent harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic well-being of our community for the sake of current and future generations. These businesses are showing that this is not only possible - it's profitable."

The SQA Grand Prize is given to businesses that make significant achievements in the categories of economic development, social responsibility and stewardship of the environment.  Excellence Awards are given to outstanding achievements in any one of the three categories.

This year's program acknowledges four SQA Grand Prize winners and eight Excellence Award winners in the following categories:

SQA Grand Prizes
Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio, Inc:  a Santa Monica based firm, providing architectural, urban design, planning, and sustainability consultations to the local community, Los Angeles, and Central California.
Natural Resources Defense Council:  an environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of more than 2 million members and online activists, with the courtroom clout and expertise of nearly 500 lawyers, scientists and other professionals.
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel:  one of Los Angeles' most celebrated beachfront luxury resort hotels with remarkable ocean views located in the heart of downtown Santa Monica.
UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica:  a 265 bed, full-service medical center that serves as the cornerstone of UCLA Health's Santa Monica medical campus, and employs nearly 2,300 staff.

SQA Excellence Awards
Arthur Murray Dance Center Santa Monica:  Excellence in Economic Development
Caffe Bellagio:  Excellence in Social Responsibility and Stewardship of the Environment
Global Green:  Excellence in Economic Development
haleARTS SPACE:  Excellence in Economic Development
Physical Therapyworks:  Excellence in Stewardship of the Environment
Santa Monica College:  Excellence in Stewardship of the Environment
The Albright - SM Pier Seafood:  Excellence in Stewardship of the Environment
Willow Spa:  Excellence in Social Responsibility


Keynote  Speaker:  Clinton Moloney
Clinton has over 17 years of strategy consulting experience focused on helping clients frame and mobilize sustainability-driven business transformation in the US, UK, Australia and South East Asia.  Clinton led a team that helped the City of Los Angeles with an ambitious project: the development of their first ever Sustainable City p LA n.

Green Event
This zero waste event, lead sponsored by Morley Builders and LAcarGUY, will showcase local restaurants highlighting Santa Monica's Farmers Market produce. Attendees will savor sustainable bites during the networking hour from eLOVate Vegan Bar, Uplifters Kitchen, Lo/Cal Coffee and Market, Sunny Blue and the Art Institute, International Culinary School.

Event Information
The event is scheduled to begin 11:00 am on April 21^st, 2016 at Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica Hotel in the Penthouse Ballroom.  SQA winners will be formally recognized during a special award presentation starting at 12:00 pm. A sustainable lunch will be served.

• An active networking and exhibitor hour showcasing local businesses and local chefs with their sustainable bites begins at 11:00 am.
• Free bike valet will be provided and attendees will receive a raffle ticket for walking, biking or carpooling to the event.
• Social Media hashtags include:#SMSQA #SMChamber #SustainableWork #sustainableSM #BikeLocal #BiketoSQAs #SantaMonica #ThinkSustainably

Awards Ceremony Ticket Information
Pre-paid tickets are $50 for Chamber members and $60 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased (http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeid...) online or reserve tickets in advance by calling 310.393.9825.

Pedal your way to receive a free event ticket!
The Santa Monica Bike Center, 2014 Excellence Award winner will pick up the tab for the first 35 registrants who pledge to arrive by bike, dressed dapper of course, to the April 21^st event. A quick group ride from the Bike Center to the Le Meridien Delfina Hotel will be organized for all the participants. Registrants can pledge to arrive by bike when purchasing tickets (http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ec3podss43a21c52&llr=xagslsn6) .

For more information, please visit the  SQA website (http://www.smsqa.com/)  or  watch this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6O_NCbPhV8)  from the 2015 Sustainable Quality Awards.



Partner with SQA and show your support!
Event sponsorship and exhibitor information is available on http://www.smsqa.com. Sponsorship form here: http://bit.ly/1pvsX7V.