Seneca Park Zoo Society’s Environmental Innovation Awards honor local and regional innovators working to create solutions to current environmental issues. This event on March 29th celebrates leadership in environmental stewardship and brings together people seeking sustainable solutions and working for a greener tomorrow.

 

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor

 

And thanks to all our other sponsors!

Breakfast Sponsor

Showcase Sponsor

 

Sustainable Gifts Sponsor

  

Nominations - Youth Category

Nominations - Civic/Non-profit Category

   

Nomination – Small Business Category

2023 Award Winners

We are excited to share the inspiring work from our honorees, among so many environmentally-focused leaders and nominees. 

Meet Our Keynote Speaker & Symposium Leader:
Suzanne Hunt

Join us for a conversation with Suzanne Hunt, moderated by Seneca Park Zoo Society President and CEO Pamela Reed Sanchez on the topic “Is Our Region Ready for Climate Change?” which focuses on how our region has, and can, prepare for climate change. Hunt will share examples of forward-thinking businesses in our region, explore the essential role of public policy in addressing environmental sustainability, and offer real-world concrete actions we all can take now.

We are thrilled to welcome Suzanne Hunt as our keynote speaker and symposium leader for this year’s Environment Innovation Awards! Suzanne is a pioneer and entrepreneur for sustainable futures, as our 2023 keynote and symposium leader. Suzanne is dedicated to finding solutions that create lasting change in clean infrastructure, agriculture, transportation, and the environment nationally and internationally.

Suzanne is Vice President, Policy for Generate Upcycle, a firm that builds, owns, operates, and finances sustainable infrastructure and is the Co-Owner of Hunt Country Vineyards, a regional leader in sustainable winemaking. Suzanne founded Hunt Green LLC, which provides strategic sustainable consulting to private equity firms, U.N. bodies, government agencies, clean tech startups, Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits.

Award Categories

Youth

Must be younger than 22 years old on January 1, 2023 and reside in one of the nine counties of the Finger Lakes Region (Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Yates, Seneca).

Individual

No age requirement.

Must reside in one of the nine counties of the Finger Lakes Region 
(Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Yates, Seneca).

Civic/Nonprofit

The receiving organization must be based in one of the nine counties of the Finger Lakes region (Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Yates, Seneca) 

Small Business

The receiving organization must have regional efforts in at least one of the nine counties of the Finger Lakes Region (Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Yates, Seneca) 

Large Business

The receiving organization must have regional efforts in at least one of the nine counties of the Finger Lakes Region (Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Yates, Seneca) 

The Seneca Park Zoo Society is dedicated to making a difference in our community through education and programming.

Nominations are now closed - Thank you to everyone who participated!

In addition to being an advocate for conservation and/or sustainability, nominees for Environmental Innovation Awards must have identified and worked to create a solution to current environmental issues. Their work or idea should show evidence of mobilizing others in the community/region toward adopting that solution. Nominees may self-nominate. 

Nominations closed. Thank you! Winners will be announced at the March 29 event. Here is a list of the nominees this year:

Bridget Mousaw ​​- Brighton High School Climate Club​​

Carolyn Collier​​ – Energy Efficiency and Clean Technology Training​​

Kathy Lewis ​​- Blocks in Bloom​​

Kyra Stephenson ​​- Nature Based Learning in Rochester City School District​​

David Klein ​​– The Nature Conservancy​​

Christopher Widmaier ​​ – Rochester Ecology Partners​

Gay Mills​- Genesee Land Trust​

Kenwood Ave Community Playspace, Barbara J. Burger iZone ​- University of Rochester​

ROC Paper Straws ​- Karrie Laughton​

Impact Earth ​

Cascades Recovery+ ​

WM ​- High Acres Landfill & Recycling Center ​

Upcoming Environmental Innovation Awards Events

Stay Updated

Keep in touch with your friends at Seneca Park Zoo on this event and more! There’s always something happening at the Zoo.