Partnership Offers New Business Tools for Sustainability Efforts

Grand Rapids, MI—West Michigan businesses will have an opportunity to make a “quick start” toward sustainability with a new offering announced today.

An innovative suite of resources for helping companies of all sizes move toward sustainability has been launched through a partnership involving West Michigan-based dmStrategists and its Alliance Partners, the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College, Cascade Engineering/ Quest Sustainable Solutions, and Florida-based NextLife.

Beginning June 1 until June 30, dmStrategists and its partners will provide west Michigan organizations with no-cost access to its Sustainable Business Practices pilot for west Michigan organizations. The pilot will provide access to the Quick-Start sustainable business practice assessment for an interested organization*. Confidential results will be compiled and returned to each organization, including a performance summary and aggregate scores which will allow benchmarking with all participating organizations.

“We’ve been working to identify some of the best-in-class metrics and ideas supporting sustainability. We’ve then wrapped them up into an accessible web-based platform which will accelerate sustainable business practices across an organization as well as its value chain,” said Tom Melcher, dmStrategist President.

Developed by dmStrategists and its Alliance Partners, the Web-based assessment tools, business applications (BizApps), training and on-site support services are designed to help companies of all sizes find ways to drive cost savings, performance gains, and market traction opportunities through the deployment of sustainable business practices.

“Our web-based applications and platform enables companies to measure, report, and benchmark their practices in real-time within an industry or across large market segments, including chambers of commerce, trade associations and global supply chain networks” said Tom Melcher, dmStrategist President.

Each of dmStrategist’s Alliance Partners brings their expertise to the suite of resources:
Cascade Engineering and Quest Sustainable Solutions Quest, a division of Cascade Engineering, engages organizations and communities in Triple Bottom Line strategies to solve challenges and create value. “We are pleased to join into an alliance with dmStrategists that fits our mission of providing sustainable solutions for organizations that want to become Employers of Choice,” said Kelley M. Losey   Director, Quest Sustainable Solutions/Cascade Engineering. “The ability to provide online tools and services will allow organizations to quickly develop sustainable business solutions that integrate and maximize processes for cultural inclusion, environmental sustainability, and innovative solutions for growth and profitability.”  
Aquinas College and its Center for Sustainability contributes its expertise and innovation in sustainable business education as an Alliance Partner. “We understand the challenges in taking the first step toward sustainability and the importance of maintaining that forward momentum” said Deborah M. Steketee, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College. “We’re all learning together for sustainability. The dmStrategist platform offers a dynamic environment where companies can discover and leverage ideas and practices in order to increase profits as they enhance community prosperity as well as protect and restore natural systems.”

NextLife is an emerging lifestyle brand in the “green” space. Utilizing the tremendous “intellectual property” supporting its eco-brand, NextLife offers other businesses tailored licensing programs that ensure long-term viability through sustainability initiatives. “NextLife was impressed with the ability of dmStrategists assessment tools to quickly and easily provide organizations with direction for sustainable business practice solutions. We see this as an invaluable first step for organizations of all sizes and industry types to begin their journey toward sustainability,” said Jeffrey Rosenholtz, VP-Solutions.

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* To register for the no-cost pilot, click on the participate button found here. You will be asked to include some basic demographic information that is needed from your company or organization for generating assessments. Access to the dmStrategists web-based platform, triple bottom line assessment tools, and full reporting features can be purchased through an annual subscription.