The eighth annual PACE Awards honored seven employers and one property management company as metro Atlanta's most outstanding workplaces for commuters, as well as three individuals for their commitment and leadership in the fight for cleaner air and improved mobility. Read more about these outstanding award winners below or download the special edition from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Image Information, which began its commute options program in 1999, has focused on its strengths as a technology company to establish a very successful telework program. The company reimburses employees for a portion of their Internet access and cell phone use, and has seen a 50 percent increase in the number of telework days over the past year.
Image Information also closes the office at noon on Fridays to allow employees to get home before traffic builds up. Their efforts have increased the quality of service to its clients and provided a flexible work environment for employees as well.
Small Business Finalist: Richard Wittschiebe Hand
RSUI Group’s upper management has been extremely supportive of its commute options program. This has directly led to one third of all employees using a commute alternative on a regular basis. The company’s comprehensive program not only takes advantage of its transit-accessible location but also provides subsidies and solutions for a full range of commute alternatives.
RSUI’s efforts can be seen in the increase in participation. During the past year, transit use has increased 242 percent and vanpooling by 600 percent! This has resulted in the elimination of 601,901 vehicle miles and 1.11 tons of harmful emissions.
Medium Business Finalist: Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates
Despite financial challenges over the past several years, Delta has continued its commitment to its commute options program. The company takes full advantage of its location on a MARTA rail line by offering monthly passes to employees at a 50 percent discount. In recent years, Delta has put a lot of effort into encouraging vanpooling and has seen a 60 percent increase.
Delta is also making a difference through its ground operations. Conventional gasoline and diesel powered support equipment have been replaced with zero-emissions electric equipment. More than 600 electric vehicles have been incorporated into the fleet. Electric baggage tractors and belt loaders are also in place.
Large Business Finalist: Assurant
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) offers employees a complete range of commute options. Employees are able to take advantage of fully-subsidized transit passes, preferred parking for carpoolers, access to alternative fuel vehicles for use during work hours and on-site services to eliminate the need for trips during the day.
The program has had an outstanding year, increasing participation by 40 percent. GSA’s efforts have reduced 1 million vehicle trips in a year…that’s more than 19 million miles!
Public Sector Finalist: Georgia Department of Corrections
On a typical day, 3,700 people commute to Perimeter Summit. Hines has put a comprehensive program in place to encourage many of those people to become clean commuters.
In addition to offering discounted transit passes, Hines funds its own incentives for clean commuters and also operates a shuttle to link the property to MARTA’s Medical Center station and to Perimeter Mall during lunch hours.
Perimeter Summit is certified by the EPA as an ENERGY STAR building and is in the process of getting certified for LEED Silver status.
Property Management Finalist: Duke Realty Corporation – Northwinds Property
David Allman of Regent Partners, LLC has been involved with transportation-related projects since 1993.
Through David’s leadership and vision, the Buckhead Community Improvement District has been able to addresses congestion while promoting commute alternatives. Under his leadership, projects such as "the buc," the Peachtree Boulevard streetscape program, Northern Concourse were achieved.
In addition to his active civic role, he applies the same transit-friendly policies in his personal business and real estate developments.
GDOT Commissioner’s Award Finalists: Brian Leary, AIG Global Real Estate; Tad Leithead, Cousins Properties Inc.; Dr. Reed Pitre, MD, Kaiser Permanente
As Mirant was going through financial crisis, Margie Butler found a way to make sure the commute program offerings remained strong.
When Mirant’s employee pool shrank from more than 1,000 to barely 500, the number of participants in Commuter Rewards went up! She has also championed the Walk Challenge and fully subsidized MARTA and CCT transit subsidies.
During Margie’s eight-year tenure, Mirant has become a model employer for commuters, dedicated to improving air quality and reducing traffic congestion in the Perimeter area.
PACE Setter Finalists: Regina Kelly, Crawford Communications; Stephen Ervin, Reed Construction Data
When gas prices soared in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Green Express Couriers got creative. In January of 2007, Green Express Couriers became the first courier in the country to switch to an all-hybrid delivery fleet. Not only has the company benefited by burning nearly half the fuel it used to, but they have also seen a 14 percent growth in its business as clients look for ways to green their own operations.
Green Express Couriers also "package carpools." Drivers hand off deliveries headed in the same direction to ensure no trips are made unnecessarily. For more information, visit www.greendelivers.com.
PACE Innovator Finalist: Gwinnett County Public Schools
Lockheed Martin has been offering commute options to its employees for 14 years. One of its strongest programs is its compressed work week program.
All 6,700 employees work a 9/80, a two week work cycle with nine work days totaling 80 hours. By keeping all employees off the road for two days every two weeks, Lockheed reduces more than four million vehicle miles each year.
Thanks to all of Lockheed’s commute options programs, it reduces 3.9 tons of NOx and 4.7 tons of VOCs annually.
PACE Spotlight Finalists: CH2M HILL; Nortel
Foodbuy has used creative efforts to get its commute options program off the ground during its first year.
The company created a calendar that highlights a different environmentally-friendly action each month. They also held a car care day when employees could get their car’s oil, tire pressure and fluids checked for free.
Foodbuy is also using creative marketing tactics to drive participation in carpools and vanpools.
PACE Starter Award Finalist: Cousins Properties Incorporated
Paige Medina of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker has an 11-year history of clean commuting and encouraging others to join her. She is dedicated to Cobb Community Transit and has been featured in local papers for her efforts.
Most notably, Paige convinced her former office management to fully subsidize MARTA and Xpress transit passes. She also is solely responsible for implementing the Guaranteed Ride Home program to attract and retain alternative commuters.
Although none of these actions are required by her job description, Paige goes above and beyond to help reduce traffic and improve metro Atlanta’s air quality.
Commuter Champion Award Finalists: Andy Smith; Steve West