GREENLIGHT SOLUTIONS

EMPOWERING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BUILD RESILIENCY TO SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES

BY KAIT SPIELMAKER, IN COLLABORATION WITH RYAN MORES AND ASHLEY WEISMAN G reenLight Solutions first appeared on my radar during University and the Maricopa Community College District can Green Living Magazine’s 2019 Earth Day event that join GreenLight Solutions in an effort to experience real-life featured an EcoTank. EcoTank is a play on the famous sustainability challenges in business and more importantly, SharkTank show, where local entrepreneurs present their ideas strategizing with fellow team members in order to streamline to a panel of judges. In our version, GreenLight Solutions was solutions. Through GreenLight, students and local business runner-up. After this event, I researched more about what they leaders work collaboratively alongside one another to be were doing and eventually got involved, serving two semesters the trendsetters needed in the community for the future of as a Solutioneer and a Project Leader. resilient sustainable development and a healthy planet. WHAT IS GREENLIGHT SOLUTIONS? RECENT PROJECTS

A mission statement that says it all, “To educate and Each semester, GreenLight facilitates partnerships with empower students and business leaders to create positive local businesses to create long-lasting, sustainable solutions. social, environmental, and economic change through Projects from this past semester include local companies such sustainability initiatives.” as Valley Metro, Stardust Building Supplies, Solar United

GreenLight Solutions Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit started in 2013, and today it has grown, evolved, and left its mark on the community. Students who attend Arizona State Neighbors and Tiny House Developers. The most recent semester truly tested the organization, which had to quickly adapt to a fully virtual platform in the wake of COVID-19. In

a smooth transition, all teams successfully communicated and problem-solved to ensure a showcase with fruitful sustainability results.

With the new projects on the horizon, Co-Founder & Operations Director Ryan Mores states, “Our team is excited for the new opportunities these uniquely challenging times are presenting, and we’re ready to help businesses #buildbackbetter through our Learn-Strategize-Implement programs.”

These new programs include tools to help businesses adopt sustainable principles in their operations. Their LearnStrategize-Implement programs have been modified to operate virtually and offer understanding of sustainability challenges, alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and how to transform the workplace culture to a more eco-conscious mindset. Ashley Weisman, program development director, says, “We’ve found that businesses have utilized our Sustainability Seminar Series as a great way to keep their people engaged and keep team morale up while social distancing. This is the perfect time to get this continued education opportunity!”

Utilizing the tools laid out in these programs, businesses can further align with their mission and vision and establish strategic sustainability goals. HOW TO GET INVOLVED

As an educational nonprofit with student-led chapters, there are many ways to get involved. GreenLight Solutions is seeking additional sponsors for its WVE Media Twitter Video Campaign that will receive over 1 million views. Current sponsors include Caliber Companies, LocalFi, and AlaMari Media. Contact GreenLight to join as a sponsor for this campaign.

Additionally, GreenLight Solutions Foundation invites all members of the community to contribute to their mission by donating one time or by becoming a GreenLight Glow Monthly Donor.

For more information on how to sign up for these opportunities, how to contribute, receive monthly newsletters or to attend upcoming (virtual) Community Mixers, visit www.glsolutions.org or contact ashley@glsolutions.org for more information.

Kait Spielmaker is a Michigan native who relocated to Phoenix, and is the digital coordinator at Green Living Magazine. She is an avid hiker and is working on her master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism at Arizona State University.

Ryan Mores is co-founder and operations director with GreenLight Solutions Foundation, serves as vice chair on the Tempe Sustainability Commission, and works at Arizona State University’s (ASU) School of Sustainability. He earned concurrent degrees in Business Sustainability & Supply Chain Management, as well as an International Business Certificate, from ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business.

Ashley Weisman is the program development director at GreenLight Solutions. She earned her Master of Sustainability Solutions degree at Arizona State University (ASU). She also worked at ASU at the University Sustainability Practices department as the sustainability certification program coordinator. This program won the Outstanding Educational Program award at ASU in 2018.