Two Reuse Leaders Extend Commitment to Sustainability, Join National Reuse Nonprofit
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael Meyer of Goodwill Industries International and Nathan Benjamin of PlanetReuse and PlanetRestore are furthering their commitment to the reuse movement by joining the Board of Reuse Alliance -- a national nonprofit working to increase awareness of reuse by educating the public about its social, environmental and economic benefits.
Michael Meyer is Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Sourcing for Goodwill Industries International Inc., which provides services to 165 independent, community-based Goodwill® agencies. Meyer's work focuses on creating business relationships that support four key areas of the Goodwill social enterprise: leveraging buying opportunities through strategic sourcing; contract opportunities for the employment of those served by Goodwill; Goodwill's retail business, through the acquisition of goods and services for its more than 2,500 store locations, and business models for reuse, repurpose, landfill diversion and sustainable consumption for the billions of pounds of donations that enter our donation stream. "Reuse Alliance establishes another platform through which organizations and consumers can engage and participate in meaningful reuse/repurpose activities that directly impact the very communities in which they live and do business. I am pleased to have been appointed to serve on its board and am looking forward to supporting the strategic direction of the Reuse Alliance," said Meyer.
Nathan Benjamin (LEED AP) is the Principal and Founder of PlanetReuse and PlanetRestore. PlanetReuse is a reclaimed construction material brokerage and consulting firm with national reach, to help commercial designers and architects incorporate reclaimed building materials into new projects. PlanetRestore serves the residential construction market by offering reuse centers (e.g. Habitat for Humanity ReStores) throughout North America, technology and services to instantly post reclaimed building materials to the web, sell more materials, faster by dramatically increasing inventory exposure and simplifying point-of-sale. A staunch believer in the necessity and value of sustainable design and construction, Benjamin created these companies to take that ideal a step further. PlanetReuse and PlanetRestore are predicated on a simple but revolutionary idea: make it easy for people to use reclaimed materials and they'll do more of it, keeping those materials out of landfills. He holds an architectural engineering degree and has been a fixture in the construction industry for more than a decade, focusing on sustainable and LEED-certified projects. He has presented on the topic of reclaimed materials at industry conferences nationwide, and is also well known for his passion for sustainability, the arts and community involvement. "Reuse Alliance is a remarkable organization that provides a great way to bring together local, regional, and national communities to raise awareness and create partnerships around reuse. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Board to advance the critical work that has been accomplished in its initial years," said Benjamin.
As Reuse Alliance board members, Meyer and Benjamin will support a national movement to increase public awareness and access to innovative reuse and waste prevention services. Rounding out the board of directors is Ann Woodward, The Scrap Exchange; Harriet Taub, Materials for Arts; Joe Connell, Portland Metro Habitat for Humanity ReStores; Lorenz Schilling, Deconstruction and Reuse Network; Mary Ann Remolador, Reuse Marketplace; MaryEllen Etienne, Reuse Alliance; and Stefanie Feldman, Waste Management. "I look forward to working with such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team that shares a common commitment and passion to promote the triple bottom line benefits of reuse," stated MaryEllen Etienne, Executive Director of the Reuse Alliance.
About Reuse Alliance:
Reuse Alliance was born in 2005 by a few individuals who shared an interest in increasing awareness of reuse. Under the leadership of the founding director, MaryEllen Etienne, the Reuse Alliance became a nonprofit organization. The Reuse Alliance began organizing the reuse community, advocating for reuse policy, and providing networking opportunities in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization re-launched as a national organization in late 2009, and now offers educational programs such as Master Reuser®, and is the creator and organizer of ReuseConex, North America's only reuse conference and expo. For more information, visit: www.reusealliance.org, or call 301-88-REUSE. Twitter: @ReuseAlliance
About Goodwill Industries International:
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of North America's top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands as well as a leading social services enterprise (Source: Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, 2009). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,500 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2010, 2.4 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 84 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) 741-0186. Twitter: @GoodwillIntl
About PlanetReuse & PlanetRestore:
PlanetReuse works on the commercial side of the design-build industry as a nationwide reclaimed construction material broker and consultant company. Estimates show that nearly 40 percent of landfill material comes from construction projects. To help divert materials from landfills, PlanetReuse expertly matches materials with designers, builders and owners to save projects money, serve LEED efforts and sustain the planet. They take all the hard work out of incorporating reclaimed building material into projects, guiding clients through every step of the process. A project's schedule and budget benefit, and - crucially - so does the planet. For more information, visit: www.planetreuse.com or call (816)-298-7947. Twitter: @PlanetReuser. PlanetRestore serves the residential construction market by offering reuse centers (e.g. Habitat for Humanity ReStores) technology and services to instantly post reclaimed building materials to the web, sell more materials, faster by dramatically increasing inventory exposure and simplifying point-of-sale. PlanetRestore allows for-profits and non-profits to have direct access to industry-specific technology for limited cost. For more information, visit: www.planetrestore.com, or call (816)-298-7947. Twitter: @PlanetRestore
SOURCE Reuse Alliance
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