Sodexo's Earth Day Summit Challenges Businesses to Think People and Planet
Business, sustainability, culinary and agriculture leaders meet in Southern California on April 22 to find ways to create a better tomorrow
Gaithersburg, MD (Vocus) April 20, 2009
Sodexo, Inc. (http://www. sodexousa. com/)], a leading company providing services that improve the quality of life for millions of people daily, has a core business of foodservice and facilities management. These business areas critically impact the nation's economy and the environment. In order to create a more sustainable future for the nation, Sodexo is convening a group of leaders in sustainability to discuss how businesses can create a better tomorrow.
The summit, aimed at targeting specific solutions and commitments that companies can make to plan their future, will also feature special guests:
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, chairman and CEO of SodexoMAGIC, LLC and chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises (http://www. magicjohnson. org/)], to discuss his philosophy that focuses on serving ethnically diverse, urban communities and his commitment to responsible corporate citizenship. Joel Makower (http://www. makower. com/)], known as the "guru of green business practices" to discuss the business case for corporations and aligning environmental strategy with business success. Arlin Wasserman, vice president for Corporate Citizenship, Sodexo, Inc. to share the company's strategic initiatives to increase the benefits to people and planet from innovations in food service and facilities management. Mai Pham, chef/owner of nationally acclaimed Lemon Grass Restaurant (http://www. lemongrassrestaurant. com/)], Lemon Grass Asian Grill and Noodle Bar and the newly opened, Star Ginger will share her signature cuisine that features sustainable and locally grown produce. Local farmers, representatives from Sodexo's local suppliers, Ventura County-based Underwood Family Farms (http://www. underwoodfamilyfarms. com/) and Kenter Canyon Farms (http://www. kentercanyonfarms. com/)], to share their commitments to sustainable farming.
Sodexo is making a corporate commitment towards the triple bottom-line of people, planet and profit to reduce our carbon footprint, energy use and water consumption while controlling costs and developing the thousands of communities Sodexo serves.
"How we choose to source, transport, store, and prepare our food and maintain our buildings is literally how we choose to treat the planet," says Arlin Wasserman, vice president of Corporate Citizenship for Sodexo. "Sodexo has strategic initiatives in place to reduce our environmental impact and help restore our natural resources while increasing the benefits we provide to the people and the communities we serve through innovations in food service and facilities management. This summit is an important step in sustaining dialogue with suppliers and client partners."
Sodexo, Inc.
Sodexo, Inc. is a leading integrated facilities management services company in the U. S., Canada, and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation, an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $11 million in grants to fight hunger in America.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This event is by invitation only; access for the media is available, contact Stacy Bowman-Hade, Sodexo Public Relations at 301 987 4352.
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