ANEW Names Newmark Grubb Knight Frank as First CRE Firm to Receive Highest Honor Social Sustainability® Award
Honoree Recognized for Leadership in Corporate Citizenship and Environmental Stewardship
[Pasadena, CA – October 16, 2012] Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW) is proud to recognize Ron Burkhardt, a leader in corporate real estate for NGKF, Los Angeles, as the recipient of this year’s Social Sustainability® Champion Award.
Burkhardt is the first corporate real estate director to receive this award, issued to those passionate about bettering the workplace and who lead with a social conscience. Individuals selected advocate a call to action in their fields of expertise regarding the importance of serving non-profit organizations locally and nationally, and as stewards of the environment through efforts that mitigate climate change. This award recognizes exemplary leaders in the fields of corporate industry, corporate real estate, building, A&D, manufacturing, social service and education. The award was announced during CoreNET’sGlobal Summit, which took place October 7-9 in Orlando, Florida.
CoreNet is the world’s leading professional association for corporate real estate and workplace executives. ANEW Founder Rose Tourje was invited by the organization to present to over 1,500 top decision makers in attendance. Twice each year, ANEW participates with a booth on the expo floor at the Summits. Tourje chose this venue to visit the NGKF booth and recognize one of CoreNet’s own, NGKF’s Ron Burkhardt, with the ANEW Social Sustainability® Champion award.
“It is our privilege each year to seek and select a handful of individuals and their companies or organizations who lead with the 4 tenets of social sustainability by aligning wellness, community, commerce and environment within daily work/life practice. Ron is a passionate professional, one who goes beyond the call to help both corporate and non-profit clients reach their goals. He is an example of leadership at its highest,” says Tourje.
CoreNet’s Global Summit provided attendees with a number of thought provoking sessions on the changing nature of business and work, one of which was given by ANEW founder, Rose Tourje. Tourje introduced ANEW’s award-winning documentary film “ANEW, doing what’s right with what’s left®” and led a presentation highlighting the many environmental and social benefits achieved when liquidating corporate surplus through ANEW. On Ron’s behalf his colleague Serge Vishmid, SVP, NGKF graciously accepted the award and co-presented with Rose to audience members.
“I believe that it is our mission in the commercial real estate world to make sure that we are all asking the right questions and significantly reducing what would normally end up in landfills. Everyone benefits!” says Burkhardt.
Burkhardt is the managing director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and a valuable resource to his corporate and non-profit clients alike. For his corporate clients, he introduces ANEW as a viable alternative to traditional surplus liquidation. Burkhardt also connects his non-profit sector clients with the ANEW team who works to enhance their workplaces with repurposed, surplus furniture and architectural materials. In doing so, non-profits such as Jewish World Watch and Autism Speaks are able to allocate more funds to fulfilling their missions.
Engage with @ANEWFound on Twitter and Facebook to join the Social Sustainability movement and please also take a moment to learn more about Burkhardt and ANEW in the award-winning short documentary “ANEW, doing what’s right with what’s left.” Visit www.anewfound.org for more information on educational and sponsorship opportunities.
About ANEW
ANEW (Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc.) is a public, non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, organizing and repurposing surplus furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for donation to the underserved. For more information, visit www.anewfound.org
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