May 2024: Georgia Tech Sustainability Champion

About Wendy

Wendy has been an advocate for sustainability at Georgia Tech for more than 17 years. She has brought numerous sustainable initiatives to campus and has consistently been Georgia Tech’s strongest champion for green cleaning products and practices. Wendy has assisted the Building Services Department in achieving over eight national green cleaning awards and certifications, including the Green Seal Certification and the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) Green Building Certification “with Honors,” a rare designation reserved for top performing organizations.     

In addition to her green cleaning work and focus on productivity improvements through standardization and training, Wendy goes above and beyond contributing to diverse sustainability efforts at Georgia Tech. She is a founding member of the Facilities Sustainability Committee; she served on working groups during the formation of the Sustainability Next plan; she has been a consistent contributor to the Georgia Tech Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) report; and she has recently brought attention to improving campus soil quality – to name just a few.

She is a CIMS Certified Expert and serves on the ISSA Sustainability Committee, participating in both the Sustainability Reporting and Sustainability Education groups. ISSA is an international Service Standards organization with an over 100-year history. It is the premier janitorial organization worldwide. Wendy is the only representative from the higher education sector on these working groups globally.

Wendy is dedicated to sustainability at Georgia Tech and has been an incredible asset towards advancing key initiatives. She has been the driving force behind many of the standards and trainings that Georgia Tech uses to embrace sustainability in our operational practices. We are lucky to have her as a champion!

Q&A

Q: Title:

A: Facility Operations Coordinator, Infrastructure and Sustainability

Q: How long have you been at Georgia Tech?

A: 17 years this month

Q: What does sustainability mean to you and/or why is it important?

A:  I believe we are a part of this planet, not just living on it . When you realize this truth more deeply,  then the natural world is an extension of your own body and your own spirit, and as such, what could be more important?  The effortless functioning of nature provides us with all the necessities of life, fresh oxygen, clean water, healthy food. And, just as importantly, nature nourishes our spirits. When we walk through the quiet forest, swim in the ocean or gaze upon majestic mountains, our spirit soars with happiness and gratitude. 

Q: What is your favorite quote about sustainability?

A: “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – (Multiple Attributions)

Q: What is your favorite daily sustainability practice?

A: Working in my edible garden.