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.

From the nomination:

“On a daily basis, Leonard embraces the SDGs and through his leadership and service, he makes campus and our planet a better and happier place.

He is a true champion of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. He spends time before, during, and after our Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) events setting up composting bins and educating our guests on how they can divert items from the landfill. Leonard brings enthusiasm and care to the often overlooked and not pleasant process of what to do with the “trash.” Just today he delightfully shared with me that he helped someone use the compost bin correctly. He works to recycle paper and staples in our office space. In addition, IBB’s café reopened last month, and Leonard has been patiently working with the café vendor to get them to recycle and compost more. To Leonard, each paper towel composted or aluminum can recycled makes a difference.

In addition, Leonard’s efforts address other SDGs such as 2: Zero Hunger and 15: Life on Land. Last month, he started working on collecting leftover food from our events and ensuring those items are delivered to Klemis Kitchen. During spring and fall bird migration seasons, he educates our Petit Biotechnology Building occupants how they can reduce bird collisions by turning off research lab lights before they leave every night. He also cuts of Nadina berries in the IBB courtyard, since sadly those berries can poison birds.”

Q&A

Q: What is your title?

A: Building Coordinator

Q: How long have you been at Georgia Tech?

A: Approximately 2 years

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

A:  It means a healthier oceanic life, atmospheric and quality of life. Sustainability allows mankind to take what was used to make it greener and to help reduce emissions and carbon footprints.

Q: What is your favorite saying about sustainability?

A: To compost and recycle matters!

Kendeda Fellows were invited to compose articles showcasing their community initiatives. Scroll down to find out more about their significant contributions.

By: Renee Alnoubani