Ingersoll Rand Leaders Discuss Business Benefits and Best Practices for Corporate Sustainability at NAEM EHS Forum

Oct 22, 2014 11:30 AM ET

Davidson, N.C., Oct. 22, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Gretchen Digby, director of global sustainability programs, and Holly Emerson, senior analyst, of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, will participate in the National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) -- 2014 Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Management Forum, Oct. 22-24, in Austin, Texas.

The theme of this year’s NAEM EHS Forum is Delivering Business Value through Innovation and Leadership. Attendees will participate in peer-led sessions on new ideas to improve efficiency, manage risk and advance sustainability.

Emerson will participate in the panel Driving Business Value through External Reporting where she will explain Ingersoll Rand’s multi-faceted approach to deriving business benefit from external reporting and using the reporting framework for maximum results. “The role of extensive reporting and accountability to internal and external groups cannot be overstated as a global company strives to embed sustainability within their organization,” said Emerson. “Using materiality to create a roadmap with measurable goals and timeframes has helped Ingersoll Rand define the most impactful actions and show value to customers.”

Digby will partake in the panel discussion: Engaging Employees and Managing EHS Globally. She will share experiences, results and best practices for building global and local programs that engage employees in sustainability issues; and how building a culture of sustainability leads to improved employee engagement, productivity and compliance with regulations. “Every employee has a role to play in sustainability,” said Digby “We strive to make it real, locally relevant and personally meaningful, for every employee in every geographic region.”

Presentation Details:

Title: Leveraging Data and Metrics - Driving Business Value through External Reporting

    Presenter: Holly Emerson
    When: Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
    Where: Room 410, Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth Street, Austin, Texas
    Panel Description: Companies are continually looking at ways to be accountable and transparent to stockholders, but how does reporting drive competitive advantage, strengthen your brand and engage customers and investors? Learn from veteran reporters who will share rich insights on how to overcome reporting challenges and set a reporting strategy to ensure maximum value.

Title: Innovations in EHS Management - Engaging Employees and Managing EHS Globally

    Presenter: Gretchen Digby
    When: Thursday, Oct. 23 at 1:45 p.m.
    Where: Room 408, Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth Street, Austin, Texas
    Panel Description: Entering new countries and regions present many challenges and opportunities for companies, especially from an EHS and sustainability perspective. From language barriers to lack of available resources, driving responsible EHS and sustainability programs and engaging employees is a significant challenge. Attendees will hear how companies are overcoming these common challenges globally.

Website: NAEM 2014 EHS Management Forum
Twitter handle and hashtag@thegreentie; #NAEM

 

About Gretchen Digby 
Gretchen Digby is the director of global sustainability programs for the Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability (CEES) at Ingersoll Rand.  In this role, she focuses on establishing world-class sustainability training programs, as well as leading global engagement activities for the company’s 39,000 employees to further integrate sustainability into the company culture. She has external recognition for her efforts establishing Global Volunteer Green Teams that hold events and activities to increase awareness of employees on actions that lead to more sustainable workplaces, homes and communities.  She focuses on raising employee competencies and measuring the value of sustainability through unique partnerships and outside-the-box approaches.

Digby joined Ingersoll Rand in 2001 as a corporate environmental, health and safety leader until joining the CEES in 2010.  She began her career in manufacturing with Milliken & Co. as Engineering Services Manager.  She holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University.

About Holly Emerson 
As Senior Analyst for the Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand, Holly Emerson focuses on defining and implementing metrics for innovation in the green space. Her efforts help guide product development and measure revenue derived from energy efficient and sustainable products. She also has responsibility for reporting to external agencies such as CDP and RobecoSAM. Since joining the company in 2002 as a marketing analyst, Emerson has held the positions of marketing manager and manager of market development in the industrial technologies sector. She ran the Sustainability Institute, a week-long program for high school seniors with environmental career aspirations; in 2010 the program was recognized with the prestigious Charlotte Business Journal Sustainability Award.

Emerson is a member of the GreenBiz Executive Network and Charlotte USGBC, and is a Leadership in energy and environmental design accredited professional (LEED AP). She also serves as a director on the Project for Innovation, Energy and Sustainability (PiES), a local green innovation incubator; vice-chair for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Sustainably Integrated Buildings and Sites Center; advisor on the Mecklenburg County department of natural resources' Stewardship Advisory Council; and director on the Carolinas BMW MOA board. She holds a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

About Ingersoll Rand   
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands—including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King® and Trane®—work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $12 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com.

Contact
Paige Muhlenkamp, Ingersoll Rand
704-990-3282  paige_muhlenkamp@irco.com