Featured Members

Sustainability is in the Company DNA

NRG Insurance is a brokerage and insurance agency with a history of successfully integrating sustainable business practices. The company is the first US brokerage to go carbon neutral and has been recognized over the years for reducing its impact on the environment, as well as fostering a healthy work-life balance for employees.

At NRG, sustainability is infused in all aspects of the business. As a Certified B Corp, NRG is committed to meeting specific objectives for a socially responsible business, taking employee, community, and environmental interests into consideration when making decisions.

Employees are encouraged to work from home at least once a week – in fact the company is about to go completely virtual – and NRG offsets carbon-generating activity (such as driving instead of telecommuting) with positive compensation by planting trees and investing in solar energy projects worldwide. In 2000 the EPA awarded NRG with the distinguished “Business in Green” award for their efforts in waste prevention and recycling collection. The company was already going paperless and recycled everything at a time when no one else did.

Insurance is a Commodity – You’re not!

NRG's CEO, Michelle Rupp

NRG’s commitment to helping clients navigate the complexities of the insurance business reflects a unique company culture where every employee contributes, is valued, and actually has some fun at work. “I wanted to create a workplace I would want to work in. It’s that simple,” says CEO Michelle Rupp. “You can be flexible and treat people like real people and still make money.”

Bucking the trend towards longer hours and fewer vacations, NRG discourages overtime and every employee earns a four-week paid sabbatical after five years of employment. Innovative work policies have earned NRG several awards and recognition:

• Five-time winner (2006-2010) of the prestigious Alfred P. Sloane Award for Workplace Flexibility which recognizes employers across the country that are successfully using flexibility to meet both business and employee goals
• Families and Work Institute Award 2007– NRG is one of nine Seattle businesses honored by the nonprofit think tank for their nontraditional approach to work.
• Association of Washington Business’ 2008 Better Workplace Award for innovation in benefit and compensation programs
• Featured in the Seattle Times (2007) highlighting NRG as a place to work that feels like a “Dream Job”
• Teamed with Safeco Insurance to create Safeco Instore by NRG to create an agency of the future
• October 2010 named Agency of the Month by Trusted Choice for their social responsibility policies and commitment to “People/Planet/Profits”, setting an extraordinary example of “Living the Brand”
• 1998 Mayor’s Small Business Award

The Triple Bottom Line in Practice

The success of NRG is proof that businesses can be both humane and profitable. The company stays healthy in this more challenging financial times while continuing to honor the environment, as well as the health and well being of their employees.

NRG’s Key Sustainability Initiatives:

• Leading edge in automation nationwide in insurance industry
• Overtime is discouraged and employees work 37.5 hours per week
• Employees are encouraged to take time off when they need it
• Use People, Planet, Profit scorecard of Sustainable Business
• Flexibility for employee medical, family leave
• EPA WasteWise program
• Fun, joyful work environment

Benefits Realized:

• Michelle Rupp named 2002 IIABW Agent of the Year
• Recipient of Mayor’s Small Business Award for the City of Seattle
• NRG maintains a healthy profit
• Nominated for “Best Practices” by Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America
• Attracting younger employees due to business practices

Sustainability Advocate

CEO Michelle Rupp recently joined the NBIS Advisory Board. She has been an active advocate and regular speaker on sustainability for years. She grew up in a Seattle home that was environmentally conscious before it was trendy, and she has carried over that culture to her business.

Kathy Cox

While I have always been concerned with our future, my own health issues have driven me to understand what we are doing to our future generations by poisoning our world.   As an experienced marketing executive, I thought the best way to make a difference was to use my marketing expertise and my deep professional connections to help good companies thrive and sustain.  Sustainability is defined in so many different ways. We believe at Marketing Philharmonic that sustainability means longevity for generations. We want to move forward for a positive future that secures healthy living and the environment that we enjoy.  We want to create strong brands and strong companies to sustain  their longevity for generations while protecting our resources.

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Owner Todd Carden, Head Brewer Doug Hindman, and Owner Brent Norton share a beer together in the Burien Brewhouse.

Elliott Bay Brewing Co. takes a very progressive approach to practicing sustainability. We believe in taking charge of choices that influence quality of life…whether globally, locally or individually.  From large to small, we have made conscious commitments over the years to minimize our impact on the environment, and to support those who operate with a similar philosophy. (more…)

A Culture of Sustainability

Sustainability and environmental awareness permeate everything we do at Correctional Industries. From selecting raw materials for our products to slimming business operations and carefully choosing the markets we enter, they are an integral part of CI’s culture.

Sustainable business practices converge naturally with Correctional Industries’ mission to rehabilitate offenders through job training and reduce Corrections’ reliance on tax dollars. Training in sustainable technology and lean manufacturing systems prepares offenders for work in a world increasingly focused on these important issues. In the process they also learn environmental ethics and business strategies. Meanwhile, sustainable practices multiply the effectiveness of every tax dollar, helping CI generate about $32.50 in benefits for every dollar in cost and contribute millions of dollars each year to Washington’s economy. (more…)

Architectural Art Glass

Luminescent, starfire counter with hand-polished edges

Glassworks combines the translucent properties of glass, the energy of design, and the focus of purpose to create one-of-a kind architectural works-of-art for commercial and residential settings. Glassworks transforms the visions of architects and designers into technically sound art installations that surround the senses and invite the eye to linger and enjoy. (more…)