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The Synergy Awards

The Synergy Awards

From 1997 to 2010, CEC hosted an annual Synergy Awards Luncheon to recognize local individuals and organizations for their notable environmental projects and achievements. Over this time, we were proud to solute the following individuals and groups for their outstanding contributions to our community.

Army and Sarah Emmott Environmental Conservation Award

This award was given to an organization or individual for outstanding work in the field of conservation.

  • 2010 – Tom Solomon – Texas Master Naturalist
  • 2009 – Jaime Gonzales, Katy Prairie Conservancy and Flo Hannah, Houston Audubon Society
  • 2008 – Galveston Bay Foundation
  • 2007 – Feather Fest, Morton D. Voller, President, Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, Inc.
  • 2006 – Mary Van Kerrebrook – Katy Prairie Conservancy
  • 2005 – Mary Anne Piacentini – Katy Prairie Conservancy
  • 2005 – John Jacob – Texas Coastal Watershed Program
  • 2004 – Chris Sagstetter
  • 2003 – Carole Allen
  • 2002 – Winnie Burkett – Houston Audubon Society
  • 2001 – Houston Green Coalition
  • 2000 – Sharron Stewart – Galveston Bay Foundation
  • 1999 – Galveston Bay Foundation and Gary Woods
  • 1998 – Katy Prairie Conservancy, Carter Smith
  • 1997 – Glen Miller

Community Activist Award

This award was presented to an individual who has worked at the grassroots level to improve our environment.

  • 2010 – Becky Edmondson – Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy
  • 2009 – Juan Parras, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services
  • 2008 – Linda Mercer
  • 2007 – Friends of West 11th Street Park
  • 2006 – Richard (Dick) Smith – Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition
  • 2005 – Jane Laping – Mothers for Clean Air
  • 2004 – John Wilson and the Houston-Galveston Citizen Air Monitoring Project
  • 2003 – Patricia Greer – Central City Co-Op
  • 2003 – Mark Nelson – Glass-Free Grounds
  • 2002 – Jim Blackburn
  • 2001 – Brandt Mannchen
  • 2000 – Neil Carman, Ph.D. and George Smith
  • 1999 – Bob Randall
  • 1998 – Olive Hershey
  • 1997 – Barry Reese and Dan Lundeen, HABA

Media Award

This award was presented to an organization or individual for outstanding efforts in the field of environmental reporting.

  • 2010 – Gary and Kathy Adams Clark, Houston Chronicle
  • 2009 – Yolanda Green – KIAH-TV, and Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle
  • 2007 – Patricia Gras – Living Smart, Houston PBS
  • 2005 – Dina Cappiello – Houston Chronicle
  • 2004 – Josh Harkinson
  • 2002 – Dan Lauck and Mike Wright
  • 2001 – John and Gloria Tveten
  • 2000 – Bob Burtman – Houston Press
  • 1999 – Robert Hanslee – KTRH
  • 1998 – Michael King – Texas Observer
  • 1997 – Bill Dawson – Houston Chronicle

Corporate Awareness Award

This award was presented to a corporation that has shown exemplary sensitivity to and awareness of our environment.

  • 2010 – New Living Green Building + Home Store
  • 2010 – RecycleMatch
  • 2oo9 – Keatingrove Farms
  • 2008 – Anheuser Busch Houston Brewery
  • 2007 – Transocean, Serpent Project
  • 2006 – Katz Coffee
  • 2005 – Chevron – for its contribution to Houston park space
  • 2004 – Wabash Antique and Feed Store; J. Michael Trevino
  • 2003 – Star Pizza
  • 2003 – Lola Savannah Coffee & Tea
  • 2002 – H-E-B
  • 2001 – Equistar/Lyondell
  • 2000 – BP Amoco – Sir John Browne
  • 1999 – Precision Clean Piping
  • 1998 – Compaq Computer & John Whitmore of Union Texas Petroleum
  • 1997 – Amoco Corporation and Mobil Exploration & Produciton U.S., Inc.

Environmental Education Award

This award was presented to an organization or individual for outstanding efforts in bringing environmental awareness to the classroom.

  • 2010 – Renee Brawner – East Chambers ISD
  • 2009 – Josetta Hawthorne, Council for Environmental Education
  • 2008 – Diana Foss, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  • 2007 – Buffalo Bayou Partnership
  • 2006 – ECOS Program (Environment as a Context for Opportunities in Schools) – Center for Educational Outreach, Baylor College of Medicine
  • 2005 – Mary Anne Weber – Houston Audubon Society
  • 2005 – Rice Design Alliance – lecture series at on sustainable practices.
  • 2004 – Kathleen Ownby
  • 2003 – Kids on the Bayou
  • 2002 – Jennifer Malone
  • 2001 – Linda Knight, Ph.D.
  • 2000 – UT Health Science Center
  • 1999 – Greensheet Education Foundation
  • 1998 – Curt Clemenson – Earth Share
  • 1997 – Lucie Wray Todd

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award was meant to recognize an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the environment.

  • 2009 – Frank Smith
  • 2007 – Dr. Bob Randall
  • 2005 – Geraldine Watson
  • 2004 – Mary Beth Maher
  • 2003 – Charles Tapley
  • 2001 – Terry and Jake Hershey
  • 2000 – Ellyn Roof
  • 1999 – Army Emmott
  • 1998 – George Mitchell

Government Award

This award was given to a government agency or an individual employed by the government for outstanding support of the environment.

  • 2010 – Steve Stelzer – City of Houston Green Building Resource Center
  • 2009 – Andy Sipocz – Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
  • 2008 – Sheila W. Blake – Planning and Development Services, Code Enforcement, City of Houston
  • 2007 – Mayor Bill White – City of Houston
  • 2006 – Steve Hupp – Harris County Pollution Control
  • 2006 – Woody Woodrow – Texas Parks and Wildlife
  • 2005 – Commissioner Jerry Eversole – Harris County Precinct 4
  • 2005 – Mickey Merritt – Texas Forest Service
  • 2004 – Issa Dadoush – City of Houston
  • 2003 – Ron Jones – U.S. Fish and Wildlife
  • 2002 – Harris County Flood Control District
  • 2001 – Doug Lipka, Ph.D.
  • 2000 – Rob Barrett – Harris County Pollution Control Division, Pasadena, Texas
  • 1998 – John Koros

Founders’ Award

This award recognized an individual selected by the founders of the CEC.

  • 2010 – Arthur L. Storey, Jr. – Harris County
  • 2009 – Anne Olson – Buffalo Bayou Partnership
  • 2008 – Roksan Okan-Vick – Houston Parks Board
  • 2007 – Linda Shead – Trust for Public Land
  • 2006 – Mary Ellen Whitworth – Bayou Preservation Association
  • 2005 – Joy Hester -president-elect, Houston Audubon Society
  • 2004 – Ann Lents
  • 2003 – Hana Ginzbarg
  • 2002 – Barrie Zimmelman
  • 2001 – Wendy Kelsey
  • 2000 – Claire Caudell
  • 1999 – Glenda Barrett
  • 1998 – Ann Hamilton
  • 1997 – Each of the CEC’s 31 founders

President’s Award

This award was presented to an individual selected by the CEC President.

  • 2010 – Port of Houston Authority
  • 2009 – Ann Hamilton
  • 2008 – Texas Master Naturalists – Gulf Coast, Heartwood, and Galveston Chapters
  • 2007 – Arbor Day Tree Planting Project
  • 2005 – Brian Yeoman and Rives Taylor
  • 2004 – Houston Farmer’s Market; Midtown Farmers Market
  • 2003 – Kevin Shanley
  • 2002 – David Crossley
  • 2001 – Stephen Klineberg, Ph.D.
  • 2000 – Environmental Justice Project, Thurgood Marshall School of Law
  • 1999 – Center for Global Studies, HARC
  • 1998 – Winifred Hamilton, Ph.D.
  • 1997 – Jane Elioseff

Sustainable Planning Award

This award was introduced in 2002 and recognized an individual or group that has made a consistent effort to include sustainable ideas in local planning efforts.

  • 2010 – Robert Adair – Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum
  • 2009 – American Institute of Architects and Rice Design Alliance, “The 99K House Competition”
  • 2008 – Land Tejas Companies, Discovery at Spring Trails
  • 2007 – Richard Lindsay – Senior Project Executive in the Bond Fund Program Department of HISD
  • 2004 – US Green Building Council; Central Houston
  • 2003 – Buffalo Bayou Partnership
  • 2002 – The Woodlands Operating Company