VBSR names Jan Blomstrann of NRG winner of 2013 Terry Ehrich Award

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has chosen Jan (Blittersdorf) Blomstrann, CEO of Renewable NRG Systems, Inc. as the 2013 recipient of the Terry Ehrich Award for Excellence in Socially Responsible Business. Named for the late owner of Hemmings Motor News and a founding member of VBSR, the award is given to a VBSR member who best exemplifies Terry Ehrich’s commitment to the environment, workplace, progressive public policy and community.
"VBSR is so pleased to honor Jan with this award,’ said Andrea Cohen, executive director of VBSR. ‘Jan's professional career has been dedicated to the values of social responsibility, demonstrating that the ‘three P's’(People, Profit, and Planet) are essential for a strong and sustainable economy. Jan is joining an illustrious group of past Terry Ehrich award recipients and is undeniably worthy of this honor."
Blomstrann is the owner, president and CEO of Renewable NRG Systems, Inc., a Hinesburg, Vermont-based manufacturer of measurement equipment and turbine performance optimization systems for the wind and solar energy industries that serves more than 150 countries. Her focus on workplace excellence and sustainability has created a vibrant organization recognized by the Wall Street Journal, Best Places to Work, the Vermont Governor’s Office and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Blomstrann is also active in the community, offering her time and talent as a board member to a number of Vermont organizations, including the Fairbanks Museum, the Institute for Sustainable Communities, American Wind Energy Association, the American Wind Wildlife Institute, Women of Wind Energy and VBSR. She has served on the advisory boards for Vermont Technical College and the University of Vermont School of Business and is a member of the Vermont Task Force on Young Women and the Economy. Blomstrann was named Wind Woman of the Year (2006) by the Women of Wind Energy and a Champion of Change (2012) by the White House.
‘I’m humbled to become part of the distinguished group of people granted the Terry Ehrich award before me,’said Blomstrann. ‘Sustainability is not something that you can impose on a company. When you nurture a workplace culture with a strong set of values, social responsibility flows naturally from there. Our values determine not only what we do, but how we do it.’
The 2013 Terry Ehrich Award Ceremony and Dinner will take place September 17. The event, sponsored by Ben & Jerry’s, Interrobang Design Collaborative, Green Mountain Power and Langrock, Sperry and Wool, LLP, will be held at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center from 6:00-8:30 PM. Tickets for the event are $60 for VBSR members and $85 for non-members. Ticket sales and more information are available at www.vbsr.org.
About VBSR
Founded in 1990, VBSR is a statewide, non-profit business association with a mission to advance business ethics that value multiple bottom lines: economic, social, and environmental. VBSR members employ more than 13% of Vermont’s workforce and generate more than 4 billion dollars in revenue annually. We strive to help members set a high standard for protecting the natural, human and economic environments of the state's residents, while remaining profitable. We advance this mission through education, public influence and workplace quality. www.vbsr.org
About Renewable NRG Systems, Inc.
Renewable NRG Systems is an independently owned company that designs and manufactures decision support tools for the utility-scale wind and solar energy industries. The product portfolio includes resource assessment and turbine optimization equipment such as turbine control sensors, Lidar, and condition monitoring systems. Found on every continent in more than 150 countries, Renewable NRG Systems’customers include electric utilities, renewable energy developers, turbine manufacturers, consultants, and research institutes. www.nrgsystems.com
BURLINGTON, Vt. ‘Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility 8.5.2013