World-class
experts to determine winning sustainable development ideas in $65,000
award competition.
CORAL
GABLES, Fla. – April 26, 2012 -- Odebrecht USA and Braskem have
named the panel of judges who will select the winners of the
Odebrecht Award for Sustainable Development. The award program seeks
to uncover the most innovative ideas, practices, methods, and
solutions for sustainable engineering and chemical development.
Comprised of top industry leaders in sustainability, engineering,
public policy, economic development, and chemistry, the panel
includes:
• Harvey
M. Bernstein, McGraw-Hill Construction: As vice president for
Industry Insights and Alliances, Bernstein has presented hundreds of
speeches across the globe and written numerous papers on the topics
of innovation and technology, energy efficiency and conservation, and
sustainability in the built environment.
• John
Briscoe, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences: A
specialist in water and economic development policies, Briscoe holds
joint appointments as professor in the Practice of Environmental
Engineering and Environmental Health.
• Tom
Couling, Zachry Construction Corporation: With more than 20 years
of experience working for regulatory agencies, consulting engineers,
and construction companies, Couling specializes in environmental
compliance for multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects.
• Manny
Diaz, Lydecker Diaz: During his two-term tenure as mayor of the
City of Miami, Diaz was nationally recognized for his programs
supporting urban design, sustainability, and green development.
• Scott
Kirkpatrick, Coast Builders Coalition: Kirkpatrick, president of
Louisiana’s Coast Builders Coalition, is an attorney for government
relations matters and has served as natural resources, transportation
and environment policy advisor to former Louisiana Governor Kathleen
Blanco.
• Paula
Loomis, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: In her role as
sustainability program manager, Loomis provides sustainability
policy, technical assistance, and training for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers engineering and construction worldwide.
• Marie
Martinko, Society of the Plastics Industry: As director for
Industry Affairs - Environment & Health, Martinko leads the
development and implementation of environmental, product regulatory,
and occupational safety regulatory and technical programs.
• Brooke
Weizmann, American Chemistry Council: Weizmann serves as director
of Sustainability/Responsible Care for the American Chemistry
Council, an industry group engaged in political advocacy,
communication, and research for the business of chemistry.
Odebrecht’s
multifaceted view of sustainability
as a synergy of economic development, social development,
environmental balance, political participation, and cultural
diversity will play a part in the judges’ decision, as will
real-world applicability of the entries. The winning students have
the potential opportunity to develop and implement their innovative
ideas with Odebrecht.
“Our
all-star panel of judges is comprised of today’s best minds, with
the real-world experience to evaluate tomorrow’s solutions to our
sustainability problems,” said Gilberto Neves, president and CEO of
Odebrecht USA. ”The judges have pioneered the way in their own
industries, and they'll now give emerging innovators an opportunity
to carry the torch for the next generation.”
The
award is open to any undergraduate or group of students enrolled at a
U.S.-accredited university, with at least one student pursuing a
degree in engineering, architecture, building and construction
management, or chemistry. Entries may be submitted through May 31,
2012, at http://www.odebrechtaward.com.
Meanwhile, participants are encouraged to engage on Facebook
and Twitter.
Prizes*
will be awarded as follows:
First
Prize:
$20,000
to the student (s), $10,000 to the advising professor and $10,000 to
their university
Second
Prize:
$7,000
to the student (s), $4,000 to the advising professor and $4,000 to
their university
Third
Prize:
$5,000
to the student (s), $2,500 to the advising professor and $2,500 to
their university
Additionally,
participants of all shortlisted entries will be invited to
participate in the process to become an Odebrecht Young Partner or a
Braskem Associate. These are trainee and internship programs where
young talents will experience firsthand what it is like to work for a
global leader in the fields of engineering and construction and
chemicals and petrochemicals.
About
the Odebrecht Organization
Founded
in 1944, Odebrecht is a Brazilian multinational that operates in the
engineering and construction, petrochemical, energy, bioenergy, oil
and gas, real estate, and environmental engineering sectors. Present
in 20 countries, it has more than 120,000 employees and $32.3 billion
in revenues in 2010.
About
Odebrecht
Founded
over six decades ago, Odebrecht has grown to be a global leader in
engineering and construction services, laying the groundwork for
positive, sustainable change on five continents. Today, the Odebrecht
Organization is a worldwide leader in providing engineering &
construction, petrochemical and bio-energy services. As part of the
Odebrecht Organization, Odebrecht USA opened its Coral Gables,
Florida, office in 1990, and since then it has successfully delivered
projects throughout the United States. Odebrecht has a particular
emphasis on public-sector infrastructure projects of vital
importance.
About
Braskem
Braskem
is the largest manufacturer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas.
With 31 industrial plants in Brazil and the United States, the
company produces more than 33 billion pounds of thermoplastic resins
and other petrochemical products annually. Headquartered in
Philadelphia, Braskem America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem
S.A., has three production facilities located in Texas, Pennsylvania
and West Virginia, as well as its Technology and Innovation Center in
Pittsburgh.
*All
cash prizes currently listed before taxation in accordance with state
and federal law.
Media
Contact:
Thais
Reiss
Odebrecht
(305)
341-8861
