Baltic Development Forum/Flikr

By: Laura Ruane

Tree-hugging or recycling doesn’t make a business or a nonprofit organization sustainable: It’s more of a juggling act, in which people, the planet and processes all play roles.

And, don’t wait to figure it all out before starting on a path to greater sustainability: “Those who are proactive reign supreme,” said Betsy Allen. She’s a Southwest Florida-based business coach, founder of Gaining Results Inc. and a contributing author of the recently published book, “A Common Sense Approach to Sustainability.”

Allen gave a mini-workshop for about 40 members and guests of the Southwest Florida Attractions Association, which met Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza, south Fort Myers.

Interest in sustainability is soaring because of tougher regulations, increased operating costs and higher customer expectations, Allen said: Business are realizing “that they must adapt or be swept aside.”

Allen asked workshop participants to share their organizations’ sustainability success stories.

“We’re getting rid of our fluorescent light bulbs and raising the thermostat a bit. Our guests don’t seem to mind,” said Susie Carter, sales director at Fort Myers’ Hilton Garden Inn off Summerlin Road.

Sandie Greiner, manager of Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral, mentioned a variety of energy conservation efforts over the past two years that have pared the attraction’s power bill from about $146,000 to just over $99,000.

Jennifer Nelson, senior director at Goodwill of Southwest Florida, spoke about Goodwill’s computer recycling and refurbishing efforts, which provide on-the-job-style training to people with disabilities or those facing other barriers to employment.

Goodwill leaders estimate the nonprofit organization will garner $134,697 in revenue this year, through fixing and selling donated computers and selling unusable parts to recyclers.

Pat Mudgett, Fort Myers-based sales manager for Marriott International, left the meeting fired-up to unplug electronic devices she’s not using at home, and to learn more about sustainability initiatives at the local hotels she represents. Said Mudgett: “Recycling is only a start. It’s about communicating and discovering new ways of doing things.”