IDSA Sustainability Lecture Series

When: On February 3rd 2009 at 5.30pm

Who: Paul Murray, Environmental Affairs Director, Herman Miller Inc.

What: “The Power of One”- Lecture on Sustainability

Where: Gallery 400
University of Illinois at Chicago
Art and Design Hall, First Floor
400 S. Peoria Street (at Van Buren Street)

As a leading voice for corporate environmental responsibility, Herman Miller has learned enough lessons about "going green" to fill a textbook. Lesson number one: Never doubt the power of one person to create profound organizational change.

Herman Miller's Director of Environmental Affairs, Safety and Sustainability, Paul Murray, says many of the company's most significant green initiatives have come from employees "who knew we could do better." Due to countless individual insights and efforts, Herman Miller today stands as a noteworthy example of how good business and environmental stewardship go hand-in-hand.

As Herman Miller’s Environmental Affairs Director, Paul Murray carries the message of corporate environmental responsibility to business and academic audiences throughout the country. “The Power of One,” his presentation to the design community, affirms that each individual can champion environmental awareness among co-workers and clients alike, whether by promoting the use of sustainable products or through a simple commitment to “reduce, reuse, and
recycle” whenever possible.

Paul earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry at Northern (South Dakota) State College and holds a Master’s in management from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is also a LEED accredited professional.
At Herman Miller, Paul and others established EQAT, the Environmental Quality Action Team, and through the group’s ongoing efforts, Herman Miller has earned several environmental awards, including a Presidential citation, as well as national recognition as an environmentally progressive company.

Paul was named Environmental Affairs manager in 1992 and director of Environmental Safety and Sustainability in 2006. In May 2006, Vanity Fair magazine acknowledged Paul’s efforts by including him in its special “Green” issue, in the section entitled, “The Re-Inventors: Green Architects and Designers.”

In addition to his responsibilities with Herman Miller, Paul participates in several work groups with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; holds memberships with the Air and Waste Management Association, the National Association of Environmental Managers, and the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum; and serves on the Board of Directors for both the University of Michigan’s Corporate Environmental Management Program and the International Design Center for the Environment.

Paul co-founded the Sustainable Research Group (SRG), an environmental consulting service created to help other companies implement green initiatives similar to Herman Miller’s.