Join us for an inspiring evening at the Environmental Achievement Awards (EAA), where we honor the individuals, companies, and students shaping a more sustainable future. Each year, this annual celebration gathers leaders from across the environmental industry highlighting innovation, leadership, and measurable impact in environmental stewardship.
Download the 2026 registration form & sponsorship information packet using the Register Now button. Please email completed form to Trish at emadirector@gmail.com
If there’s one name synonymous with waste reduction and sustainability leadership in Michigan, it’s undoubtedly John Bradburn.
With nearly 40 years at General Motors (GM) as Global Manager of Waste Reduction, John helped pioneer one of the industry’s most impactful initiatives in driving GM toward landfill-free, zero-waste operations. His work not only transformed manufacturing processes but also set a global benchmark for circular economy practices and sustainable material management.
Today, John continues to make an impact by mentoring organizations, advising on waste reduction strategies and advancing innovative sustainability solutions across industries. Known by many as “GM’s MacGyver,” his ingenuity and dedication have earned him a lasting reputation as a true legend in the environmental sphere.
Michigan’s clean energy future depends on a deep, ongoing commitment to sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Leaders like Christy Clark are helping drive that vision forward.
As Director of Environmental Sustainability at DTE Energy, Christy is advancing innovative, nature-based solutions that prioritize biodiversity and long-term ecological impact. Her work spans impactful initiatives, including but certainly not limited to:
• Partnering with Michigoat to implement sustainable vegetation management using goats
• Installing osprey nesting platforms on power poles to support wildlife habitats
• Developing pollinator gardens across DTE facilities • 15,000 ton sturgeon sanctuary
• Restoring rare prairie ecosystems throughout Michigan
• Co-founding the Detroit Tree Equity Partnership to expand urban canopy and climate resilience
At a time when electrification and clean energy transformation are at the forefront, DTE Energy continues to lead. As one of Michigan’s largest landowners, the company is committed to achieving net-zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while reshaping how energy is produced across the state.
Through Christy’s leadership and DTE’s bold strategy, Michigan is seeing what’s possible when clean energy innovation meets environmental responsibility.
As electrification accelerates across industries, forward-thinking leaders are seizing opportunities to drive sustainability and innovation. Lilly Epstein Stotland is one of them.
Building off a strong sustainability foundation with oil and filter recycling pioneer Vesco Oil, Lilly recognized the growing demand for responsible battery lifecycle solutions. This vision led to the launch of Vesco Clean Energy, a next-generation battery management and EV charging solutions provider.
VCE specializes in safe, compliant, and fully traceable battery recycling services, supporting everyone from individual households to large-scale enterprises. With advanced infrastructure including a storage facility in Saginaw and a new 20,000 sq. ft. sorting and fulfillment center in Grand Rapids, VCE is setting a new standard for efficiency and environmental responsibility.
As the shift toward electrification continues, Vesco Clean Energy is positioned to become a national leader in battery management, proving that sustainable solutions can be both simple and scalable.
As electric mobility continues to shape the future of transportation in Detroit, leaders like Jeff Allen and the team at Forth are driving meaningful progress by bringing people together to create solutions that reduce pollution and expand access to EVs.
In 2025 Oregon-based nonprofit Forth brought the electrification conversation directly to Michigan through the Forth Roadmap Conference. Uniting industry leaders, policymakers, and public organizations in the heart of the Motor City, the event highlighted the critical intersection of transportation electrification, environmental policy, and community impact.
Through innovative programs like the Affordable Mobility Platform (AMP) delivering sustainable EV carsharing solutions to underserved communities, and Towards Equitable Electric Mobility (TEEM) building a network of advocates accelerating equitable transportation, Forth is helping remove barriers to EV adoption.
By prioritizing accessibility, sustainability, and equity, Forth is leading the way toward a cleaner, more inclusive electric mobility future.
GOLD SPONSORS
Vesco Clean Energy LLC, a sister company of Vesco Oil Corporation, provides battery management services that ensure customers can recycle their batteries safely, compliantly, and with full traceabiliaty throughout the process. Whether you are a single household, a small business, or a nationwide corporation, VCE provides programs that scale to your needs.
Your operations are unique—your battery program should be too. Vesco Clean Energy designs solutions that integrate seamlessly into your day-to-day workflow without disruption.
SILVER SPONSORS
Pumps, Tanks, and Filtration equipment: A single source for your fluid solutions. If there’s a planned fluid management need or a sudden emergency, United Rentals Fluid Solutions group can assist you with a high level of safety compliance and quality assurance.
We specialize in providing standard and custom rentals for any industrial or commercial fluids application. United Rentals is North America’s largest pump, tank, and filtration equipment rental supplier, with experts to help you with complete fluid transfer, treatment, and containment solutions.
The Environmental Achievement Awards Ceremony is our signature event dedicated to celebrating leadership and innovation in environmental sustainability. This event brings together professionals, organizations, and emerging leaders in the environmental industry to recognize outstanding contributions that drive meaningful progress toward a more sustainable future.
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The EMA honors excellence in three key categories: student scholarships, which support the next generation of environmental leaders; individual and company achievement awards, recognizing impactful work and innovation across the industry; and the prestigious Legend Award, presented to an individual whose career has made a lasting impact on environmental sustainability and advancement.
By highlighting these achievements, the EMA continues to promote environmental stewardship, industry leadership, and positive change within the environmental community.