AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Texan by Nature (TxN), a Texas-led conservation non-profit founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, today announced 20 honorees of the 4th annual Texan by Nature 20 (TxN 20) - an official ranking of companies with Texas operations that have made a demonstrative commitment to conservation.
The TxN 20 recognizes the best and most innovative work in conservation coming from business based and operating in Texas. As part of the TxN 20, Texan by Nature honors companies across 12 industries in the Lone Star State whose ingenuity cultivates impactful programs and forges new, beneficial paths in conservation. With 168 million acres of land and global leadership across multiple industries, Texas is fortunate to have industry leaders who see the value in partnering with conservation initiatives while also developing innovative, environmentally sustainable methods and processes within their business.
“We believe in building an environmentally sustainable future through actions, collaborations and innovative models in conservation,” said Joni Carswell, CEO & President of Texan by Nature. “It is an honor to celebrate the Texas-based industry leaders that share these values and demonstrate the benefits of pairing business resources with conservation efforts to impact the globe.”
A catalyst for thought leadership, innovative partnerships, and community-led solutions, Texan by Nature has been working with the Texas business community to implement Texas-led conservation practices. The TxN 20 provides not only recognition to honorees, but a catalogue of best practices and metrics to industry peers. The honoree’s commitment to conservation, their projects and programs, best practices, and lessons learned are examples and inspiration for us all.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate this year’s TxN 20! They are pioneers, collaborators, and changemakers. I encourage other companies to follow their example and engage in conservation. Together, we can set the standard for sustaining a prosperous economy, rich natural resources, and a secure future for the next generation,” said former First Lady and Texan by Nature Founder, Laura Bush.
To select the 2022 TxN 20, company data submissions were evaluated and independent research across 2,000+ of Texas’ publicly traded and private companies was conducted for 12 industry sectors. All companies were evaluated on key criteria through a 17-point scoring system to narrow down the list to the top 60 companies in Texas. Key scoring criteria included: stated commitment to conservation; reported metrics related to conservation; measured investment in conservation; reported Return on Conservation; positive conservation impact on land, water, wildlife, people, waste, energy, and more; and activities such as infrastructure, production and supply chain, employee engagement, and more. Each year, an esteemed selection committee of top industry leaders is formed to evaluate the top 60 companies and select the final honorees for the TxN 20.
2022 TxN 20 HONOREES INCLUDE:
- Austin Parks and Recreation Department
- Cap Metro
- CEMEX
- Cirrus Logic
- Comerica
- Darling Ingredients
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
- Farmer Brothers
- HOLT CAT
- IBM
- North American Development Bank
- NRG Energy
- Overland Partners
- Sanderson Farms
- Stantec
- Sysco
- Texas Health Resources
- Vistra Corp
- Vital Farms
- Yeti
To read more about each 2022 TxN 20 honoree, please visit: www.TxN20.org/2022-Honorees/
The TxN 20 2022 Selection Committee members included:
- Rick Archer, Founding Principal – Overland Partners
- Andrejs E. Avots-Avotins, MD, PhD, The Elizabeth & Drayton McLane, Jr. Chair in Health & Wellness Vice President of Medical Affairs – Baylor Scott & White Health – Temple
- Lucia Athens, Chief Sustainability Officer – City of Austin
- Tracee Bentley, President & CEO – Permian Strategic Partnership
- Garrett Boone, Cofounder – The Container Store, Board – Green Space Dallas, Trinity Park Conservancy, Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, Perot Museum
- Stoney Burke, Founder/CEO, Aquia Group, TxN Advisory Council
- Wayne Craig, Vice President & Director of Information Technology – Cactus Feeders
- Edward Craner, Sr. Vice President – HOLT CAT
- Matthew Crommett, Director – LH Capital, Inc, Lyda Hill Philanthropies
- Michael Dorff, Communications and Public Affairs – Raytheon
- Trey Dyer, Director of Land and Fixed Assets – The East Foundation
- Smith Getterman, Director of Sustainability and Special Projects – Baylor University
- Robert Horton, Vice President, Environmental Affairs & Sustainability – Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, TxN Board
- Devin Hotzel, Manager, Government Relations – Enbridge
- Tyler Lowe, Director, Governmental Affairs – Vulcan Materials Company
- Bob Malone, Chairman, President & CEO – Sonora Bank
- Richard McDonald, Corporate Director, Environmental Affairs & Sustainability – H-E-B
- Ashley Nelson, Director, ESG & Sustainability – Phillips 66
- Julia Murphy, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer – City of San Antonio Office of Sustainability
- Angelica Rosales, Business Development – Sundt, TxN Advisory Council
- VJ Smith, Manager, ESG and Stakeholder Engagement – Marathon Petroleum
- Audrey Templeton, Enterprise Risk Manager – Molson Coors
Activating new investments, amplifying and accelerating innovations, and connecting partners to the resources they need to succeed, Texan by Nature offers select programs to help engage Texans in stewardship of the state’s rich land and diverse communities including the Conservation Wrangler program, TxN Certification, the Conservation Summit, Symposia series, the TxN 20, and select statewide initiatives. For more information on TxN partnerships and programs, or to learn how to get involved, please visit www.texanbynature.org.
ABOUT TxN:
Texan by Nature (TxN) brings conservation and business together to advance conservation - positively impacting natural resources, prosperity, and health across Texas and beyond. TxN partners deeply with conservation groups and business, acting as an accelerator for conservation groups and a strategic partner for business. Their projects and programs have impacted 7M+ people, 19.5M acres, and all of Texas' 254 counties over the last 2 years. Get involved and learn more at www.texanbynature.org and follow on Facebook @TexanbyNature, Twitter @TexanbyNature, and Instagram @texanbynature.
