Name: David Mahood
Title: Vice President of Sustainability
Organization: NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality)
Length of involvement: Four years.
His primary responsibilities: In this volunteer position with NEWH, David sits on the organization’s Executive Committee with 11 other industry leaders and helps to develop NEWH’s green initiatives.
What he enjoys most about this position: “Working with a group of talented industry leaders who are committed to bringing change to our industry.”
MINNETONKA, MINN.—As Vice President of Sustainability for NEWH, David Mahood helps to carry out the organization’s sustainability hospitality mission which reads as follows: “Leading the hospitality industry to educate and promote sustainable practices that achieve a balance between environment, economics and social equity.”
Mahood, who is also principle of the sustainable furniture maker Olive Designs, keeps busy helping to move NEWH’s programs forward. These include an online Resource Directory, an annual scholarship program, and the development of 20 NEWH chapters throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Mahood was instrumental in helping to create the Resource Directory that now includes companies that sell products ranging from carpet to amenities. Many in the hospitality industry have used the Directory to learn about sustainability practices.
“My role is to make sure the [sustainability] initiatives are moving forward—based on the goals of NEWH which emphasize education,” Mahood says.
‘Green Day’ Event Planned
Mahood is involved in the planning of NEWH’s Leadership Conference. The next event will be held in San Diego from January 9 to 11, 2009. A “Green Day” will be part of that event and will be held on January 10. Green Day, under the auspices of NEWH Sustainable Hospitality, will consist of a sustainability panel and an introduction to LEED presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), along with a vendor spotlight on sustainable products and a personal development workshop. Mahood will moderate the forum to be held on Green Day. (See related article.)
Whereas NEWH currently sections off a part of its website for sustainability information, Mahood says the organization will launch a separate site for it within the next two months.
“We are also creating, at the chapter level, a director of sustainability for each of our chapters,” Mahood says. “That person will work with us closely and help promote what we are doing nationally. There are nine chapter level directors of sustainability currently in place.”
Scholarship Tradition Builds
Next year will be a big year for NEWH, as it will celebrate its 25th anniversary. It will also award its third scholarship as part of the now annual Sustainable Hospitality Student Design Competition. The scholarship is typically awarded during the Green Luncheon at HD Expo.
Mahood says he truly enjoys working with NEWH to help spread the message of sustainability.
“There is a lot of very good energy in the organization,” he says. “The commitment level is excellent. NEWH has been good at bringing change forward. It has been a good educational experience for me and I have been able to contribute a lot of my professional experience.”
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
