Author name: Emily DeMasi

Emily McKinin DeMasi is a 2011 MBA/ MA Public Policy candidate and Peace Corps Fellow at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Her thesis work concerns Corporate Social Responsibility in the United States. She also works as a Research Fellow at Bridgeway Capital, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in downtown Pittsburgh. Emily has worked as an Associate in a Private Equity Placement Firm in NY and as a Water and Sanitation Volunteer in Ivory Coast, West Africa. She hopes to combine her business background with her passion for development and inspire others in the fields of Sustainability and CSR.

Bank of America Partners with CDFIs to Finance Energy Efficiency Improvements

Leave a Comment / Energy / By

Bank of America announced on May 25 a new $55 million program to encourage energy efficiency improvements to older buildings.  Is this a move to deflect criticism from Rainforest Action Network?  Does it Matter? According to Bank of America, the new competitive program will provide low-cost loans and grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) …

Bank of America Partners with CDFIs to Finance Energy Efficiency Improvements Read More »

Pittsburgh to Participate in Home Energy Score Pilot

Leave a Comment / Energy / By

During this morning’s commute I learned via DUQ 90.5FM that Pittsburgh homes will be part of a pilot program conducted by The Department of Energy to test new technology to rate homes’ energy efficiency – while lowering the amount of time it takes to assess each home from four hours to one hour.  Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County is …

Pittsburgh to Participate in Home Energy Score Pilot Read More »

US Companies Represent in 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking

Leave a Comment / Special Report / By

Showing that it can pay to be ethical, Ethisphere Magazine graphed its  “WME Index,” or all publicly traded 2011 World’s Most Ethical Company honorees, against the S&P 500 since the initial World’s Most Ethical Companies recognition from 2007.  Even in a recession, ethical companies outperformed the S&P 500; however considerably greater returns (in excess of 30%) …

US Companies Represent in 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking Read More »

Let’s go Bucs! Let’s go green? Major League Baseball and CSR.

Leave a Comment / Corporate Social Responsibility / By

That’s right folks, it’s baseball time again.  There’s nothing like a ball park hot dog and a cold drink while watching your favorite baseball team to let you know Spring has finally arrived.  But what happens to all that stadium food once the game is over?  I was pleased to read Pirate’s spokesman, Matt Norby, …

Let’s go Bucs! Let’s go green? Major League Baseball and CSR. Read More »

Top Schools with Green MBA Programs Practice What They Teach

3 Comments / MBAs / By

The Sustainable Endowments Institute released its fifth College Sustainability Report Card that examines the sustainability practices of colleges and universities with the 300 largest endowments in the United States and Canada, Socialfunds.com reported today.  With the recent proliferation of green and sustainable MBAs in the United States, I often wonder if universities practice what they …

Top Schools with Green MBA Programs Practice What They Teach Read More »

Green City Index 2011: Leaders and Laggards

Leave a Comment / Special Report / By

The Green City Index is the Business Courier’s annual study in which it measures relative green strengths against 43 cities where the Courier’s parent American City Business Journals Inc. publishes.  See where your metro ranked and which cities lead and lag in the four indicator areas of “competitive green-ness” as measured by the index, namely …

Green City Index 2011: Leaders and Laggards Read More »

Any US Corporate Response to Japan Disaster?

1 Comment / Corporate Social Responsibility / By

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Wal-Mart responded with $20 million in cash donations, 1,500 truckloads of free merchandise, food for 100,000 meals and the promise of a job for every one of its displaced workers (Barbaro & Gillis 2005).  As the Japanese government struggles to recover from the recent earthquake, care for its citizens …

Any US Corporate Response to Japan Disaster? Read More »

The 10 Best US Corporate Citizens

Leave a Comment / Special Report / By

Corporate Responsibility Magazine recently released its 12th annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens List,” according to CSRwire.com’s press release.  The list takes into account performance in seven key areas: environment, climate change, human rights, philanthropy, employee relations, financial and governance.  See which US companies are leading the pack in corporate citizenship:

Fueling the Next Generation of Green Engineers in Pittsburgh and Beyond

Leave a Comment / Inspiring Ideas / By

INNOVATE: FUELING CHANGE is a ten minute video which focuses on opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers for high-school and college students.  With the spotlight on women and diversity, Fueling Change hopes to inspire underrepresented groups to enter these innovative fields.  Fueling Change introduces the viewer to a group of highschool students …

Fueling the Next Generation of Green Engineers in Pittsburgh and Beyond Read More »

Green Investments Surpass $2 Trillion Globally

3 Comments / Investing / By

According to a new report by  The Green Transition Scoreboard, private investments in green markets now total more than $2 trillion.  This update is significant because many studies indicate that investing $1 trillion annually until 2020 will accelerate the Green Transition worldwide.  The updated 2010 finding of $2,005,048,785,088 puts global investors and countries on track to reach …

Green Investments Surpass $2 Trillion Globally Read More »

Peace Corps and Sustainability: Today and The Next 50 Years

1 Comment / Non-Profit / By

As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), I am honored and anxious to celebrate the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s signing of the executive order that created the Peace Corps.  March 1, 2011 will mark over 10 years since I served as a water & sanitation volunteer in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa and will be a celebration …

Peace Corps and Sustainability: Today and The Next 50 Years Read More »

What does it take to be a CSR Leader?

1 Comment / Leadership / By

Net Impact and The Carroll School of Management’s Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College recently released its full version guide of Corporate Careers that Make a Difference.  In it the reader can find nearly two dozen profiles of professionals who have built successful careers in corporate citizenship, practical advice for  job searching and long-term …

What does it take to be a CSR Leader? Read More »