HPG Earns Elite Green Plus Certification

RALEIGH, N.C. (August 10, 2010) – Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (hpg.com), the largest CPA firm headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, has been certified Green Plus by the Institute for Sustainable Development (gogreenplus.org). HPG is the first accounting firm to earn this recognition.

Through the Green Plus program, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States learn best practices in the areas of triple bottom line sustainability: people, planet and performance. The program gives employers affordable, practical support in succeeding financially, while being good to their environment, employees and community.

“We’re seeing an uptick in formal sustainability efforts and leadership from traditional businesses and nonprofits,” says Chris Carmody, executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Development. “Organizations like HPG prove that any business or nonprofit can transform its operations and culture to serve the triple bottom line.”

To earn certification, HPG underwent an extensive review of its organizational policies and procedures. The first step in the program was completing an 86-question diagnostic survey. Then, the firm received a diagnostic report on its sustainability performance, strengths, weaknesses and areas of opportunity. Next, HPG had to develop an action plan to implement new practices. In total, the review lasted more than eight months and included random site visits.

HPG has launched multiple initiatives to integrate sustainability into its culture, including:

A staff-led recycling program
Sustainability-topic lunch and learns
An Earth Day awareness event
Green Initiative boards
Monthly green e-mails
Green Monster awards for staff members

HPG also measured, monitored and reduced resource use, including energy and water. Changes included adding energy-efficient appliances, switching to reusable kitchenware and eliminating unnecessary lighting. Part of the ongoing program includes goals for further reductions and post-certification random site visits to audit HPG's ongoing performances. These initiatives add to practices already in place that have led to workplace efficiency and sustainability. They include a paperless office environment and enhanced software that allows employees flexible scheduling and the ability to work from home or other remote locations.

“Earning this elite certification is a tremendous honor and a testament to the efforts of the entire HPG team,” says Tim Naylor, HPG partner. “We are especially thankful to Lauren Joyce, who has been instrumental in leading our initiatives and our Clean-Tech Client Team. Without her efforts, this certification would not be possible.”

In addition to its sustainability efforts, HPG remains actively involved in the community. The firm provides investment time for employee work with community organizations and internships to local universities. HPG also participates in conferences and groups that encourage clean tech and sustainable economic development. These include the NCTA Green Council and the Renewable Energy Business Network.

About The Institute for Sustainable Development:
The Institute for Sustainable Development is a nonprofit organization that strives to educate, motivate and recognize smaller enterprises for their efforts toward greater sustainability. The organization was founded in the North Carolina Research Triangle in 2007 by a unique partnership of academic, business and philanthropic leaders. Early partners included Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Greater Durham Chambers of Commerce, and the Fenwick Foundation. A vital part of Green Plus is providing real-life experiences to university students in the areas of business and sustainability by connecting the students with real organizations engaged with these issues. The institute trains interdisciplinary teams of graduate students and professionals to provide practical, affordable tools and assistance to help smaller enterprises and their communities become stronger, healthier and more competitive. To date, more than 100 small businesses and nonprofits in more than twelve U.S. states have benefited from the Green Plus program. For more information, visit www.gogreenplus.org.

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Media Contact:
Brian Van Norman
919.232.5008
brian@articulon.com

About Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (HPG):
HPG is the largest CPA firm headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, as ranked by the Triangle Business Journal. More than just an accounting firm, HPG assists clients in looking beyond the bottom linesm by being the right people, right value and right firm to achieve each client's definition of success. HPG is a member of CPAmerica International and affiliated with the Horwath alliances of firms, with offices worldwide. The firm leverages this to provide national and global accounting resources to its clients. HPG offers a wide array of business accounting, auditing, corporate tax and management advisory services. Specialties include serving owner-managed, investor-backed technology and life science organizations, healthcare services, real estate development, manufacturing and distribution businesses, as well as providing ERISA audits, family wealthcare services and Sarbanes-Oxley internal audit services.

HPG has remained committed to advancing a thriving Triangle community since its founding in 1983. In recognition, the firm is the recipient of two Pinnacle Business Awards by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; the 2009 Large Entrepreneurial Business Award and the 2010 Integrity in Business Award. Several HPG partners are also the recipients of excellence awards, including the CED Outstanding Service and Entrepreneurial awards, Business Leader Magazine's Impact Financial Leader and Dealmaker recognitions, and the Triangle Business Journal's 40 Under 40 and Women in Business awards. Visit www.hpg.com of follow HPG on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HPGcpas.

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2841 Plaza Place, Raleigh, NC 27612

Media Contact:
Brian Van Norman
919.232.5008
brian@articulon.com

This release was published on openPR.