Dear Eartha, I have noticed that a lot of local businesses and folks in the community are working hard to make the county more environmentally friendly. Do their actions get formally recognized?
It is great to hear that you have noticed impactful environmental efforts in Summit County. We are lucky to live in a place where so many businesses and residents go out of their way to make our community more resilient and sustainable. That’s why, every spring, the High Country Conservation Center (HC3) honors these efforts with the Green Scene awards. These awards recognize outstanding businesses and individuals for their work in making Summit County a better place to live, visit, and play. This year’s winners were celebrated at HC3’s Party for the Planet event this past Friday. So, who are these local sustainability heroes? Let’s take a look.
Outstanding Community Advocate: James & Beverly Young
The Outstanding Community Advocate award is presented to Summit County residents who have gone above and beyond to inspire others to protect the planet. This year’s Outstanding Community Advocate was presented to James and Beverly Young. Jim and Bev give their time to many organizations and have made themselves invaluable to our community, including at HC3. They’re frequent volunteers for HC3’s “Stump the Recyclers” program, which involves answering recycling questions for users at local recycling centers. Jim and Bev are known to personally connect with everyone and anyone to ensure that our recycling bins aren’t contaminated. They are also willing to get their hands dirty by cleaning up at the recycling centers.
Sustainable Business Champion: Colorado Mountain College, Summit Campus
Presented to a local business that implements innovative environmental programs, the 2025 Sustainable Business Champion award was given to Colorado Mountain College’s (CMC) Summit campus. While CMC’s campus features rooftop solar panels, fleet electric vehicles, and energy efficiency measures, the impacts don’t end there. In fact, the college’s most significant sustainability contribution comes from the countless students who have pursued higher education in CMC’s Integrated Sustainability bachelor’s degree program. From local governments to ski areas and local non-profits, CMC graduates are working in sustainability-related careers across Summit County – and bringing a positive impact to our community as a result.
Tim McClure Lifetime Achievement: Jessie Burley, Sustainability & Parking Manager, Town of Breckenridge
The Tim McClure Lifetime Achievement award is named for the founder of High Country Conservation Center. Tim created Summit County’s first recycling program back in the 1970s, and this award honors his legacy by recognizing a dynamic individual who has brought forward-thinking sustainability programs to our community. This year’s Tim McClure Lifetime Achievement awardee was Jessie Burley, the Sustainability & Parking Manager for the Town of Breckenridge.
Jessie has been with the Town of Breckenridge for the past six years, driving efforts to position the town as a sustainability leader, not just locally but across the state – and the world. Jessie’s advocacy has resulted in town adoption of policies like the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program, Pay As You Throw, sustainable building codes, and single-use plastic ban. Jessie expanded the town’s own renewable energy portfolio – 63% of town facilities are now powered by renewable electricity. She’s championed beneficial electrification across town properties, resulting in new workforce developments that feature cold climate heat pumps and rooftop solar panels. And in 2021, Jessie’s efforts resulted in Breckenridge earning global recognition as a Mountain IDEAL sustainable mountain resort destination.
Prior to her time with the Town of Breckenridge, Jessie served on the Frisco Town Council, ensuring sustainability remained a top priority throughout her term. Additionally, she is an active member of Colorado Communities for Climate Action and serves on the state’s Energy Code Board.
You can Be a Sustainability Hero, Too
Year after year, Green Scene award winners demonstrate that being a sustainability hero is something we can all achieve. From establishing new habits at home, bringing project ideas to your school or workplace, or championing for greater change at your local town council, we all have the power to bring positive impacts to our communities and environment.
Ask Eartha Steward is written by the staff at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to Eartha at info@highcountryconservation.org.
