Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County Luncheon  Celebration

Event Details:

Please join community leaders, organizations, partners, and previously certified businesses in recognizing the largest number of local Certified Green Businesses in program history! 

Cost

$35 per person if registration is received by March 14, 2016
$45 per person if registration is received after March 14, 2016 or at the door

Payment may be made by credit card (VISA or MasterCard), cash, or by check.

Please RSVP by Monday, March 14, 2016

Businesses honored at the luncheon are permitted two (2) free lunches.

Who may attend?

We would like to encourage anyone who is interested in the Green Business Program to attend this event. In addition we also invite:

• New and previously certified Green Businesses
• Representatives of partner agencies of the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County
• Local businesses
• Elected officials
• Media

Program

• Welcoming Remarks: Michael Hendrick, General Manager, Santa Ynez Valley Marriott
• Keynote Speaker: Jay Hardy, President, Hardy Diagnostics, Santa Maria
• Recognition of Certified Green Businesses

  Jay Hardy is the Co-Owner, Founder, and President of Hardy Diagnostics, a company based in Santa Maria that manufactures medical devices and sells products used for microbiology through nine distribution centers and over 50 international distributors. Started in 1980, Hardy Diagnostics is the 3rd largest manufacturer of culture media in the United States, making over 2,700 different media products and servicing over 9,000 laboratories. As a microbiological supply manufacturer with over 350 employees, the company is licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a medical device manufacturer.

In 2012, Hardy Diagnostics achieved certification as a "green" business under the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County. Among its efforts for achieving green business certification, the firm implemented actions to reduce energy and water consumption through the use of eco-friendly building materials, on demand water heaters, low water use landscaping, conversion to all LED lighting, and recycling of a wide variety of materials. It also donates materials to local students for their science projects.

In addition to striving to have the company be as sustainable as possible, Jay also displays a strong commitment to his employees. In 2013, he established an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP), whereby each employee is given shares in the company and receives a portion of the quarterly profits. Last year the company became 100% employee owned.

Jay also demonstrates a strong sense of social responsibility. Hardy Diagnostics is a supporter of community activities by regularly donating to the Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club of Santa Maria Valley, Good Samaritan Shelter, Santa Maria Valley YMCA, and several other organizations. In 2015, Jay and his wife, Anne, were honored by the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation as Ambassadors for consistently providing scholarships (over 50) to students in need. In addition, Hardy Diagnostics has received these additional awards and forms of recognition:

• 2011: honored as Santa Maria Valley's business of the year
• 2008: certified by the American Heart Association as an official "Fit Friendly Workplace" for promoting healthy lifestyles
• 2004: received "Spirit of Small Business" award for North Santa Barbara County from Los Angeles District of the U.S. Small Business Administration