This summer BrownFlynn is partnering with the Institute for Sustainable Development - a nonprofit partnering with academic institutions UNC, Duke University and Elon University and chambers of commerce - to conduct a survey on the importance of stakeholder engagement in developing an organization's sustainability strategy. The results of the survey will be compiled into a first-of-its-kind report on the role of stakeholder engagement in this important process.

The purpose of the survey is to gain insight on how various organizations/companies value and practice stakeholder engagement--which is defined as the process through which companies engage employees, shareholders, customers, neighboring communities, government officials, etc., to align mutual interests, reduce risk and advance the company's social, environmental and economic performance.

BrownFlynn Principal and Co-Owner Barb Brown explains, "At BrownFlynn, we believe stakeholder engagement is an essential ingredient for implementing a successful sustainability strategy. Through this effort with the Institute for Sustainable Development, we will be able to provide companies with fact-based information about the importance of stakeholder engagement and identify opportunities for these organizations to enrich this process and their sustainability strategies in general."

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the world's most widely recognized sustainability reporting framework, agrees that stakeholder engagement is a primary step in the evolution of a successful sustainability strategy. BrownFlynn hopes this survey and its results will assist in educating companies on the benefits of GRI, not only for reporting, but as a change management tool.

Please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RN8TW3F to access this survey. Your input is greatly appreciated.

About BrownFlynn and BrownFlynn Learning
BrownFlynn is a corporate responsibility and sustainability consulting firm. We partner with clients to integrate environmentally and socially responsible practices into their business strategies and help them communicate those messages internally and externally, creating a cultural shift that results in bottom-line impact. Visit www.brownflynn.com for service offerings, case studies and our sustainability resource center.

In 2008, BrownFlynn was named the first U.S. certified trainer for GRI, the international "gold standard" for sustainability management and reporting. This resulted in the launch of BrownFlynn Learning--the Firm's corporate sustainability education and training division. BrownFlynn Learning teaches companies how to triple their bottom line - environmentally, socially and economically - through workshops, webinars, on-site training, conferences and other venues. Visit www.brownflynnlearning.com for more information.

About The Institute for Sustainable Development
The Institute for Sustainable Development is a non-profit partnership of academic and business leaders whose mission is to democratize sustainability, providing practical, affordable, high quality sustainability expertise to smaller enterprises and their communities. Through its Green Plus™ program, the Institute connects small businesses and non-profits with university expertise and a network of peers throughout North America. Organizations demonstrating exceptional triple bottom line sustainability may also earn Green Plus Certification™, a designation to distinguish themselves with their communities and customers. To learn more, please visit www.gogreenplus.org.

BrownFlynn

BrownFlynn

About BrownFlynn

Founded in January 1996, BrownFlynn is a leading corporate sustainability and governance consulting firm. The Firm advises Fortune 500 and privately-held companies to drive value creation by focusing on and managing their greatest impacts by understanding their landscape, setting their direction, telling their story, and engaging their stakeholders. BrownFlynn is the first U.S.-certified training partner of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The Firm shares its expertise through speaking engagements, whitepapers, webinars, collaborative partnerships, and regular columns in leading publications. To learn more visit brownflynn.com.

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