Facility Manager helps GALLO be a Sustainable Cleveland Exhibit Builder
Posted by Valerie Hurst on Tue, Oct 04, 2011
This month please meet Dale Godbey, the Facilities Manager for GALLO in Cleveland, OH. He has been in this position for 37 years and his doing his best to contribute toward a Sustainable Cleveland here at GALLO! 
Congratulations on attaining your IGBC (Institute for Green Business Certification). What was involved in attaining this certification?
This course consisted of a combination of ten learning components that correspond with the IGBC and the Uniform Standard for Green Business Certification, including; Solid Waste Reductions and Recycling, Recycle/Reuse Materials, Reduce Office Paper, Purchase Recycled Content, Save Energy, Water Conservation, Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping, Reduce Chemical Use, Recycle/Reuse Potential Pollutants, and Reduce Vehicle Emissions.
What inspired your interest in recycling and green initiative?
After learning that we throw away 25 billion Styrofoam cups a year, and that plastic trash kill or injure over 1 million sea creatures per year-- the reality started to sink in. I am always educating myself in the latest trends and issues facing businesses in the Northeastern Ohio area, and the more I learn, the more I realize how important it is to be proactive because of the consequences that we all face in the long run.
What further opportunities does GALLO have with sustainability?
We have many opportunities which include utilizing more natural light in our production areas with the use of skylights, possible retrofitting older lighting technologies in our building with newer more efficient lighting, the use of more “eco-friendly” materials on our products, and using paints and solvents with lower VOC’s reducing the use of aerosols. Also using “rain gardens” and water run off tanks to reduce the amount of storm water runoff from our building -- and the list goes on to what the possibilities are!
What challenges do you see for GALLO in regards to sustainability?
The ultimate challenge or goal would be “Zero Landfill” on our waste stream. There are some products that are difficult to recycle such as laminates and carpeting. For example, carpet can be recycled, but the recyclers want the carpet to be cut up in neat 4 X 4 squares and skidded. That is very time consuming and labor intensive. Finding a happy medium will be challenging in the future.
How has your role evolved over the years – that it now branches out into green initiatives?
My role hasn’t changed much but it definitely has evolved, just as the industry has over the years. Basically keeping the company clean, safe and secure has been my role from the start, and has evolved naturally into problem solving and I have remained in that capacity.
I was taught to look for potential snags in the ability for employees to perform their job in a safe and secure environment, as well as prevent potential liability issues for the company. As we grew, my role naturally evolved to include regulatory issues. I continued my education and became a CECM (certified environmental compliance manager), and also studied and received an Electrical license from the state of Ohio.
For example, when I started GALLO, we had 4 full time sign painters! Signage was done exclusively by hand before the advent of silk screens and other methods. The paints and chemicals used back then, in today’s terms, would be considered dangerous. So as the process changes, so does the methods used to deal with the by products. It is all good.
Any other thoughts you’d like to share with business professionals with an interest in starting to “go green”?
I would tend to say “keep it simple” in the beginning and start out by contacting a local recycler to discuss options on developing a comprehensive recycling program and promote it in the work place. It will take some effort to sort materials and get things set up but most people like to get on board with such initiatives.
Secondly I would become familiar with your States “Universal Waste Rules” which has guidelines on the proper handling and disposal of many items such as lamps, batteries, etc.
It is very important to make sure you are up to date with all of the regulatory issues required in the workplace. If in doubt, contact a professional consultant or attend some seminars that are held by many organizations such as BWC, OSHA, EPA to educate yourself. Someone in your organization needs to keep up to date with the changing regulations that are placed upon the workplace.
If your workplace is lacking the fundamentals of the basic regulatory programs required, you need to get it going and can be used as a base of your “green” efforts. It can all be done in tandem or harmony with recycling and rethinking the materials and process used in the workplace to make it a better place for everyone.
Did you know that 2011 is the Year of Energy Efficiency in Cleveland? Check out Sustainable Cleveland.
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