The following individuals are finalists for the Green Source DFW Sustainable Leadership Awards in the entrepreneur category. The results are based on votes from hundreds of Green Source DFW readers. The winners in each of the five categories will be announced at the Green Source DFW Sustainable Leadership Awards ceremony on March 13. Register to attend.

Joan Meeks, Commodity Recycling Solutions, President

Joan is a leader in the electronic waste recycling community with her business, Commodity Recycling Solutions. She is committed to making the planet a better and safer place.

CRS is an electronic waste (e-waste/ecycling) recycling business servicing the Dallas-Fort Worth areas of Texas. CRS customizes a solution to meet each customer’s specific needs and “green” priorities. In every situation, customers recognize substantial benefits that range from maximizing the monetary returns on their recycling program, to regulatory compliance, to cost savings compared to existing disposal methods. By adopting “green” waste disposal processes, customers demonstrate both good business practices and environmental responsibility. Each year CRS company recycles thousands of tons of industrial, commercial and business e-waste. 

Mary Palko, Green Now, Owner

Mary Palko, owner of Green Now LLC, has worked diligently to not only provide all natural, healthy products but to also enrich the lives of others with the knowledge needed to live healthy lives. Her focus on creating a world where there are natural alternatives to toxic chemicals and reducing waste have made definite impacts. Palko’s website and social media activities are intended to educate and enlighten readers on the benefits of healthy choices and how easy living 'on the road to green' can be. This is evident in how she manages her businesses from using only all natural products to using manufacturing processes that limit waste and use less energy. Her bed & breakfast business has also gone green using only natural cleaning products and encouraging guests to reuse and recycle. 

Nanci Taylor, Edible DFW, Publisher

Edible Dallas & Fort Worth is a quarterly local foods magazine that promotes the abundance of local foods in Dallas, Fort Worth and 34 North Texas counties. 

Nanci’s reach extends far beyond just the pages of the magazine she beautifully publishes each season with her tireless efforts to promote, connect and support small, sustainable producers in DFW. Her work has helped launch and empower, strengthen and expand small sustainable businesses, farms, producers and markets.

Nanci's passion for local farmers and their products is also evident through everything she does with Chefs For Farmers, and a great deal of its success and growth is thanks to her efforts. Likewise, she shares much of her time with other charities and non-profit organizations, another example of her commitment to the area and her desire to see everyone around her have a better quality of life.  

Show your support for the inspiring work being done by the DFW green community. Register to attend the Green Source DFW Sustainable Leadership Awards ceremony.

Cover illustration: courtesy of Mufta.org.