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Michelle M. Marks to speak at North Carolina Climate Week

September 11, 2026

Join our free virtual session “AI in Sustainability: Control and Communicate” during this year’s Climate Action Series.

This session is for sustainability and communications teams figuring out where AI fits into their work. You’ll leave with a practical starting point for AI governance, covering how to think about tool selection, data handling, and the emissions and risk tied to everyday AI use. From there, the conversation turns outward: how to avoid greenhushing, and how to make sure your sustainability story holds up as AI becomes how more people find and evaluate companies. The speakers include: Ideas On Purpose‘s very own co-founder Michelle M. Marks, Emily May Neville from Greenplaces and Vrushali Sawant from SAS.

It’s free, virtual, and open to anyone ready to turn climate ideas into action.
🗓️ Date/Time: Monday, September 28 | 1:30pm–2:30pm ET🔗Register: https://luma.com/u8ocjdvu

Presented by EarthShare NC | Climate Week 2026, brings together people, businesses, and organizations from across the state to turn climate knowledge into action by moving climate solutions forward. Ideas On Purpose is proud to be a member of EarthShare and our own Diane Colomer Cheadle helped plan this year’s conference. For more info and resources, visit ncclimateweek.org.

IOP Clients Win Vision Awards

September 10, 2026

We are pleased to share that five IOP clients have been recognized with Platinum awards by the League of American Communications Professionals 2025 Vision Awards for their annual and sustainability reports. Clients include Boston Properties, Dominion Energy, Wintrust, Stanley Black & Decker, and Simon Property Group. All five earned spots in the Top 100 Reports Worldwide and Top 20 American Reports.

Congratulations to all the teams involved in this recognition!

Norwegian Cruise Lines Shortlisted for Best Sustainability Reporting

January 30, 2026

We’re proud to share Norwegian Cruise Lines’ 2024 Sail & Sustain Report has been shortlisted for Best Sustainability Reporting (small- to mid-cap) at IR Impact’s 2026 Awards, a category recognizing reports that are raising the bar to provide substance, detail, and performance data. The IR Awards serve as a vital benchmark for companies doing the best in investor relations in the US. Winners will be announced in March.

Michelle M. Marks to speak at Sustainable Business Council

October 13, 2025

Michelle will to join a panel on Communicating Sustainability and the Role of Storytelling at the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference on November 5, 2025

As sustainability becomes more complex and politically sensitive, how we communicate about it is more important than ever. This session explores the evolving landscape of sustainability messaging, from shifts in corporate communication to the growing influence of storytelling, data visualization, and even audio. Discover how organizations can craft authentic narratives, tailor messages for diverse audiences, and use subtle design cues to encourage sustainable behavior. Whether you’re shaping strategy or sharing impact, this session offers practical insights to make your sustainability communication more effective and meaningful.

📅 Date: November 4 & 5
📍 Location: La Crosse Center, La Crosse, WI
🔗 Details and registration at wisconsinsustainability.com/2025conference

Michelle M. Marks to speak at Climate Week NYC

September 2, 2025

HOW AI IS DISRUPTING SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING will dive into AI’s potential and shortcomings–and the risk of standing on the sidelines. This event will be a dynamic conversation with five trailblazers in corporate sustainability, communications and artificial and business intelligence.

With presentations, discussions, Q&A, panel and happy hour this event is perfect for CSOs, CCOs, IROs, and sustainability professionals navigating the intersection of AI capabilities, reporting requirements, and stakeholder engagement in an increasingly complex communications landscape.

🗓 Mark your calendars for September 23rd @ 3pm – 5:30pm

➡️ RSVP HERE: https://sustainserv.com/en/events/sustainservs-nyc-climate-week-event/

IOP Team is Workiva Certified

August 1, 2025

If you are adopting or already using Workiva, IOP is ready to collaborate with your team! We can support content development, design, production, and review in several ways that leverage Workiva. From full integration, keeping everything in the platform, to a more targeted approach, we will work with your team to find the right balance. The IOP team is Workiva Advanced Design Reporting certified and has experience many approaches. Get in touch to learn more.

Norwegian and Hilton win at 2025 Green Good Design Awards

April 18, 2025

IOP’s work for clients Norwegian Cruise Lines and Hilton was recognized in the Green Good Design Awards. Both companies were honored for their 2023 sustainability reports in the Green Graphics category. Only three total companies were chosen for this selective category. 

Green Good Design Sustainability Awards’ goal is to bestow international recognition to those outstanding individuals, companies, organizations, governments, and institutions that have forwarded exceptional thinking and inspired greater progress toward a more healthy and more sustainable universe. These prestigious international awards are sponsored by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. All winning entries become property of the Permanent Design Collection at The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. 

Playing the Long Game: Why Businesses Won’t Abandon Sustainability 

March 4, 2025

Sustainability remains a strategic imperative for businesses, despite political shifts. IOP Principal and Co-Founder, Michelle M. Marks, spoke with Reuters Events about why that is and how smart businesses are navigating these uncertain times.  

The business case for sustainability remains compelling — from operational efficiency and cost savings to maintaining competitive advantage and meeting customer expectations. Smart companies understand that sustainability is integral to long-term success, regardless of short-term political headwinds. 

“I haven’t seen wholesale abandonment… Rather, companies are focusing their efforts on the things they can actually affect,” Michelle tells Reuters. “Smart companies dedicated to long-term thinking will not swing wildly—they stay the course.” 

Download your free copy of the full whitepaper here.

Norwegian Cruise Lines & Hilton Shortlisted for Best ESG Reporting

January 28, 2025

We’re proud to share Norwegian Cruise Lines’ 2023 Sail & Sustain Report as well as Hilton’s Travel with Purpose Report have been shortlisted for Best ESG Reporting at IR Impact‘s 2025 Awards. The IR Awards serve as an important benchmark for companies doing the best investor relations in the US. This is Hilton’s third consecutive year included. Winners will be announced in March.

Michelle M. Marks to moderate ESG Reporting Panel

November 7, 2024

3BL, a leading sustainability and social impact communications partner is convening a session in Charlotte on December 11, 2024 to discuss ESG Reporting, the business communities response to Hurricane Helene and more.

The session on environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting practices will include perspectives from Meredith Bandy, vice president of investor relations and sustainability at  Albemarle Corporation, and Emily Vesling, director of sustainability at Trane Technologies. Moderator Michelle M. Marks, managing partner at Ideas On Purpose, will lead the discussion, which is aimed at demystifying how companies are approaching the transition from voluntary to mandatory disclosure.

The event is free; registration is required.

IOP Clients Win Again at LACP’s Vision Awards

August 26, 2024

It was a great year for IOP clients as six report projects were recognized in the League of American Communication Professional’s Vision Awards. Projects include ESG Reports, Annual Reports and Sustainability Reports. This year, across the board, we earned spots in the Top 100 Global Reports, as well as in the Top 20 American Reports. Competition was tough for this year’s awards, drawing one of the largest number of submissions ever — with nearly 1,000 entries across over 20 countries. We are proud to have such a strong showing from our clients: Hilton, Stanley Black & Decker, Dominion Energy, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Rainwater Charitable Foundation, among others.

Hilton Wins in 2024 Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Awards

July 24, 2024

Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Awards’ goal is to bestow international recognition to those outstanding individuals, companies, organizations, governments, and institutions that have forwarded exceptional thinking and inspired greater progress toward a more healthy and more sustainable universe. IOP is honored that Hilton’s 2022 ESG Report was included in the Green Corporation category, only two companies were selected. These prestigious international awards are sponsored by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. We are among great company!