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Green 50, You Have Company

The innovative businesses, with their sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices, that Inc. featured in its Green 50 are truly inspiring ["The Eco-Advantage," November]. But I was disappointed that very few businesses in the hospitality industry made it onto your list.

Quite a few companies in the travel industry are making an impact on the environment as they teach travelers and communities that it's possible to build profitable businesses through conservation. My company, for example, has managed to conserve 1,000 acres of rain forest. I hope that Inc. will take a closer look at the companies in the travel industry that are working to protect the environment.

Millay Kogan
Sustainability Coordinator
Lapa Rios Ecolodge
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Some of the articles about the Green 50 look at only part of the green picture. To determine if a product is ecologically sound, you must look at three factors: how it is created, how it is used, and how it is disposed of.

Consider the case of ethanol versus gasoline. Ethanol is produced from corn, which requires a lot of land and water. Petroleum products are needed to make chemical fertilizer to grow the corn. If these chemicals wash down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, they could destroy the fishing industries that bring us food. Processing and transporting the corn uses energy, too. We need to remember to look at the total picture.

Thomas B. Albright
President
The 21st Century Co.
Lewisville, Texas

The Green 50 is just too short. It should be at least 500. You could be instrumental in this green movement by recognizing all of the smaller green companies across the country, including those that have been at this a lot longer than many of those on your list. The entire community of green businesses is huge.

Colette George
Vice President
Ecowood Retail Displays
Mount Shasta, California

It was Great to read about the efforts of all the green businesses you profiled. I live in the Northwest, where these types of businesses are thriving. I was particularly excited to see that Burgerville made your Green 50 list.

I was surprised, however, that in the same issue you would include an article about the Cadillac Escalade ["The King Lives--and Even More Extravagantly," November]. Why review a vehicle that gets as little as 13 miles per gallon just six pages before your readers dive into inspiring articles about businesspeople who are injecting environmentally smart practices into their profitable ventures? As I was reading about recycled products and renewable energy, I was reminded that these efforts are continually threatened by greed. In this case, it took the form of a monster gas guzzler that represents the reckless use of energy we should be fighting to curtail.

John Calian
Founder
Movaya Wireless
Seattle

Good on Paper

What a treat to read that Inc. is now being printed on recycled paper [Editor's Letter, November]. I hope this will encourage other magazines to follow your lead.

Rebecca Ho
San Francisco

Congratulations on your switch to recycled paper. It is a very big deal. I work for a nonprofit that helps magazine publishers switch to environmentally responsible paper, and we've found that over 95 percent of all magazine paper is virgin fiber paper, often from endangered forests.

Frank Locantore
Magazine PAPER project director
Co-op America
Denver

Choosing a Partner

Though you highlighted many of the fundamental problems with partnerships, there's one that you missed ["Until Death--Or Some Other Sticky Problem--Do Us Part," November]. It often involves people who have a social relationship that predates the business relationship. As a result, the partners find it nearly impossible to be objective and give adequate weight to one another's strengths, weaknesses, and ethics. What we overlook in friends can be disastrous in a business partner.

Regarding the partners in the story, I believe that when Ariane Daguin tried to emulate her father and open a restaurant, it was an emotionally driven decision. This was exemplified by her expectation that her partner, George Faison, who was keeping their company, D'Artagnan, afloat, should also take time away from their successful supply business to help her at the restaurant.

Bruce Stenman
President
Lightsmith
Monterey, California

Windows of Opportunity

Gary Delman's decision to sell a stake in his company, Sunrise Windows, seems like the best option [Case Study, November]. How long can a small regional player hope to compete with national and global leaders in a rapidly consolidating industry?

The only thing I found strange was that Delman immediately contacted his customers about the deal. I can't see how that's any of their business or why his customers would be concerned that some New York City private equity firm had invested in his Midwest window company. Maybe he just wanted them to know that his company would be more competitive.

Brad Evans
President
RodMounts
Bend, Oregon

I have had the pleasure of dealing with Gary Delman of Sunrise Windows since I first called the company over 11 years ago and he answered the phone himself. My company installs windows, and I sell Sunrise windows as my primary products. Even though mine was a small account, Gary Delman has always treated me like a heavy hitter. He drove two and a half hours to personally deliver samples and sales literature. I was glad to read about the success of Sunrise Windows and its progression from a small family-owned business to the type of growing corporation that attracts a $50 million investment.

Chris Tolmasov
President
Windows Wholesale
Waterford, Michigan

T&E Guilt

Leigh Buchanan's characterization of overly frugal business travelers is so true ["Road Worriers," November]. I come from modest means, and though I don't have to explain my expenses to my company, I still feel that kind of pain and concern when I spend money.

Neil J. Weiner
Director of Business Development
Numérique-USA
Burbank, California

Inspiration and T-shirts

I was thrilled to see John and Bert Jacobs, the founders of Life Is Good, on the cover of your magazine ["Life Lessons," October]. I enjoyed reading about how they got started. I will never forget the first time I saw their products in the store and how good I felt just standing there. Of course, $80 later I walked out of the store totally happy that I would be wearing a feel-good ad campaign.

Jennifer Pomo
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Firing the Brother-in-law

Michael Kalinsky could have done a few things differently, but he was right to fire his brother-in-law [Case Study, October]. Once a subordinate starts acting disrespectfully and undermines your leadership, you must get rid of him. This type of behavior can become a cancer to your company, especially if you have a small business or a small team.

Jay Rice
Vice president of sales and marketing
Adimec Electronic Imaging
Stoneham, Massachusetts

Michael Kalinsky's troubles are common. I have had to eliminate two partners for various reasons and on less than friendly terms.

I am shocked that none of the experts who weighed in on the story mentioned an obvious misstep. In light of the fact that his brother-in-law was very active with the customer base, including the largest customer, Kalinsky should have had his brother-in-law sign a noncompete when he bought out his shares.

Mark W. Porter
Chief executive officer
High Wire Networks
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

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