Dan “The Man” Verbeten Graduates

Change is hard. When it comes to environmental sustainability, walking the talk isn’t always easy. But, sustainability is imperative to the future of our organization and nobody understands that better than NOLS Teton Valley’s operations manager Dan Verbeten.

Dan just graduated from Yellowstone Business Partnership’s sustainable business leadership program, UnCommon Sense. This program equips businesses to make desired changes in their operations and empowers them to become sustainability leaders in their communities and industry sectors.

To graduate, businesses must complete the two-year program comprised of eight modules on topics such as organizational change, waste-stream management, facility and transportation efficiencies, responsible purchasing, social and community investment and offset programs.

Dan and his Teton Valley team have had great success incorporating what he learned through participation in the UnCommon Sense program. Here are a few highlights.

• Saved $420 on trash hauling costs after realizing that the dumpster did not need to be tipped weekly throughout the entire year.
• In 2010 logged 500 hours of community service with the Forest Service, Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, and Teton Valley Community School.
• Installed a 7.6 Kw solar system that has produced 2810 Kwh of power since October 1st, 2010
• Wrote an environmentally preferred procurement document for the school
• Installed low flow showers, saving an estimated 3,000 gallons of water annually

Even more impressive is Dan was such a great leader in the program that they have asked him to stay on as an advisor for the incoming classes. Dan says, “It will be a great way for NOLS to stay positively involved in the Greater Yellowstone Community.”