China US Center for Sustainable Development announces appointment of Allan Smith of Steelcase, Inc. to the Board of Councilors

Allan Smith of Steelcase Joins Board of Councilors

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The China-US Center for Sustainable Development is pleased to announce the appointment of Allan Smith of Steelcase Inc. to the Board of Councilors. The Board of Councilors provides strategic guidance for the Center’s operations and leadership in the development of new initiatives.

Allan Smith was appointed Director of North America Marketing, Communications & Environmental Strategy for Steelcase Inc. in 2004 with responsibility for developing a comprehensive environmental strategy; implementing environmental programs throughout Steelcase globally; and aligning the company's business and marketing strategies to achieve aggressive environmental goals.

Steelcase Inc. is an international “workplace effectiveness” company whose knowledge, products and services enhance the quality of people's work environments. Steelcase’s product portfolio includes furniture systems, seating, lighting, storage, architectural and technology products, and related products. Originally founded in 1912 and with headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase is a global company with approximately 14,000 employees worldwide, manufacturing facilities in over 35 locations and more than 900 dealer locations around the world.

The China US Center for Sustainable Development is a unique organization working closely with China’s leadership to help set the standards for sustainable development and build the organizational capacity to achieve it. International companies like BASF, BP, Ford, Hewlett Packard and Intel participate on the Board and the Founders’ Circle, providing strategic direction for the Center’s activities and leadership in creating “sustaining” enterprises. For more information on the Center, you may go to http://www.chinauscenter.org.

Mr. Smith leads the Steelcase Environmental Partnership, a corporate-wide program he was instrumental in developing to help customers determine and implement the best strategy for Steelcase furniture when it has reached the end of its useful life.

Since 2002, he has also been responsible for all marketing communications, knowledge and service marketing, advanced marketing and the first phase of product development. In this capacity, he contributed to the launch of the Steelcase Think™ chair, a product conceived, developed and produced for maximum sustainability. He also led the development and implementation of a new program that defined protocols and standards to ensure environmentally preferable printing practices for all Steelcase collateral.

Mr. Smith’s responsibilities encompass a collaborative agreement with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) to conduct thorough assessments of materials used most frequently in Steelcase products and broadly implement "cradle-to-cradle" environmental design standards to eliminate waste and optimize use of materials and processes that are healthy for people and the environment.

Mr. Smith was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Interior Designers. He holds a bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Virginia.