Arlin Wasserman of Sodexo

In this episode of On Paper, Arlin Wasserman, Sodexo’s Vice President of Corporate Citizenship, discusses Sodexo’s unique role as the world’s largest provider of institutional food and facilities management services, and their ability to help businesses and institutions attain sustainability objectives. Wasserman looks to three main areas to achieve these objectives: impact on communities; health, wellness and nutrition; and environmental impact.

“When you look at the numbers, there is no bigger sector that has an impact on the planet and how people treat the planet, than the food and agriculture sector. And no bigger sector that has an impact on how people are going to use energy and interact with the climate then putting that together with facilities management sector,“ explains Wasserman. By moving the industry to measurable performance, Wasserman explains how Sodexo’s efforts have helped reduce environmental impact while promoting ecological restoration.

Arlin Wasserman is Vice President for Corporate Citizenship at Sodexo, where he works to develop and implement strategies that promote Sodexo's leadership in (and priorities for) corporate citizenship. He drives associated initiatives in North America, focusing especially on food-related and environmental programs. He also serves as the company-wide coordinator for positioning and outreach related to employee quality of life, workforce diversity, ethics, core values and sustainability programs, in conjunction with Sodexo's management team members.

Arlin will be developing new ways to introduce terroir—the value of food products derived from farmers preserving and promoting their sense of place into our country's food economy.

Arlin is an expert in land use management and environmental policy, with an M.S. in natural resources, an M.P.H., and a B.A. in political economics, all from the University of Michigan. Before joining the staff, he directed Solid Waste and Environmental Services for several Michigan communities, and worked as a professional risk management specialist for Environmental Solutions in Traverse City while serving as the Institute s first board president. He was named northern Michigan's Environmentalist of the Year in 1993—the year he served on the State Department of Natural Resources pollution prevention task force.

Arlin lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When not exploring his passion for food and jazz, he enjoys exploring the trails and waters of the land of 10,000 lakes.

Education:
M.P.H. in Public Health Policy & Administration, University of Michigan
M.S. in Natural Resources, University of Michigan
B.A. in Political Economics & Creative Writing, University of Michigan

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A graduate of the Ivy League's Columbia University, Maureen Kedes spent several years as a freelance public relations and advertising writer, and as spokesperson for several major corporations including: Toshiba, Yamaha, Sharp Electronics, Con Agra Foods, and Oxford University Press. Ms. Kedes also worked as a Test Marketing Director at CBS Television and also recently served as Sr. VP of Public Relations at Fortune Broadcasting in West Hollywood.