Sustainability
Committed to Responsible and Ethical Business Practices
EverWest is committed to responsible and ethical business practices and management of relevant environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors that are consistent with our fiduciary duties. As an investor-focused, real estate investment, development and management company, EverWest has formed the ESG and DEI committees that oversee the company’s sustainability and corporate social efforts.
Dedicated ESG Committee Members
Mike Gagne ESG Co-Chair
Senior Vice President,
Property management
Senior Vice President,
Property management
Katie Bergen ESG Co-Chair
DE&I Chair
Senior Director, Investor Relations and Capital Strategies
DE&I Chair
Senior Director, Investor Relations and Capital Strategies
Mark Bigarel Executive Vice President,
Head of Acquisitions
Head of Acquisitions
Krystal Arceneaux Executive Vice President
Head of Asset Management
Head of Asset Management
Paul Andrews Executive Vice President
Chief Operating and Financial Officer
Chief Operating and Financial Officer
Environmental
- Reduce energy use, water use, waste production, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- Utilize ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® as a platform to monitor utility data
- Align with industry best practices
Social
- Create a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment, focused on employee career development
- Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the company
Governance
- Manage and guide our ESG priorities. Oversight provided by the EverWest ESG Committee
- Ensure transparency to our investors on sustainability-related matters
- Manage compliance program for EverWest’s ESG-related activities
01
Launch
Q4 2019
Q4 2019
EverWest formed a ESG committee and launched its sustainability program.
02
Measure
Q1/Q2 2020
Q1/Q2 2020
Launched a utility data management platform across all the firm’s investment vehicles and created ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager accounts for all eligible buildings to track and monitor environmental performance.
03
Disclose
Q3 2020
Q3 2020
EverWest made its first submission into the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) for EverWest’s open-end fund.
04
Engage
Q4 2020
Q4 2020
Formed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. Formalized EverWest’s ESG Policy and conducted tenant satisfaction surveys for EverWest’s open-end fund’s properties.
ESG objectives
EverWest is committed to integrating sustainability into its investment decisions and operating practices to help generate superior, long-term, risk-adjusted returns. Our leadership team acknowledges that ESG factors have the potential to impact investment performance. To address this, the ESG Committee has set ESG objectives for 2021, which build upon the accomplishments made to date, and are being integrated into the development and management of the Fund’s assets. Our ESG objectives for 2021:
01
Disclosure & Reporting
- Commit to greater transparency by publishing sustainability information in our private commingled fund reports and on the corporate website;
- Participate in the GRESB Global Benchmark.
02
DE&I and Employee Engagement
- Expand the use of employee DE&I satisfaction surveys;
- Set objectives and metrics for DE&I program;
- Implement training and learning opportunities.
03
Environmental Performance
- Continue tracking all energy, water and waste usage and GHG emissions across selected properties;
- Enhance the measurement of environmental performance of our assets.
04
ESG into Developments
Integrate ESG considerations into the development process:
- Evaluate green building certifications for new developments.
05
ESG into Portfolio Management
Advance the integration of ESG into portfolio management:
- Continue to increase transparency through enhanced reporting and quarterly earnings calls;
- Increase data collection and monitoring.
06
ESG into Acquisitions
- Train investment teams on ESG considerations and best practices;
- Expand ESG factors considered, and tools used in the due diligence process, including climate risk and resilience.