Student-Driven Value: DevryBV’s Sustainability Certification Journey.

How can interns and students add value to our firm and transform fresh perspectives into action?

This is a question that DevryBV has been exploring over the past three years, working closely with summer intern cohorts, student groups from the University of Colorado Boulder, Cornell University, and the Minnetonka High School Vantage Program. Time and again, these young minds have proven to be a vital force in our business development and expansion. One of the most recent examples of student-driven innovation is our firm’s new sustainability certification.

The certification initiative began this spring, coinciding with DevryBV’s partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder. The goal was to provide students in the "The Sustainable Firm: ESG Strategies and Practice" course (CESR4850), led by Dr. Joshua Nuziato, with real-world consulting experience while learning to apply sustainability and ESG principles to businesses. These students dove into the world of sustainability certifications, providing a range of options to consider, including the US Green Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Associate certification, Green Business Benchmark, SASB Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting, Certified Sustainability Practitioner, Sustainability Excellence Associate, Global Ethics and Integrity Benchmark, and Climate Change Professional.

The recommendations from the CU Boulder students helped us identify which certifications to pursue and which might not be applicable to consulting firms. The fragmented landscape of sustainability reporting and certifications puts pressure on businesses to sort through numerous options and determine which courses and reporting mechanisms are the right fit. 

The initial research and recommendations provided by the students this spring laid the groundwork for our interns this summer. Our 2025 Interns, Emily Nicholson and Emma Forsyth, built on the work from the CU Boulder students and chose the US Green Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Associate certification. Our interns determined this certification would be achievable within their time at the firm and beneficial to thinking of sustainability in business expansion and client relations.

About the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Associate Certification. 

The U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce is a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to facilitating and supporting sustainable business practices that drive innovation, job creation, energy efficiency, and a brighter economic future. The Sustainability Certification for Business Professionals gives an overview of social, environmental, and economic sustainability practices for businesses.

The certification covers:

• Employee and Community Engagement.

• Waste Recovery and Resource Management

• Water Conservation.

• Energy Efficiency.

• Efficient Transportation.

• Social Sustainability. 

• Renewable Energy. 

• Personal Responsibility. 

• Green Marketing.

• Regenerative Economy. 

Real Lessons, Real Impact.

Our interns have expanded their understanding of sustainable business, empowering DevryBV to take initiative and develop innovative solutions.

Emma's Takeaway. 

Emma learned valuable information about the Federal Trade Commission's Green Guides and the responsibilities marketers have when making product claims to consumers. Not only is providing truthful information about product specs the right thing to do, but those who mislead consumers, according to the FTC, are at risk of prosecution. 

“Greenwashing is a serious issue, and we want to ensure that we help our clients market their products and services in an authentic way. Green marketing uplifts and validates the hard work many businesses are doing to reduce their environmental impact, and the FTC Green Guides reinforce the importance of truth in these claims.” - Emma.

Emily's Takeaway. 

Emily learned about the impacts of specific office designs, such as passive solar, which can increase energy efficiency. Passive solar utilizes a building's design to warm the building in the winter and cool it in the summer. For example, south-facing windows in the Northern Hemisphere typically allow the most sunlight during the winter, reducing heating needs, while east- and west-facing windows provide good natural light in the morning and afternoon but lead to unwanted heat during the summer, increasing cooling needs. Emily is utilizing this knowledge in her work as our business development intern, researching DevryBV office locations in Upstate New York. 

“It was exciting to learn something that applies to the work I am doing at DevryBV. I never considered how small things like window orientation could contribute to increased energy efficiency.” - Emily. 

From Knowledge to Action. 

The knowledge gained from this certification was not limited to our interns, who presented key findings to the entire team and archived the resources for all employees to use. 

Internally. 

• We have guides and checklists from each module, ready to leverage when working with clients.

• We identified opportunities to reduce waste, particularly in event planning and merchandising.

• We’re evaluating the feasibility of a sustainable merchandise line.

• We’re training our team on Triple Bottom Line thinking: People, Planet, Profit.

For Clients. 

• The program taught us how to simplify complex topics such as:

• Waste streams.

• Renewable energy.

• Lifecycle analysis.

Why It Matters.

Certifications don't just look good on paper; they add credibility and expertise to our team. At DevryBV, we’re passionate about supporting young adults as they transition into their careers—and about bringing new knowledge into our firm. Congratulations to Emily and Emma on their hard work in completing this certification!

Key Takeaways. 

• Certifications strengthen our credibility. 

• Intern and student insights help shape our company. 

• Sustainability can be communicated to everyone, regardless of their background or expertise. 

• We don’t need to just do less bad; we must do more good.

What’s Next?

We plan to continue exploring other certifications recommended by CU Boulder students that align with our values. As our firm grows, we’re committed to enhancing our advisory capabilities and providing learning opportunities for our team. Through ongoing education, we continue to refine internal processes and improve client outcomes. Developing these capabilities ensures we deliver the best possible integrated approach to sustainability.