Sustainability at Overture: Employee committee leads the way

As 2024 comes to a close, sustainability continues to be front of mind at Overture Center. The past six months have brought new opportunities for our Sustainability Committee to further Overture Center’s commitment to reducing environmental impact. Explore these exciting moments the committee led in the second half of the year. 

Overture Center becomes a Dane County “Climate Champion” 

Late this August, the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change recognized Overture Center, along with 31 other local organizations, individuals and schools, for leading on climate action. Specifically, Overture was awarded Climate Champion status for our work in a variety of water conservation practices, including our use of efficient water softeners and conservative salt usage. Nominated for the award by the Sustainability Committee, this recognition highlights just some of the ongoing projects focused on enhancing sustainability practices, from energy savings to waste management. 

“Overture's upgraded water softeners isn't a particularly glamorous or ‘exciting’ project, so it's nice to be recognized for something behind the scenes making a big difference,” says Rachael Reis, lead usher and committee member who initiated Overture’s nomination and application. “We have also seen that people in the community care about organizations like Overture making sustainable choices, so getting the word out in different ways is a real benefit to the community and to Overture.” 

Projects such as the water softener replacement often take years to plan, determine estimates, apply for funding and acquire approval. The water softeners resulted in reduced chemical usage in the chillers and boilers and lowered plumbing repair costs, saving Overture over $180,000 in just nine months. This hard work and determination stem from the dedication of staff members like Director of Facilities Tony Wantoch to implement sustainable practices throughout the building’s operations. 

"We’re honored to be recognized as a Climate Champion for our sustainable water practices. This award reflects our commitment to minimizing environmental impact and the dedication of our team to conservation effort,” shares Mike Conway, Co-CEO and Chief Operations Officer.

Overture staff think sustainably about fashion at Clothing Swap 

The Sustainability Committee hosted an employee “Clothing Swap” in October. Staff were encouraged to bring in used clothing and accessories, giving them a second chance in another’s wardrobe. Shannon Heibler, presenting manager and committee member, has a background in costume design and organized the event, even reaching out to Forward Theater Company, one of Overture’s resident organizations, to participate. 

“Having worked with Forward Theater Company as a designer and being a member of their Advisory Company, I reached out to see if they would be interested in donating any of the pieces from their recently closed production of ‘King James,’ and they very kindly donated many pieces that I am charmed to see around the office now,” says Hiebler.  

Clothing, through “fast fashion” and fashion waste, is one of the largest contributors to global climate change. As a performing arts center and “a pretty fashionable group” of staff as Heibler puts it, the committee was inspired to highlight the impact one’s buying habits and wardrobe can have on our planet.

It was a wonderful afternoon for staff to switch up their wardrobe, with one employee even calling it the highlight of their day! All remaining items were donated to a local charity. The Sustainability Committee plans to lead future staff activities to promote sustainable actions, including making the Clothing Swap a seasonal event.

“It was so successful!” recalls Heibler. “People had a great time and made space in their closets—and filled them back up a little bit. A lovely side effect was watching colleagues shop and show off their finds for each other, cheering on daring new sartorial choices and recommending accessories that folks also brought to swap.”

Sustainability Committee members attend the Sustain Dane Summit 

Last month, seven committee members attended the Sustain Dane Summit at Monona Terrace hosted by Sustain Dane, the local sustainability organization Overture joined this past April. The conference offers a chance for “sustainability enthusiasts to learn, connect, share, reflect and build new personal and professional skills.” The committee spent the day with over 300 attendees hearing from 14 speakers, including “Working to Restore” author and journalist Esha Chhabra, Executive Director of the Ice Age Trail Alliance Luke Kloberdanz and project-focused panels with local leaders. 

One of these local leaders included Overture’s own Director of Facilities Tony Wantoch. The committee cheered Tony on as he spoke on a “Local Sustainability Wins” panel, sharing about the water conservation projects that resulted in Overture’s Climate Champion recognition this August. 

“As we hit our 20-year mark, we have water softeners, boilers and chillers that all have that 20-year life expectancy. As we start looking forward to the next project and the next project and the next project, it’s our responsibility, as anybody going through the operational efficiencies, to make sure we’re putting sustainability at the forefront,” said Wantoch in response to why he chooses to incorporate sustainable practices in his work. 

The Sustain Dane Summit invigorated the Sustainability Committee’s mission to enhance sustainable practices at Overture and provided an opportunity to come together around a cause they care deeply about. 

"Attending the Sustain Dane Summit was such a wonderful experience!” says Allie Idzik-Heifetz, event services coordinator and committee member. “As a Madisonian, it was beautiful to see the initiatives that so many community members are taking towards creating more sustainable organizations. As an Overture Center employee, it was magical to be able to attend with our sustainability committee and share ideas for how the things we were learning about could be implemented at Overture Center. We left feeling inspired to take more action!" 

As we look forward to the new year, the Sustainability Committee is planning more exciting opportunities for Overture staff—and patrons—to learn about and prioritize sustainable practices in our building. Stay tuned! Together, we can reduce our environmental impact to benefit people and the planet. 

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