As owner and operator of the SC Beach Boardwalk since 1915, the SC Seaside Company has played a leading role in encouraging sustainable quality practices such as environmental stewardship, community involvement, and continuous quality improvement.

Leadership at Seaside Company is based more on personal power than on power derived from position. Seaside Co. involves and includes employees in suggesting changes, leading to incremental as well as "breakthrough" improvements, making Seaside Co. a more sustainable and enjoyable place to work.

Seaside Co executives strive to listen, learn, and lead by example, with an openness and genuine interest in feedback from all different levels in the organization.

Seaside's workplace culture reflects and fosters an inclusive management style. Workshops in valuing diversity and resolving conflicts have helped people appreciate -- rather than judge -- each other's differences. Employees can skip a level of supervision to discuss an issue without fear of reprisal.

Seasonal as well as regular employees are offered rewards, benefits, and incentives to uphold company values like safety and guest service, to develop new skills and to improve -- personally and professionally.

With an estimated 3.1 million visitors in 1994, up 7% from '93, the Company strives to break away from traditional "rules" of management to innovate. New and creative ideas are the essence of the company's future; for example, Laser Tag and Virtual Reality games now augment the more traditional attractions.

In 1995, the organization received the first State of California EcoTourism award as well as recognition by Ecology Action of Santa Cruz as "Environmental Business of the Season."

Seaside Co. frequently sponsors and participates in the Annual Coastal Cleanup, Adopt-A-Beach and Adopt-A-Highway cleanup programs, among other Santa Cruz Community involvement initiatives.

Seaside employees are encouraged and given incentives to carpool or use public transportation with free bus passes, bicycle lockers, and support of the Bike-To-Work program.

The company has established aggressive recycling programs at the Boardwalk (glass, aluminium and other metals, cardboard, paper, magazines and newspaper, oil and batteries), eliminated polystyrene food packaging, retrofitted electrical lights, and reuses "waste" material like car tires -- far beyond compliance.

Seaside "closes the loop" by purchasing recycled products, including recycled building materials, water-based paints, citrus-based solvents, and even 50% post-consumer recycled fiber toilet seat covers.

The company uses an extensive, company-designed, water reclamation program, saving 1.4 million gallons between 1990 and 1994.

The SQA Selection Committee acknowledges the Seaside Co. management and staff for developing an inspiring and rewarding workplace. Do you know of a business, school, or non-profit organization that has a "sustainable quality" success story to tell?