HPG Earns National Sustainability Award

RALEIGH, NC, March 06, 2011 (Press-News.org) Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (www.hpg.com), the largest CPA firm headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, has been named a 2011 Biggest Green Plus Mover of the Year by the Institute for Sustainable Development for its efforts to promote environmentally friendly practices internally and throughout the community. The firm received the award during the 2011 Green Plus North American Sustainable Enterprise Awards held on February 25, 2011.

"This recognition is a testament to the entire HPG team's efforts to incorporate sustainability into our company culture," said Tim Naylor, HPG partner. "We are especially grateful to Lauren Joyce, audit manager and leader of our Clean-Tech Client Team, for her dedication to implementing our 'Green' initiatives."

HPG's recognition builds upon continued efforts to create a culture of sustainability among team members. During the past several years, the firm has launched multiple environmentally friendly initiatives, including:

•A staff-led recycling program
•Sustainability-topic lunch and learns
•An Earth Day awareness event
•Green Initiative boards
•Monthly green e-mails
•Green Monster awards for staff members

HPG has implemented a "paperless" methodology for completing its key CPA accounting activities, which minimizes the use of paper and need to print documents. The firm has also measured, monitored and reduced resource use, including energy and water. Changes include adding energy-efficient appliances, switching to reusable kitchenware and eliminating unnecessary lighting.

In 2010, the firm was certified Green Plus by the Institute for Sustainable Development (www.gogreenplus.org), the first accounting firm to earn this recognition. Through the Green Plus program, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States learn best practices in the areas of triple bottom line sustainability: people, planet and performance. The program gives employers affordable, practical support in succeeding financially, while being good to their environment, employees and community.

About Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP (HPG):
HPG is the largest CPA firm headquartered and staffed in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, as ranked by the Triangle Business Journal. More than just an accounting firm, HPG assists clients in looking beyond the bottom linesm by being the right people, right value and right firm to achieve each client's definition of success. HPG is a member of CPAmerica International and affiliated with the Crowe Horwath International alliances of firms, with offices worldwide. The firm leverages this to provide national and global accounting resources to its clients. HPG offers a wide array of business accounting, auditing, corporate tax and management advisory services. Specialties include serving owner-managed, investor-backed technology and life science organizations, healthcare services, real estate development, manufacturing and distribution businesses, as well as providing ERISA audits, family wealthcare services and Sarbanes-Oxley internal audit services.

HPG has remained committed to advancing a thriving Triangle community since its founding in 1983. In recognition, the firm is the recipient of two Pinnacle Business Awards by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; the 2009 Large Entrepreneurial Business Award and the 2010 Integrity in Business Award. Additionally, HPG has been certified Green Plus by the Institute for Sustainable Development for integrating environmental sustainability efforts into company culture, and has been named one of the top 100 Best Accounting Firms to Work For in the country by Accounting Today. Visit http://www.hpg.com or follow HPG on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HPGcpas.