Shaw Industries' Kellie Ballew Named One of North America's Top 100 Chief Sustainability Officers by Future/io Institute

^{Kellie Ballew, a key leader at Shaw Contract and Shaw Industries, has been recognized as one of North America's Top 100 Chief Sustainability Officers by the Future/io Institute. This prestigious award highlights Kellie's pioneering leadership and unwavering commitment to driving sustainability innovation at Shaw and the broader built environment.}

The Future/io CSO Awards spotlight executives who are leading the charge toward a NetZero 2040 goal. (Shaw has set a goal to achieve net zero operations by 2030.) Selected from a comprehensive database of Fortune 2000 companies, honorees represent trailblazing CSOs and organizations that are setting benchmarks in sustainability and operational excellence.

“Kellie’s inclusion in the Future/io Top 100 CSO list is a testament to her unwavering dedication to sustainability and innovation,” said Shaw President and CEO Tim Baucom. “Her leadership shapes Shaw’s sustainability strategy, ensuring it delivers meaningful change for people and the planet. Her work exemplifies our commitment to sustain[HUMAN]ability® – putting people at the center of all we do.”

Honorees stem from a diverse range of companies including Target, Whirlpool, IBM, Jones Lang LaSalle, Walt Disney Co., and Google.

“We want to shine a light on the importance of these leaders and the role of [sustainability leadership],” stated Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute. “They are beacons in the transition to desirable futures in which business and sustainability initiatives thrive together.”

Shaw Contract has long been committed to transforming the built environment through its sustainability strategy which delivers industry-leading innovation and fosters collaboration across teams – driving measurable impact for people and the planet. Ballew has been instrumental in advancing this work throughout her 30-year career. Inspired by green chemistry and Cradle to Cradle® design, she was part of the team that launched EcoWorx® carpet tile – the industry’s first PVC-free and fully recyclable carpet tile.

Today, almost 90% of the products that Shaw manufactures are Cradle to Cradle Certified®. A sought-after speaker and respected thought leader, Ballew has contributed her expertise to organizations including, though not limited to, the Cradle-to-Cradle Products Innovation Institute, the International WELL Building Institute, and the United States Green Building Council.

“I am honored to be recognized by Future/io alongside so many inspiring sustainability leaders from across North America,” said Ballew. “At Shaw, we’re focused on sustainable spaces through collaboration and innovation. This recognition reflects the incredible work of our teams and our shared commitment to a better future.”

The Future/io CSO Awards will culminate in a gala ceremony in New York City on September 22 during the UN General Assembly and Climate Week.

About Shaw

Shaw Industries Group, Inc. is a leader in flooring and other surface solutions designed for residential housing, commercial spaces and outdoor environments. Leveraging strengths in design, innovation and operational excellence, the company takes a people-centered, customer-focused, and growth-minded approach to meet diverse market needs. It creates differentiated customer experiences through its expansive portfolio of brands: Anderson Tuftex, COREtec, Shaw Floors, Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract, Shaw Sports Turf, Shawgrass, Southwest Greens, Watershed Geo and more.

Headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, Shaw is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. with approximately $6 billion in annual sales and 18,000 associates worldwide.

About Futur/io Institute

We believe in co-creating desirable futures where ideas and innovation drive a regenerative economy that benefits people and the planet within the planetary boundaries. The Futur/io Institute is a pioneering organization to serve the most impactful network of Chief Sustainability Officers dedicated to transforming businesses to drive positive impact for people, planet and prosperity. We do this through publications, podcasts and convening at inspiring locations like Davos, Basel, Lisbon, Venice and New York.

With a mission to inspire ambition, action and cross-pollination to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the institute provides a platform for thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to shape the futures of business and society.

Futur/io works with organizations like the UNFCCC or corporations in leadership training and curates Executive Programs to inspire future leaders in sustainable innovation. Each year in Davos, the institute organizes executive receptions and in 2024 debuted the annual CSO Awards to shine a light on the leadership role of Chief Sustainability Officers.

Futur/io is based in Hamburg and works as a think-tank with a selected international and diverse faculty of 100+ leaders in sustainability. The most recent book “Leadership for Sustainable Futures” was published in May 2024 with Murmann Publishers. CEO & curator Harald Neidhardt hosts the CSO Impact Podcast, which launched in June 2024.