OVERVIEW
Environmental
social
Governance
Share
Contact Our ESG Task Force
We’re always searching for new ways to improve and we take your feedback seriously. If you have a suggestion, recommendation, or concern in an ESG area, or an idea that you would like to bring to our attention, submit it here.
Contact Us
Sustainable Thinking
ESG Task Force
Board of Directors Sustainability Committee
READ MORE
See our environmental approach
Our Task Force, representing a majority of the functions at Washington Prime Group, guides our ESG efforts. The Task Force is responsible for developing Washington Prime Group’s ESG strategy, including focus areas and key performance indicators. The Task Force drives sustainability initiatives by creating partnerships and closely collaborating with corporate functions and local management teams.
The Task Force is steered by Cheryl VanPatten, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, who serves as the Chair of the ESG Steering Committee, which includes senior leaders from core functions within our Company.
FEEDBACK
COMMUNITY
INNOVATION
EMPOWERMENT
OPTIMISM
Everyday Thinking: Our Values
Beyond the Basics: Sustainable Construction
Harnessing the Power of the Sun: Rooftop Solar Energy
Driving Energy Reduction: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Reduce and Recycle: Waste Management
Lighting the Path: LED Retrofits
With each construction and redevelopment project, we address the impact on the greater environmental community, taking the necessary steps to promote sustainable development practices, including considering energy efficient solutions, salvage and recycling programs, the use of local suppliers and materials, the use of recycled materials and the conservation of natural resources.
We also often incorporate green building practices that go beyond the traditional definition – taking a more holistic look at a building’s function and how the space will be designed and used.
HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN: ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on earth -- 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously. That's more than 10,000 times the world's total energy use. Washington Prime Group is committed to harnessing this abundant resource with the installation of solar panels and battery storage at suitable properties, enabling us to obtain a scalable solution over time.
We partnered with Safari Energy to install solar panels on the rooftops of Jefferson Valley Mall (Yorktown Heights, New York) and Weberstown Mall, (Stockton, California).. With the approximately 1,100 kW rooftop solar system at Jefferson Valley Mall and 1,300 kW system at Weberstown Mall, we’re converting unused roof space into a productive source of energy for the centers.
The systems combined are expected to generate more than 2.5 million kilowatt hours of green energy per year, the lifetime equivalent of eliminating more than 80,000 barrels of oil.
We want to demonstrate that a transition to electric vehicles is possible, bringing benefits for both the global climate and the local environment to our properties. That’s why we are excited about a partnerships with Electrify America, Tesla and other stakeholders to accelerate the change towards more sustainable transportation.
Our network of EV charging stations provides conveniently located options for EV and plug-in hybrid drivers to charge while they shop, dine or grab a cup of coffee. Washington Prime Group’s expanding network of stations currently totals nearly 200 chargers at 13 locations, with an additional 75 to 100 charging stations in progress.
Sustainable management of waste is crucial to providing environmental, social and economic benefits to current and future generations. We’ve partnered with recycling service providers at several of our properties, and we’re exploring opportunities to expand recycling across our portfolio.
We continue to install efficient LED lighting at nearly all of our 103 properties. This includes interior LED lighting retrofits at our enclosed retail venues and exterior lighting portfolio-wide.
It is in keeping with Washington Prime Group’s governance principles, code of business conduct, and financial and operating strategy, as well as the embrace of social and environmental efforts, that we are accelerating our sustainable business practices which are key to the organization’s future performance.
A Message from Director Sheryl G. von Blucher
There does not exist a standard template or off the shelf manual which provides a step by step guide on how to implement ESG (which stands for environmental, social and governance and is often referred to as sustainability) practices. Hence, it is incumbent Washington Prime Group provide a flexible framework which addresses those issues which matter most to our various constituencies and result in the greatest efficacy for the people, places and things which define our Company.
Read more
A Message from CEO and Director Louis Conforti
It is in keeping with Washington Prime Group’s governance principles, code of business conduct, and financial and operating strategy, as well as the embrace of social and environmental efforts, that we are accelerating our sustainable business practices which are key to the organization’s future performance. The Board of Directors has an important role to play in overseeing how Washington Prime Group’s strategy and risk management practices meet the needs of our stakeholders as a means to driving shareholder value. Collectively, we are committed to being proactive in evaluating competitive threats and understanding disruptive market trends, which include environmental and societal concerns. Diversity, collaboration and inclusion are critical for sustainability and long term success in respectful partnership with our stakeholders. We will accordingly endeavor to enhance Washington Prime Group from environmental, social and governance perspectives.
A sustainability mandate should be organic in nature in conjunction with clear and concise objectives from the leadership team. This means enfranchising every one of our colleagues by allowing them to set forth ideation whereby such suggestions are afforded the utmost consideration and those deemed credible are executed with precision.
Scroll down
overview
ESG AT WPG
Explore our environmental, social and governance efforts
Sustainability has always been a part of our DNA
Washington Prime Group’s Board of Directors has a Sustainability Committee working closely with our leadership team to further establish sustainability as a business driver for everything we do. This comes to life in the ways we operate and redevelop our town centers, provide dynamic experiences for our guests, conduct business with our partners, engage with our communities and create a productive and positive work environment for our colleagues.
We believe it is not only possible but our responsibility to deliver on our business objectives while at the same time prioritizing the well-being of our colleagues, guests, communities and the world around us.
Transparency
AWARENESS
respect
Balance
ESG Resources and Insights
When sustainability drives business decisions, our communities, economy and the environment all benefit, and we believe the more information organizations share, the more we can all benefit. The following are just some of the third-party ESG resources and insights which we have found to be informative and interesting.
What is ESG?
Environmental Sustainability
Social Responsibility
The Future of Retail Centers
Forbes, George Kell: The Remarkable Rise of ESG
U.S. EPA: Learn About Sustainability
Be optimistic and believe in what we can accomplish together.
The Atlantic: Designing for the Future National Diversity Council: Southwest Airlines and the National Diversity Council Join Forces to Improve Workplace Diversity Washington Post, Haisten Willis: Downsizing the American Dream: The new trend toward ‘missing middle housing,’ GreenBiz, McCady Findley and Meghan Tierney: The Generous Cities Summit: How to meet the needs of 3 billion new humans?
Empowerment
Empower our teams to collaborate to move our Company forward.
Innovation
Look at things in new ways to meet the opportunities of the future.
Community
Support our community and give back.
Feedback
Give frequent and candid feedback.
Respect
Respect each other and our relationships.
Awareness
Be keenly aware of the impact of our attitudes on our performance and the performance of others.
Share information openly and transparently and always act with integrity.
Commit to wellness and balance in our lives.
McKinsey & Company, Pranny Agarwal, Raffaele Berschi, and Sandrine Devillard: How the mall business can reinvent itself for the digital age McKinsey & Company: Meeting millennials where they shop: Shaping the future of shopping malls McKinsey & Company: Automation in retail: An executive overview for getting ready
"Through the support of the Board of Directors and Leadership Team, Washington Prime Group continues to integrate sustainability throughout the organization so that we can best address opportunities and challenges around environmental, social and governance topics." – Christopher Noble, Vice President of Development and ESG Task Force Lead
The Washington Prime Group Board of Directors formed a Sustainability Committee in 2017 to further establish ESG areas as key business drivers as it relates to how we redevelop and operate our retail properties, conduct business with our guests, engage with our communities and create a productive and positive work environment for our colleagues.
ESG TASK FORCE
Learn more about the Board of Directors
A quantifiable yardstick by which to measure our ESG progress as well as providing easily disseminated disclosure to interested parties is of utmost importance. All too often, companies, even those with the best of intentions, fail to recognize when they are ‘running in place’ instead of forging ahead. Continual evaluation is especially necessary when a mandate is as amorphous as sustainability.
In order to address the aforementioned, Washington Prime Group has established an ESG Task Force. In order to encourage involvement, colleagues have the opportunity to submit suggestions as well as highlight current ESG activities, regardless of size and scope. Our digital sustainability communications as well as our weekly internal newsletter will be the two forums where sustainability is addressed. In addition to Company initiatives, topical third party information will be made available (see ESG Resources and Insights below).
One word best describes my sentiment regarding our ESG mandate: Respect. When it comes to respecting our environment, I believe it necessary to complement large scale capital projects such as energy, water and waste management with improving everyday practices. In effect, an incremental approach which possesses a cumulative effect. The bottom line is we need to change individual behavioral patterns as opposed to relying solely upon wholesale corporate solutions when addressing ecological issues.
Respect from a social awareness perspective is a tenet I have publicly mentioned several times and take very seriously. Very simply, it is the responsibility of Washington Prime Group to continually improve upon the physical, psychological and educational aspects with respect to colleagues, guests, tenants, sponsors and everybody else associated with our Company. Counterparty relationships such as vendors are expected to be held to equal standards. Furthermore, social sustainability also means embracing diversity. Plain and simple, every race, color, creed, gender, age, as well as sexual preference is to be accorded unequivocal respect at Washington Prime Group.
With town centers throughout the United States, we are as American as apple pie. As a matter of fact, we are also as American as deep dish pizza in Chicago, Hawaiian poke salad, vegan spring rolls in Malibu, El Paso Tex-Mex, Maryland crab cakes, kimchi in Orange County, Memphis barbeque and a Kansas City porterhouse.
Respecting stakeholders throughout the capital structure e.g. equity and credit, is best illustrated by providing best in class financial reporting and supplemental disclosure. This fiduciary responsibility has earned us the respect of institutional and retail investors alike and it is our commitment to maintain this high standard.
In closing, it is important to recognize ESG transcends beyond practices concerning the environment. Furthermore, an organization with a national presence such as ours needs to recognize the impact we have upon the various constituencies which we serve. It is my promise Washington Prime Group will be at the forefront of such practices.
Louis Conforti, CEO and Director
For Washington Prime Group®, sustainability is a strong commitment to the communities where we operate that allows us to embrace opportunities to improve the lives of our colleagues, guests and the environment. Our town centers serve as the gathering places within the community, which is why sustainability is an essential part of what we do every day.
BlackRock: BlackRock Investment Stewardship’s approach to engagement on human capital management
Harvard Business Review: From Purpose to Impact
Simon Property Group: The Impact of Brick and Mortar Shopping
US|SIF: 2018 Report on US Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Trends
Forbes, Martin Whittaker: Why Socially Responsible Investing Skepticism is Healthy
Forbes, George Kell: The Remarkable Rise of ESG BlackRock: BlackRock Investment Stewardship’s approach to engagement on human capital management Harvard Business Review: From Purpose to Impact Simon Property Group: The Impact of Brick and Mortar Shopping US|SIF: 2018 Report on US Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Trends Forbes, Martin Whittaker: Why Socially Responsible Investing Skepticism is Healthy Jones Day: What Should Boards Really Be Doing About ESG? U.S. Green Building Council, Heather Benjamin: Implementing sustainable practices for your company Deloitte: Creating Value through ESG and Sustainability Reporting Bloomberg, Jacqueline Poh and Mariko Ishikawa: China Set to Lead ESG Disclosure to Lure Foreign Investments
Jones Day: What Should Boards Really Be Doing About ESG?
U.S. Green Building Council, Heather Benjamin: Implementing sustainable practices for your company
Deloitte: Creating Value through ESG and Sustainability Reporting
Bloomberg, Jacqueline Poh and Mariko Ishikawa: China Set to Lead ESG Disclosure to Lure Foreign Investments
Cuyahoga50, Sustainable Cleveland: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Burning of the Cuyahoga River
U.S. Green Building Council, Nora Knox: What is green building?
International Living Future Institute: Toward Net Zero Water: Best Management Practices for Decentralized Sourcing and Treatment
International Living Future Institute: Living Building Challenge
Wired, Cheryl Katz: The World’s Recycling is in Chaos. Here’s what has to happen
World Green Building Council: Doing Right by Planet and People
Cordis Certified Healthy Project: Healthy Communities Certification
McKinsey & Company: A strategic approach to climate action in cities – focused acceleration
U.S. EPA: Learn About Sustainability Cuyahoga50, Sustainable Cleveland: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Burning of the Cuyahoga River U.S. Green Building Council, Nora Knox: What is green building? International Living Future Institute: Toward Net Zero Water: Best Management Practices for Decentralized Sourcing and Treatment International Living Future Institute: Living Building Challenge Wired, Cheryl Katz: The World’s Recycling is in Chaos. Here’s what has to happen World Green Building Council: Doing Right by Planet and People Cordis Certified Healthy Project: Healthy Communities Certification McKinsey & Company: A strategic approach to climate action in cities – focused acceleration
Washington Post, Haisten Willis: Downsizing the American Dream: The new trend toward ‘missing middle housing,’ GreenBiz, McCady Findley and Meghan Tierney: The Generous Cities Summit: How to meet the needs of 3 billion new humans?
WE ARE INSPIRED to motivate and empower one another. We are optimistic, influential and collaborative, always looking ahead.
WE ARE INQUISITIVE and foster curiosity. We are present, willing to listen and eager to learn.
WE HAVE INTEGRITY and assume positive intent. We are honest, transparent and value our colleagues’ and counterparts’ diverse perspectives.
WE ARE INNOVATIVE and welcome unconventional and disruptive thinking. We are pacesetters and evaluate all opportunities both creatively and financially.
WE ARE IMPACTFUL and our passion drives our results. We are accountable for our performance, our actions and the betterment of our communities, our company and our world.
WE ARE INVESTED, as talent is our greatest asset. We are focused on the professional development and personal growth of our colleagues, while committing to wellness and balance in our lives.
WE ARE INCLUSIVE by cultivating compassion, celebrating equality and embracing diversity. We are respectful of all and believe in leveraging our differences.
We believe in what we can accomplish together.
We are responsible for delivering our business objectives while at the same time enhancing the lives of our colleagues and guests, our communities and the world around us.
“We’re taking an integrated approach to ensure we look at everything we do through the lens of sustainability. Rather than just one team, we’re making Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors key considerations in decisions we make across the organization, in the way we do business and in the lexicon we use to talk to key stakeholders.” – Cheryl VanPatten
WE ARE INCLUSIVE by cultivating compassion, celebrating equality and embracing diversity. We are respectful of all and believe in leveraging our differences
Sustainability is a moving target that encourages continuous enhancements and drives innovation, both in the economy and society. We must consider new technologies and business models to achieve a sustainable approach. At Washington Prime Group, enhancing and expanding our existing technology and data will help to support sustainable operations.
A Message from Lauren Sawyer
Director of Energy Management, ESG Task Force Member
Focusing on sustainability is something that we must all do to preserve quality of life. Effective sustainability protects and preserves our people, planet and resources while driving innovation that does not compromise our current and future way of life. Washington Prime Group® is committed to playing its part in this goal.
A Message from Cheryl VanPatten
Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Chair of ESG Steering Committee
As newborns, we emerge from the womb and take our first involuntary act as dependent beings – a gasp for air, breath. Eventually we are bathed in water and sunlight. Life proceeds. A generation ago, the environmental movement in the United States began in the order of life – the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the rise of clean energy. Consciousness was raised regarding a common duty to respect and conserve our shared natural world, and a societal awareness of our interdependence with our environment was sparked.
A Message from Christopher Noble
Vice President of Development, ESG Task Force Lead
Our sustainability vision is to be recognized as a leader in the sustainable operation of retail properties. Our focus includes energy efficient LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations, rooftop solar energy, smart-irrigation water conservation systems, energy storage batteries and more. Washington Prime Group® will continue to work diligently to find ways to manage our properties' carbon footprint and identify environmentally-friendly alternatives that reduce waste, maximize energy efficiency and improve recycling efforts.
environmental
Lessening our Impact through Technology and Operations
Moving Forward, Together
Partnerships Enable Success
Charging Ahead: East Brunswick Green Business Award
The Payoff of Going Paperless: Think Green Award
See our SOCIAL approach
Lighting the Path LED Retrofits
Reduce and Recycle Waste Management
Driving Energy Reduction Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY
Beyond the Basics Sustainable Construction
Beyond the Basics
HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN
Driving Energy Reduction
Reduce and Recycle:
LED Retrofits
We continue to install efficient LED lighting at nearly all of our properties. This includes interior LED lighting retrofits at our enclosed town centers and exterior lighting portfolio-wide.
We want to demonstrate that a transition to electric vehicles is possible, bringing benefits for both the global climate and the local environment to our properties. That’s why we are excited about a partnership with Electrify America, Tesla and other stakeholders to accelerate the change towards more sustainable transportation.
Our network of EV charging stations provides conveniently located options for EV and plug-in hybrid drivers to charge while they shop, dine, or grab a curbside pickup. Washington Prime Group’s expanding network of stations currently totals 217 chargers at 18 locations, with additional charging stations at 7 more locations in progress.
We partnered with Safari Energy to install solar panels on the rooftops of Jefferson Valley Mall (Yorktown Heights, New York) and Weberstown Mall, (Stockton, California). With the 1,100 kW rooftop solar system at Jefferson Valley Mall and 1,300 kW system at Weberstown Mall, we’re converting unused roof space into a productive source of energy for the centers.
With each construction and redevelopment project, we address the greater environmental impact, taking the necessary steps to promote sustainable development practices, including the consideration of energy efficient solutions, salvage and recycling programs and materials, local suppliers and materials, and the conservation of natural resources.
Brunswick Square, situated in East Brunswick, New Jersey, was recently recognized as the inaugural recipient of East Brunswick’s Green Business Recognition Award for its installation of nearly 20 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The EV charging stations allow drivers to charge while they shop, dine, or grab a curbside pickup.
In 2018, Washington Prime Group was awarded the Bottomline Technologies Think Green Award, which recognizes organizations that use technology to drive environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices.
We Are Plugged In: Collaborating with Electrify America
Washington Prime Group uses Bottomline’s Paymode-X payment network to pay vendors electronically. As a result, tens of thousands of payments previously sent as paper checks are now sent electronically – meaning they no longer need to be printed, mailed, transported and discarded, which saves both environmental impact and monetary costs.
A Message from Lauren Sawyer, Director of Energy Management, ESG Task Force Member
Sustainability is a moving target that encourages continuous enhancement and drives innovation, both in the economy and society. We must consider new technologies and business models to achieve a sustainable approach. At Washington Prime Group, enhancing and expanding our existing technology and data will help to support sustainable operations.
As Director of Energy Operations at Washington Prime Group, I am focused on helping to find new and improved ways to increase the efficiency of our properties’ operations through numerous enhancements. These upgrades help to increase real estate value as energy bills decline. Through active measurement of our ESG impacts, we’ll set higher standards for future performance.
I believe there are many ways our properties can help make a significant difference in local energy consumption. We’re leveraging technology to get a clear picture of how much energy we’re using at each of our centers and how we can reduce or lessen the impact of that energy usage. Data is key to any successful energy initiative, and it’s true that ‘what gets measured, gets managed.’ The more information we have, the better we can manage and conserve energy consumption at the property level and also across our portfolio.
Note: Lauren Sawyer is Director of Energy Operations for Washington Prime Group. She is responsible for Enterprise Energy Management System (EMS) and Building Automation System (BAS), Utility Bill Management, Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations, and Solar & Battery Storage. Lauren has been passionate about energy management throughout her career. Prior to joining Washington Prime Group, she integrated systems to deliver real-time analysis and repairs of HVAC equipment while providing insight into utility consumption. Lauren is a key member of the Company’s ESG Task Force.
A Message from Cheryl VanPatten, Chief Information Officer, Chair of ESG Steering Committee
Focusing on sustainability is something that we must all do to preserve quality of life. Effective sustainability protects and preserves our people, planet and resources while driving innovation that does not compromise our current and future way of life. Washington Prime Group is committed to playing its part in this goal. Sustainability also makes good business sense. It’s no coincidence that the world’s most successful companies also have the most ambitious sustainability programs. Increasingly, our guests are choosing more sustainable brands to do business with, and our investors are actively engaged in understanding a company’s ESG performance.
Investors see companies focused on ESG as more progressive, managing risks more effectively, and being in a better position to thrive in the future. I’m focused on how Washington Prime Group is using technology to create positive change. We are establishing a leading technology solution which will help provide a more integrated, transparent and measured energy management system to support our town centers, tenants, partners and guests, as well as the communities where we operate.
Note: Cheryl VanPatten is Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer of Washington Prime Group. She is responsible for providing solutions, direction and leadership regarding information technology to corporate and field operations, as well as other business partners. In addition, she spearheads new WPG initiatives, guides special projects and enables portfolio-wide execution efforts. She is Executive Chair of the Company’s ESG Steering Committee.
A Message from Christopher Noble, Vice President of Development, ESG Task Force Lead
As newborns, we emerge from the womb and take our first involuntary act as dependent beings – a gasp for air, breath. Eventually we are bathed in water and sunlight. Life proceeds. A generation ago, the environmental movement in the United States began in the order of life – the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the rise of clean energy. Consciousness was raised regarding a common duty to respect and conserve our shared natural world, and a societal awareness of our interdependence with our environment was sparked. Individual actions impacting the environment in however small a manner were examined increasingly through the lens of how, collectively, they affected the whole. Simultaneously, as a society, we became engaged more deeply in conversations and struggles, yet unresolved, regarding matters of social justice: equality, inclusion, equity, and opportunity. In the investment community, collections of concerned individuals demanded more than just return on investment. As a result, capital began to steer away from countries, regimes, and entities that trafficked in irresponsible practices socially or environmentally.
Today, our generation increasingly desires to devote our energy and assign our investments to entrusted actors and institutions that concurrently protect the good that nature possesses, to improve society and to secure us all financially. That is what “Sustainability” means, and it encompasses a vast horizon of goals: balancing environmental stewardship with the profit of corporate endeavors to achieve progress without sacrificing the world our children will inherit; to live in a peaceful and prosperous society, free of injustice, with boundless opportunity; to realize corporate and governmental structures that engender fairness and representation. Animating and underlying these goals is a commitment to a data-driven transformation of both our internal metrics and our external realities.
The acronym for this framework of Sustainability is “ESG” – Environmental, Social, and Governance matters. At Washington Prime Group, we harnessed the power of these ideas and have launched an initiative to define and quantify our own assessment of how we, as a corporation, measure up in terms of ESG. We start this from a good place on solid foundations. Our fundamental assets and business activities define sustainability in a community context: the continual redevelopment and adaptive re-use of places where those we serve play out important parts of their lives. Most importantly, our Company embraces its responsibility to reduce our environmental impact, and we have leaders who champion a culture of equity and inclusion for all.
Note: Christopher Noble serves as Vice President of Development for Washington Prime Group, where he focuses on redevelopment for the Company. Throughout his career Christopher has been involved with numerous sustainability initiatives. Prior to joining Washington Prime Group, he led a team of engineers, architects and educators to develop a LEED Platinum hotel on the campus of Oberlin College – one of only five platinum hotels in the country at the time it was constructed. Christopher is the ESG Task Force Lead for Washington Prime Group.
Lighting the Path
LED RETROFITS
REDUCE AND RECYCLE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
In April 2019, Electrify America announced a collaboration with Washington Prime Group to host ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations across the US. Together, we are committed to expanding the availability of electric vehicle fast charging for customers who drive or are considering purchasing a zero-emissions vehicle.
“Electrify America is excited to work with WPG as we accelerate the pace of electric vehicle charging station installations across the country,” said Rachel Moses, senior manager site acquisition and development at Electrify America. “We thoughtfully select locations for our charging stations to offer customers convenience and access to additional amenities, and believe that these locations will appeal to a wide range of existing and future electric vehicle owners.”
We want to demonstrate that a transition to electric vehicles is possible, bringing benefits for both the global climate and the local environment to our properties. That’s why we are excited about a partnership with Electrify America to accelerate the change towards more sustainable transportation.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Harnessing the Power of the Sun
Rooftop Solar Energy
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
rooftop solar energy
sustainable construction
We are always searching for new ways to improve. That's why we take your feedback seriously and welcome you to submit comments as it relates to ESG areas. If you have a suggestion, recommendation, or concern in an ESG area, or an idea that you would like to bring to our attention, submit it here.
Reinventing Retail Starts with Respect
The team at Washington Prime Group thrives on change and collaboration as we work to reinvent the retail experience. We take pride in our relationships with our colleagues, tenants, partners, guests and the communities where we operate. We also care deeply about our people and what makes them unique.
I believe we are stewards of each other. At Washington Prime Group, we have an ingrained responsibility to provide our people with opportunities to thrive. As Chief Human Resources Officer, I’m focused on collaboration with our ESG Task Force and Steering Committee to identify ways we can use human capital to unlock and create sustainable value for all our stakeholders.
A Message from Pagle Helterbrand
Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
If we take as a starting point the accepted definition of sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations, then as the mother of a five-year old daughter, sustainability becomes of paramount importance.
A Message from Jennifer Moretti
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand Partnerships
At our town centers, the role of our General Manager has evolved to include serving as a Goodwill Ambassador, in which we challenge these local leaders to think like CEOs and work like partners, providing training to help them succeed and empowering them to connect with our tenants and local communities.
A Message from Steve Gerber
Senior Vice President, Head of Property Management
I see sustainability as multifaceted, like a brilliant cut diamond. What’s important to me is how we support all our stakeholders by seeking out a sustainable purpose in all that we do.
A Message from Jennifer Moretti, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand partnerships
Note: Jennifer Moretti is Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand Partnerships of Washington Prime Group. She leads transformation and growth of WPG’s experiential marketing efforts, activation initiatives and strategic new business development. Her disciplines include creative services, digital marketing, events and programming, marketing operations, field marketing, public relations and sponsorship. In addition, she spearheads new WPG initiatives, guides special projects and enables portfolio-wide execution efforts. Jennifer is currently involved in numerous philanthropic and community endeavors including Pelotonia, a grass-roots annual bike tour that funds cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. She also serves on The Granville Parent Cooperative School. Jennifer is a member of Washington Prime Group’s ESG Executive Steering Committee.
A Message from Pagle Helterbrand, Chief Human Resources Officer
We want our colleagues to reflect the communities where we operate. Tapping into the diversity of our colleagues strengthens our town centers and corporate offices, while helping to provide the best experiences for our guests. Having colleagues with diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives makes Washington Prime Group a more engaging and enjoyable place to work.
Note: Pagle Helterbrand is Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer of Washington Prime Group. She is responsible for bringing stakeholder value through strategy, direction and leadership of the organization's human capital initiatives. Pagle is a member of the ESG Executive Steering Committee.
A Message from Steve Gerber, Senior Vice President, Head of Property Management
Note: Steve Gerber serves as Senior Vice President, Head of Property Management. He is responsible for all aspects of property management and operations and is actively involved in strategic initiatives at the property level, including the rollout of the Goodwill Ambassador initiative. In addition, he spearheads new WPG initiatives, guides special projects and enables portfolio-wide execution efforts. Steve is currently involved in numerous philanthropic and community endeavors including Pelotonia, a grass-roots annual bike tour that funds cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. He has served as the Team Captain of Washington Prime Group’s Pelotonia team since 2016. Steve also remains active within the community as a Class One Certified high school baseball umpire and a Class One Certified high school football official. In addition, he is a member of the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA). Steve is a member of the ESG Executive Steering Committee.
It’s imperative we create a culture of curiosity and provide diverse educational experiences for our children to learn about, respect and celebrate one another, our communities, the environment and the world around us. It’s my responsibility to listen, guide and influence the beliefs, values and behaviors of my daughter, her generation, and our future. I believe the best preparation for the future is to lead change and take action today.
Our town centers serve as the community hub of daily life. We bring people together and create dynamic experiences that provide connections and meaningful moments for our guests.
We offer a broad range of community-centric events that span multiple categories, appealing to the diversity within the communities we reside in. We understand and respect our demographic constituencies and curate accordingly. The Canvas Project, Post Your Love, Live - A Concert Series, Sunset Market, Glow All Out, Hometown Heroes, Sensitive Santa® and Sensitive Bunny® are just a few examples of proprietary WPG events. We’re focused on delivering differentiated experiences that resonate with our guests and give them reasons to visit us time and time again.
As the community hub, it’s important to enhance our interactions demonstrating our commitment to our communities, guests, tenants, and other key stakeholders. We must be relevant, progressive and forward in our thinking, keeping our guests’ expectations and needs front of mind. Our experiential marketing initiatives celebrate diversity and inclusion for all ages, races, ethnicities and genders. Our role is to understand what’s resonating today and finding an empathetic way to creatively connect and communicate with various audiences. By remaining curious and constantly pushing ourselves to ask questions that will lead to a better understanding of our colleagues and our communities.
The Marketing team at Washington Prime Group views each day as an opportunity to reinvent the gathering places of the future and create sustainable change along the way. Our role is to understand what’s resonating today and finding an empathetic way to creatively connect and communicate with various audiences. By remaining curious and constantly pushing ourselves to ask questions that will lead to a better understanding of our colleagues and our communities. We aspire to make WPG the best place to work and the best place for our guests to eat, shop and play. We’re motivated and inspired to create a better future for all through awareness, education and innovation. We help our colleagues, tenants, sponsors and other key stakeholders to imagine the possibilities of what could be. We view each day as an opportunity to reinvent the gathering places of the future and create sustainable change along the way.
As Goodwill Ambassadors, our local managers advocate for their communities, promoting a sense of partnership and collaboration among all local stakeholders. Importantly, our General Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of our town centers which support local economies through job creation, small and local business development, and other investments that contribute to economic development.
Additionally, in the ever-growing age of digitalization, our General Managers are focused on creating gathering spaces for guests to shop, eat, play and spend time together with family, friends and other members of their local communities.
Our General Managers believe that our town centers enhance the quality of life and well-being of communities in numerous ways, including the support of vital local interests such as education, public safety and infrastructure.
Washington Prime Group has a vibrant, diverse community of colleagues across the US – and we want them all to achieve their full potential, both professionally and personally. This means ensuring that colleagues feel respected, appreciated and part of the Washington Prime Group team. It also means creating an environment where our team members feel they can be their best selves while at work. We also believe that reflecting the diversity of our guests and communities will continue to help us to thrive as an organization. Our diverse colleagues celebrate our core Everyday Thinking values and contribute to the betterment of our town centers and our communities.
We’re energized to do even more in support of diversity and inclusion efforts in 2019 and beyond, with an emphasis on training, people development and ensuring Washington Prime Group remains an employer of choice within the diverse communities where we operate.
In 2019, we put an emphasis on building Washington Prime Group’s diversity and inclusion programs that will take us into the future. For us, diversity and inclusion means ensuring that colleagues feel respected, appreciated and part of the Washington Prime Group team. It also means creating an environment where our team members feel they can be their best selves while at work. These are important components to helping our colleagues achieve success.
Diversity and Inclusion
We also engage in our community with diversity and inclusion efforts. Just one example: We have a strong partnership with Columbus-based The Women’s Fund. The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio is fiercely committed to igniting social change for the sake of gender equality. They spark conversations, connect people and organizations, and influence the opportunity for economic empowerment and leadership for women and girls.
Reserved for Our Responders: Superhero Parking Spaces
See our Goverance approach
Our properties are town centers, and that includes providing gathering places for the community and giving back to meet the area’s needs. Our General Managers have been charged with serving as Goodwill Ambassadors, and these local leaders play a critical role in ensuring we engage our communities and respect what makes them unique.
From hosting buses in the common area stuffed with supplies for local school districts, to providing educational-, arts- and wellness-focused programming nearly every day of the week, to hosting thousands of guests for free outdoor concerts by local and national artists, our town centers are continuously providing unique experiences and the chance for guests to hang out with friends, family and neighbors.
We carefully look at the space we have to find opportunities to create green spaces and interactive play or reading spaces (like ‘The Yard’ and ‘The Book Nook’) to give guests the chance to get moving, spend some quiet time or just enjoy time together.
In addition, we frequently donate space at no cost to non-profit organizations to host galas, fundraisers or to raise awareness of their mission.
Gathering Place in the Community
Local tenancy is key to providing a dynamic mix of goods and services to our guests while also supporting the economy of the local community. We’re committed to finding the right lease for every local business owner. Many small businesses have found success at our town centers. As just one example, Rose & Remington, a family-owned boutique that is growing rapidly in popularity, opened its first location in 2014 in the Cincinnati suburb of Lebanon, Ohio. Since then, the brand has grown to nine locations throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Over the next few years, Rose & Remington plans to open 40 additional locations in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and surrounding states, including 2019 anticipated openings at The Mall at Fairfield Commons and Polaris Fashion Place, situated in Dayton and Columbus, Ohio, respectively.
Supporting Small Business: Local Tenancy
At Washington Prime Group properties you can find Superhero Parking -- designated parking spaces reserved for active military, veterans, law enforcement and fire, EMS and search & rescue first responders. We make this amenity available to thank them for their service and aim to make them feel supported at our town centers. Many of our local management teams chose to unveil the parking spots through special events where members of the community could come out and show their support for these superheroes in person.
Washington Prime Group is adding more green spaces to our centers. As we undertake redevelopment projects to enhance the overall environment for our guests, we are giving the exterior a facelift as well. Green spaces offer outdoor gathering places for summer concert series, food truck festivals, outdoor fitness classes, family friendly movies, dog parks or just a place to relax on the grass.
Our rooftops and parking lots make for ideal locations for urban farming. We are exploring opportunities for urban farms which would allow community members and our restaurant tenants to receive regular deliveries of our harvests.
For example, at Southern Park Mall, in Boardman, Ohio, planning is underway to replace the former Sears with an expansive green space to host community events and activities throughout the year. Dynamic outdoor events will enhance Southern Park Mall as Boardman’s gathering place and town center. The plan for the community green space was thoughtfully put together after talking with the Boardman community and trustees, surrounding communities and our existing tenants. The plan incorporates uses that are missing from Southern Park today, including outdoor space for community events, music concerts and sporting activities.
A place to Gather: Community Green Spaces
Family friendly play areas are a natural fit at our town centers. Our kids play areas, which are often customized to reflect the local community, (featuring, for example, the Space Needle at The Outlet Collection | Seattle, or the nationally award-winning Columbus Zoo and Aquarium at Polaris Fashion Place®) provide families a break from shopping and let little ones enjoy some fun. In addition, while they’re playing, we help families learn more about KidX Club®, our signature, year-round programming of free events and activities for children.
Fun for Young ones: Kids Play Areas
Fun for Young Ones: Kids Play Areas
During the winter and spring holidays, many families will head to their local town center to visit with Santa and the Easter Bunny. But the flash of the photos, the background music, and the large crowds can make it challenging for some children to enjoy their visit.
A History of Inclusion: Sensitive Santa® and Sensitive Bunny®
We realized that we could offer a sensory-friendly experience and Sensitive Santa® and Sensitive Bunny® were established to allow all kids the chance to enjoy these holiday traditions.
Children can meet prior to normal retail hours, providing a quieter, calmer experience, with simple adjustments made to reduce sensory stimuli, including muted lights, music and shorter wait times. In 2018 alone, more than 1,500 children visited ‘Sensitive’ experiences at Washington Prime Group properties.
Building Community: Coworking Spaces
As employers offer more flexibility and technology allows more people to work outside of the traditional office, we’re exploring the use of space in our town centers to meet the growing need for flexible work settings. Washington Prime Group partnered with COhatch at Polaris Fashion Place® in Columbus, Ohio, to bring shared work, event and lifestyle spaces to the community. Our partnership with COhatch illustrates our commitment to providing spaces where guests can come together and connect. In today’s digital world, it is more important than ever that we enable in-person connections and conversations. COhatch helps make those conversations possible, whether in a meeting or over dinner.
Those in Columbus, Ohio, and beyond know of the movement that is Pelotonia: a three-day experience of cycling, entertainment and volunteerism. Through its first ten rides, Pelotonia raised more than $184 million for cancer research, with every dollar going directly to life-saving cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
At Washington Prime Group, we’re inspired by Pelotonia and its mission and have supported a team since 2012, making it one of our signature causes. Each year, colleagues from our corporate offices and properties have committed to riding between 25 and 180 miles and raising between $1,500 and $3,000 each; have volunteered to help make the ride weekend memorable and fun; and have logged on from near and far as virtual riders (no bike shorts required). We plan to keep riding until Pelotonia’s One Goal: to cure cancer, is achieved.
WPG Signature Cause: Pelotonia
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Light The Night Walk is one of Washington Prime Group’s signature causes. LLS is making cancer cures happen by providing patient support services, advocating for lifesaving treatments and pioneering the most promising cancer research anywhere. And it's all happening now. Not someday, but today. Each year our colleagues, along with their friends and family, form teams to raise money in support of LLS. Together, we Light The Night at walks where we gather together to celebrate, honor and remember those touched by cancer.
WPG Signature Cause: Light the Night
A Road to Recovery: Emergency Response
When disaster strikes, our town centers are often uniquely situated to assist with relief. Following weather emergencies such as hurricanes or tornadoes, our properties have opened their doors to be used as community gathering places. Often, our restaurant tenants are the first to serve food to the community following a weather emergency.
In addition, our centers are among the first public places to restore electricity and provide a climate controlled environment, where guests can gather and share information, seek resources and come together with the community to begin the healing process following a devastating weather event.
Importantly, emergency first responders and aid workers have used our locations as hubs, meeting places and distribution centers. And pets have been cared for at our town centers when there was no other shelter available to them.
Completed in February 2019, the Pearlridge Center redevelopment was designed with our demographic constituency top of mind. We pay homage to and celebrate the Hawaiian culture and its heritage and have demonstrated through our development efforts that we understand and respect the culture and history, now and for generations to come.
One goal of the redevelopment was to preserve key cultural aspects of long standing traditions – this included calling for the community and our ancestors (those of the past, present and future) to come forth and make sure everything is pono (righteous). The energy or “mana” (power within) left behind from the people who once held a place at Pearlridge Center, and even those before, are honored and blessed as they allow new energy to enter, dwell and prosper.
Redevelopment with Respect to Local Culture: Pearlridge Center
Common Area Art: The Canvas Project
Welcoming Our Furry Guests: Dog Parks
As the gathering place within the community, one of our newest activations was created for our four-legged friends. Dog parks provide an opportunity for guests to bring their dogs to our town centers. Our dog parks feature amenities like separate sections and single-dog runs for large and small dogs, little pups and dogs with special needs, as well as top of the line drinking fountains.
Dog parks at our town centers also provide additional locations for family friendly and pet friendly events, while providing dogs a safe and convenient spot away from home.
We know that when people come together, they feel a part of something bigger than themselves. It’s why physical space is evolving to provide memorable experiences for the community. One example is Hometown Heroes, a signature event held at our centers that honors local law enforcement and first responders.
At the Mall at Johnson City in Johnson City, Tennessee, local residents gather to salute the region’s members of the military, law enforcement and emergency services for its Hometown Heroes festival.
Celebrating Those Who Keep us Safe: Hometown Heroes Signature Events
“Local heroes play such a vital role in our community. This event is our way to show our appreciation for their service and to give our neighbors the opportunity to do the same. Hometown Heroes is one small way we can pay tribute to our local heroes who keep us safe every day.”- Ashley Grindstaff, General Manager of the Mall at Johnson City.
The free Hometown Heroes festival at the Mall at Johnson City features activities including a K-9 demonstration from the Johnson City Police Department, EMS presentations, face painting and a concert from local musicians.
In Hawaii, shopping centers often serve as unofficial town squares and main streets, a convenient gathering place for the communities they serve. For the past 40 years, Pearlridge Center has been the unparalleled destination for commerce, entertainment and conversation in central Oahu. Understanding our role in the community, we strive to evolve as our guests’ needs change. Located in a historically significant part of the island, our multi-cultural heritage is a constant inspiration for Pearlridge Center. We acknowledge our role as good neighbor and community partner. To celebrate the grand opening of Pearlridge Center’s recent redevelopment, a new art gallery was installed in February 2019 featuring original Hawaiian artwork. These original works of art are displayed and open to the public for the community to enjoy. These pieces will continue to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and history for generations to come as they’ve been translated to tiles and wood carvings to be permanently installed throughout common areas.
Preserving Culture through Art: Pearlridge Center
Local artists make our community vibrant—their use of subjects, color, texture and composition cause the mind to stir, awakening a sense of curiosity, and creating an emotional connection to the world around us. The Canvas Project supports local artists while providing an opportunity for cultures to connect and for our community to grow together.
Through The Canvas Projects, our centers recognize innovative minds for their beautiful talents by giving them a spotlight to showcase their art, live, in-person, and in-progress, right within our common area.
No matter the medium or the origin of the artwork, what matters is the message portrayed and the way it brings people together.
Creating meaningful social and economic impact
We aspire to make WPG the best place to work and the best place for our guests to eat, shop and play. We’re motivated and inspired to create a better future for all through awareness, education and innovation. We help our colleagues, tenants, sponsors and other key stakeholders to imagine the possibilities of what could be. The Marketing team at Washington Prime Group views each day as an opportunity to reinvent the gathering places of the future and create sustainable change along the way.
The Marketing team at Washington Prime Group views each day as an opportunity to reinvent the gathering places of the future and create sustainable change along the way. Our role is to understand what’s resonating today and finding an empathetic way to creatively connect and communicate with various audiences. By remaining curious and constantly pushing ourselves to ask questions that will lead to a better understanding of our colleagues and our communities.
transparent corporate governancE
Washington Prime Group and our Board of Directors strive to balance the interests of all stakeholders, while ensuring proper and transparent corporate governance.
Governance Principles
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
2020 Proxy Statement
Committee Charters
Learn More
Committee Composition
Board of Directors
Health, Wellness, Safety & Security
Diversity & Inclusion
2019 Proxy Statement
