Ray is recognized as one of the world's most environmentally progressive chief executives, having served as co-chairman of the President's Council on Sustainable Development during the Clinton administration; being recognized by Mikhail Gorbechev with a Millennium Award from Global Green in September 1996; receiving in 1996 the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of Year for the Southeast Region and in 1997 as the Georgia Conservancy's Conservationist of the Year.

Ray's honors also include the prestigious George and Cynthia Mitchell International Prize for Sustainable Development, presented in 2001; the SAM-SPG Sustainability Leadership Award of 2001; the U.S. Green Building Council's Inaugural Leadership Award, 2002; and the National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award for Corporate Leadership, 2002. Ray was recently named a Senior Fellow and Leading Voice for Green and Sustainable Design by the Design Futures Council. An honors graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Ray learned the carpet trade through 14-plus years at various positions at Deering-Milliken and Callaway Mills, and in 1973, set about founding a company to produce the first free-lay carpet tiles in America. He developed a partnership with Britain's Carpets International Plc. that year, set up operations in LaGrange, Georgia, took over Carpets International 10 years later, and today commands the world's largest producer of commercial floorcoverings and one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America, according to FORTUNE magazine, December 1997.

From corporate offices in Atlanta, Ray oversees a globally positioned company whose core business is still modular soft-surfaced floorcoverings. Interface has diversified and globalized its businesses, with sales in 110 countries and manufacturing facilities on four continents. In addition to carpet tiles and broadloom carpet marketed under several brands, Interface also manufactures and markets specialty fabrics, architectural products such as raised access flooring, and a variety of chemicals used in commercial office installations.

Ray serves on the boards of The Natural Step, USA; The Georgia Conservancy; Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper; Ida Cason Callaway Foundation; Rocky Mountain Institute; the University of Texas Center for Sustainable Development, and is an honorary advisor to the President of Peking University. He holds honorary doctorates from Northland College (public service), LaGrange College (business) and N.C. State University (humane letters).

Nominating Speech:
Ray C Anderson,

Known to many as the inspiring CEO from the documentary "The Corporation," Ray C. Anderson has demonstrated the vision, leadership, and commitment to transforming our understanding of the "Bottom line." Unequaled by any in the corporate world, Ray C. Anderson is the right choice for Secretary of commerce, because at this historical juncture, with ecological collapse, global warming, growing political unrest caused by consumption and pollution patterns, and human life itself in the balance, we need a Secretary of Commerce who understands the problems, and experienced in creating solutions.

Promote commerce to enhance citizens' lives, not simply to enrich investors;

Promote decent, well-paying, environmentally sustainable jobs;

Take the initiative in developing a Genuine Progress Indicator to replace GDP which does not adequately distinguish between good growth and destructive trends; Work to provide new guarantees for pension security;

Support very small businesses, minority and women-owned businesses;

Direct and manage the patent and trademark system to promote the common good by promoting valuable inventions, research and intellectual exchangee, as a higher priority than protecting corporate profits.