December 24, 2008

Diko Chekian, a 2004 graduate of California State University, Fresno, was one of seven recipients of a 2008 Mayor’s Zero Waste and Recycling Award, presented by the city of Fresno.

Chekian is chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Fresno-based Prestige SurfaceWorks, which designs, fabricates and installs countertops and other surfaces. He received his degree in business administration, with an entrepreneurship emphasis, from Fresno State’s Craig School of Business.

The awards program recognizes businesses and organizations that support the city’s growing recycling and waste-reduction efforts. The goal is to reach zero waste by 2025.

The award citation in the Zero Waste category praised Prestige SurfaceWorks’ water recycling system, which is the only one of its kind installed at a central San Joaquin Valley stone countertop company, Chekian said.

“This is a closed-loop system, meaning no water is disposed of or lost during the process, Chekian said.

Fresno State has joined the city of Fresno as a partner in reducing, reusing and recycling for community benefit. The city’s Green Team says achieving the goal is possible only by adding a new “R” to the traditional list for rethinking.