DAVID BENNETT
Founding Partner, Hannover Advisors
David Bennett has been working across multiple sectors to support environmental innovation for over 15 years. As an independent consultant, David advises clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies on topics including clean energy, green building technologies and broader corporate sustainability strategy. Prior to launching a consulting practice, David was a Business & Society Program Fellow at the Aspen Institute and worked at Google as the company’s Real Estate Green Team Operations & Innovations Lead where he was responsible for bringing green building practices and next generation technologies into a portfolio that spans more than 40 countries around the globe. Previously, David partnered with NOAA to develop web-based information tools to support the agency’s recovery planning efforts for Northern California’s threatened and endangered salmon species. Additionally, David has worked on sustainability initiatives with Environmental Defense Fund, The Smithsonian Institute, USDA, USGS and the School for Field Studies in Puerto San Carlos, Mexico.
David holds a B.S. in Geographic Information Sciences from James Madison University, an M.A. in International Development & Social Change from Clark University and an MBA in Sustainable Business Management from Presidio Graduate School. David is a LEED AP O+M and holds an Energy Innovation & Emerging Technologies Certificate from Stanford University.
CHANCE CLAXTON
Co-Founder, U Konserve
Chance was an original team member for the launch and positioning of the contemporary retail furniture company Design Within Reach. Prior to that she co-launched Pentimento, an architectural series of ceramics, and has been a merchandising and marketing consultant for start-up companies. After the birth of her daughter in 2003, she became increasingly concerned about the environment, so she partnered with her good friend to create a product line that would educate families about the importance of ‘reuse’ and reduce the staggering amount of trash that was headed to our landfills.
DANIELLE GINACH
Impact / ESG Manager, Sonen Capital
Danielle Jezienicki (nee Ginach) is an Impact / ESG Manager at Sonen Capital, a dedicated impact investment firm. She joined Sonen in 2013, and is responsible for analyzing the social and environmental impact of the firm’s investments across asset classes, as well as developing impact reporting for the firm’s clients and prospects. Danielle founded and leads the firm’s shareholder engagement and advocacy activities.
Danielle’s career focus has been integrating financial and impact reporting. Prior to joining Sonen, Danielle was an Investor Relations Associate at the technology focused IR firm, the Blueshirt Group, where she supported several clean tech company management teams in managing financial communications. Her previous experience focused on corporate reputation management at leading strategic and crisis communications firms, Brunswick Group and RLM Finsbury.
Danielle earned a B.A. in political science (honors) from Brown University, with a certificate in War Studies from Kings College, London. She is a graduate of Presidio Graduate School, with an M.B.A. in Sustainable Management and focus in Social Finance. Her work in impact investing and sustainability includes projects with BlackRock’s Corporate Governance & Responsible Investment team, Acumen Fund, IDEO.org and News Corporations Global Energy Initiative through EDF Climate Corps.
SUSAN GRELOCK
Senior Communications Lead, Amy's Kitchen
Susan Grelock is the senior communications lead at Amy’s Kitchen and has worked in marketing for values-based brands for over a decade. In addition to the food movement, she is interested in how communications can be used to support conservation work. She is currently working on dissertation research into how the arts can support conservation communication. Her field research is focused on the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor, where she has been interviewing biologists, artists, and conservationists interested in human-wildlife coexistence. To get in touch with Susan, go to LinkedIn.
AMY HALMAN
Founder, EcoBlend Consulting
Amy began her career with a focus in design and home furnishings. After college, she naturally embraced a path in the Home Furnishing industry, taking on roles in manufacturing and corporate merchandising for companies like Crate and Barrel and The Great Indoors. However, as she progressed through her career, her health became challenged. Plagued by stress and imbalance in the body, she developed aggressive, debilitating adult acne and adrenal fatigue.
After years of trial and error, she regained her health and became determined to help others with her knowledge and experience. In 2005 she obtained both a license in Esthetics and Massage Therapy and began a practice in Chicago using high performance, natural skin care treatments and clinical massage to help create health and balance in skin and body. In 2009, Amy was voted “Best Esthetician in Chicago” by Chicago Magazine and nationally publicized as the “Best Facial Treatment in Chicago” by Allure Magazine in 2010.
Searching for greater ways to use her training, she moved to Portland, Oregon to work with New Seasons Market. Known for its integrity of product selection and the commitment to support of local vendors, farmers and bettering the planet, this job allowed her to become an expert in 80+ body care lines, 150+ herbal, nutritional and supplement brands and expanded her knowledge of ingredients and holistic nutrition. It also exposed her to a myriad of ways that can lessen our environmental footprint and lead a more conscious lifestyle.
In 2011, she became VP of Product Development for ACURE and traveled the country, increasing brand awareness, while discussing the impact of toxic chemicals on the skin, body and planet. This led to her direct role in concept creation of new products for the brand with a focus on sourcing cutting-edge natural technology and responsible manufacturing practices. She helped design products that truly performed without harming the body or the planet. Promoted to President in 2012, ACURE continued rapid expansion and won prestigious beauty awards like Allure’s Best of Beauty in both 2015 and 2016.
Having left her position with ACURE this past summer, Amy’s next endeavor is to consult with like-minded businesses and continue with causes that hold powerful potential for positive change in the world. Using her diverse skill set and experience from multiple angles of industry, she founded EcoBlend Consulting to creatively nurture ideas, concepts and campaigns that foster compassionate business and eco-consumerism.
JASON HIRSHTON
CEO, Full Circle Fund
Throughout his career, Jay has always committed his time to mission driven organizations dedicated to making positive change in underserved communities. Prior to joining Full Circle Fund, Jay was the Senior Vice President at buildOn, an international nonprofit working to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. In addition to overseeing buildOn’s fundraising goals, Jay managed the West Coast Office as well as the national operations team. As an innovative social sector thought leader, Jay has a long track record of programmatic impact and building innovative corporate philanthropy models to scale that ensure sustainable funding. Jay and his wife Chelsea live in Berkeley with their two year old son Cole and ten year old dog Coosa.
JUSTINA LAI
Director of Impact Investing, Wetherby Asset Management
Justina is a private equity investor that believes in harnessing the power of capital – and applying the discipline and rigor of conventional investing – to create meaningful social and environmental impact. Justina joined Wetherby Asset management in 2015 where she leads the firm’s impact investment strategy. Prior to Wetherby, she was a Director and Senior Investment Analyst focused on private markets strategies at Sonen Capital, an impact investment management firm. Previously, Justina helped manage the Rockefeller Foundation’s Program Related Investments portfolio comprised of domestic and international impact investments in private equity and private debt. She was also a core member of the Impact Investing team where she advanced and shaped the initiative strategy focused on building the field of impact investing. In addition, she has held positions with Legacy Venture in Palo Alto, CA and Rwanda Ventures, a business incubator launching and operating sustainable agricultural companies in Kigali, Rwanda.
Prior to her career in impact investing, she was an Associate in the New York and Paris offices of Vestar Capital Partners, where she diligenced and executed growth equity and leveraged buyout transactions across the US and Europe. Justina began her career in the sponsor coverage group within Citigroup’s Investment Banking Division in New York. Justina received a BS in Finance and International Business, summa cum laude, from New York University and an MBA with certificates in Public and Global Management from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Justina is proficient in Cantonese Chinese and Spanish and has lived and worked in Hong Kong, France, the UK and Rwanda.
MISSY MARTIN
PGC 2015 Champion, Turning Green
Missy Martin is Turning Green’s Director of Happiness and the PGC 2015 Champion. She has studied environmental science and social entrepreneurship at Belmont University, as well as environmental law at the leading environmental law school, Vermont Law School, through the New Frontiers in Environmental Justice program. She has competed nationally in the forensics and social entrepreneurship sectors talking about food insecurity and the effect food has on human and environmental health. This summer she took action and started a Change.org petition demanding that her school, Belmont University, change its practices to allow her and all students to opt out of unhealthy meal plans. Despite the success of her petition and the validity of her request to protect her right to health, Belmont refused to change its practices. As a result, Missy chose to leave Belmont University in favor of a school that prioritizes the health and wellness of its students. Because of her deep belief in FLOSN food, Missy aspires to continue her education studying food systems so that she can keep fighting for FLOSN food in schools and transform the food and health systems.
SUNYA OJURE
Senior Sustainability Manager, Salesforce
Sunya Ojure is the senior sustainability manager for Salesforce, where she leads sustainability communications, event greening and stakeholder engagement initiatives. She is passionate about creating happy, healthy communities at Salesforce and beyond. Sunya has a MBA from Presidio Graduate School, BA from Brown University and over ten years of experience building sustainability programs at diverse organizations, from nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies. Her best days involve bringing people together, problem solving and crafting stories to inspire change.
LIBBY REDER
Independent Consultant,
Libby Reder is an experienced marketing/communications and strategy professional with a focus on sustainability. Currently an independent consultant, Libby advises a range of clients with a focus on using technology to mainstream socially-and environmentally-beneficial behavior. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Libby was Business Leader, Corporate Reputation at Visa Inc., leading strategy and operations for Visa’s Currency of Progress platform across seven countries. At Visa, Libby also previously held the role of Business Leader, Corporate Responsibility, through which she led and grew the company’s employee matching gift and volunteer programs, in addition to spearheading Visa’s initial sustainability reporting through the Carbon Disclosure Project. Before joining Visa, Libby created, developed and led eBay Inc.’s environmental initiatives, including employee engagement, stakeholder relationships and customer outreach. Libby had the pleasure of being involved in everything from securing eBay’s investment in the installation of San Jose’s largest commercial solar array to developing annual consumer advertising in the Hearst magazines’ April issues, focused on sustainability. Libby began her career on Capitol Hill, serving as an aide to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Antitrust. Libby holds a BA in Government from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the University of California – Berkeley Haas School of Business.
MEREDITH SODEN
Marketing Manager, EO Products
Meredith Soden is the Marketing and Communications Manager at EO Products, the Marin County-based parent company of two leading personal care brands: EO® and Everyone™. At EO she is responsible for a variety of marketing initiatives including public relations, social media and digital communications. She also manages EO’s community engagement and donations program. She is a strong personal advocate for a healthy, sustainable and conscious lifestyle. Prior to her time at EO, Meredith worked in higher education communications at University of the Pacific in San Francisco, and in public relations for tech start ups and small businesses. She is a graduate of Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, CA.
BRANDY WILSON
Director of Operations , Farmhouse Investment Management
Brandy Wilson is the Director of Operations at Farmhouse Investment Management. Farmhouse is a boutique investment firm in Marin, and she is responsible the client experience and firm operations. Prior to Farmhouse, Brandy was the former Head of Client Service for Sonen Capital, a dedicated impact investment management firm. Earlier in her career, Brandy served as Associate Director of Client Management at Abbot Downing with the primary responsibility of coordination of private banking, investment management, financial planning and financial administration for family offices and foundations. Brandy is currently working towards her Masters in Sustainability at Arizona State University.
AMY ZELEZEN
Engagement Manager and Consultant, Trium Group
Amy is an engagement manager and consultant at the Trium Group, a boutique management consulting firm in San Francisco, working with executives from the world’s top organizations to help “change the world by changing the way business leaders think.” She supports and teams who are undertaking critical initiatives at the intersection of strategy, culture, and leadership, with a particular emphasis on transformation at the individual leader level. Amy honed her ability to decipher and reconcile the needs of multiple stakeholders as an organizational transformation consultant working with large multinationals at Ernst & Young and Infosys Technologies.
Amy believes that strong, visionary leadership is the key to driving sustainable change, and she is thrilled to be working with the students from Turning Green. Amy holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a BA in Political Science, Economics, and Hispanic Studies from McGill University. Prior to her consulting career, Amy spent several years in the outdoor industry in rural Colorado and is passionate about taking care of the planet and all of its inhabitants. She stays grounded through her connection to the outdoors – hiking, running, snowboarding, climbing, and kite surfing – and exploring the world through adventures near and far.
