Sustainable Nation

Chris is currently the Director of Sustainability and Co-chair of the Smart Cities initiative for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City of Orlando. In his role at the City, he works to develop cross-sector partnerships, policies, and programs that support the sustainability, energy, and climate-related goals of the “Green Works Orlando” initiative. Over the last 10 years, Chris has consulted for governments, academia, business chambers, companies, nonprofits and communities to implement sustainability projects that include a wide variety of topics, specifically smart cities, solar energy development, building efficiency, electric vehicles, local food systems, water quality, ecological restorations and more. Chris Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Sustainable food systems PACE Financing and its success in Orlando Meeting GHG reductions through energy management Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Chris Castro's Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other susta

Bruno Sarda is head of sustainability at NRG, one of the country’s leading power companies, where he leads the development and execution of company-wide sustainability strategy and initiatives. Named one of the ‘most influential sustainability voices in America’ by The Guardian, Sarda actively participates in a variety of cross-industry efforts bridging public and private entities. Sarda joined NRG from Dell, Inc. where he was director of sustainability and social responsibility. Bruno Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Sustainability initiatives of a large power company Renewable energy and carbon capture technology SASB's role in corporate sustainability Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Bruno's Final Five Question Responses: We're going to end with our final five questions. What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? You have to quickly get comfortable with the fact that sustainability is not the goal .Sustain

Bob led the development of McDonald’s 2020 Sustainability Vision and Framework, including McDonald’s commitment to the environment, supply chain sustainability, and balanced menu choices.  He retired from McDonald’s, March, 2015 and joined the GreenBiz Group, writing a regular column, The Inside View; and helping with the Green Biz Executive Network. He is President of Mainstream Sustainability, advising companies on sustainability strategies, and a nationally recognized speaker. He is writing a book entitled “The Battle to Do Good; Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey,” scheduled for publication in January 2018.   Bob Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Lessons learned from decades of experience in corporate sustainability Supply chain sustainability in large corporations Working with NGO's - The good, the bad and the ugly Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Bob Langert Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help

As Sustainability Lead at KYA Design Group, Ian Tierney is working to change the way Hawaii develops by incorporating sustainability principles into projects and actively volunteering on the USGBC Hawaii Market Leadership Advisory Board. Ian has worked on numerous sustainability projects across Hawaii including the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Sustainable Management Plan, the University of Hawaii West Oahu Admin and Allied Health Facility, and the Kamehameha Schools Sustainability Benchmarking Initiative. Ian Tierney Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Energy benchmarking in buildings Managing and selling LEED certification projects Sustainability initiatives throughout Hawaii Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Ian's Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I would say look into Mark Jewel. He is a best selling author and his classes on selling energy efficiency really taught me a

Jillian Buckholz is the first Director of Sustainability on the California State University, East Bay campus where she is responsible for managing campus sustainability efforts including: an annual greenhouse gas inventory; 5-year climate action plan; comprehensive campus sustainability assessment and plan; project-based student internship program; campus sustainability committee and associated task forces; and educational programming. Prior to coming to The Bay, Jillian was the Senior Programs Coordinator at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).    Jillian Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Leading sustainability as a team of one Involving students in sustainability through internship programs Sustainability reporting and climate action planning Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Jillian's Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that help them in their careers? Take time to build re

Dave Stangis is Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer for the Campbell Soup Company. Dave created and now leads Campbell's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategies. As such he oversees the company's execution of CSR and sustainability goals,policies, programs, engagement, and reporting, from responsible sourcing and sustainable agriculture to social impact metrics in the community. Dave co-authored 21st Century Corporate Citizenship and The Executive's Guide to 21st Century Corporate Citizenship. Dave Stangis Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Leading sustainability in large organizations Linking sustainability to business strategy Sustainability programs supporting an organization's purpose, vision and strategy How Campbell's is using technology to advance sustainability Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers?

L. Hunter Lovins is an author and the President and Founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions (NCS), a  non-profit formed in 2002 in Longmont, CO. A renowned author and  champion of sustainable development for over 35 years, Hunter has  consulted on sustainable agriculture, energy, water, security, and climate policies for scores of governments, communities, and companies worldwide. Within the United States, she has consulted for the Presidential Cabinet, Department of Defense, EPA, Department of Energy and numerous state and local agencies. Hunter Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: What has changed since writing Natural Capitalism in 2000 Sustainability as a competitive advantage Regenerative economies Advice and recommendations for sustainability professionals Hunter's Final Five Question Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? This comes from my friend Kate Wolf, the folk singer who said, "Find what you really care ab

Susan Hunt Stevens is the Founder/CEO of WeSpire, the leading employee engagement technology platform that forward-thinking global companies use to design, run and measure positive impact and sustainability initiatives. She is a recognized expert in the use of social and game mechanics to drive positive behavior change and was named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015.  Susan Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Importance of employee engagement in advancing sustainability Increasing employee organization at your organization Using the WeSpire platform to engage employees around sustainability Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Susan's Final Five Question Responses: What does one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers?  Network, lead through influence, borrow from others. Networking so you know what others are doing and can learn from this community. It's an amazing community. What are you most excited about right now in

Jamie Moore is the Director of Sourcing and Sustainability at Eat'n Park Hospitality Group. Jamie quickly noticed a need to develop and maintain an innovative program that would separate Eat’n Park from their competitors. With this in mind, Jamie developed a local purchasing program called FarmSource. This program ensures that 20% of all site’s food supply is purchased in and around their communities. The FarmSource program has received national recognition in 2009 by the Glynwood Center for Connecting Communities, Farmers and Food.  Jamie Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Implementing local and sustainable food programs in restaurants Developing relationships to advance sustainability initiatives Sustainability opportunities in the food service industry Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Jamie's Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? Build upon things that you and always be someone that

Shannon Pinc is the Environment and Sustainability Coordinator for the City of St. Louis Park.  Her interest in protecting natural resources led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in biology from St. Catherine’s University and a master’s degree in environmental management systems from the University of Minnesota.  Her goal of educating others on the importance of protecting natural resources and maintaining them for future generations is a lifelong passion.  Shannon Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: History of sustainability leadership at St. Louis Park Climate Action Planning at the city level Involving the youth in the sustainability movement Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Shannon's Final Five Question Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I get questions along this line quite a bit. I have a lot of people who contact me wondering how I got my job and what should I do to get there? The qu

Michael Kobori has led sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co. since 2001. He developed and leads the company’s sustainability strategy, which includes integrating sustainability into all global functions and regional businesses and open sourcing the company’s sustainability innovations to the rest of the industry. Under Michael’s tenure, Levi Strauss & Co. has been an industry pioneer on initiatives such as the Better Cotton Initiative, Water

Allison Jordan is Vice President, Environmental Affairs for Wine Institute, a public policy association of nearly 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses. She also serves as Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, a non-governmental organization incorporated in 2003 by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to promote environmental and social responsibility in California – the fourth largest wine region in the world – through the Sustainable Winegrowing Program and Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing.  Allison Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: The state of sustainability in the California wine industry Benefits of sustainability for wineries and vineyards New sustainability certification logo on wine bottles Adopting the California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing framework for other industries Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals

As the Director of Sustainability for DuPont, Dawn Rittenhouse is an industry leader on the intersection between business and the environment.  As a key advisor and ambassador for DuPont, she guides its C-suite, businesses and customers on policy and fosters relationships with NGOs and organizations around the world. Dawn Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Sustainable innovation and R & D at DuPont The evolution of corporate sustainability Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals for your corporate strategy Cross-sector collaboration Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders   Final Five Question Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I'd like patience and perseverance. I found like when I would go to overall business council for sustainable development meeting, there were people who were all in the same space as I was and we were all kind of support each other and you could leave regenerated again.

Chris Laszlo, PhD is Professor of Organizational Behavior at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, where he leads the Quantum Leadership initiative, which conducts research and practice into elevating consciousness as the highest point of leverage in transforming leaders into agents of world benefit. He is the author of Flourishing Enterprise (2014), Embedded Sustainability (2011), and Sustainable Value (2008) Chris Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: Embedding sustainability into a company's core strategy Moving from sustainable to flourishing  Transforming consciousness for sustainable change Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Final Five Question Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? Get a solid grounding in business operations as well as whatever knowledge you might have about environmental sciences or sustainability communications. All of those are important. If you

Matthew St.Clair is the first Director of Sustainability for the University of California Office of the President, leading sustainability efforts across the 10-campus UC system since 2004. Matt St. Clair joins Sustainable Nation to discuss: Leading sustainability for the third largest employer in California Using best practices from campuses to implement change across the entire system University of California's ambitious climate, energy and waste goals Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? Be a good listener. As a sustainability professional, you have to change what people do, what organizations do. And so in order to get people to work with you to make that change, you need to be a good listener to understand the pathways that are easiest to make that change and to gain the trust of the people you need to work with to change things. What are you most ex

Aly Khalifa joins Sustainable Nation to discuss: Cradle to Cradle and the circular economy' Engineering and designing for a sustainable future Ocean plastic and designing with recycled materials Recommendations and advice for sustainability professionals Final Five Questions: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals or those working in the circular economy that might help them in their careers? I think there's a principle that I like to use called boundary conditions, and that's something I learned from engineering school. If I'm looking at like the structure of a building and you say "calculate that structure," it's like an impossible task. You need a computer to sort of figure out what happens and the wind load. But what you can do is isolate a single beam and just draw your boundary conditions around one beam, and calculate for that. And as you get more sophisticated in your modeling, your boundary conditions might grow. You might draw around a bigger boundary. You al

Matt Lynch joins Sustainable Nation to discuss: Sustainability programs and initiatives at the University of Hawaii Hawaii's ambitious renewable energy future and UH's contributions Reimagining organizational design for sustainability The Hawaii Sustainability in Higher Education Summit Recommendations and advice for sustainability leaders Matt's Final Five responses:   What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I'll give the same advice that my grandma gave me: you have two ears and one mouth for a reason. I would say cultivate and practice the skill-set of active listening, and then related to that is go seek out a mentor that can help you with dynamic group process and the skill-set of developing a group design, processes that can facilitate productive meetings. I think if I was to boil down the job description of sustainability professionals, one of the, the minimum qualifications would be something along the lines of the ability

Richard Heinberg is the author of thirteen award-winning books including The Party’s Over; Powerdown; Peak Everything; The End of Growth; and Our Renewable Future, as well as hundreds of articles and essays. He is a Senior Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute and is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost advocates for a shift away from fossil fuels. He has delivered hundreds of lectures to audiences around the world and has been published in Nature, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and Reuters. Richard Heinberg joins Sustainable Nation to discuss: The current state of energy and its contributions to the climate crisis The shale gas and tight oil bubble Community resiliency The transition to a fossil fuel free future Recommendations and advice for sustainability leaders Richard Heinberg's Final Five: What is one piece of advice you'd give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I don't know if it's a piece of advice, but I'd just say, hey you're doing t

Cheri Chastain has been the Sustainability Manager for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. since 2006 where she is responsible for educating employees on environmental issues and programs, maintaining and developing sustainability policies and projects, and representing Sierra Nevada in industry and policy conversations.  Cheri currently co-chairs the Brewers Association Sustainability Committee, is vice chair of the City of Chico’s Sustainability Task Force, and is a board member of the US Zero Waste Business Council.  Cheri Joins Sustainable Nation to discuss: What's new in sustainability at Sierra Nevada Sustainability in the beer industry Innovations in renewable energy Being a Zero Waste leader Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders More on Cheri and sustainability at Sierra Nevada: https://sierranevada.com/brewery/about-us/sustainability More on Sustridge and the Sustainable Nation Podcast: https://www.sustridge.com/ What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals th

Jackie is the Chief Sustainability Officer for city of Fort Collins where she oversees the departments of environmental services, economic health, and social sustainability. Fort Collins has some of the most ambitious climate action goals in the world, including carbon neutrality by 2050. Formerly, Jackie worked as the Governor’s State Sustainability Coordinator for Hawaii, where she led the launch of the Aloha+ Challenge with the public-private partnership Hawaii Green Growth. Jackie joins Sustainable Nation to discuss: Leading sustainability programs in local government. Lessons learned from managing sustainability efforts on an island community. Developing and implementing Climate Action Plans. Advice and recommendations for sustainability professionals. Jackie's Final Five Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? Besides kind of the being both data driven and value based, the other one I would give is being authentic,