About Green Electronics Council

Green Electronics Council (GEC)

GEC is a mission-driven 501c(4) non-profit that collaborates to achieve a world in which only sustainable IT products are designed, manufactured, and purchased.  Founded initially to manage EPEAT, the leading global ecolabel for IT products, GEC advocates for sustainable IT by helping both manufacturers and large-scale purchasers to:

UNDERSTAND

the challenges facing sustainable IT

Z

COMMIT

to address those challenges

$

ACT

to change internal operational, manufacturing and procurement behaviors

Green Electronics Council

The Green Electronics Council (GEC) acts as the fulcrum point between those who buy (institutional purchasers) and those who make (information technology brands).  We understand that by deciding to buy sustainable IT products, institutional purchasers can really “move the needle” towards a more sustainable world.  GEC is proud to support institutional purchasers in their implementation of sustainable procurement and along with our flagship program EPEAT, we provide additional tools and resources. You can learn more about purchaser focused tools and guidance on our purchasers guidance page.

OUR STAFF

GEC is populated by individuals who are invested in sustainability, knowledgeable about procurement, committed to EPEAT, and relentless in their support of sustainable IT.

Nancy Gillis

Chief Executive Officer

CARA BEATTY

MANAGER GEC ASSURANCE AND TRAINING SERVICES

KIM BRAUN

SENIOR MANAGER, TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND CRITERIA DEVELOPMENT

PAMELA BRODY-HEINE

EPEAT CRITERIA MANAGEMENT (PART-TIME)

JULIA BULFIN

SENIOR MANAGER, TALENT IDENTIFICATION, RETENTION AND HR OPERATIONS
 

 

ANDREA DESIMONE

EPEAT PURCHASER RELATIONS SENIOR MANAGER

PATRICIA DILLON

DIRECTOR, EPEAT CATEGORY DEVELOPMENT

LINDSAY FERNANDEZ-SALVADOR

EPEAT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

ERIN GATELY

EPEAT CONFORMITY ASSURANCE SENIOR MANAGER

LIZ HARDEE

EPEAT CONFORMITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

BECCA HAWKINS

STAFF, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

SUSAN HERBERT

DIRECTOR GEC ASSURANCE AND TRAINING SERVICES

LAUREN HOPPE

QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE MANAGER

HEMA MADAKA

TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH & CATEGORY DEVELOPMENT INTERN

JONATHAN RIFKIN

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

OUR BOARD

The GEC Board is a fiduciary responsibility board whose Directors share their expertise in sustainability, policy, organizational management, technology and purchasing for the benefit of GEC and its mission.

RICHARD CRESPIN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, COLLABORATE UP

LIZ GASSTER (SECRETARY)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, B AND G VENTURES

ALAN KEITH

VICE PRESIDENT, WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS

RETA JO LEWIS

DIRECTOR, CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS & SENIOR FELLOW, THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES

ANDY PALAN

CHIEF BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY & INFORMATION OFFICER, INTARCIA THERAPEUTICS

BETH RATTNER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE

CARL SMITH                (CHAIR)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CALL2RECYCLE

KENT V. SNYDER, J.D. (TREASURER)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, COMMUNITY FOREST PRODUCTS

KATHRIN WINKLER (VICE CHAIR)

FORMER CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, EMC CORPORATION

OUR CAREERS

The Green Electronics Council is committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting the best qualified individuals for positions at all levels within GEC. Job openings are posted on this page and we distribute listings widely in search of high-performing candidates who are passionate about IT, sustainable procurement, and who are experts in their areas of focus.

Internships are available on a rolling basis. Please direct inquiries about internships to Ms. Julia Bulfin, at  jbulfin@greenelectronicscouncil.org.

The Green Electronics Council provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are based on the skills and qualifications of the individuals involved. Individuals will be free from discrimination based on characteristics protected by law such as race, religion, color, national origin, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, Vietnam Era- or disabled-veteran status, or the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability.

Current Openings

EPEAT Public Procurement Relations Manager

Purchaser Resources Senior Director

Search the Registry

MANUFACTURER

EPEAT for Manufacturers

Conformity Assurance

EPEAT Registry

Contact Us

Sign the Pledge

FOLLOW US

KIM BRAUN

SENIOR MANAGER, TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND CRITERIA DEVELOPMENT
 

On the GEC Category Development team, Kim manages GEC’s technology forecast initiative that identifies potential new categories for the EPEAT ecolabel. She also leads criteria development for proposed EPEAT categories, including GEC’s newest project to develop sustainability criteria for network equipment.

Prior to joining GEC, Kim worked for 14 years in environmental compliance for hardware products at Microsoft. She specialized in chemical substances and recycling and understands the complex web of environmental regulations impacting electronic products and how they influence product development and supplier management. She is also very knowledgeable of the documentation required to show due diligence, conformance, and compliance.

Kim has a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from University of Washington Civil and Environmental Engineering. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Oregon State University where she specialized in Zoology.

Email
LinkedIn Profile

Pamela Brody-Heine

EPEAT CRITERIA MANAGEMENT (PART-TIME)
 

Pamela is a part-time staff person, leading the continuous maintenance of the updated EPEAT Computer & Displays category and the expansion of NSF 457 Photovoltaic Modules standard to include inverters.  She also directs the Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN) on behalf of Green America.  Over the years, Pamela has supported the criteria development for a number of EPEAT product categories including Televisions, Servers, Mobile Phones and the original criteria for Computers and Displays (2006).

Prior to joining GEC, Pamela managed and facilitated the development of the Outdoor Industry Association and European Outdoor Group Eco Index Green Standard and facilitated the multi-stakeholder process for the Council for Responsible Sport to revise and expand their sustainability standard for certifying sporting events.

Pamela received her Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. 

Email
LinkedIn Profile

JULIA BULFIN

SENIOR MANAGER, TALENT IDENTIFICATION, RETENTION AND HR OPERATIONS

As GEC’s Senior Manager of Talent Identification, Retention and HR Operations, Julia is a member of the Leadership Team and oversees all human resources related activities.  She leads the identification of highly qualified professionals and manages activities that reflect GEC’s commitment to staff development and work/life balance.  Julia has fifteen years of experience in human resources and administration and has devoted her career to the public and non-profit sectors.  She received her BA in Spanish and International Studies from the University of Oregon.

Email
LinkedIn Profile

ANDREA DESIMONE

EPEAT PURCHASER RELATIONS SENIOR MANAGER


Andrea supports organizations of all sizes as they seek ways to minimize the environmental impact of their purchase, operation and disposal of electronic equipment. She provides guidance to purchasers about leveraging the EPEAT system to fit their needs and manages the EPEAT Purchaser Award program.

Andrea has been with the Green Electronics Council since 2012, during which time she has worked with purchasers and sustainability groups to help them implement EPEAT in their purchasing and evaluation programs. She has also collaborated with retailers and resellers to connect their customers with more sustainable electronics, and has developed criteria-specific training for manufacturers.

Prior to joining GEC, Andrea worked in communications for the Puget Sound Educational Service District and managed marketing and training programs in the real estate industry. Andrea received her BA in Business Marketing from Western Washington University in 2003.

 

Email
LinkedIn Profile

PATRICIA DILLON

DIRECTOR, EPEAT CATEGORY DEVELOPMENT

As Director of EPEAT Category Development , Patty oversees the surveillance and development of new product categories for the EPEAT program and manages multi-stakeholder processes that build sustainability standards for implementation on the EPEAT Registry. She brings an understanding of diverse environmental and technical issues to these processes, helping participants develop consensus-based solutions. Her most recent standards development projects include the IEEE-NSF joint server standard and NSF photovoltaic module standard. She also manages the development of the EPEAT benefits calculators.

Patty has over twenty-five years of research, facilitation, and program management experience in standards development, environmental policy and business strategy with extensive work in electronics, plastics, and packaging. She has a long history of involvement in the standards that form the foundation of the EPEAT Registry, first as a stakeholder invited to participate in the development of the initial computer standard, and subsequently, as chair of the IEEE 1680.3 television standard. Before joining GEC, Patty was an independent consultant, a part-time program manager at the Northeast Recycling Council, where she managed the State Electronics Challenge and Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse, and a research associate at Tufts University.

Patty holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering from Tufts University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Tufts University.

 

Email
LinkedIn Profile

Lindsay Fernandez-Salvador

EPEAT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

As the EPEAT Program Director, Lindsay provides the strategic direction and operational oversight of the EPEAT Program.  This includes overseeing the execution of verification rounds, certification in EPEAT, and other conformity assurance activities. Additionally she manages the budget and personnel of the EPEAT Program.

Lindsay has more than 10 years of experience managing product and system certification, including as Program Director of an internationally recognized ISO 17065 accredited certification body for products used in organic agriculture. She has developed inspection and audit procedures, verification criteria, administrative procedures, and other conformity assurance documents. Most recently, Lindsay served on a number of international government and agency stakeholder task forces to review, write, and update standards. She is knowledgeable of many types of certification systems and has deep experience in managing programs in sectors with complex supply chains and international regulatory obligations.

Lindsay holds a B.S. in Natural Resources from Oregon State University and M.S. in Geography. She is fluent in Spanish.

Email
LinkedIn Profile

ERIN GATELY

EPEAT CONFORMITY ASSURANCE SENIOR MANAGER




Erin manages EPEAT’s Quality Assurance programs, including designing and managing the execution of EPEAT’s regular verification investigations. Erin also leads GEC’s exploration of the intersection of chemicals and the environment.

Erin comes to the Green Electronics Council from Hewlett-Packard, where she worked more than 19 years in a variety of roles, including as Worldwide Product Stewardship Manager in the Personal Systems Group. Her job functions included assuring HP products’ conformance with environmental product requirements and certifications. She is familiar with the efforts required to comply with complex environmental specifications, and aware of the challenges manufacturers encounter in managing electronics supply chains that span the globe.

Erin has a MBA from Pinchot University (formerly Bainbridge Graduate Institute) with a focus on Sustainable Business. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami and a certificate in the Essentials of Green Chemistry from UC Berkeley Extension. Erin has been profiled by Sierra Club Magazine and by WGBH Boston as a sustainability leader.

 
Email
LinkedIn Profile

Liz Hardee

EPEAT Conformity Assurance Manager





Liz is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and well-rounded sustainable business professional with specific expertise in corporate climate change strategies and environmental policy analysis. She joined GEC’s EPEAT staff in 2017 to support the execution of the program’s regular verification investigations.
Prior to joining the Green Electronics Council team, Liz was Senior Analyst at The Climate Trust, a 501(c) (3) organization providing financing to innovative, land-based carbon offset projects throughout the Pacific Northwest and United States. Her experience in carbon markets makes her well-versed in the consistent implementation of standards which ensure environmental integrity and in the day to day management of environmental projects and programs. Liz is also a published writer of reports on the potential for a carbon pricing mechanism in Oregon and on crediting farmer s for nutrient stewardship in crop agriculture.
Liz holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in sustainable business from Portland State University.

 
Email
LinkedIn Profile

BECCA HAWKINS

STAFF, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Becca provides administrative support to the internal processes for Green Electronics Council and the EPEAT program. She divides her time between supporting the financial processes and the EPEAT conformity assurance program.

Becca has over five years of experience working in the non-profit sphere. Prior to joining GEC, Becca worked as a bookkeeper at Susan Matlack Jones & Associates (SMJ), specializing in non-profit financial statements. At SMJ she was responsible for the creation of monthly financial statements for several local non-profits.

Prior to working at SMJ, Becca has worked at various non-profits helping them streamline their processes and procedures. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and History from University of California, Santa Cruz. In her spare time, Becca enjoys hiking, exploring Portland and volunteering.

Email
LinkedIn Profile

SUSAN HERBERT

DIRECTOR GEC ASSURANCE AND TRAINING SERVICES





Susan has more than 20 years of experience designing and implementing conformity assurance programs, building capacity through training and education, performing life cycle-based research, developing environmental leadership standards, and overseeing large multi-stakeholder engagement processes. She has worked with a wide range of clients around the world in a diverse range of industry value chains including consumer electronics, renewable energy, forestry and pulp and paper, consumer packaged goods and consumer chemical products. Her focus has been to find practical approaches for their unique sustainability challenges.

Prior to joining GEC, Susan worked with Terra Choice to ensure the organization’s assurance and advisory services had the scientific rigor and responsiveness depended on by government, purchasers, stakeholders and the public. She spearheaded the development, implementation and launch of a new validation-services subsidiary, and managed all scientific and technical activities relating to Terra Choice’s diverse suite of programs.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, and undertook postgraduate studies in mechanical and biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto. She spends her time in both Ottawa, Ontario and Portland, Oregon.

 
Email
LinkedIn Profile

Lauren Hoppe

Quality and Compliance Manager

Lauren is a member of EPEAT’s Conformity Assurance Team, whose primary responsibility is coordinating the oversight of the Conformity Assurance Bodies/Certification bodies in EPEAT, providing quality management functions, and supporting the Standards Management process.

Prior to joining GEC, Lauren worked in a laboratory setting. Most notable was her time spent in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited environmental laboratory as the Chemistry Technical and Quality Control Manager. Daily activities included monitoring quality assurance practices and proficiency tests, maintenance of quality control spreadsheets, analytical method development and validation, and staff continuing education. She was also responsible for the preparation of laboratory audits and inspections.

Lauren earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. In her spare time, she enjoys biking around the city, taking fun community education classes, and exploring new places.

Email
LinkedIn Profile

HEMA MADAKA

TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH & CATEGORY DEVELOPMENT INTERN

As a Technology Research and Category Development Intern, Hema conducts research on technologies/ products of interest to GEC, their relevant markets, supply chain and sustainability impacts to support the development of business cases on new product categories. 

Hema is a currently doing her M.S. in Sustainable Systems program at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Her research at RIT focuses on understanding material composition and life cycle water impacts of consumer electronics. She also has a M.S in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University and a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from Andhra University (India).

Email
LinkedIn Profile

Jonathan Rifkin

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Jonathan Rifkin is the Director for Strategic Partnerships for the Green Electronics Council. In his role he is focused on identifying and collaborating with organizations that share GEC’s dedication to sustainable electronics and making them available to large-scale purchasers. Jonathan brings to GEC a unique perspective, which is informed by years as a procurement subject matter expert, and frequent and meaningful engagement with environmental experts, the manufacturing sector, and the standard setting world.

Prior to joining GEC, Jonathan spent 10 years in the public sector working for the District of Columbia’s Office of Contracting and Procurement. During this time he developed and managed the District of Columbia’s Sustainable Purchasing Program, which won two national awards and is recognized a leader in the realm of sustainable purchasing. Jonathan currently serves as an Honorary Member of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board for the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council, and maintains a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) Certification from the UPPCC. Jonathan believes in, and works to create, a world in which all electronics are environmentally preferable and developed and used in a socially responsible manner.

 

Email
LinkedIn Profile

RICHARD J CRESPIN

Chief Executive Officer, CollaborateUp

Richard accelerates collaboration among businesses, governments, and non-profits when they work together to solve big problems. During his career, Richard has worked across the private, public, and civil sectors to co-create high impact solutions to shared problems at lower cost and in less time than traditional approaches. Over the course of his career he has worked with many Fortune 500 firms, foreign and domestic governments, international organizations, chambers of commerce, and numerous large and small non-governmental organizations.

Seeing firsthand how many multi-stakeholder collaborations often fall short of their goals, Richard developed the CollaborateUp Formula to help organizations collaborate more effectively. Richard has a proven track record of engaging stakeholders and leading co-creation initiatives across multiple organizations, sectors, and societies.

Richard serves a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University where he teaches public-private partnerships. He served as a Senior Fellow for the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation and as a featured lecturer on social innovation at Georgetown University and the Harvard School of Public Health. He serves on several boards, including the Green Electronics Council, the Listen Learn Care (formerly the Office Depot) Foundation, and the Programme Committee for the UN World Data Forum. Richard is an alumnus of both George Washington and the Harvard Business School.

LIZ GASSTER (SECRETARY)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, B AND G VENTURES





Liz Gasster has nearly 30 years of experience in the Internet, technology, public policy and legal fields. Most recently, she served as a Vice President for the Business Roundtable.

In this role, she oversaw the Information & Technology Committee, promoting policies that use technology to access new global markets and customers, and the Committee on Smart Regulation, which promotes well-conceived, objective, and science-based regulations as essential to protect human health and safety.

Prior to that, she served as Senior Policy Counselor for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Prior to ICANN, Liz was General Counsel of the Cyber Security Industry Alliance, where she represented the organization to Members of Congress, media and industry leaders. Earlier in her career, she served in various senior legal and policy roles at AT&T, working extensively on financial consumer protection, fair credit reporting and small business financing regulations.

Born in Taiwan, Liz earned a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University and Juris Doctor (magna cum laude) from The American University Washington College of Law.

 

ALAN KEITH 

VICE PRESIDENT, WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS

Alan Keith joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in March of 2011 after serving as CFO and Vice President of ImageMovers Digital (an affiliate of Walt Disney Studios). Alan brings with him over 23 years of unique experiences bridging general management, finance, and administrative operations.

Alan is a skilled strategist and thought partner with successful leadership experience bridging the roles of CFO and COO, especially in challenging environments of growth and change. Alan’s experience includes television and film production, primarily in animation and visual effects. He truly enjoys applying his experience and leadership skills in fast paced, dynamic organizations.

Previous to his work at ImageMovers, Alan was responsible for business operations and creative development at LAIKA, Inc., helping to support the startup of a new animation studio and the production of its first animated feature film, Coraline. He is an eight year veteran of Lucasfilm and its subsidiaries with responsibilities over finance and administration during a period of significant growth and change at the company culminating with the launch the company’s newest animation division in Singapore.

Alan has also held respected senior level positions at Genentech, Hanna-Barbera, Inc., Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc. and Price Waterhouse.

Alan earned his BA degree in Accounting from Emory University in Atlanta, and is a licensed C.P.A. He is personally very committed to philanthropy and volunteerism; having recently completed multi-year tenures with the boards of three non-profits: Academy of Friends, Frameline, and Project Hired.


RETA JO LEWIS

DIRECTOR, CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS & SENIOR FELLOW, THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES





Reta Jo Lewis is GMF’s director of Congressional Affairs. Lewis draws on her immense experience and GMF’s intellectual resources and European networks to connect the U.S. Congress and GMF. Lewis joined GMF in January 2015 as a Senior Fellow with Transatlantic Leadership Initiatives (TLI), where she focuses on leadership development, outreach, programming, and thought pieces on global engagement strategies to strengthen the next generation of transatlantic leaders. Since beginning her tenure, GMF has been very active in engaging Congress through its Transatlantic Congressional Staff Salon Series, briefings on Capitol Hill, study tours, testimony from GMF experts, and engagement with European Parliamentarians. Lewis has also worked with TLI to develop the Transatlantic Subnational Diplomacy Initiative (TSDI) to enhance diplomacy at the state and local levels.

Previously, she served as the State Department’s first-ever Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, under Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry from 2010-13. Lewis led the office charged with building strategic peer-to-peer relationships between the U.S. Department of State, U.S. state and local officials, and their foreign counterparts. In her post, she served as the State Department’s lead interlocutor in negotiating and executing the first historic agreements to solidify subnational cooperation and engagement efforts with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries and with targeted countries in the European Union. She was the principal architect that led the global engagement of U.S. state and local government leaders’ integration into and strategy regarding sustainability and climate change to RIO+20, COP-16, COP-17 and COP-18. In 2013, she was awarded the Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award.

Prior to the State Department, Lewis served in senior positions in the public and private sectors, including political appointments in the Clinton administration. She was the Director for Business Outreach for the Obama-Biden Transition Team. She served as the vice president and counselor at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and director of the Chamber’s effort focused on small business and outreach to women and minority-owned businesses. Lewis was the Special Assistant to the president for Political Affairs in the Clinton White House from 1993-95 and the director of the Northeast and Southern Regions. During her career, Lewis was the administration’s key point person in organizing the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 1996 Olympics and Paralympic games in Atlanta, and the 1998 African Leaders Summit and G-8 Summit in Denver. Lewis also organized Nelson Mandela’s 8-city U.S. Tour in 1990. She was of counsel at Edward Widman Palmer LLP prior to joining the Obama Administration, and a 2014 mayoral candidate in Washington, D.C.

Lewis holds a bachelor’s in political science from University of Georgia, a master’s from American University, and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law.

ANDY PALAN

CHIEF BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY & INFORMATION OFFICER, INTARCIA THERAPEUTICS
 

Andy is a system-design technologist pursuing the art and science of technology, teams, shared context and experience creation to generate impactful results.  He specializes in biotechnology and pharmacy technology and is the Chief Business Technology & Information Officer (CIO) at Intarcia Therapeutics; a new chronic disease therapy delivery technology designed to eliminate adherence and deliver transformative personal experience.  Previously he was the CIO of Accolade, a health care navigation company assisting patients to find best care at best price.  

Prior to these fun start-up companies, Andy was the the Chief Architect & Vice President of Technology Innovation with responsibility for identifying and using new technology to produce better experiences for customers.  He also lead technology product engineering and operations effecting all 7200+ store, pharmacy dispensing, and supply chain.  At Accenture he was senior manager & engineer in the technology strategy and architecture practice working with many interesting clients and colleagues.  He is proud of the work focused on improving communication and information sharing impact within & between FDNY, NYPD, 911 call centers and citizens after September 11th. 

Andy is a Marine, having served as a Marine Corps officer for 11 years of active duty prior to a career in technology with several at-sea deployments, a posting with allies in the Pacific rim, and a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  He earned an M.S. in Systems Engineering & Information Technology Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Missouri.  

In his personal time he is a advisor to several technology startups focused on disrupting healthcare.  Andy vigorously supports veterans programs with time and resources.   He fancies himself  preservationist, cowboy, naturalist, and historian (amateur in all) with a strong belief that the Earth is a gift and her inhabitants both capable of change and able do it.

He lives happily in Rhode Island with his family. 


BETH RATTNER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE




Beth Rattner is the Executive Director of the Biomimicry Institute, a non-profit working with academia, industry, and other NGOs to look to nature for design guidance. She is a frequent public speaker on how biomimetic design in products, cities, and agriculture can restore our economy and ecosystem while spurring new levels of health and social equity. The Institute provides the tools and platforms for anyone, anywhere to practice nature-inspired design.

Prior to this position, Beth worked with William McDonough and Michael Braungart on The Upcycle, the sequel to Cradle to Cradle, and then helped co-found the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and became its first Executive Director.

Beth has been a long-time advocate for “circular economy” thinking, which she brought into her client engagements with Blu Skye Sustainability Consultants and Hewlett Packard’s Emerging Market Solutions (EMS) group. EMS focused on providing sustainable technology solutions to those who earn less than $2 a day. The team launched HP’s first multi-user, daisy-chained computer for poorly funded schools and a solar-powered printer, providing microfinance opportunities for women who could bring photographs to remote villages for the very first time.

Beth lives in Marin County, California where she walks daily past the redwoods on the way to her computer.

CARL SMITH (CHAIR)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CALL2RECYCLE

Carl E. Smith heads Call2Recycle Inc., North America’s first and most successful consumer battery recycling program. In this capacity, he oversees the organization’s strategy, partnerships and management of its national promotion and education efforts, serving as a model for product stewardship. Working directly with its Board of Directors, Carl leads the overall direction of the company.

Carl has extensive experience in strategic marketing, brand positioning, product / business development and environmental leadership. He previously served as the CEO of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, a non-profit organization that develops and promotes indoor air quality standards and programs. Before that, he was a senior marketing and general management executive with several Fortune 500 companies and served in various capacities on Capitol Hill.


KENT V. SNYDER, J.D. (TREASURER)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, COMMUNITY FOREST PRODUCTS


Kent Snyder is the CEO of Community Forest Products, an Oregon benefit company working to improve forest health and rural economies by crafting and selling well-made wood products utilizing wood from forest restoration projects. Kent has devoted much of his public service career advocating for collaborative solutions to complex problems. He served for 10 years on the Sustainable Development Commission of Portland and Multnomah County including three years as co-chair, working on Economic Development, Green Building, and development of the city’s Climate Action Plan. He also chaired the Board of Trustees of the American Leadership Forum, a national organization whose mission is to join and strengthen collaborative networks of leaders to serve the public good.

As an attorney, Kent was a nationally recognized expert and author in bankruptcy law with a focus on business workouts and turn-arounds. He received his B.S. cum laude in 1975 in Environmental Biology from Kansas State University and his J.D. in 1978 from Lewis & Clark Law School. Kent served on the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute, was co-editor of and contributing author to Bankruptcy Law published by the Oregon State Bar as a well as a regular speaker on those topics.

 


KATHRIN WINKLER (VICE CHAIR)

FORMER CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, EMC CORPORATION


Through her positions at EMC and leadership in organizations such as The Green Grid and EICC (Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, now Responsible Business Alliance), Kathrin provided a decade of systems thinking, sustainability strategy and leadership to her company and to the broader IT industry. Known for her authentic voice, she is a frequent speaker and consultant on the integration of sustainability into corporate culture, strategy, governance, and day-to-day operations. Kathrin currently serves as an Editor-at-Large for GreenBiz and on the boards of directors for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and Net Impact, a nonprofit mobilizing new generations to use their talent to drive transformational social and environmental change.

Kathrin has spent her career in a variety of systems-oriented technical and business roles in the technology industry including Consultant Software Engineer for Network Systems Integration at Digital Equipment Corporation, Principal Consultant at Renaissance Worldwide, and Senior Director of Hardware Product Management at EMC, as well as technical marketing and engineering lead in two early stage startups.

In 2014, Kathrin was honored with the Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award for Social Impact in recognition of her contributions to innovation, leadership, and sustainability in the field of information technology.