Meet Our Speakers
MORNING BREAKOUTS:
Workshop A:
Collaborative Decision Making with Nupur Amin, Habitus
Nupur is the Business Development and Outreach Manager at Habitus where she serves as a trainer, mediator, and coach. Nupur’s main functions include designing and leading trainings, managing clients, and doing business outreach to discover new opportunities for collaboration ensuring Habitus’ mission of making their content accessible and available to organizations doing meaningful work in the areas of climate action and social justice.
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Workshop B:
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Claire works with both Native’s client strategy and project development teams, assessing and executing new climate action projects and connecting with companies to achieve their climate goals. She brings experience developing sustainability strategies for CPG companies, real asset investment firms, and non-profits, as well as working with farmers across the continent. She is passionate about investing in farmers, ranchers, and natural resource managers to help them transition to regenerative practices. She holds a B.A. in English and Environmental Studies from Williams College and an M.B.A. and Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Management and the Yale School of Environment.
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Workshop C:
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As co-founder and managing partner of ReVision Energy, Fortunat’s responsibilities include oversight of design, engineering, and operations for residential and commercial applications in both Maine and New Hampshire. Fortunat received both his Masters and BS in Mechanical Engineering from Brown University and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Maine Association of Building Efficiency Professionals (MABEP) and the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). Before co-founding Renewable Energy Contractors in 2006 and then ReVision Energy in 2008, Fortunat was a project manager and senior systems engineer at United Technologies Fuel Cells in Hartford, CT.
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Tess grew up in a small rural town in the Bay Area. Raised by environmental educators, her love for nature was instilled at an early age.
Tess completed a BS in chemistry at Beloit College in Wisconsin. Through her graduate program at University of Oregon, she worked in South Portland, ME as a process engineer in a semiconductor manufacturing facility. She’s always been interested in being a steward to Mother Nature, and she is happy to apply her knowledge at ReVision Energy on the design and estimating team.
Her hobbies include adventuring with her boyfriend and dog, playing sports, crossfitting, laughing, learning, and SURFING!
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Workshop D:
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Shawn (he/him) leads the development of energy storage projects as Managing Director for BlueWave in multiple states. As a Technical Advisor and Director for the Center for Sustainable Energy, he led projects like the U.S. Department of Energy's Western Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership and pre-commercialized power-to-gas demonstration projects for the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University.
Shawn also founded 50 Mile Energy LLC, an early-stage cleantech development company in Atlanta. Shawn holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. He lives in Cambridge, MA with his wife Shandra, three kids (Ella, Dash, Nilaya) and family chihuahua, Pip.
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KEYNOTE: REGENERATIONFeaturing: Michelle Waring, Tom’s of Maine & Dr. Tariana V. Little, EmVision Productions
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Michelle is the Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good at Tom’s of Maine and oversees all their CSR efforts. Michelle led the Communications Partnerships team at Natural Resources Defense Council as the Director of Entertainment and Brand Partnerships. She started her nonprofit career at UNICEF USA as the interim Director of Celebrity Relations, then as the Deputy Director of Corporate Partnerships. Michelle spent 10 years as a talent manager in the entertainment industry. She earned a BA in Political Science from Trinity College in Connecticut and currently resides in Portland, ME with her husband and 2 daughters.
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Dr. Tariana V. Little is CEO and cofounder of the social justice media agency for visionary organizations. Leveraging their Social Impact Storytelling™ framework, they help emerging and established organizations better convey who they are, what they do differently, and why it matters. Working at the intersections of media, public health, and business, Tariana teaches about entrepreneurship and innovation at Harvard University, where she holds a Doctor of Public Health. She also serves on various non-profit boards and is an emerging philanthropist in her native Boston, MA. Driven by science, storytelling, and social justice, Tariana’s work embodies what she calls “intentional creativity for social change.”
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Jorge Fontanez is CEO of B Lab U.S. & Canada, whose mission is to create a regenerative future for people and the planet. Jorge’s career focuses on racial equity through economic equity. He believes that business can be a force for good. He has led marketing strategy for Consumer Packaged Goods, Mining and Minerals, Automotive and Financial Services, and others. In 2015 he founded Marca Studio, a marketing consultancy serving entrepreneur founders of color in early-stage ventures, as well as purpose-driven brands, nonprofits, and foundations. Jorge lectures at the Bard MBA in Sustainability Program. He is an advisor to the NYU Center for Sustainable Business and Pacific Community Ventures.
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AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS:
Workshop A:
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Gabrielle is a recent University of New Hampshire graduate with a dual major in Sustainability and International Business & Economics. She has focused on educating the UNH community on sustainable practices through her experience as a Freshman Innovation & Research Experience (FIRE) Peer Mentor and a Mentor through the B Impact Clinic. She founded a club on campus called Action Earth where she has brought together local bands, sustainable student organizations and climate education to increase awareness of global warming on campus in an creative way. She has worked as a consultant with Dirigo Collective and Bona Fide during her time with the Clinic.
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Workshop B:
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Jackie founded Teak Media + Communications in 1997 to bring positive media attention to nonprofits and responsible companies. A former newspaper reporter, she leverages the power of the media to help nonprofits and responsible businesses grow, change public policy, and continue their good work. In addition to promoting nonprofit organizations, foundations, and socially responsible companies through traditional and social media, Teak provides media training, internal and donor communications, sponsor communications and stewardship support, publication writing, marketing, and crisis communications strategy.
She holds a BA from Skidmore College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Boston University.
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Erin is CEO and a partner at KSV, a women-owned advertising agency dedicated to accelerating the positive impact their client's products and solutions have on people and the planet. Erin has helped build thoughtful, innovative brands and provided strategic solutions for mission-driven organizations across a wide variety of industries, including renewable energy, clean transportation, sustainable consumer products, and nonprofits.
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Anne is the founder and media director at Richardson Media Group, a media planning & buying and SEO agency launched in 2014. She guides her team with a deep understanding of the ever-changing paid media and SEO landscape, a strategic focus, and an educational approach to campaign management. A newly certified B Corporation, RMG continues to be driven by Anne’s commitment to maintain the highest ethical standards and a passionate vision for our future.
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Workshop C:
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John is COO at Preserve where he aims to bring the approaches of industrial ecology to everyday products like toothbrushes, razors, cutlery and food storage containers. John has been at Preserve for almost 20 years. Previously he attended Harvard University where studied environmental science and public policy. An avid runner and soccer coach he lives in Cambridge, MA with his wife, 12 year old son and three cats.
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Scott is CFO and Director of Impact at One Mighty Mill. After a 20-year career working with large corporations as an investor and director of research at an asset management firm, Scott decided to shift gears and drive change from the ground up leading the finance and impact efforts at One Mighty Mill. He contracts directly with organic farmers, builds out the company’s unique supply chain centered around stone-milling flour, manages the company’s recruitment and employee equity incentive program, and partners with school systems to increase access to our products.
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Kerem has over 25 years of experience directing teams in the manufacturing and technology sectors. Currently he is President and Chief Operating Officer of GWI, a leading ISP/telco in Maine. He served as the Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the Maine Technology Institute, a quasi-public loan and venture capital entity. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Indus Fund which provides micro-loans to immigrant business owners. He is a long-time advocate for the inclusion of immigrant and refugee voices in societal conversation and extremely passionate about doing his part to close the economic and digital divide. Kerem is a member of the Maine angel investing community.
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Workshop D:
Climate Advocacy in Action
featuring Grace Mausser, B Lab, Michelle Veasey, NH Businesses for Social Responsibility, Toby Aronson at VT Businesses for Social Responsibility and Robert Fernandez, Breckinridge Capital Advisors
Grace is the Policy Manager at B Lab US & Canada, where she works to enable B Corps to become leading policy advocates. Grace has extensive experience in organizing and advocacy, including time in municipal government, electoral campaigns, and union organizing. She holds a Bachelor in economics and Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University.
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Michelle is the Executive Director of New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility, a statewide member-based organization that fosters environmentally and socially responsible business in New Hampshire. As NHBSR’s ED, Michelle leads the organization in developing programming to inspire sustainability innovation, advocacy and building supportive networks of businesses, academic institutions and communities that create positive impact for the state. Michelle was a co-founder and remains a member of the Atkinson Energy Commission and served ten years on the Atkinson Conservation Commission and also served on the Volunteer NH Board. She and her husband built their home and raised two daughters in New Hampshire. Michelle loves hiking, kayaking, boating, snowshoeing, skiing and reading.
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Toby, a long-time VT resident, has a uniquely diverse background working in sales, non-profit management, arts publicity, and music. He founded the record label NNA Tapes which has received international recognition in publications such as The New York Times and NPR. Previously a Sales Associate for Local First Vermont’s Buy Local Book & Mobile App, Aronson was responsible for continued growth in ad sales for the Chittenden & Stowe sales territories. Aronson has also worked with the non-profit Vermont Symphony Orchestra in their education outreach programs, including the Musical Petting Zoo. As a professional musician, Aronson has toured in musical groups throughout the United States and Europe, and is currently a regularly performing classical guitarist in Vermont. Toby’s strong skills in outreach and communication and his familiarity with Vermont’s business community make him an excellent advocate and recruiter for VBSR’s triple-bottom line mission and membership. Toby actively embodies his passions for good food, good community, good art, and the great outdoors.
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Rob is director, environmental, social and governance (ESG) research. He is also a member of the firm’s Sustainability Committee. In his role, Rob leads Breckinridge’s ongoing ESG integration and engagement efforts, regularly contributes thought leadership and performs corporate credit analysis. Rob has been with the firm since 2010 and has over 24 years of research experience. Rob is a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, a member of the Board of Overseers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, a member of the advisory board for the CECP Strategic Investor Initiative and a Town Meeting Member for the Town of Needham, MA. He holds a B.S. from Boston College, an MBA from the Boston University School of Management and a graduate-level certificate in sustainability from the Harvard University Extension School. He is a CFA® charter holder and is an FSA Credential holder.
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CLOSING: STATE OF THE BFeaturing Jorge Fontanez, B Lab with Lynn Johnson, Hella Social Impact and Julie Fahenstock, B Storytelling |
Jorge Fontanez is CEO of B Lab U.S. & Canada, whose mission is to create a regenerative future for people and the planet. Jorge’s career focuses on racial equity through economic equity. He believes that business can be a force for good. He has led marketing strategy for Consumer Packaged Goods, Mining and Minerals, Automotive and Financial Services, and others. In 2015 he founded Marca Studio, a marketing consultancy serving entrepreneur founders of color in early-stage ventures, as well as purpose-driven brands, nonprofits, and foundations. Jorge lectures at the Bard MBA in Sustainability Program. He is an advisor to the NYU Center for Sustainable Business and Pacific Community Ventures.
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Lynn founded several social ventures dedicated to storytelling through the lens of gender and racial justice. She has appeared on the stages of SOCAP, Social Venture Circle, and Wisdom 2.0. As Founder and CEO of Hella Social Impact, Lynn helps businesses effectively advocate for racial justice. She wants to help leaders reshape our economy for the good of all people.
Based in Oakland, CA since 2006, Lynn and her wife currently reside in Albuquerque, NM where their tween, neurodivergent daughter is receiving residential care. When not working, Lynn enjoys living room karaoke, mixing cocktails, and walking along the Rio Grande.
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Julie is passionate about where brand culture and the narrative power intersect. Julie is the Founder and Creative Director of B Storytelling, a brand strategy & creative agency based out of Brooklyn, New York. B Storytelling supports B Corps and social enterprises in their racial justice and impact journeys through branding, storytelling, and digital marketing. Julie holds an MBA in Sustainability from Marlboro College in Vermont and is working on an Embodied Social Justice Certificate. When she's not working, she enjoys dancing to or Djing house music and cycling around NYC.
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