GREENERMIND SUMMIT

Urban Planner

Holly Pearson is an urban planner specializing in local strategies to promote sustainability, with an interest in cities in the U.S. as well as in the global south. Holly has worked for the Cities of Vancouver, BC and Oakland and San Francisco, California. She also worked with Fundación Biosfera, an environmental NGO in Argentina, and Oakland-based non-profit Ecocity Builders managing sustainable cities projects in Latin America. She currently serves as Sustainability Director with the American Planning Association’s Northern California Section. She holds a Masters degree in Planning and a professional certificate in International Development from the University of British Columbia.

Retired

Ilana 2.0

Ira Morganstern, M.D. is a Board Certified Psychiatrist who retired from Psychiatry in 2000 when he founded an Electric Health Recordcompany for Behavioral Health, based on a program he had written.  He is pleased to think about the more than 2 million electronic records that saved innumerable paper and trees in the past 17 years. He is a now consultant to the new start-up, Bikeista.

Free Range Studios, Production Manager

Jared Morgan is a creative polymath, combining his passion for design, storytelling, and emerging technologies to unearth new brand identities and launch stellar first impressions online and out in the world. With curiosity and compassion as guiding principles his design process follows these simple truths: research and development are essential to success, trust your gut since the first impression may be the last, and make it look easy.His 10+ years of experience at the crossroads between cutting edge technologies and creative team management on international blockbuster films, award winning documentaries, broadcast and online advertising have given depth and real-world pragmatism to his BA in English and Creative Writing from Texas State University. As a perpetual do-gooder working on social transformation, preserving collective wisdom and culture, and embodied awareness he finds deep joy working with other community organizers and change-makers.

Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Postdoc Researcher

I am a materials scientist with a passion for appreciating and nurturing our planet. I’m working at the water-energy nexus to develop technology that utilizes greenhouse gases, purifies water, and helps restore natural balance. It has been alarming to see science discredited recently, and I’m eager to partner with people across all disciplines to create a positive change for the environment.

Faludi Design, Sustainable Design Strategist and Educator

Jeremy Faludi (LEED AP BD+C) has been a sustainable design strategist and educator for over fifteen years, including teaching green product design at Stanford, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and elsewhere. He co-authored the Autodesk Sustainability Workshop and Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute's online learning, and has contributed to six books on sustainability, including Worldchanging: A User's Guide to the 21st Century. Jeremy designed the first version of AskNature.org for the Biomimicry Institute, a bicycle he helped design appeared in the Cooper Hewitt design museum, and he has consulted for the OECD on the environmental impacts of 3D printing.

Presidio Graduate School, Student

I'm interested in health and food equity. I spent five years at Impossible Foods doing product development and flavor work. I'm now working on my MBA at Presidio Graduate School as well as learning as much about Slow Food, permaculture, and urban farming as I can!

Judicial Council of California, LiveCycle Designer

I am excited to be attending my fourth GMS. I feel at happy, comfortable, and inspired in this community. I am a performing artist, intersectional feminist, and I believe that Black Lives Matter. I like to support white folks in learning about racism and white supremacy. I also like to share my experience with noticing and stopping interpersonal control and coercion. My favorite podcasts are Another Round, The Black Joy Mixtape, and 2 Dope Queens. In them I get to hear the experience of women of color without asking my POC friends to explain to me how white people like me oppress them. My camp nickname is Validextria, because if you share your authentic experience with me, I will validate it and you.

CEO, Ethelo

John is the Founder and CEO of Ethelo, an online platform for group decision-making. Ethelo enables groups of any size to make smart decisions quickly and fairly. Ethelo’s social mission is to advance new forms of online democracy. Previously he founded Pivot Legal, a leading human rights group in Canada. Pivot uses the law strategically to advance the interests of marginalized communities, including drug users, sex workers, and homeless people. The Ashoka Foundation awarded John a 3-year entrepreneur fellowship in 2005 for his work in building social impact organizations. He divides his time between San Francisco and Vancouver Canada.

Software Engineer/Entrepreneur in Big Data and Sustainable Agriculture

Josh is a tech entrepreneur / software engineer passionate about climate change mitigation, regenerative agriculture, and big data, and is excited about the possibilities of social entrepreneurship, design thinking, and system thinking to help humanity survive and thrive. Josh has co-founded several social/environmental startups, worked on search at Google, studied the power of exponential technologies to transform the world at Singularity University, and studied artificial intelligence (and entrepreneurship) during his MSCS at Stanford.

Academy for Coaching Excellence, Director of Community Partnerships 

Josh Van Vliet orchestrates experiences of community and belonging. He is a Course Leader and Director of Community Partnerships with the Academy for Coaching Excellence, and a certified life and leadership coach. Josh works to equip leaders with the skills to contribute resilience, creativity and support to creating a world where everyone is supported 100%. He is a co-founder of Coaching for Social Change. Josh is also an accomplished guitarist, bassist and singer, and loves getting groups of people singing together. You might also find him cooking communal dinners with his housemates (he lives in a co-op of coaches), or indulging his love for perfectly baked chocolate chip cookies and well-fitting pants.

New Media Ventures, Principal

Julie Menter is a Principal at New Media Ventures, a national network of early stage investors supporting startups that create progressive political change.

Throughout her career, Julie has searched for opportunities to make a positive impact on the world around her. As a strategy consultant, first with the Boston Consulting Group and then with Blu Skye Sustainability Consulting, she has worked with large companies and non-profit organizations to redefine what good business means.

Julie is also a co-founder of the GreenerMind Summit: a 3-day retreat for change makers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

She is originally from France where she received her MBA.

Stanford, Scientist/Independent Consultant

Originally from Israel, I came to the Bay area for a post doc working in computational biology (trying to understand the complex control systems that determine our physiology on a molecular level!  When these break down, we get disease, etc. I focus on machine learning applied to cancer and immunology). Currently doing freelance (mathematical) modeling on various projects. Passionate about: NATURE! (PCT is on bucketlist), positive world impact, green living, and other humans.

BoominGroup, Business Architect

I'm passionate about uniting people and businesses in pursuit of a shared purpose. I started BoominGroup as an engine and space for entrepreneurs to join forces, build dreams, and learn a new application of business – one that can contribute to personal fulfillment and benefit for all.

Noora Health, Co Founder and Chief Design Officer

Co-founder and chief design officer of Noora Health, a social enterprise that trains marginalized patient families with health skills to improve outcomes and save lives - putting capacity into the hands of those who need it most. My background in environmental engineering, scientific research, and human centered design are explorations into understanding the world and attempts at positive perturbations in systems. Before Noora Health, I led research campaigns in the Peruvian Amazon on the devastating environmental and health impacts of illegal gold mining, while a researcher at Carnegie Institution for Science and Stanford University. I have a BS in Environmental Engineering and a MS in Environmental Fluid Mechanics from Stanford University. Writer, designer, artist, scientist lady with a love of water, community and everything else in the biosphere, too.

True Value Company, Sr. Business Analyst

Experienced analyst with a systems perspective on analytics and projects. Diverse background of varied supply chain roles, often working as a liaison between teams. Interested in streamlining decision support and performance management using visualization tools and automation.

Paypal, Product Strategy Lead

Product and technology leader with 10 years of consulting background. Passionate about social impact and want to use my corporate and consulting experience towards building products that will make a net positive social impact. I have 2 projects in mind that I am currently planning. If interested in contributing / tag teaming, ask me about them :)

UC Berkeley, PhD Student, Environmental Science, Policy and Management

Learners Guild, Operations (and General Fixer) 

I've been working with start-ups in the social and environmental impact space for several years.  I thrive on helping good people tackle large, complicated problems.  I'm good at asking the right questions to get to root causes of personal and organizational roadblocks, and thought-partnering on solutions to remove them.  I jump in and get shit done.

Blue Heart, Co-Founder

Lindley co-founded Blue Heart, an organization that weaves together art, stories from frontline movement builders, and political education to mobilize people to give and act in support of grassroots, community-led organizations. Outside of Blue Heart, she is a lecturer at Stanford’s Design School, a mediator, a counselor, and a loving friend. Although her roots run deep below the Puget Sound and the Cascade mountains, she has fallen for the California coast and the Ponderosa pine-strewn granite of the Sierras. She has a fierce love for books, conflict mediation, community-building, backpacking, and dancing.

Lou It Now, Producer and Project Manager

I'm a freelance event producer who works with social good and community-driven organizations. I am a dancer in a company called No Mirror Movement and we create dance performances and content with a positive message about body image and self-worth. I am passionate about helping others live creatively and playfully and I hope to meet people here that might spur on some ideas I have for projects.

Abio Properties, Realtor

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Oakland and Berkeley mostly. I have a passion for community, and environmental preservation. I got the opportunity to go to Boarding school freshman year, at John Woolman (Nevada City, CA) and then to Oakland Tech's engineering academy & Berkeley High (class of '04). I now work in Construction and Real Estate and I'm currently interested in modular & Pre-fab home construction specifically for seniors and their long term housing needs. I see a great opportunity to provide access to housing and financial security through this option. I believe this could open up new ways we support each other as well as opening up how we think about assisted living in general. Looking forward to learning what I don't know I don't know and meeting all of you fabulous people!

UC Davis Energy Institute, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships

For more than two decades, Mark has explored how place shapes the human condition—as a phenomenologist, historian, urbanist, and advocate for sustainability. For UC Davis, he builds programs and partnerships to respond to the climate crisis with urgency and at scale. With broad expertise around the energy-water-food nexus, he is a recognized leader in the sustainability and smart cities sectors. He is a longtime advisor for Meeting of the Minds and an appointed member of the World Smart City Forum as well as an advisor for a number of mission-driven organizations globally.

Bikeista, Owner

As an architect, psychologist, and clothing designer for transportation cyclists/commuters, I'm passionate about evolving the culture/planet, inspiring connection, being abundant, eating healthy food, and designing spaces that are engaging for people to live/work in. At GMS17 I hope to offer raw energy, learning maps, and my understanding of the amazing possibilities that are open to us all. When I attended GMS15, I received a lot of input and support around my start-up BIKEISTA. Since then I have worked with two consultants that I met that summer, and am going to soon be working with a third one, so GMS has been a huge support for me. I am also still hoping to find links to developers who might be interested in building-out my Urban Studios Project for those who want to reduce their housing footprint. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Consumer Reports, Digital Products Program Manager

Upright Health, President

Since 2007, Matt has been helping people beat all kinds of stubborn, chronic, and debilitating pain. He is the founder of Upright Health and co-creator of the FAI Fix, a comprehensive online program to help people avoid unnecessary hip surgeries. He is currently on a mission to revolutionize the way people view, understand, and solve chronic pain.

Up Energy Group, Director

Costumes? Yes please. Fanny packs? Also those. Climate Finance and Social Enterprise? Sure, throw that in too. And Dogs!

Stag Dining Group, President

President and co-founder of Stag Dining Group, an event production and catering company that services some of the Bay Area's top firms. I have a passion to connect people with great design, food and drink, that showcase craftsmanship and integrity resulting in authentic experiences and meaningful interactions. I am passionate about sustainability, design, skiing, fishing and camping and connecting with those that want to push the needle further towards a cleaner, happier and more just future.

I'm a Canadian that came to San Francisco about a year and a half ago on a road trip. I had just completed my contract at Girls Inc. Limestone (a feminist non-profit) building out their first fund development and Marketing plans, and was looking for ways to contribute to a mission driven opportunity where I could have impact. When I arrived in the Bay area I was really impressed by the communities I found here, as well as the level of discourse around social change. So with only $1000 in my name I set out to try to find employment here. I ended up with a position at a local technical recruiting agency. I thought this would be a good opportunity to spend some time learning from the communities here while gaining an understanding how the industry disruptions caused by tech startups impact our communities. After 1 year my contracted ended and I am now between jobs and on a visitors visa looking for my next position. I'm looking to join a company where I can use my skills to contribute to a cause that I believe in. Most recently I interviewed at the impact hub, and an agricultural technology company.

Education: BSc in Psychology, MSc in Management specialized in Organizational Behavior Different contributions that I have made to my communities that I am proud of: - Raising awareness of mental health issues and helping people with mental health issues integrate into my communities - Coaching women on assertiveness- Coaching autistic individuals on social situations - Running multi-cultural events, including founding a cultural dinners club with over 200 members where individuals taught each other how to cook food from all over the world - Founding an outdoor adventures club and running events such as a 28 person 3-day canoe trip, cross-country skiing and cycling tripsSome of my plans for the next year if I'm able to secure employment in the bay area are to run some assertiveness workshops for women and participate in the development of communities that bring together mission driven individuals to start new projects.

Longer term, my ambition is to be an entrepreneur founding companies/non-profits that create some of the change I'd like to see in the world. In particular I'm driven toward initiatives that empower individuals through better understanding of themselves, others and the world, and the relationship between individual empowerment and the decentralization of societal power.

Emerald Kingdom Greenhouse, Agricultural Development Coordinator

Miguel is a United States Marine Corps Combat Veteran deployed to the “Triangle of Death,” Iraq in 2004/05, graduated with Honors from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 2010 with a BFA in Industrial Design, traveled to California, immersed himself in vermiculture, hydro/aquaponics, and permaculture, attended the Inaugural Greenermind Summit in 2010 and the two following years. This all culminated in the redesign of his future. Miguel is now the Agricultural Development Coordinator at Emerald Kingdom Greenhouse, LLC. He works out of Emerald Kingdom Greenhouse’s office at Singularity University Labs developing Community Driven, Tech Enabled, Sustainable Agriculture.

California Energy Commission, Supervisor

Mikhail Haramati is a supervisor in the R&D Division at the California Energy Commission. Her group conducts EPIC grant solicitations for technologies that improve efficiency in buildings. Mikhail has worked on energy policy at the state, national, and international level for over 10 years, on topics ranging from the water energy nexus, lighting energy use, residential retrofit, co-digestion, green jobs, and energy data access. Prior to her current role, Ms. Haramati served as a senior policy analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission and legislative advisor for the Office of Ratepayer Advocates. Ms. Haramati began her career in the CPUC’s Energy Division, evaluating and planning energy efficiency programs for nearly five years. She has also worked as the Industry Engagement Manager for the energy and behavior evaluation firm Opinion Dynamics, and as a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She has served on several boards and commissions including the Efficiency Council of California and the Berkeley Public Works Commission.

BuildATeam, Product Management

As the Head of Product at a nascent software development consultancy I have had the privilege to work with clients in a wide range of industries, from elderly care to freight forwarding.Prior to consulting I worked briefly in photovoltaics, biophysics, physical chemistry, and astrobiology as a scientist and engineer.I am increasingly investigating how I can empower those around me and advance altruistic causes around the world more effectively.In my free time, I enjoy organizing backpacking trips for beginners, finding and running California’s steepest trails, and seeing how far I can hike in a single long weekend (goal: 165 miles).

Lumeter Networks, CEO

Passionate about solving problems at scale, currently at Lumeter.net which builds the PAYG technology that enables solar companies to work with underserved populations. In the past, co-founded APC.org (internet services and advocacy in the developing world), pioneered community solar in Australia, and built two companies around green materials. Also interested in IoT, clean tech, community living, and lots more.

Gigantic Idea Studio, Marketing Consultant

Nicole is passionate about collaborating with communities to co-create a more just and sustainable future, using tools such as community-based social marketing, design thinking and regenerative design. Nicole has experience designing and managing projects ranging from waste and energy to water and agriculture. She is currently a Consultant at Gigantic Idea Studio, specializing in the promotion of environmental programs and behaviors through creative, multi-touch marketing. Nicole holds an M.S. and B.S. in Earth Systems with a focus on Sustainability Communication and Education from Stanford University and a Four Seasons Permaculture Design Certificate from the Regenerative Design Institute. When not exploring wicked problems, you might find her dancing, hiking, singing and asking empowering questions.

Mind Moves Consulting, Change Consultant

After many years of working for big firms, Nicole launched her own consultancy focused on values-driven clients and projects. As a certified Organizational Change Management practitioner, she is especially curious about how to leverage the science of change management to drive positive impact.  Nicole is also passionate about biking, yoga, mindfulness, cooking, and eco-tourism.

As a strategist and systems thinker, Nila's approach can be summed up as 'the whole is usually greater than the sum of its parts.' Previously she worked on a team that built a remote-sensing based weather insurance program for farmers in East Africa and Asia. After living abroad for the past several years, she has made the Bay area home.

The Root Solutions, Executive Director

Nya has always had a deep-seated passion for the environment and understanding human behavior. She is the executive director of Root Solutions, an organization that works at the confluence of both these disciplines. Her past work at Environmental Defense Fund was focused on the application of research in institutional design, sociology, economics and other fields to create policies and design principles that facilitate rational environmental decision-making, namely in service of preserving the world’s oceans. Nya holds a M.A. from the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, in conjunction with the Institute of Human Origins, at Arizona State University. She holds a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley. She was born and raised in San Francisco but now lives across the bay in Emeryville. On the side, Nya designs festival clothing and mixed metal jewelry.

Yellow Seed, Marketing and Social Media

Paulina enjoys the study of food systems and social justice. She is an activist and greatly appreciates the power of art.

Glassdoor, Senior Marketing Manager

I'm passionate about bringing about ideas to life on the frontiers of tech, sustainability, and emerging markets. So far, I’ve taken on reimagining schools for the 21st Century and delivering solar energy to the 1.3 billion people without electricity. I currently help lead marketing for B2B products at Glassdoor in Mill Valley.

A3Ventures, Product Marketing Lead

Rachek hails from Czechzekistan, where she lives with her grumpy husband, Boris. By day, she is a crack digital product marketer focused on products that fight climate change. By night, she's a yoga wizard and dance machine. Rachek is known for her standup comedy routines, large costume collection, and thick slavic accent.

Rachman Chung, DC, DACNB, Chiropractic Neurologist

I am a former skateboarder who transformed my passion for movement into dancing and exploring this amazing world. Professionally, I am a chiropractic neurologist and natural medicine practitioner who utilizes the latest advances neuroscience and rehabilitation to help those suffering from complex health conditions, such as concussion, dizziness, migraines, balance issues and movement disorders. I also assist your average weekend warrior with sport and spine injuries. Everything I have learned and use as tools to help others is based on my desire to understand and intentionally engage the forces and experiences that shape who we become injured, suffer illness and when we are striving for optimal health.

One World Play Project, Director of Corporate Partnerships

I am passionate about empowering people to live their best lives. I grew up in France and have travelled the world both on personal and professional voyages, working with Visa and the International Olympic Committee, and more recently with B-Corp/social enterprise One World Play Project. Also passionate about wine and food.

Booming Creative, Managing Director,

The builder. Rodrigo makes dreams work. He founded Booming Creative recognizing the joy in encouraging and supporting others to actualize their aspirations. In our community, he shares his gift of masterminding projects and product design to support the development of businesses in an efficient and timely way.

Elemental Excelerator, Communications + Partnerships

Let's geek out about cleantech, accelerators, facilitation and sci-fi!

Fair Trade USA, Program Manager in Community Development (Consultant)

Scott Oltmann holds a B.A. from Northern Arizona University in Communications with minors in International Communications, Religious Studies, and Law. He is a professional in the non-profit sector and higher education across Latin America and Southeast Asia. For the last seven years, he has worked abroad in various capacities with non-profit entities focused on empowering small-holder farmers, at risk indigenous communities, and students in the global south. His experience working and living in the Amazon with an endangered indigenous people, the Seikopai (Secoya), on social, economic, and environmental issues is evidence of his passion for social and environmental sustainability, and the protection of equal rights for underrepresented groups.

Currently, Scott is pursuing an MBA in Sustainable Management at Presidio Graduate School and seeking professional opportunities in a business development role or social compliance in supply chain management. He is interested in working with a startup or any organization that is ready to think differently. 

Empathic technologist and systems thinker creating technology for collective empowerment and conscious evolution. We are reflected in what we create—so as technologists, our reflections traverse the globe.

Trained as an environmental engineer, I once worked in water resources, water conservation, and international development. I’m currently figuring out a new path as I take on project management of large-scale art installations and art curation for festivals. I also practice Vipassana meditation, late-night dancing, and the life-changing magic of tidying up.

TekTailor, Inc., Founder/CEO

Steffen Kuehr is Founder and CEO of TekTailor, Inc., a Benefit Corporation with the mission to create more sustainable textile and apparel manufacturing jobs in Sonoma County and to change the way we purchase and manufacture products. TekTailor offers contract cutting & sewing services and owns two consumer brands: "Sonoma-USA" – focused on protecting our environment by diverting used materials from local landfills and turning them into unique and purposeful products and “BPE-USA” – dedicated to protecting our Heroes and Craftsman with highest quality protective and work safety gear. Before getting into manufacturing, Steffen worked in the mobile telecommunications sector and co-founded tripwolf.com - a worldwide travel guide and travel community website. Steffen lives in Marin County and is a proud dad of three.

The Right Brain Entrepreneur, Business Coach

Stephanie Staidle is a licensed art therapist and business coach who helps individuals and companies bring their visions alive into the world through businesses they love that make a difference. With an extensive background in psychology (BA from Georgetown University) and the arts (SNSImages), Stephanie has over eight years experience as a counselor, art therapist and personal development coach. She is a licensed creative art therapist in the state of New York (LCAT), and nationally board certified (ATR-BC). Prior to receiving her Masters in Art Therapy at New York University, she spent many years working for large corporations doing marketing and advertising for clients such as American Express and Clear Channel.

Kiva, Community Manager

Taylor has a heart for creating international community and finding solutions to environmental and social injustice. A Bay Area native and UC Santa Cruz alum, Taylor began in public health, promoting vaccine usage in Ghana and San Francisco. She found that many problems with inadequate access to healthcare could be solved through economic empowerment, and transitioned into that field by serving as a Kiva Fellow in Washington, D.C. and Nairobi, Kenya. After seeing Kiva’s impact in the field, Taylor joined the Community team in 2014 and has helped connect lenders and borrowers across the globe ever since. In her free time, she is learning to salsa dance, swims in the bay, and loves “takin’ it to the streets!”.

Stem, Director of Policy

Founder, Grounded Guild

Tom Long change the paradigm of Death Care in North America. Create a sustainable social enterprise and e-commerce web marketplace where families (e.g. the LOHAS market), home funeral guides, and artisans will find each other. People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose.Experience:•12 years directing organized camps, environmental education and retreat facilities; accreditation of 3 locations (site & facility, food service, programs, staffing, health & safety, administration, etc.)•20 years in business including 13 years as an entrepreneur; built a B2B payroll service through community networking and customer testimonials; provided unparalleled services to 325 employers; 10 staff; acquired a competitor; sold to a reputable, regional service.•3 years, finance and human resources for a county-wide United Way•25 years in Rotary; service above self to club, community, vocation, and international projects.•3 + years researching and developing social enterprise plan for Grounded Guild, family directed funerals and natural burial supported by home funeral guides and artisans offering earth-friendly burial goods.Education:•Bachelor of Arts, Social Sciences•Two Masters programs: Organized Camp Administration; Environmental Education Administration•Masters of Business Administration in Sustainable Business, 2013•Business Accelerators:oKick, Impact Hub San Francisco, 2014oBoost Camp, Santa Clara University, Global Social Benefit Institute, 2014oClean Tech Open, Western Region, 2015

Cushman & Wakefield, Manager, Corporate Responsibility

Went from a barefoot hippie planting trees abroad to corporate sustainability — I enjoy it all.

Consultant

I’m passionate about social justice, climate change, sustainable food, making clean energy happen faster, and transforming the “culture of waste”. I hold a Masters in Sustainable Energy Policy from Columbia University and have worked in energy, political risk consulting, and politics. In my career and life, I’m interested in combining my passion for sustainability with making a positive impact in the world. I love to travel to other countries, learn from the people, and get ideas about what injustices need to be addressed. Since I recently moved to the bay area, I’m excited about connecting with this community and sharing ideas on how we can create a better world together.

This will be my GMS #5. I was on a mission to ensure long-term, affordable, sustainable access to clean water for the world. Now I'm re-considering that mission. My areas of expertise are: Characters / Costumes / Cuddles / Consciousness / Conservation. I am passionate about problem solving with good people. One of my dreams is that more people think about the consequences of all their actions. For fun I dance. I am working to smash the patriarchy.