Blogs & Ecology

The green networking space is getting crowded. Countless online resources are available where green-minded professionals can connect and interact. But you know that a profession has truly arrived when bona fide professional associations arise to support and promote it. Several niche organizations have sprung up to serve professionals in specific areas like CSR or supply chain. Marsha Willard, the Executive Director of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), believes her organization goes beyond niche to address the entire profession:

Which online social networks do you use? Facebook? MySpace? LinkedIn? How much time do you spend there? Is it time well spent? Your mileage may vary, but I find I get more return on time invested on networks that focus on a specific professional niche or interest. These are places where I can do some like-minded linking to connect and collaborate on topics of shared interest. A growing number of online networks are taking this niche approach – bringing together peer networks of professionals working in comparable job functions.

(originally posted at Hudder.com)

Huddler users asked Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, all your trashy questions (ha ha) over the past few weeks, and Tom answered.

Today I interviewed, via the telephone, co-founder of BBMG Mitch Baranowski. He began by telling me that BBMG is “a hub for socially conscious companies that practice the triple bottom line.” The rest of the interview focused on BBMG’s Conscious Consumer Report.

Q. In the introduction of the report it mentions “the rise of the conscious consumer.” What caused that to occur?

3P SoundBite emerged from our desire to show that entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in sustainability come from all different walks of life...they could be people you know, or they could even be you! Every Thursday, we bring you a new profile and a new perspective.

3P SoundBite emerged from our desire to show that entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in sustainability come from all different walks of life...they could be people you know, or they could even be you! Every Thursday, we bring you a new profile and a new perspective.

3P SoundBite emerged from our desire to show that entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in sustainability come from all different walks of life...they could be people you know, or they could even be you! Every Thursday, we bring you a new profile and a new perspective.

3P SoundBite emerged from our desire to show that entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in sustainability come from all different walks of life...they could be people you know, or they could even be you! Every Thursday, we bring you a new profile and a new perspective.

3P SoundBite emerged from our desire to show that entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in sustainability come from all different walks of life...they could be people you know, or they could even be you! Every Thursday, we bring you a new profile and a new perspective.

Over 80% of all communities in the United States rely on the trucking industry to deliver fuel, medicine and other consumer goods. Consultant-turned-trucking entrepreneur Andrew Smith talks about how his company, ATDynamics, is pushing the envelope on sustainability in an diesel-fuel powered industry.

When I recently had the opportunity to interview Greensburg mother Sharon Schmidt she sounded tired but resolute. Much like you’d expect a mom who has been through a lot in the recent past, putting her own life back together while ensuring her son has the best possible experience as a high school junior despite the fact that their entire town has been rebuilding from a tornado that took it off the map.

Her words give life to what it means to be a mom from Greensburg, and I suspect you’ll enjoy reading what she has to say this Mother’s Day as much as I did listening to her speak a short time ago.

3P SoundBite emerged from our desire to show that entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in sustainability come from all different walks of life...they could be people you know, or they could even be you! Every Thursday, we bring you a new profile and a new perspective.

Perhaps the most passionate movers of sustainability is students. Olivier Pinçon (pronounced Pinson) is a transplant from Paris. He began his master's degree thesis at Stanford in 2006 and says he's literally surrounded by innovation in Silicon Valley. His first new English word that he learned was venture capitalist!

TreeHugger: You actually were not yet mayor when the tornado struck, so what were the first things that went through your mind as an ordinary citizen after the disaster?

Bob Dixson: Well just get stuff cleaned up. Concentrate on your own property and helping your neighbors and just get cleaned up and go from there. We didn’t really get an idea of what we had until we got stuff moved away, with just piles of debris all over.

TH: And what did you believe were the most pressing issues facing Greensburg the day before the tornado?

When I called Principal Randy Fulton and asked for an interview he was as busy as any Principal might be on any given school day; particularly if they were in the process of planning the new high school to be built to LEED platinum standards and the President was scheduled to visit in just a few short days to give the commencement address at graduation not so long after the entire town had been swept away by a huge tornado.

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination

3P SoundBite emerged from our desire to show that entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in sustainability come from all different walks of life...they could be people you know, or they could even be you! Every Thursday, we bring you a new profile and a new perspective.

He’s a high school student from the town of Greensburg Kansas, and his enthusiasm for the green movement and the amazing things it’s doing for his town after the devastation caused by the tornado that leveled it are an inspiring look at the future of green in America.

After spending close to an hour speaking with him by phone I realized precisely why the rebuilding of Greensburg can become an uplifting model for us all. I trust you’ll enjoy his insight and enthusiasm as much as I did.

TreeHugger: What do you believe made the people of Greensburg decide to rebuild the town in a green fashion?