Tuesday, January 24th 2006 @ Schlafly Taproom
Panelists
Gary Steps – Principal, Butterfly Energy Works
After a long corporate career as an engineer in R&D and business development at IBM, Gary used his business skills and his passion for green building to start his own energy consulting firm. He offered up advice for the career changer and for those looking to start up their own business.
Glenda Abney – Director, Earthways Center
Glenda began her career in natural resources management and environmental education, working for the National Park Service and managing Powder Valley Nature Preserve. She later moved on to working in the nonprofit sector doing outreach and education for pollution prevention, green building, and energy and water conservation. She now manages Earthways Center and all it’s related outreach and education programs. Glenda discussed not only her career path but also her insight from interviewing and hiring many people throughout her career. Glenda is always looking for volunteers at Earthways.
Krista Durlas – In Store Educator, Whole Foods Market
Krista has worked in EHS management at a Water Utility, in Pollution Prevention at Motorola, managing “sustainable industries” partnership programs and water quality regulatory programs at US EPA. She also founded and managed an international sustainable development education and consulting nonprofit organization. She now works at Whole Foods Market doing a combination of inreach and outreach locally and supporting environmental intiatives at Whole Foods throughout the midwest. She compared and contrasted working in the traditional EHS roll (1 guy responsible for environmental compliance) with the sustainable business roll (every guy responsible for doing better) with working in government and nonprofits who try to support businesses in their quest for sustainability. Krista is always willing to help others in their job search. Just get in touch.
Resources
The day of our meeting, Grist Magazine posted an article on Green Job Prospects for 2006. http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/1/24/114836/288?source=daily
Kevin Doyle, who wrote the article, also authored Environmental Careers in 21st Century, one of the books on the info table. http://www.eco.org/site/c.dnJLKPNnFkG/b.942853/k.CD2A/Books.htm
Other books on the info table included some of the most referred to texts for sustainable business strategies including:
Green Job Links
Best comprehensive list, not neccessarily local – http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/jobs/index.cfm
Best subscription-based green jobs listing – www.ecojobs.com
Central Spot for recruiting all federal environmental internships – http://www.eco.org/
