About Big Green G
Big Green G helps businesses go green with a simple step-by-step program. Our trusted verification system helps businesses get recognized for each eco-friendly step they take, providing this information to environmentally-conscious consumers so they can make eco-friendly shopping decisions.Our Goals:
Make going green easy and inexpensive We aim to make going green easy and cost-effective. Here are some steps we take:- Our members have access to hundreds of easy step-by-step tutorials as well as unlimited technical support throughout the year.
- We recognize that making a business sustainable is a process, so we let our members take it one category at a time, recognizing them for each improvement.
- We offer unparalleled resources to help business get more traffic for going green, including media tools and consumer guides.
- Our system was developed with the consultation of top academics and environmental professionals.
- All of our members proudly display exactly what steps they took to be verified on our website.
- All of our members verify their initial steps with photos or receipts and are then subject to random spot checks through the year.
Team
| Jeff Schleider -Managing Director, manages partner consultation and research and development.
Prior to founding Big Green G, Jeff was active participant in the New York City green building movement, where he was the Managing Director of thebuiltenvionment.org, an interactive database of New York City green buildings and was one of the first in the city to earn the Ecobroker designation. In 2007, Jeff was selected to serve on the LEED for Homes in NYC subcommittee, helping to give direction to the USGBC’s new rating system. Jeff has also been a featured green building expert in various media, including The Real Deal and MSNBC. Jeff founded the Big Green G to give consumers a credible system to gauge green businesses while making it easier for businesses to make environmentally friendly choices. Jeff graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. |
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| Jamie Blumenthal - Co-founder, manages strategic business alliances, marketing, branding and public relations.
Prior to founding Big Green G, Jamie was the CEO of JBMW Real Estate Acquisitions, based out of Newark New Jersey. In that capacity, Jamie managed renovation and ground-up construction of properties, ranging from affordable apartments to luxury houses. During his 3 years in the position, JBMW also reconstructed more than 200 units of federally subsidized housing, helping lead an effort to revitalize neighborhoods in Newark and Irvington, NJ. As an enthusiastic supporter of the green movement, Jamie founded Big Green G to bring sustainability practices to businesses in a language they understand. Jamie graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. |
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| Zack Korenstein - Senior Indoor Air Quality Specialist,is the senior voice in developing criteria related to indoor air quality and environment, focusing on chemical and physical exposure issues. Zack is currently an occupational health specialist at a major private university, where he also sits on their Sustainability Task Force. Zack previously worked as an environmental health and safety consultant conducting exposure assessments, safety evaluations, mold and asbestos assessments, managing environmental bio remediation projects for large and small industry, and government contracting for the US Public Health Service throughout the New York Metro area. Zack graduated from Rutgers University's School of Environmental and Biological Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Health in Environmental and Occupational Health at Hunter College. | -- |
| Joseph Schaffer - Senior Energy and Water Specialist is Licensed civil engineer and a LEED accredited professional. He leads development of BGG's energy and water guidelines. He has over a decade of engineering and design experience in residential and commercial building systems. He also currently holds the position of senior project engineer in an esteemed New York firm which acts as a multidisciplinary provider of environmental, planning and engineering services. | -- |
| Mark Hart -Senior Waste Management and Recycling Specialist President of Training Consultants Inc. and has over 18 years of waste management experience, including several years as a regional manager of recycling and disposal operations. His facilities have been recognized for innovative recycling and environmental protection; and have been recognized by Orange County, Florida for their "Environmental Excellence." He currently helps to develop BGG waste management policy. | -- |
| Jeni Yang - Chief Strategy Officer Has worked for Accenture, with experience in Retail and Consumer Products industries. Her portfolio focuses on business development and strategy projects for both Fortune 500 clients and as well as start-up ventures. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Columbia Business School, with a concentration on sustainable businesses and entrepreneurship. | -- |
| Rena Englander - Office Manager manages Big Green G’s day to day operations. Prior to joining Big Green G, she worked in the Fashion Industry, including design houses of Ann Taylor, Victoria's Secret, and Spiegel. | -- |
| Mark Caldwell –Art Director is a co-founder of CardwellBeach, which is responsible for the design and development of Big Green G’s graphics, including website, stickers and brochures. Mark is an Interactive Art Director at Grey Advertising, where he works on a wide range of accounts, including E*TRADE, Hess, and Def Jam Recordings. In 2007, he was recognized as “Webmaster of the Year” by the WWW Association for his personal Web site. He also received the Web award in January 2007 frp, DesignFirms.org. Mark graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Media from Marist College. | -- |
| Michael Beach- Art Director is a co-founder of CardwellBeach, which is responsible for the design and development of Big Green G’s graphics, including website, stickers and brochures. Mike is currently a an Interactive Art Director at Grey Advertising where he is currently running the creative end of Captain Morgan North America and Global interactive. Mike has also worked with clients including E*Trade, Hugo Boss, Robitussin, Smuckers, PBS, AdCouncil, and MoveOn.org. Mike graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Media from Marist College. | -- |
| Sarah Henderson –Program Associate is currently a junior pursuing an Environmental Studies major, with minors in Metropolitan Studies and Spanish at NYU. She serves as the co-president of EarthMatters!, NYU’s only environmental undergraduate group. In addition, she is also the co-chair of NYU Sustainability Task Force Recycling and Transportation working group, which assesses current practices and recommends improvements in those realms. Previously, Sarah interned for Greenpeace as an online organizer for their New York office. In high School, she was the co-founded of the Palmer Trinity Environmental Club. Sarah has been working for Big Green G since January ’09, primarily researching and writing knowledge base articles, managing social media campaigns, and representing Big Green G in various trade shows. | -- |
| Deekshita Kuchukulla –Program Associate a junior at New York University, is majoring in environmental studies and has been involved with Big Green G's internship program since January. In the few short months in the internship program, she has gained much hands-on experience in marketing, research, and advocacy in the environmental sector. She is also currently working at NYU School of Law in the Office of Career Services; previously, she was a Research Assistant for Rutgers University's food science department. | -- |
| Leslie Lang –Program Associate | -- |
| Elise Levyn –Program Associate | -- |
| Daniel Lorch –Program Associate Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Daniel received a BA in Sustainable Development and International & Global Studies from Brandeis University. During his time at the university, he worked in the Water Policy Department of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, developing water policies for the state of Massachusetts. There, he also researched national and local water conservation policies and reviewed Watershed Action Plans in order to provide recommendations for improvements to local environments. Daniel has also worked with the Earthwatch Institute, developing a partnership project between HSBC and Brazilian NGOs as well as evaluating applicants for the Alcoa Fellowship Program. Previous to joining the Big Green G, Daniel worked as a researcher in the New York branch of the Sierra Club. At Big Green g, Daniel plays an integral role in the research and development of new industry checklists and standards. | -- |
| Amanda Markowitz –Program Associate | -- |
| Ashna Bhardwaj –Program Associate is currently an undergraduate student at NYU pursuing a B.S. in Economics, and a double minor in business and psychology. Ashna has held various leadership positions in NYU student organizations and is actively interested in promoting social change. At Big Green G, Ashna helps design distribution models as well as general marketing and support materials. Upon graduation, Ashna would like to continue playing a role in the interaction of environmentalism and business. | -- |
| Jeri Lee Jodice - Design Director is the founder of East Valley Creative and a holds a BFA from The Savannah College of Art and Design of Savannah, Georgia. She is responsible for helping to maintain brand continuity among BigGreenG and their clients with the use of web site component design, marketing packets and other brand elements. Jeri Lee has also worked with companies including M. Silver Associates Public Relations, Santa Fe Trend Magazine, NCM Fathom Events, Cruise Line Industry Association and the Santa Fe Youth Symphony. |
