DEBORAH FLEISCHER
390 Throckmorton, Mill Valley, CA 94941, (415) 302-2655
Deborah@greenimpact.com

Sustainability Strategist and Communications Specialist

SUMMARY

• Accomplished writer with experience transforming complex information into compelling communication pieces. Published pieces include Green Teams: Engaging Employees in Sustainability, an environmental brief for the Marin Community Foundation, a briefing guide for grantmakers on sustainability for the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) and regular contributions to www.triplepundit.com.

• A LEED AP with a Master in Environmental Studies from Yale University and over 20 years of direct experience working on sustainability-related challenges in both the public and private sectors.

• A key player in designing and promoting numerous successful cross-sector partnerships and new green initiatives, including the California Environmental Dialogue, Sustainable Conservation, Curb Your Carbon and the Institute at the Golden Gate.

EDUCATION

HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Master in Public Administration, 1995.
YALE UNIVERSITY, Master in Environmental Studies, 1985.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA, B.A. Environmental Studies, 1983.

RECENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GREEN IMPACT
President, October 2000 - present, San Francisco
President and founder of Green Impact, a strategic environmental consulting practice that helps organizations design, launch and promote profitable green initiatives. Green Impact supports new sustainability initiatives by providing services in sustainability strategy, stakeholder outreach, program management and written communications. Sustainability related projects have included:

• Marin Community Foundation
  Took the lead researching and writing a short environmental issues brief, highlighting key environmental issues of interest in Marin. The goal was to educate and inspire potential donors.

• Marin Community Foundation
  Interviewed the key sustainability stakeholders in Marin and developed a funding strategy for the Earth Day Every Day Fund. Took the lead in developing the communications materials for a new school-based carbon reduction campaign called Curb Your Carbon, which was launched in 24 Marin schools, canceling over 700 cars worth of emissions. Coordinated key non-profit partner, facilitated meetings and oversaw the development of the web site and outreach materials.

• Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA)
  Researched and co-wrote with Joel Makower Sustainable Consumption and Production: Strategies for Accelerating Positive Change. Interviewed thought leaders from NGOs and companies such as Conservation International, Environmental Defense, Starbucks, McDonalds and Nike to identify best practices.

• California Environmental Dialogue (CED)
  Played a critical role in the design and launch of CED, a successful high-level policy dialogue that brings together corporate leaders from leading business, such as Bank of America, Disney, Chevron, Hewlett Packard and PG&E, together with governmental and NGO leaders. Raised $350,000 to support new initiatives related to transportation, air quality and habitat protection in California.

• Natural Capital Institute
  Developed the initial framework of sustainability categories for the Wiser Earth database, which grew into the structure summarized in Paul Hawkin’s book Blessed Unrest.

• Sonoma Land Trust
  Developed a successful strategy for acquiring an ecologically critical 2,300-acre historic wetland and uplands in the North Bay. Wrote successful funding proposals to the Wildlife Conservation Board and The Moore Foundation for $16 million.

• Sonoma Land Trust
  Assisted with the successful completion of the Sonoma Baylands Bay Trail. Developed the Trail Plan, obtained a California Public Utilities Commission permit to allow hikers to cross the rail road track to reach the trail, and developed the overall theme and content for the interpretive signage.

• LandPaths
  Worked with staff and the board to review LandPaths' accomplishments over the past ten years. Developed a marketing piece that highlighted their strengths and future vision to support fundraising efforts.

• BedZen

Researched the cons of using polyester-based fabrics for a start-up company with bamboo-based products.

• City and County of San Francisco, Department of Environment
  Planned and implemented the 2007 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) conference. The conference aimed to be zero waste, with a composting and recycling program. Worked to build the City's green purchasing program for municipal departments, with a focus on greening computers, janitorial cleaners, and office supplies.

INSTITUTE AT THE GOLDEN GATE
Program Director, June 2007 – June 2008, Sausalito

A key player in the design and launch of the Institute at the Golden Gate—a public-private partnership between the Golden Gate National Parks Service, the National Parks Service and Cavallo Point, a new green hotel and conference facility. Developed the framework for the initial programs, with an emphasis on cross-sector dialogue, and grew successful partnerships with The Aspen Institute, Conservation International and the National Park Service leadership development program. Supported Cavallo Point’s LEED certification process.

CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL DIALOGUE
Director, November 1996 - April 1999, San Francisco

Played a critical role in the design and implementation of a successful stakeholder dialogue that brings corporate leaders, from businesses such as Bank of America, Disney, Chevron, Hewlett Packard and PG&E, together with governmental and NGO leaders to develop new initiatives related to transportation, air quality, and habitat protection in California.

Key successes included:

• Wrote grants that raised $350,000 from the Hewlett, Packard, and Compton Foundations, and US EPA to support operating expenses.
• Produced important policy briefings for public and private sector stakeholders on transportation and habitat protection, including a consensus statement on habitat and its value in increasing California's prosperity.
• Worked with Peter Schwartz and the Global Business Network (GBN) to develop a two-day scenario-building workshop that allowed CED to identify key strategic issues to focus on over the next 3-5 years. Research and wrote the background documentation for the workshop, California at a Glance.
• Helped set the groundwork for the creation of a successful and on-going organization. See www.cedlink.org for more information.

SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION
Senior Project Manager, September 1995 - October 1997 San Francisco

Focused on the development of strategies that maximize conservation while providing an economic return. For more info see www.suscon.org. Key accomplishments included:

• Worked with Wells Fargo to help them sell a 60,000-acre ranch with conservation values in the Central Valley to The Nature Conservancy. Explored the full range of options for the property, ranging from development to preservation as a conservation bank.
• Supported founder Frank Boren's participation in the California Environmental Dialogue (CED) and ultimately left to be CED's first Director.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATES
Senior Associate, December 1989 - June 1993, San Francisco

Managed a variety of multidisciplinary environmental projects for local governments to assess the environmental impacts of development projects.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Energy Planner, September 1985 - November 1988, Santa Barbara

Analyzed impacts associated with major offshore oil and gas development projects.