Green Canary Sustainability Consulting

Our Team

Green Canary’s core team is made up of professionals with years of experience in business strategy, policy development, program management, process change and above all else, communications and marketing. Additionally, we have a network of partners with specialized expertise to help as the situation warrants.

Kevin Tuerff  Principal [+]

Tuerff is cofounder of EnviroMedia Social Marketing – since 1997, the leading U.S. marketing agency delivering authentic, ethical campaigns that achieve measurable results and have generated $80 million in revenue.

Tuerff's experience with sustainability runs deep. From his background in legislative issues and a stint as the manager of the Pollution Prevention Program at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (now Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) to his work bringing an ethical approach to green marketing with business partner Valerie Davis at EnviroMedia, Tuerff has made environmental issues his passion.

Underlying his success has been a strong commitment to innovation and authenticity when it comes to finding solutions for sustainability issues. Tuerff led Dell to revamp its electronic waste recycling program, engaging with stakeholders from around the country to turn the company from environmental laggard into environmental leader. Along the way, he worked with various internal departments to change practices, such as reviewing supplier commitments and adopting recycled-content paper for all catalogs (which now actually saves the company money). Most recently, he worked with the branding team to develop platforms for Dell's global environmental initiatives.

Tuerff also led efforts contributing to a 70 percent increase in sales for renewable energy provider Green Mountain Energy Company and established sustainability platforms for the U.S. subsidiary of TetraPak.

Tuerff’s efforts to maintain integrity in green marketing have been featured in Brandweek and U.S. News & World Report. He is also a frequent guest lecturer on marketing and ethics at The American Academy of Advertising and at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin.

Valerie Davis  Principal [+]

Whether sounding a warning to greenwashers on NBC’s TODAY show or spending all day in a landfill to bring attention to the dismal state of U.S. recycling efforts, Davis passionately speaks out about the issues that matter. Whether as a participant at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (in 2007 and 2008) or as a blogger and columnist for outlets like Environmental Leader, Davis has championed efforts to inject ethics and authenticity into companies' sustainability programs and communications efforts.

Davis was the brains behind the Greenwashing Index, an online forum for public discourse on the good and bad efforts of advertisers to promote what they do for the environment. The Greenwashing Index reflects Davis' strong belief that companies should be strategic with their sustainability efforts, ensuring they don't talk big while delivering very little. It was named one of the 10 Best Ideas for 2008 by Brandweek Magazine and was recognized by the TODAY Show, Newsweek and others.

In 1997, Davis founded EnviroMedia Social Marketing – America’s first full-service advertising and public relations firm dedicated solely to improving the environment and public health – with her business partner Kevin Tuerff. In addition to her work on developing sustainability programs and working with environmental stakeholders, Davis has led programs like Don’t Mess with Texas (named America’s Favorite Slogan in 2006, beating Nike’s "Just Do It" and "Got Milk?") and the Water IQ campaign, which in the North Texas area helped cut daily peak water use by 200 million gallons a day.

Davis has spoken in Washington, D.C. for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on "Social Marketing: Inspiring Individuals to Act on Energy Efficiency," and has served as a panelist at the Potomac Watershed Trash Summit. Davis earned her Bachelor of Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin.

Jill Shoup  Director of Research [+]

For more than 12 years, Shoup has brought a strategic mindset and research-based approach to corporate, nonprofit and government projects. In addition to Green Canary, she currently serves as the Director of Account Planning and Research for EnviroMedia Social Marketing. In that role, she directs all research-based projects across multiple methodologies. Shoup also applies that research to agency campaigns, analyzing the data and using it to formulate sound strategies.

During her tenure with EnviroMedia, Shoup has attained broad experience with national brands and issue-oriented campaigns. In particular, Shoup led the Don't Mess with Texas statewide litter prevention campaign for five years, overseeing a 33 percent reduction in roadside litter during that time. She was also instrumental in extensive research projects for the Carpet and Rug Institute, and for research and community-engagement campaigns for the cities of Austin and Dallas, the Hill Country Conservancy and others.

Shoup's background in strategic development also includes work with the World Wildlife Fund, the Propane Education and Research Council, Pace Foods, Frost Bank and others. She continues to work with EnviroMedia as well as Green Canary, guiding research for both companies.

Shoup holds a B.A. from Tulane University and a master’s in Science from Texas A&M in Social Psychology, where her research focused on health communications, social norms and psychological reactance.

Talley Summerlin  Analyst / Project Leader [+]

Summerlin provides eight years of sustainability experience in the corporate world, ranging from public and community relations to creative facilitation and idea generation. As a director at Green Canary Sustainability Consulting, he offers a strong personal and professional commitment to environmental issues.

Throughout his career, Summerlin has developed and managed environmental programs and events for world-class sustainable brands. For Seventh Generation, he coordinated WeeGeneration.com, a major Web initiative benefiting Healthy Child Healthy World. This site included an interview with famed environmental architect William McDonough, a testimonial video with “green mom” Sheryl Crow and Web slideshows describing the IDEO deep-dive design process for the Wee Generation baby bag. In addition, Summerlin managed the public relations team for Dell’s ongoing environmental programs, which included Plant a Tree For Me, global free recycling, Energy Star compliance and climate neutrality.

Summerlin earned his B.A. in Communication with a minor in Art at Trinity University, and his master’s in English at the University of Arkansas.

 

Network of Partners

Dave Anderson  water, energy, infrastructure [+]

Anderson is a consultant with Black & Veatch, specializing in the implementation of sustainability principles through engineering design. With a Professional Engineering license and 15 years of consulting experience, Anderson has implemented numerous projects with sustainability components including materials recycling, water scarcity planning, energy conservation, land conservation and waste reuse.

As Chairman of the Environmental Board of one of the most sustainable large cities in the United States, Anderson has provided recommendations on the Austin Climate Protection Plan, developed a comprehensive water conservation strategy, recommended air pollution reduction measures and developed a mechanism by which development projects could gain flexibility by achieving minimum LEED standards.

Robert Borowski  watersheds, planning, community engagement [+]

Borowski has been immersed in environmental and sustainability issues for more than 20 years. Rob is currently pursuing a doctorate in community and regional planning at the University of Texas with a focus on sustainability and watersheds. He also works as a project director at Texas Impact – a statewide religious grassroots network working to advance public policies consistent with universally held social principles. Previously, Borowski served as coordinator for the Environmental Science Institute and in various roles with the Center for Sustainable Development, including assistant director. He has been involved in a wide range of projects from long-term planning for the Galveston Bay Estuary to campus sustainable energy initiatives.

Prior to his U.T. experience, Borowski worked with hundreds of communities, large and small businesses, military bases, cities and non-governmental organizations to implement environmental and sustainability management programs through the Clean Texas program at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In his role, he helped design and implement pollution prevention, community outreach and environmental management programs. Borowski engineered the first partnership with the EPA's National Performance Track Program to recognize and offer incentives for environmental performance at both the state and federal levels. He was also the first Manager for Environmental Affairs at H-E-B, Texas' largest private company.

Borowski has degrees in Geology from Wayne State University, and Environmental Management from University of Texas at San Antonio.

Don K. Brown  design for the environment [+]

Brown is founder and CEO of EcoVelocity Associates, an international consulting firm that specializes in developing time-to-market, eco-product strategies. As a former executive at Dell, Brown drove award-winning eco-products and services, streamlined processes to reduce time-to-market, and turned environmental challenges into wins. Brown has more than 25 years of experience advising C-suite executives, developing and marketing products, managing engineering and compliance functions and driving large, complex product/technology programs.

Brown earned his master’s in Management from MIT and a master’s in Solid State Physics from Columbia University. He served as Dell’s delegate to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Prince of Wales’ Business and the Environment Programme. While at IBM, Brown earned a master certification in program management from George Washington University. Brown currently serves on the board of Keep Austin Beautiful.

Phil Cook  chemical, engineering, development [+]

Cook is a 30-year veteran of The Dow Chemical Company. Prior to his 2007 retirement, Cook was Senior Advisor, Corporate Vice President for Strategic Development & New Ventures and Senior Vice President of Specialty Chemicals & Thermosets, an $11 billion portfolio of specialty businesses.

Cook is former Chairman of the Board of Directors of UOP LLC, Director of Univation Technologies and Director of Dow Agrosciences. Cook currently serves as a director of Methanex Corporation, and is an advisory board member of the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.

Bill Fry  retail, processes, food products [+]

For nearly 30 years, Fry was an integral part of H-E-B's quality assurance programs, with the title of Vice President of Quality Assurance and Environmental Affairs from 1987 until his retirement in 2006. In that time, Fry developed and implemented quality systems and innovations that ensured "Absolutely Safe Food" in more than 300 retail facilities, 11 manufacturing plants and more than 4,000 store brand products.

Fry helped H-E-B revamp its Houston truck fleet, drove strong participation in various community environmental programs and diverted more than 100,000 tons of material from landfills annually through in-house recycling activities. He also created the H-E-B Technical Center, where scientific innovations delivered solutions to the various challenges facing the company.

Along the way, Fry has served on the U.S. EPA's Good Neighbor Environmental Board, the Texas A&M Institute of Food Science and Engineering Advisory Board and as a trustee of the Witte Museum in San Antonio. He holds degrees from Kent State and The Ohio State University.

John Howard, Jr.  policy, government affairs, energy [+]

Howard is a principal/founder of The Clarendon Group, a firm specializing in environmental and energy policy. He previously was a partner with the law firm Vinson & Elkins, assisting clients such as Dell, Mesa Power, Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold and the U.S. Green Building Council in developing and achieving proactive internal and governmental sustainability policies and practices on climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, habitat restoration, and governmental, community and business partnerships.

Howard has held senior policy positions in the White House and the Texas Governor's Office. As Federal Environmental Executive, he promoted sustainable environmental stewardship throughout the federal government. Howard currently chairs the U.S. EPA's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology and the Texas Water Foundation, as well as serving on the Keep Texas Beautiful board.

Pat Nathan  executive integration, supply chain/procurement [+]

Nathan has spent the majority of her career in the high-tech industry in a variety of roles. She has held global executive positions with Data General (EMC) and Dell, both in procurement services, and in her latest role, forming and leading Dell's sustainability effort. In this position, she was responsible for managing the balance of Dell's growth strategy with goals to minimize the company's impact on natural and human resources.

Early in 2006, Nathan transitioned to a consulting role with Dell in order to move closer to her family in North Carolina. She has since added more Fortune 100 clients to her professional roster, and serves as vice-chairman of the board of Sustainable North Carolina. Nathan is also leading a team to bring the nonprofit Dress for Success to the Research Triangle area. Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a support network and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Nathan's higher education background is in chemistry and statistics.

Steve Price  global brand strategies [+]

Price has partnered with some of the world's preeminent marketers in crafting and implementing holistic communications strategies for more than 30 years. He began his career at the acclaimed DDB advertising agency and for nearly 25 years served in various management capacities at Publicis Worldwide, including almost 10 years serving as President and then CEO of its Mid-America division.

Steve's experience includes a wide range of corporate and brand-building assignments with such notable industry leaders as Anheuser-Busch, Nestlé, GlaxoSmithKline, Abbott, BMW, Denny's, TGI Friday's, Sara Lee and Zales, among others. He prides himself on a career that blends an ability to work closely with his clients' top management at a strategic level while at the same time motivating and inspiring creativity among the ranks of young creative minds. Steve retired from Publicis in 2006 and now teaches advertising and marketing at the university level.

Wendy Reed  energy, partnerships, government [+]

Reed is the founder and former director of the successful Energy Star 'Change a Light, Change the World' campaign at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this and her broader role as Energy Star communications and brand manager, Reed worked with thousands of organizations over a period of nine years to develop and catalyze collaborative energy-efficiency initiatives that delivered win-win results for the environment, communities and the economy.

Reed has worked directly with corporations such as The Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Osram Sylvania, GE, Toyota and others to help them partner with Energy Star as part of their commitment to sustainability. Since leaving the EPA, Reed has been asked to speak about energy efficiency and community-based social marketing, and to help build efforts that motivate individuals to take action for the greater good.