Issam Kaisse is a first-generation immigrant to the United States from Morocco, and he speaks five languages. Since he’d grown up living all over the world, he thought he would adapt to life here easily.“I quickly realized when I came to the U.S. that it was different being an Arab immigrant. It was difficult to adapt at first…I could not relate to any ethnic group.”His first shock in college was being asked to fill out his ethnicity on a form. He didn’t fit into any of the categories. He also discovered that many Americans knew very little about Morocco.When he started at Nielsen seven years ago, he joined several affinity groups, which Nielsen calls “business resource groups." Unfortunately, none of them was the right fit. He approached Nielsen’s DEI team and proposed a new group for employees of Arab descent called Marhaba (Arabic for “hello”). At the first meeting, Issam talked about Ramadan and how Muslim people celebrate this month-long period. He was careful to note that just because you’re Arab doesn’t necessarily mean you’re Muslim. Issam explained that at least 400 million people of Arab descent live in 22 countries. Issam is grateful to be working for Nielsen because it’s a diverse company that encourages employees to express their opinions and suggest ideas. However, he notes the lack of Arab representation on the management team, as with most companies. Issam emphasizes that we don’t just need companies that value diversity; we also need employees willing to play their part.“If you want to be part of a cycle and want to be part of the change, you have to speak up. And that's why I reached out to the diversity and inclusion team and said, ‘let's make this happen.’”Marhaba consists of employees of Arab descent, but also others who are not. Issam enjoys educating people about Arab countries and culture, so that’s a big part of the BRG.After sharing about the purpose and rituals of Ramadan on his kickoff call, Issam noticed a change. “People started asking me, ‘how's Ramadan going?’ or ‘Are you getting ready for Eid?’ And that was for me the happiest moment, because it made me realize I made an impact within the organization…and that's the purpose. The end goal is educate and share knowledge and provide the real meaning of being Arab.”He also discovered other employees in the company who are also of Arab descent and even from Morocco.Very few other companies have affinity groups for people of Arab descent. I asked him what advice he has for other companies who want to set up similar groups.“Build the idea. Challenge it. Make sure you can answer questions…propose the idea to family and friends who aren’t from the same cultural group…”He advises that company leaders listen to their employees, give them a way to express their thoughts and ideas, and look for ways to help them thrive and grow.I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. I help professional services companies avoid BORING by making communications painless and boosting employee engagement, productivity, and brand recognition. I turn lackluster, jargon-filled, or technical prose into clear dynamic narrative. Look us up on fertilegroundcommunications.com. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

Claire Randall is CEO of Grand Central Bakery, a B-Corp certified artisan bakery in Oregon and Washington with a community-centered mission and sustainable business practices. Claire’s been working at Grand Central for 29 years.“My friend Piper Davis and her brother were  opening the Portland branch...There was really nothing like it in Portland at the time. So I hounded Ben and his mom, Gwen Bassetti, the founder...to hire me.”“I love to call Gwen a food pioneer. She was creating beautiful food from local ingredients, way before a lot of people even thought that was a possibility.”Women-owned and women-led from the beginning, they made delicious food from scratch, using local ingredients.Grand Central’s mission is to serve delicious, authentic food made from high-quality, local, and sustainable ingredients while growing a healthy values-driven business. Grand Central is also the Pacific Northwest's first B Corp certified bakery.The bakery supports several nonprofits, including Lift Up Portland, CAUSA, and the Blueprint Foundation. Supporting local food systems and using local ingredients is a strong value, similar to Salt & Straw Ice Cream.“Through the way we source our food locally from local ranchers and farmers, not just our ingredients, but any purchases we can, we strive to constantly improve how much we're buying locally. That has kept us strong and resilient through the entire pandemic…the fact we're still in business has helped so many of our local vendors. I love that it's a mutually supportive relationship.” Grand Central also pays a lot of attention to what they put out into the waste stream.“Our goal is a 100% waste diverted from the waste stream. And the last couple years we've hit 87%, which is pretty great. We have a lot of fired up employees who care a lot about the waste stream. We recycle and compost anything we can and have very little garbage left over.”After surviving the worst of the pandemic, now the bakery is navigating more challenges.“Operating our business the way we do is not the cheapest way. We buy the best ingredients. We pay our employees well. We have great benefits. We have beautiful spaces… we're in a situation where our profit is declining...we're experiencing skyrocketing ingredient costs...combined with this staffing shortage. Our goal right now is to become more efficient without sacrificing any of the deliciousness or the artistry of our products.”I asked Claire for her advice for others who want to create companies that care. Grand Central is unique as it’s an open book company.“My first piece of advice is to focus on the finances as much as your mission. So many businesses spend a lot of time thinking about what their mission is, what they want to offer…but they neglect the nuts and bolts of what it really takes to be a profitable business. And if you're not profitable, you can't live your mission…So few companies are open book companies…I think it's so important to educate your employees about your numbers and do your work to build that trust and use that transparency to improve your performance.”Claire was excited to share that this summer, Grand Central is transitioning their ownership into a perpetual purpose trust.Now I need to go get one of those yummy cinnamon rolls!! I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. I help professional services companies avoid BORING by making communications painless and boosting employee engagement, productivity, and brand recognition. I turn lackluster, jargon-filled, or technical prose into clear dynamic narrative. Look us up on fertilegroundcommunications.com.

You can watch the video of this interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdv1Tijyl9o“None of us knows as much as all of us. There is combined wisdom and insights and knowledge when we bring people together.”--Joel Makower, founder of GreenBizJoel Makower is chairman and co-founder of GreenBiz Group, a media and events company focusing at the intersection of business, technology, and sustainability. For more than 30 years, through his writing, speaking, and leadership, he has helped companies align pressing environmental and social issues with business success.Joel has written more than a dozen books about sustainability and technology; writes regular articles; co-hosts “GreenBiz 350,” a weekly podcast on sustainable business topics; appears regularly in the media; and serves on several company and nonprofit boards. The Associated Press has called him “The guru of green business practices.”I enjoyed hearing how the following he’d developed from his snail mail newsletter exploded with the arrival of the Internet. Now grown into an impressive, pioneering company, GreenBiz has built a one-of-a-kind community in sustainable business.“There's also strength in diversity as there is in nature…where the more we know about different things other people are doing to reach some of the same goals, the stronger and better everybody gets.This is the secret sauce of GreenBiz. We created a community that did not exist. 20 or 30 years ago, sustainability executives from big companies were not talking to each other…we are helping people understand that they're part of something bigger than themselves.”I asked Joel about what he sees in his crystal ball for a variety of pressing issues: climate change and rising temperatures, plastic waste, his three wishes for the future, and what he has learned a long the way.“It's sometimes hard to see the bigger purpose…that we're not alone or that we're part of maybe even a revolution that even the people in it don't really readily see…how do you create a community and then drive that community to go further, faster, and really give them the tools, resources, inspiration, maybe a little fear now and then…”I asked Joel for his advice to others on how to create companies that care:“Well, first start somewhere. It can be overwhelming. There's so much to do. And it can feel like a distraction, but start somewhere. Just jump in. I think a lot of people are afraid to do that.”I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. I help professional services companies avoid BORING by making communications painless and boosting employee engagement, productivity, and brand recognition. I turn lackluster, jargon-filled, or technical prose into clear dynamic narrative. Look us up on fertilegroundcommunications.com. As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

“We work predominantly on community-based projects where we're much more interested in some ways in what a building does…rather than how the building looks…how can this building help this organization deliver better services? How can it bring people together? How can it free up space? How can a space enable teachers to teach in a different way?” --Elisa Engel, cofounder of Citizen Architects based in London, UKElisa and her partner Richard Hadley believe that architecture has an important part to play in improving communities and creating a more equitable, sustainable and beautiful world. Inquisitiveness, professionalism, and joy are at the core of everything they do.Born in Germany, Elisa has lived in Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), South Africa, Botswana, and the UK.  Citizen Architects delivers community interest projects in London and sub-Saharan Africa, involving communities in the design process. She is a trustee at Architecture for Humanity London and teaches architecture at universities in the UK and abroad. Elisa has a strong track record of delivering education buildings and community architecture with a particular focus on participatory design processes.We talked about her work in Africa, sustainability, ethics, and the challenges of being a woman in the male-dominated field of architecture.“…Africa sticks to your feet. And once you cross the ocean, you're always on the wrong side. I went when I was really quite young, 17, a very formative time in my life. It did create a very strong bond with that part of the world…It has allowed me to become a little bit of an ambassador between Europe and Africa.” I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. I help professional services companies avoid BORING by making communications painless and boosting employee engagement, productivity, and brand recognition. I turn lackluster, jargon-filled, or technical prose into clear dynamic narrative. Look us up on fertilegroundcommunications.com. As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police.  Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

You can also watch this interview by video on YouTube!Kim Malek is CEO and visionary behind Salt & Straw and cofounder with her cousin Tyler. We talked about how she has created an amazing, people-driven company with community at its core.She teamed up with her cousin Tyler to start Salt & Straw, which has become known for small-batch, chef-driven ice cream, handmade using local ingredients. Did I mention that every flavor is delicious?Salt & Straw is not just an ice cream store, though. It’s a community builder. Kim was drawn to Portland because it’s community focused, innovative, and collaborative.“ I could just clearly see an ice cream shop would be a good way to reflect that because you'd run into your friends and have that experience hanging out with your family. I really loved the creativity of food and flavor work we were doing at Starbucks, and I thought ice cream would be that on steroids…we could really go crazy on that front.”Kim shares about her initial fears about starting her own business and how she shelved the ice cream idea for 15 years until she finally decided to take the plunge.Not only is community being created in Salt & Straw’s long lines (they’ve even had some in-line marriage proposals and job offers!), but the employees create a spirit of hospitality and fun once you enter the store. You can try as many samples as you like before choosing a flavor. And Salt & Straw forms strong relationships with local schools and businesses, too. Every year Salt & Straw partners with a local fourth-grade class at the elementary school closest to each shop. Tyler Malek visits the school to talk ice cream, and they host a competition to create new ice cream flavors.Salt & Straw’s website states: “Using ice cream as a platform, we pioneer and start experiences that inspire and connect us all…We use our menu to shine the light on issues we care about.” They use their revolving ice cream menu to focus on issues that matter, such as food waste.Kim has always been drawn to social justice, but eventually she realized she could incorporate that into business.“As I formulated this idea over the years of Salt & Straw, it was really important to me to provide a community gathering space that felt safe and open to everyone. And to use the company to have a voice for different things.”For example, Kim walks her talk by serving on boards of the Oregon Justice Center and the Avel Gordly Center for Healing. Her husband and three children are Black, so she feels especially passionate about Black Lives Matter.Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview Gresh Harkless Jr., founder of CBNation and Blue 16 Media. He’ll talk about his experience as a Black man in the corporate world and how he built on obstacles like getting laid off multiple times to build a successful media company. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. I help professional services companies avoid BORING by making communications painless and boosting employee engagement, productivity, and brand recognition. I turn lackluster, jargon-filled, or technical prose into clear dynamic narrative. Look us up on fertilegroundcommunications.com.

Watch on YoutubeImagine how much better the world would be with just 1% more love. That’s what the co-founders of Our.Love envision for the world. More and better love, delivered in a FUN way! Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that opportunity?The Companies that Care podcast highlights business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Tal Zlotnitsky and Tonya Coppin-Fox, co-founders of Our.Love Company. Our.Love is a love and relationship wellness technology company dedicated to helping couples find, maintain, and nurture their best love. Our.Love just launched a brand new app on Valentine’s Day!Tal is a master at starting up and investing in new companies. He immigrated to the United States at age 12 from Israel and is a passionate activist.“I become very interested in the topic of love because of my own failings in this space…love is perhaps the last thing that is indivisible. Everyone wants to be loved more and better.”Tonya is a passionate, purpose-driven entrepreneur and business coach who is committed to empowering ALL people to live fulfilling lives. An immigrant from Barbados, she is an advocate for strong relationships and families, living their lives courageously, kindly, and purposefully.Tonya knew to pay attention to Tal because he’s a visionary. “We were in the midst of COVID, just had the insurrection…this is an opportunity for us to make a difference. If we do it right, we can impact generations to come all across the world. So  I jumped on early.”I joined the Our.Love team as a writer and strategic communications consultant, because I believe in Tonya and Tal’s incredible team and mission. I’ve been married 32 years this June, and I know we can all benefit from learning how to love better. The app’s features, based by science, are designed for people in relationships who want to make their relationship even better. One of the things that attracted me to Our.Love was its firm commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.“As immigrants, Tonya and I share a strong passion for people…We have a greater appreciation for what makes America great…In my experience, it's the goodness of its people, the goodness of its purpose. And that's best represented by a very diverse group,” said Tal. “So if you look at our organization top down it's incredibly diverse…It's more than 50% people of color, more than 50% women, and our senior leadership and board are more than 50% women and people of color. And I take enormous pride in that.”Part of what got Tonya excited about Our.Love is that Black and brown folks are less likely to seek out therapy to improve their relationships.“In the black and brown community…we're not knocking on a therapist’s door saying, ‘Hey, I need help in our relationship.’ So that was one of the key factors why I decided to go into this journey: to bring a product to the public that my community could actually benefit from and could help a lot of the relationships in our community.” When you download the app, you’ll find yourself in the Coupleverse™, a virtual home with fun, brief, and instructive videos, podcasts, articles, quizzes, and games. The app is guided by Our.Love’s seven Love Skills™ and five Love Journeys.™Watch my interview with Tonya and Tal on YouTube or listen to the podcast to hear more about Our.Love and find out how to download it here.Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview Gresh Harkless Jr., founder of CBNation and Blue 16 Media. He’ll talk about his experience as a Black man in the corporate world and how he built on obstacles like getting laid off multiple times to build a successful media company.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Kim Sundy, senior director of sustainability at the Kellogg Company.Driven by the legacy of its founder, W.K. Kellogg, the Kellogg Company is the world’s leading producer of cereal and snacks.  But did you know Kellogg’s vision is a good and just world, where people are not just fed but fulfilled? This cereal and snack company is serious about living out its mission and has set some ambitious goals. These are just a few examples:Providing Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030 through:Nourishing 1 billion people by delivering nutrition foods that address common shortfall nutrients and addressing hidden hungerFeeding 375 million people in need Supporting 1 million farmers and workers while conserving natural resources Engaging 1.5 billion people in the issue of global food securityAspiring to achieve gender equity of 50/50 by the end of 2025Working toward 100 percent reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by the end of 2025Honoring Black history every month as a call for food justice in Black communities Committing to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025, even though most of their products do not contain eggsSupporting equity for women by identifying parts of their supply chain with the highest prevalence of women and assessing the risks and opportunities they faceAiming to achieve over 50% renewable energy by the end of 2022 Supporting historically excluded employees through highly active employee networks, mentoring programs, and a Black Chef in Residency programExpanding paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers to 12 weeks; increasing fertility benefits to $30K for assisted reproductive procedures; and increasing adoption benefits to $10K per eligible adoption.Kim and I talked about having careers in sustainability and the importance of communications. She also shared her perspective as a Black woman executive and how Kellogg does a better job than many companies at nurturing equity & inclusion among its workforce.I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. Find out more on my website and social media.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you like what you hear or read, wander through my website to find out more about my work.Can you use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing? Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world. As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. This is a continuation of the systemic racism pervasive in our country since its inception and we are committed to standing against racism in all its forms.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Jon Roesser, general manager of Weavers Way Cooperative Association. Founded in the early 1970s, Weavers Way is a consumer-owned food co-op in Philadelphia with three stores, two farms, a non-profit, and community newspaper. They have more than 10,500 member households representing over 25,000 individual member-owners.Weavers Way is a critical link in the Philadelphia food shed, connecting local food growers and producers with values-driven consumers. Working with more than 300 vendors in the Philadelphia area, the co-op emphasizes the need to strengthen local food systems.In addition to implementing sustainable measures throughout their business, Weavers Way is also taking steps to diversify the racial makeup of its vendors. The co-op also has a partnership with WB Saul Agricultural High School, with a farm on the site of the school where students can use the farmland as their classroom.Do you remember after Trump was elected and many people said they were going to move to Canada? Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview Mahlena-Rae Johnson, a Black woman and mom who really did it: she moved her family to Canada to pursue better opportunities there. The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform.  Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder and principal of Fertile Ground Communications LLC, is a writer and marketing communications consultant who loves to take the pain and stress out of writing for her clients. She specializes in making the complex clear, using dynamic, accessible language to explain and communicate important issues. She positions her clients as experts in their fields and helps them communicate about pressing issues. Writing communications that boost employee engagement and thought leadership, she also coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership. She loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems.As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police.  Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Aaliyah Nitoto, the visionary founder of Free Range Flower Winery, an award-winning, winemaker-owned and -operated boutique winery in Oakland, California. Aaliya handcrafts premium wine in small batches from locally sourced, organically grown flowers…not grapes. She has been hailed as an "innovative producer" (Wine Enthusiast) who is "revolutionizing the world of wine" (Kourtney Kardashian's POOSH). Aaliyah updates ancient women's garden winemaking traditions for 21st century tastes. As Phil Long, winemaker/founder of Longevity Wines and president of the Association of African American Vintners, recently told NBC TV News, Aaliyah is "defying odds at every turn. She is not only a young Black woman getting into the wine world, which is not as diverse as it should be, but she’s also making a new category that doesn’t exist in this industry.'" Free Range Flower Winery’s rare flower wines tend to sell out long before the next vintage is in the bottle. The winery’s mission is based on an organic, sustainable, local business model as well as creating a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone to enjoy its wine. Aaliyah deeply believes in innovation in winemaking and the power of magnifying diverse voices in the industry.When she’s not making wine, Aaliyah is a health and nutrition educator for an advocacy and education nonprofit called Healthy Black Families. Free Range Flower Winery is committed to using organic ingredients, sustainable business practices, and local vendors. They are dedicated to uplifting the community and donate a percentage of sales to nonprofits that share their values.Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview Julie Allen, who I interviewed for Companies That Care earlier this year. Julie and I dive into her experiences battling eating disorders for much of her life. Julie shares how she has now found her fertile ground by sharing her story, writing a book, and starting a sustainable, body-positive clothing boutique.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder and principal of Fertile Ground Communications LLC, is a writer and marketing communications consultant who loves to take the pain and stress out of writing for her clients. She specializes in making the complex clear, using dynamic, accessible language to explain and communicate important issues. She positions her clients as experts in their fields and helps them communicate about pressing issues. Writing communications that boost employee engagement and thought leadership, she also coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership. She loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems.As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Veronica Arreola, a professional feminist, mom, and writer who has been working to diversify the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) field for over 20 years. She has a particular passion for working with Latinx/Latina youth.Veronica is director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives for the University of Illinois-Chicago and most recently was program director for their Hispanic Serving Institution STEM grant, Latin@s Gaining Access to Networks for Advancement in Science. She ensures a supportive campus environment for Latinx students studying science. She also writes and speaks regularly about empowering women, including women of color.We talked about how to encourage young women and girls to pursue STEM fields, especially Latinx/Latina/Hispanic students. She shared her thoughts on how companies can do a better job with diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how to create companies that care, especially for people of color.And we also talked about music and entertainment…namely Dar Williams and other folk music and TV shows that have positive representation of Latinas.Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview Mike Ganino, a highly acclaimed public speaker and coach. Mike and his husband had a baby through a surrogate, and their baby Viviana was born prematurely in Mexico, during the pandemic. What a ride!The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder and principal of Fertile Ground Communications LLC, is a writer and marketing communications consultant who loves to take the pain and stress out of writing for her clients. She specializes in making the complex clear, using dynamic, accessible language to explain and communicate important issues. She positions her clients as experts in their fields and helps them communicate about pressing issues. Writing communications that boost employee engagement and thought leadership, she also coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership. She loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems.As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Heather R. Younger, a best-selling author, international speaker, consultant, adjunct organizational leadership professor, and facilitator.Born to a white, Jewish mom and a Black dad, Heather was deliberately excluded from her mom’s family, thanks to racism. She grew up feeling like an outsider, which has made her especially determined to create caring environments wherever she goes.“I didn't even get to go to a large family gathering until I was 36 years old, which, by the way, was my grandmother's funeral. It was an interesting way to grow up…I could have turned out to be a curmudgeon, blaming the world and not being kind. And I chose not to. I chose to be the person who made other people feel included and engulfed with love and care. I'm a big hugger. I like to bring people into the fold…I chose the path of uplifting and encouragement and support.”Heather has earned a reputation as “The Employee Whisperer.” As a champion for positive change in workplaces, communities, and our world at large, Heather founded Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and leadership development consulting and training firm, to inspire others by teaching the kind of caring leadership that drives real business results. Heather hosts the weekly podcast “Leadership with Heart,” which uncovers what drives leaders from all over the world and all walks of life to be more emotionally intelligent leaders. She has also written two leadership books: The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty and The Art of Caring Leadership.We had a wonderful conversation about how to create companies that care.Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview my friend Nura Elmagbari, who immigrated to the United States from Libya as a young person, has experienced a huge amount of Islamaphobia since then, and now actively works to help refugees acclimate and adjust…providing the support she did not receive when she first immigrated here.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder and principal of Fertile Ground Communications LLC, is a writer and marketing communications consultant who loves to take the pain and stress out of writing for her clients. She specializes in making the complex clear, using dynamic, accessible language to explain and communicate important issues. She positions her clients as experts in their fields and helps them communicate about pressing issues. Writing communications that boost employee engagement and thought leadership, she also coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership. She loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems.As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Ross Ching, founder of Mama & Hapa’s Zero Waste Shop in Portland, Oregon.Ross moved to Portland with his family in 2019 after working as a TV commercial director. He was inspired to start a zero waste shop after watching the news and hearing terrible things about climate change.“In the past three or four or five years, there's been more and more reporting about how recycling isn't what we all thought it would be. Recycling back in the ‘90s was supposed to be our savior, and we can use as much plastic as we want. We can throw any sort of plastic in the bin and it'll get turned into a park bench. Fast forward 20 years and we have come to the realization that wasn't the case. We need to stop plastic usage at the root of it, and that's at the cash register.”Ross explained how the zero waste movement has been gaining steam. He wanted to develop a shop that made the zero waste movement easier for everyday people to join.“There's a large segment of the population who really want to help the environment, but they also don't want to be inconvenienced. That’s what we are trying to aim as a target market.”Mama & Hapa’s is touch free, using an RFID smart card for payment. Ross is determined to create a business that allows people to reduce their waste at a low price point.Zero waste goes beyond saving plastic. It makes people conscious of all the steps that go into a product from cradle to grave.“If you think about your laundry detergent, you take it home and then forget about it, right? But there was a bunch of oil that had to be drilled and then they had to take that to a factory and refine it. And then they took that to a factory to make pellets of plastic. And then they had to mold the plastic. And then they had to fill it with the stuff that goes inside of it. And the stuff that goes inside it came from somewhere. Then it has to get driven to Target and then you have to drive to Target and then you get the bottle, drive back home, and it's this huge process that encompasses the entire globe.”Mama & Hapa’s has 41 dispensers of household products. Ross’ hope is to have a zero waste shop in every neighborhood so people do not have to drive to get there. He’d also like their prices to continue to fall so people will realize they can live a zero waste lifestyle without spending more money.Check out Mama & Hapa’s website, and if you’re in Portland, pay them a visit! Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast, I interview I interview Paula Dunn, who was born with a cleft lip and palate like me.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform.  Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder and principal of Fertile Ground Communications LLC, is a writer and marketing communications consultant who loves to take the pain and stress out of writing for her clients. She specializes in making the complex clear, using dynamic, accessible language to explain and communicate important issues. She positions her clients as experts in their fields and helps them communicate about pressing issues. Writing communications that boost employee engagement and thought leadership, she also coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership. She loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Mallorie Dunn, founder of Smart Glamour in New York City. Mallorie has been interested in clothing her whole life. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Pratt Institute. She found that corporate fashion was not her cup of tea. Mallorie also began noticing how badly women and femme people feel about themselves in their bodies…and how difficult it can be for people to find clothes that fit them well and are made well.She started Smart Glamour in 2014, a customizable, ethical fashion brand based on the idea that everyone deserves clothing that is not exploitative of the people that make it.  Smart Glamour’s size chart goes from XS to 15X and beyond. All of the clothing is customizable to sizes above and below that chart.During the pandemic, she sewed masks and offered them for pay what you will. She started a podcast interviewing her models and other makers. She also shares videos of her making things or giving sewing tips. She’s also a part-time professor at The New School and the Fashion Institute of Technology.Mallorie feels strongly about providing all types of clothing for plus-size people, customized to fit as needed. “The majority of people are plus size in this country, yet they are vastly underserved. Once you get above 3X and especially once you get above 6X, people do not have options."To make her business processes sustainable, Mallorie makes everything to order. She purchases most of her fabrics  from local family-owned discount fabric stores. Most of it is overstock. She uses every scrap of her fabric, holding leftovers for what she calls Smart Glamour surprises.Mallorie also is committed to producing affordable, ethically made clothing. On Smart Glamour’s website, you can shop by model… from models who are of all sizes, heights, ages, and abilities. Mallorie has integrated social impact into her business by creating products that benefit nonprofits. Check out Mallorie’s website and her podcast, and pass it on! Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and included in fashion!I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you like what you hear or read, wander through my website to find out more about my work.Can you use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing? Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Dr. Erica Gamble, known as the Wig Dr.The Wig Doctor, headquartered in Marietta, GA, specializes in high-quality wigs and hair pieces for people suffering from hair loss because of chemotherapy, alopecia, and other auto-immune disorders. It all started when Erica wore her mom’s wig to her private high school one day. The nuns were not pleased, because they associated wigs with prostitution. “I thought wow, how could this be so wrong when it feels so right? All I had to do is get up, pop it on out the door…it was just magical…this cannot be that bad.”Erica continued to wear wigs through her life for fun. She worked in corporate America for 20 years and felt the pressure to always look good, which could be hard at times when she was traveling. Wigs continued to be an easy solution.When they built their home they ran out of space because Erica had so many wigs…so she decided to open a wig boutique. And the Wig Dr. was born!The Wig Dr. has attracted some big name attention. Erica was featured on the Drew Barrymore show with Gabrielle Union, and this summer Master Card chose her as a Black-woman-owned business to spotlight. She appeared in a commercial hosted by Jennifer Hudson and got to walk the red carpet at a big event.Most of Erica’s clients have never worn wigs before. They come to her because they are losing their hair through illness or alopecia. She loves being able to help them look and feel their best. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. Find out more on my website and social media.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you like what you hear or read, wander through my website to find out more about my work.Can you use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing? Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world. As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. This is a continuation of the systemic racism pervasive in our country since its inception and we are committed to standing against racism in all its forms. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

Companies that Care highlights business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Taylor Loewen, Portland general manager of Ridwell, a sustainability startup that makes wasting less easy for its members. Ridwell picks up stuff from your front door and makes sure it gets sustainably reused or recycled. Taylor’s background is mostly in nonprofit and political campaigns and environmental organizations. She was drawn to Ridwell because it’s a small business trying to have a positive, tangible impact in their local community. Their ties to nonprofits made it an ideal fit for Taylor as a career choice.Ridwell hired her to launch their Portland headquarters from scratch. They started in November 2020 with 223 members. Now, 10 months later, that number has ballooned to 16,000 members. The Seattle area has  25,000 members, and they’ve just expanded to Denver. They have plans to continue to expand to other major cities. Taylor began driving around delivering bins and picking up trash, and now she’s managing a team of 30 employees less than a year later!How does Ridwell work? As a reuse and recycling service, Ridwell offers members a solution to keeping household trash out of the local landfill to help fight climate change. They work with a variety of companies and nonprofits to give new life to household trash.Members pay a monthly fee to receive a Ridwell metal bin with five canvas bags, with pickups every two weeks. The four core categories are lightbulbs, batteries, plastic film (including Amazon plastic mailers, Ziploc bags, etc.), and threads (rags or clothing). The plastic is turned into things like composite for decks, tracks, benches, or playground equipment, and the threads are either donated or turned into cleaning rags.The fifth rotating feature category collects items like school supplies, eyeglasses, pet accessories, purses, wine corks, jewelry, and Halloween candy and donates them to nonprofits.They also offer add-ons for an additional fee, such as clamshell plastic, fluorescent lights, and Styrofoam.Ridwell is committed to serious, transparent vetting, making sure that everything stays domestic. They communicate regularly with their members to share how much is being recycled and where it goes.Taylor loves the process of working with partners to find a place for new items to recycle…in addition to working with nonprofits to benefit the larger community. Would you like to try a free month of Ridwell? Contact me at marie@fertilegroundcommunications.com if you are interested! Curious to see if Ridwell is in your city? Check it out here.Next week, I interview Daniel Sartin on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast. Daniel was born into foster care and has experienced trauma, addiction, suicidal ideation, and abuse in his 24 short years on earth. In spite of that, he's facing life sober, self-aware, and self-confident, determined to do whatever he can to help people facing houselessness and despair.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you like what you hear or read, wander through my website to find out more about my work.Can you use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing? Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation.Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like David Brackett, founder and CEO of Linguava. Linguava is a full-service language interpretation and translation company that provides health care and medical equity through language access.David shared how he first became interested in languages, when his grandma gave him cassettes to learn Spanish when he was just four years old. After living in Spain for several years, David decided to become an interpreter. He founded Linguava in 2010, and now the company has more than 50 full-time employees, covering more than 230 different languages, including American Sign Language.Language access is critical for people to receive good health care services. One in five people in the United States speak a primary language at home other than English. These individuals need assistance when they receive health care. Linguava interpreters work as partners with the health care team to ensure patients receive the best services and fully understand the care they are receiving.David defines health equity as meeting the individual where they are at in their life. “We all have different levels of access to health care because of our socioeconomic status, because of where we live, and because of language barriers. Our goal at Linguava is to make sure that meaningful language access is provided so that you can improve your health outcomes,” said David. “No matter what language you speak, no matter where you're at in your patient journey, we want to make sure that you have the right access to language interpretation or translation services.”David shared the many important roles of an interpreter, beyond simple interpretation of language. He also shared anecdotes about Linguava interpreters truly making a difference in the lives of their clients.You can follow Linguava on their website. With a real passion for creating caring companies, David is writing a book about leadership and language access.Next week I interview Taylor Loewen, Portland general manager of Ridwell, a rapidly growing company that picks up stuff from your front door and makes sure it gets sustainably reused or recycled. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you like what you hear or read, wander through my website to find out more about my work.Can you use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing? Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world. As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. This is a continuation of the systemic racism pervasive in our country since its inception and we are committed to standing against racism in all its forms.

If you like what you hear or read, visit my website to find out more about my work.The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Lara Smith, former managing director of Dad’s Garage, a theatre company in Atlanta, Georgia. Since we recorded this interview, Lara now works as a consultant for Purpose Possible, and Dad’s Garage’s new managing director is Stacey Sharer. The transition happened just in the last month.During this interview, we spoke about the powerhouse that is Lara and how she evolved into her own. We also spoke about Dad’s Garage, which Lara ran for nine years. Lara led the organization through losing their home and finding a permanent one, running a nontraditional capital campaign, overseeing renovations, and most recently, surviving a pandemic. In that time, the organization’s budget nearly doubled. The mission of Dad’s Garage is to transform people, communities, and perspectives through laughter. The theater is also described as a “gateway drug to the arts.” The organization has extensive outreach and internship programs, a pay-it-forward ticket program, and several scholarships. Most of their shows are created in house. We talked about the way Dad’s has been supporting its artists through the pandemic. Dad’s also offers corporate training to Fortune 500 companies in the Atlanta area.Lara gave me one of the best tips I’ve received in podcasting: her gratitude practice. You’ll have to listen to the podcast to hear what it is!You can follow along with Lara’s career through her website. Lara excels at leading strategic planning processes; she has led ten processes for seven different organizations. These include two arts organizations, a business association, an organization focused on emergency assistance for farmers, and an organization focused on disrupting the prison pipeline and ending the cycle of poverty. Next week I interview David Brackett, founder of Linguava, a language interpretation/ translation company that is committed to helping improve patient experience and health outcomes for limited English proficient and deaf and hard of hearing individuals. I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications.Contact us if you can use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. This is a continuation of the systemic racism pervasive in our country since its inception and we are committed to standing against racism in all its forms.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Amber Taggard, founder and CEO of The Organizer Chicks and host of The Organizer Chicks podcast. The average American wastes 17 minutes each day looking for lost items.When Amber read this statistic, she decided to use her M.S. in clinical mental health to help people reclaim their homes and spaces. Since 2011, Amber and her flock of Organizer Chicks have helped people fight the clutter, find the calm, and take back their 17 minutes each day.We talked about how The Organizer Chicks makes organization a positive, empowering experience for all their clients.  Amber aims to reduce the shame people feel about their messes and clutter. Everyone has a different skillset, and we shouldn’t feel intimidated by another person’s talents. Our talents and skillsets are meant to complement each other. Amber wants to destigmatize the idea of asking for help with organization.We also discussed our challenges with infertility, how her company fared during the pandemic, toxic bosses, avoidable negativity (the topic for Amber’s TED talk), and how Americans have too much crap. The Organizer Chicks gives back to their community by sponsoring girls’ sports teams and doing an annual “Chicks Give Back” day where they provide their services pro bono to a person or organization. Most recently they organized a new homeowner’s house for Habitat for Humanity.I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with the delightful, upbeat Amber! My conversation with her has inspired me to get back to purging and organizing my own space. My family is in a huge time of transition, and what better time to create a more peaceful space.Next week I interview Terri Kozlowski, who is a proud Native American warrior from the Athabascan; Tlinglet Tribe - Raven Clan. She has journeyed through the pain of child sexual abuse and utter fear of life after her mother abandoned me, at the age of 11, on the streets of Albuquerque, NM.I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform. Find out more on my website and social media.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications.Contact us if you can use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Acting Global Head of the Macquarie Group Foundation Erin Shakespeare. Erin leads a team that directs Macquarie’s efforts on philanthropic grantmaking and employee volunteering, working closely with the company’s people around the world. Macquarie Group is an Australian-headquartered multinational financial services company. My sister-in-law Shemara has worked there for 34 years and is now the CEO and managing director. The foundation provides support to hundreds of community organizations through financial support, volunteering, and skills sharing. A serious commitment to philanthropy has been part of the company culture since it was founded in 1969. On community advisory committees in  local offices around the world,  staff  plan how to give back in their communities. Erin shared the history of Macquarie’s staff-led philanthropy. The company has a generous matching program, providing employees up to $A50,000 per year in matching donations for any fundraising they do. Last year was a huge year for the foundation, reaching a total of $A64 million in contributions. In 2020, the foundation arranged a COVID-19 fund of $A20 million to support immediate relief and economic recovery. To acknowledge the company’s 50th anniversary in 2019,  Macquarie established an $A50 million fund awarding $A10 million grants to five organizations. They chose to fund the Social Finance US, Last Mile Health, World Mosquito Project, World Scabies Program, and the Ocean Cleanup.In 2020 Macquarie created its first racial equity fund, bringing together a working group of staff across their business to discuss where they could make a difference toward racial equity solutions. They’ve made grants in four markets in the US  where Macquarie staff live and work. Although the dollars are important, just as critical is finding ways to engage their staff through pro bono skill sharing or educating themselves on these issues.I’m impressed with the way Macquarie empowers its employees to invest in their communities. “Every day I wake up and I'm just so grateful I have this job,” said Erin. “I really feel incredibly lucky to do this impactful work and to do this work at Macquarie.” Next week on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast I interview Terri Kozlowski, proud Native American warrior from the Athabascan; Tlinglet Tribe - Raven Clan. The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you enjoyed this podcast, please give us a rating and subscribe to hear our next episode. On both  my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, especially people of color, women, people who are LGBTQIA, non-Christian, and immigrants, people who don't always get a platform. Contact us if you can use help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world.

As a podcaster for justice, I stand with my sisters from the Women of Color Podcasters Community. We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police. This is a continuation of the systemic racism pervasive in our country since its inception and we are committed to standing against racism in all its forms. If you like what you hear or read, visit my Fertile Ground Communications page on Patreon and find out how you can support my work.The Companies that Care podcast highlights business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Dr. Naama Barneal-Goraly, M.D. She founded Girltelligence, an app for girls to advise, support, and inspire each other. Naama is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and brain researcher. She grew up in Israel and came to the U.S. to be a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University. She worked at Stanford for 15 years before deciding to do something different with her life. Naama wanted to use what she’d learned to empower young women. She was inspired by a quote from Melinda Gates: “No matter where you're born, life will be harder if you are born a girl.” She realized an app could be a great way to build a supportive community for young women.Girltelligence launched a year ago and has a thriving growing community. Many of the girls are interested in girl empowerment, psychology, psychiatry, and mental health, and they offer support to other girls.The app provides a supportive community and information from experts and peers. Girls create their own content and ask questions that might pertain to school, friendships, relationships, college applications, mental health, or how to help a friend going through a difficult situation.Girltelligence was recently awarded the iFundwomen x Neutrogena grant, which gives women-owned businesses in the health and wellness space a fresh start in 2021. Naama has taken her education and practical skills and created a beautiful resource for young women and girls. I’m so excited to share this app with all the young women I know! Next week I interview Lisa Marie Simmons on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast.Lisa is a singer/songwriter, essayist, and published poet. Raised in Boulder, Colorado, she now lives in Italy. As a transracial adoptee, she was in foster care, adopted two separate times, and survived child abuse. On both of my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, especially people of color, women, people who are LGBTQIA, non-Christian, and immigrants, people who don't always get a platform. You can find all the information on my website and social media.The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you enjoyed this podcast, please give us a rating and subscribe to hear our next episode. Contact us if you can use some help with your writing, editing, communications, or marketing. With 30 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, I am passionate about sustainability and corporate citizenship, equity & inclusion, businesses that use their power for good, and doing everything I can to create a kinder, more sustainable, and just world. We help organizations and people discover what makes them special and help them share that with the world. Fertile Ground Communications LLC is a certified women-owned business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise, and emerging small business.