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This morning, I was Chrissy Coughlin’s guest on her radio show, Nature of Business. Chrissy broadcasts weekly from WSMN Radio in Nashua, New Hampshire; her show is also podcast on GreenBiz.com. Chrissy is a great host and well-informed green business expert. In the interview, we covered a lot of interesting topics related to green executive employment. In case you weren’t able to listen live, then please check out the podcast, available 24/7: HERE.   Save room for Thanksgiving dessert! (This looks yummy!) Photo h/t 2008 awhiskandaspoon I suppose for some–out of work many months–Thanksgiving is a cruel holiday. Seated around a large dining room table, surrounded by family and friends, the down-and-out will dread providing those gathered a credible answer to the question: ”for what, am I thankful?” Here in the U.S., one’s happiness is often causally related to one’s work and profession. (Thank you, very much.) But, one’s skills and many years of professional experience may not indicate future, ongoing career success. And we, The Green Suits, know that in order to succeed in this flat-lined economy we must be willing to adapt and to learn new professional skills, gain new experiences, and remain very well-informed and educated. Certainly, we must be willing to reinvent our professional selves to adapt to change. If we haven’t already, Thanksgiving is a great time to start. For those still struggling to connect up with a new career assignment or achieve traction in the job market, I say do everything you can now–while you continue to look for work–to advantage yourself. You may seize opportunities which leverage your professional talents in a “skill-based volunteer” setting. For instance, finance and accounting professionals may use their skill and knowledge to help the less fortunate develop financial literacy (so that they are able to keep a job and thrive). Or, you may volunteer to remove garbage from–or plant native trees near–a sensitive watershed. Your volunteerism is noble, but it is also metric. It demonstrates how you–The Green Suit–create measurable social responsibility and environmental sustainability gains (key elements of the Triple Bottom Line). To the down and out seated at the Thanksgiving table, I say to each and every one of you: enjoy being surrounded by people who like and love you, who believe in you, and who will support your successful pivot into the New Green Economy. We are The Green Suits. We will rise to the occasion. And, we will overcome the obstacles in our way. Our best days lie ahead. Enjoy Thanksgiving, everyone! (And remember…save room for dessert!) Peace.  Eco-Marketing, LLC provides top-notch marketing solutions to companies in the "clean" economy. Beth Zonis is Eco Marketing's founder and principal. Logo h/t Eco Marketing, LLC. One of the great joys of leading The Green Suits, LLC is that, every day, I get to meet many fascinating and successful eco-entrepreneurs. One of my new friends is Boston’s Beth Zonis. Beth is founder and principal of Eco Marketing LLC, a company which provides top-notch marketing solutions to companies in the “clean” economy. From the company website: “[We] can help tell your story. That includes researching and analyzing your market and your competition, articulating your strengths from your clients’ perspective, and communicating with your stakeholders. Our approach is to develop the strategy up front and then move quickly to action and results. For each client engagement, Eco Marketing assembles a customized team of experienced professionals with relevant business and technical expertise. We can help you… The importance of the marketing strategies provided by Eco Marketing LLC cannot be overstated; when executed, they help companies in the clean tech space scale up and become very successful. For more information, check out Eco Marketing LLC’s website, HERE. Greetings on 11.11.11–Veteran’s Day in the U.S.  The U.S. armed forces recognize that "green" saves lives. Will U.S. businesses recognize their own "green" frame? We hope so. On this day, we honor those who served our country as members of the armed forces. Public schools are closed. So too are banks and state and federal government offices. Today, wreaths were laid at Arlington National Cemetery and other places to fully recognize the sacrifice so many men and women have given to country. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been very deadly affairs for U.S. troops; in Iraq alone, over 3,000 service men and women running supply convoys to our forward bases have lost their lives to roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs). And as a result, the military recognizes that converting these bases to renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.) as quickly as possible will save lives. That’s the U.S. military’s ‘green’ frame. This is an amazing transformation for an institution that only a few years ago framed greenness as the mindless drivel of so many hedonistic hippies. And yet, now–on 11.11.11–the U.S. Department of Defense demands increased resource sustainability and renewable energy, because they help defend our national security and save lives. Will American business follow the military in establishing a useful green frame? Many Fortune 500 companies have active and growing sustainability practices, and yet most companies in the U.S.–small enterprises of 50 or few employees–have yet to follow suit. The ones that recognize that “green is good for business” will succeed, whereas, the ones don’t will be left in the dust. Today, please take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by our military. Then, let us encourage our friends in business to recognize that green supports our national defense…and is good for business.  Ithaca College is gaining a national reputation for leadership in sustainability and social responsibility. And the students I met were bright, funny, and totally upbeat. Not a single cynic among them. Photo h/t Ithaca College. I just returned from a terrific trip to my alma mater, Ithaca College, where I presented Tailoring the Green Suit: Establishing a Bright Green Career in a Dull Gray Economy–ten strategies designed to help future Green Suits start and build successful careers in sustainability, corporate responsibility, and other “green” fields of work. Ithaca College is gaining a national reputation for leadership in sustainability and social responsibility. The students I met at the strategy presentation and in classroom settings were bright, funny, and totally upbeat. Not a single cynic among them. And I felt that our world–turned over to them–would be in very good hands, indeed. Thirty years ago, that same campus reeked of cynicism. Many of us were hyper-competitive and often distrustful of our peers–fearful that we might tip-off others to job opportunities we wanted for ourselves. Thankfully, today’s students are collaborating, sharing ideas, offering encouragement and good cheer to each other. They are well aware of sustainability and social responsibility, and they are eager to pursue job opportunities after graduation which embrace their practice. And the Ithaca College campus, the institution, and the student body are all better for it. Check out Ithaca College’s leadership in sustainability and social responsibility story, here.  At least 450 registrations from Virginia motorists are needed to make the new Virginia Loves Trees license plates a reality. Image h/t VALovesTrees.org. It’s hard to believe that, at its founding nearly 405 years ago, Virginia was a heavily forested place. But logging, agriculture, and Civil War battles transformed the commonwealth’s primeval forests into so many open fields. And then–during the past twenty years–those fields and pastures were paved over with so much concrete and asphalt. In 2010, suddenly exurbanized Virginia recorded its hottest summer ever. In 2011, Virginia beat its 2010 “hottest summer ever” record. There is no denying that we humans altered climate in Virginia by felling millions of the commonwealth’s trees. But now, we can support Virginia reforestation in a big way, with a terrific new program. From the web: The Virginia Loves Trees campaign is dedicated to raising public awareness and funding support for urban and community trees in Virginia. Whether in our neighborhoods, at the park, or on Main Street, trees create comfortable places to walk, sit or play; create childhood memories; enhance tourism and commerce; and provide a host of environmental benefits for all Virginians. We hope you will show your love and support of trees by purchasing the Virginia Loves Trees license plate. Virginia Loves Trees developed from the desires of a coalition of nonprofits, professional associations, researchers, and educators to raise awareness and funds to support urban and community trees in Virginia. Virginia Loves Trees is centered on the specialty license plate program, that helps us demonstrate the value of trees in our communities and our commitment to their stewardship to fellow citizens. Coalition organizations include:
Funding for Community Trees The funding support for community tree initiatives in Virginia has often been tenuous. Through the revenue sharing license plate program, our coalition hopes to increase our capacity for these initiatives. After the first thousand plates are sold, the VA Loves Trees license plate will raise 15$ per plate per year to dedicate towards our mission of supporting urban and community trees throughout the state. Funds raised through license plate sales will be used by Trees Virginia and the Urban Forestry Program at Virginia Tech to improve tree canopy in communities of all Virginians through creative and cost-effective programs. Through education, technical support for localities, innovative research, and community outreach and partnerships, we work to ensure the quality and longevity of urban and community trees for the future. Just a few examples of these programs include the Tree Stewards volunteer program, Remarkable Trees of Virginia, regional Urban Forestry Roundtables, Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and Mapping, and research on sustaining cities through urban forestry. To read more about our programs, please visit Trees Virginia and the Urban Forestry Gateway at VT. If you live in Virginia, please sign up for your new Virginia Loves Trees license plates. We need at least 450 sign-ups in place for license plate production to begin. I’ve signed up, already!  For less than this, you can download 'Tailoring the Green Suit: Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy.' Photo 2011 D.A. Smolen
A digital download of Tailoring the Green Suit: Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy! That’s right, Amazon and Barnes & Noble have both slashed their Kindle and nook digital downloads of Tailoring the Green Suit to just $3.19. What else could you buy for such a low price? Maybe, a half-eaten chalupa? So, what are you waiting for? Log on today and download your digital copy. When it comes to your career, we guarantee that Tailoring the Green Suit will yield a return-on-investment many more times $3.19! (And, unlike that cantaloupe, it won’t make you horribly sick!)  Readers of 'Tailoring the Green Suit' know that one of my mentors--the late "(M)adman" and Ithaca College Associate Professor of Communications Howard S. Cogan--dreamed up "Ithaca is Gorges." Created over thirty year ago and still in use today, it remains one of the world's most recognizable eco-tourism campaigns. Image h/t VisitIthaca.com. Next week will surely be very exciting! The afternoon of Thursday Nov. 3 marks my return to Ithaca College. Later that evening, I will present Tailoring the Green Suit: Establishing a Bright Green Career in a Dull Gray Economy. This session will provide ten key strategies which soon-to-be-grads should employ to achieve immediate and lasting career success in green business.  John Bradac is Ithaca College's Director of Career Services. Photo h/t Ithaca College. And on Friday, I get to sit in on a sustainability course and sit down with the deans of the School of Business and the School of Communications, the Director of Sustainability, and others to learn about Ithaca College’s many important efforts to train and empower The Green Suits. Twenty years have passed since my last Ithaca College speaking engagement which is much too long of a lapse. But as a result of IC’s warm welcome to this grad–and in particular the generosity of time, resources, and advice already provided by John Bradac (the head of IC’s career services department)–I am certain that my South Hill visit will be a great and memorable one. I just hope that the snow melts in time for my arrival. (We’re not quite ready for winter!)  Nov. 3rd at 7PM: Ithaca College will host 'Tailoring the Green Suit: Establishing a Bright Green Career in a Dull Gray Economy.' Ad h/t Ithaca College Office of Career Studies. We are very pleased with Ithaca College’s on-campus promotion of our Nov 3rd event: Tailoring the Green Suit: Establishing a Bright Green Career in a Dull Gray Economy. The discussion will take place at 7PM at the Ithaca College Student Center’s Klingenstein Lounge. And we hope for a ‘SRO’ crowd!  Richard Halpern is EcoApprentice's Founder. Photo h/t EcoApprentice. One of the toughest challenges faced by aspiring green business professionals–The Green Suits–is in acquiring relevant green business experience. And as we pointed out in Tailoring the Green Suit: Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy, few if any “obviously green” jobs go to careerists lacking relevant experience. That’s why EcoApprentice‘s value proposition is so important. It employs proven crowd-sourcing techniques to connect companies and organizations with passionate sustainability minded apprentices, so that these companies and organizations may expand [their] green efforts and positively impact the Triple Bottom Line. Led by founder Richard Halpern, EcoApprentice empowers college and university students to apply their practical skills quickly in a real life setting, so that they may gain the green-on-the-job-experience that they need to succeed. Already, EcoApprentice has signed up some formidable sponsors, including TerraCycle. We embrace EcoApprentice’s vision. And, in the months to come, we will explore all opportunities to help grow [our respective] brands. Meantime, please check out EcoApprentice, HERE! |
 
Tailoring the Green Suit: Empowering Yourself for an Executive Career in the New Green Economy is available for purchase through these and other booksellers:
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