Liz is focused on corporate social responsibility and environmental strategy, with a particular interest in the consumer goods and tourism industries. Prior to matriculating at Michigan, she worked on federal conservation policy and public funding at The Nature Conservancy's Worldwide Office in Arlington, Virginia. She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Macedonia, where she counseled local environmental organizations in strategic planning and community development. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Natural Resources.
Katie is focusing her studies on developing ways to integrate sustainability into corporate strategy and operations. Specifically, she is interested in engaging with companies to explore practical applications of the principles of industrial ecology and cradle-to-cradle design to sustainable food systems and responsible supply chains. Prior to attending Michigan, Katie was a communications specialist for Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law firm, in Oakland, CA. Katie received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Nemanja is interested in corporate strategy, including environmental one, economics of carbon and climate change, as well as many other sustainability issues, and is in school now to find an area of focus. Prior to Michigan, he did marketing for P&G, learning a lot about consumers’ diswashing habits, frequency of teeth brushing and shopping preferences. In his spare time, he travels cities across the globe trying to avoid snowy winters. He received his Bachelor of Arts from University Braca Karic in Belgrade, Serbia.
Annie is focused on climate change strategy and carbon finance. Her primary
interest is in helping companies proactively and strategically position themselves to take advantage of future changes to climate change policy through reducing emissions, creating frameworks for pricing carbon into project finance, and participating in carbon markets. Prior to coming to Michigan, Annie worked for Fisher Investments, an asset manager in San Francisco, CA. Her primary role at Fisher was creating business strategies to improve customer service, employee productivity, and vendor relations. Annie also has experience in micro-finance, having worked as a business analyst for the HealthStore Foundation, which runs a network of micro-franchised health clinics in rural areas of Kenya. Annie graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2003 with a B.A. in Asian Studies and wrote her senior thesis on the connection between Buddhism and Forest Conservation in Mongolia and Thailand.
Russell is interested in using land-use planning, green building strategies and renewable energy systems to drive profitable and sustainable urban real estate and economic development projects. Before coming to the University of Michigan, Russell worked for the City of New York, where he supported program performance measurement, strategic planning and communications efforts for the City's integrated economic and workforce development initiatives. At the Erb Institute, Russell is studying Sustainable Energy Systems and Corporate Strategy and is an active member of the Energy and the Real Estate Clubs. Russell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Brown University.
Becca is interested in the intersection of corporate strategy and public policy with a focus on emerging markets in environmental services. Her master’s project will examine the connection between bioenergy subsidies, land use change and wildlife habitat. Prior to Michigan, she worked for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in Washington D.C. on a national campaign for new and greater funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation. She has taught coastal ecology to middle school students, studied climate change science and policy responses through the National Science Foundation, and developed a business plan for the Foresight Design Initiative. Becca is an active member of Michigan’s Environmental Policy Organization and Ross Net Impact. In her free time she enjoys hiking, biking, cooking, and travel. Becca holds a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies from Oberlin College.
Laura is interested in energy sector strategy as this industry prepares for future climate change regulation and the growth of carbon markets. She developed this interest while working at the World Bank carbon funds sourcing emissions credits from renewable energy and other low-carbon projects in the developing world. Laura has also worked at several environmental non-profits on energy, climate, and transportation policy. Most recently she was a consultant for the National Environmental Trust where she analyzed proposed climate legislation and ways of linking with international regulatory systems. Laura graduated from Columbia University in 2002 with a B.A. in anthropology and the history and theory of architecture.
David is focusing his work at Michigan on exploring business development strategies for renewable energy in both the developed and developing world. Prior to graduate school, he was living in Grand Rapids, MI and working in fund development and marketing for an international relief and development non-profit. Highlights from this time included co-chairing the organization’s feasibility study for an AIDS campaign and partaking in the strategic review of the organization’s work in Guatemala. David graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. While at Calvin, a research fellowship enabled David to coauthor a published paper on the politics of AIDS in Africa with his supporting professor. Outside of school, David enjoys running, tennis, golf, and all forms of fantasy sports.
Anna’s interests include organizational behavior, environmental dispute resolution, strategic planning, and exploring the role voluntary programs play in advancing corporate sustainability objectives. Prior to Michigan, Anna worked for a national insurance carrier where she designed and implemented a company-wide, collaborative strategic planning process. Anna also worked for Project Performance Corporation where she managed the design and implementation of a web-based database that currently supports the U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Technologies Program and developed performance metrics for an office within the National Nuclear Security Administration. Outside the classroom, Anna enjoys training for triathlons, traveling, making movies and working with disadvantaged youth. Anna holds a BA in Economics from Carleton College.
Evan is interested in the formulation of policy to effect positive environmental and security-related change in the global energy mix and the interaction of government and industry therein. His previous academic work focused on U.S. national security policy and the implications of peak oil theory for U.S. energy policy. Prior to Erb, Evan worked as a researcher for the OpenNet Initiative in the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. There, he focused his research on Internet censorship and filtration in Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Evan graduated from Princeton University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a certificate in Linguistics. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, golfing, running, and playing marginally acceptable guitar.
Siobhan has five year's experience in the alternative energy industry working across the private, government and non-profit sectors. Prior to Michigan, Siobhan worked for the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) based in San Francisco. CRS is a national non-profit working to build a robust renewable energy market by increasing demand and supply of renewable resources. While at CRS, Siobhan managed the day-to-day administration of the Green-e, the nation’s leading independent renewable energy certification and verification program. The Green-e Program works to expand the market for clean, renewable energy by advancing awareness of renewable energy options and protecting consumers. Siobhan has also assisted in administering the EPA's Energy Star Program, developing a renewable energy program for Shanghai and support ing Rhode Island businesses to purchase renewable energy. Siobhan graduated from Smith College with a B.S. in Government and a minor in Environmental Science and Policy. Siobhan's current interests lie in the area of renewable energy and finance.
David Fribush is interested in how to use sophisticated media and marketing techniques to facilitate society’s rapid and comprehensive adoption of sustainability. He is an award-winning filmmaker with over 10 years experience as a writer, director, producer, and editor of projects ranging from commercials to documentaries to educational series. Prior to beginning graduate studies at University of Michigan, he was a Fellow with Rocky Mountain Institute in Snowmass, Colorado creating and producing video content promoting sustainability and RMI’s work. Prior to that, he spent a year traveling and volunteering in Central and South America, which followed a long, traffic-filled exile in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry. He received a B.A. in Economics from Wesleyan University, and completed post-graduate science coursework at Columbia University.
Elizabeth is focusing her studies in how corporate social responsibility, sustainability initiatives, and environmental strategy contribute to performance. Prior to attending the University of Michigan, she worked in the National Audubon Society’s Public Policy office in Washington, DC. She also worked in client services for CreateHope, a technology company that provides branded corporate philanthropy services to some of America’s largest corporations. Elizabeth graduated from Georgetown University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and minors in Biology and Environmental Studies.
Alex is a first-year student studying how brand management within the consumer packaged goods industry can drive both aggressive business growth and corporate social responsibility. Prior to graduate school, he was a public relations executive at Schwartz Communications providing counsel to venture capital firm, Matrix Partners, on its communications with the media, analyst and public communities. Previous to that, Alex served as an international brand manager at 20th Century Fox directing the marketing and PR of TV series, including Bones and Family Guy. He is a graduate of UCLA where he received a B.A. with honors in European Studies in the Honors College.
Paul’s interest in social impact and sustainability developed while working in a jungle hospital in Ecuador. Upon receiving his B.A. in International Studies and Political Science from Middlebury College, he spent seven months in the management consulting world before leaving to help manage Strategies for International Development, an organization which assists disadvantaged farming communities in Latin America and Africa. Paul enjoys studying entrepreneurship, sustainability and renewable energy, particularly as they relate to the development of emerging markets. He is currently working on two start-up businesses – an information management web service and, on behalf of an environmental advocacy organization, a testing service for hazardous chemicals in household items.
Leonore first discovered tourism’s positive effects while conducting fieldwork in Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. For her internship with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, she studied how the establishment of a national park had brought funding for hospitals, schools, and wells to a rural area of Senegal. After finishing her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, she joined the Peace Corps and served as an environmental volunteer in Benin. There, she worked with local beekeepers to start a beekeeping cooperative and reforestation project. She also taught environmental education classes to high school students and hosted a weekly radio show on a rural radio network. She plans to work for a large hotel chain and focus on sustainability issues.
Laurel is interested in corporate social responsibility and competitive environmental strategy in the for-profit sector. Prior to starting her degree at Michigan, she worked as a Consultant for Deloitte, where she helped clients across a variety of industries devise and implement strategic solutions to their most pressing problems. Her projects included strategic roadmap development, current state assessments, process redesigns, organizational restructuring, business case development, project management, and coordination of vendor selection activities. Additionally, she supported efforts to launch a new service line in sustainable enterprise and led various community involvement initiatives. Laurel graduated Summa Cum Laude from Middlebury College in Vermont with a B.A. in Economics. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and kayaking.
Arie is interested in energy strategy and is focusing his efforts in entrepreneurship and business development in renewable energy and clean technology. Prior to graduate school, Arie spent 4 + years working in the audit practice of Deloitte’s San Francisco and Boston offices. Last year, Arie trained Karen refugees along the Thailand / Burma border in renewable energy technologies. Their main project was to install, alongside Karen engineering students, solar systems in 8 refugee camps. These systems were designed to provide electricity to power computer centers. Arie has lived in South America and Southeast Asia and speaks Spanish and Thai. He is interested in starting a clean technology venture fund at UMich. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara where he studied economics and accounting.
Brian joins the Erb Institute from San Francisco where he worked for Google for the past four years. During his time there he spent a year and a half living in Hyderabad, India setting up their customer service operations and, most recently, worked with Google's Mergers and Acquisitions team in Mountain View. It was in India that Brian saw the dire need for sustainable energy in developing countries and what ultimately landed him here at Michigan. He is excited about innovative technologies that can help move renewable energy onto the main stage. He hopes to found a technology start-up or join a venture capital firm concentrated on sustainable energy. Brian holds a BA from Northwestern University in Environmental Science and Philosophy.
Julia’s interests are focused in sustainable urban real estate development. Prior to enrolling at the University of Michigan, Julia worked in master planning and mixed use condominium projects for Torti Gallas and Partners in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her main projects were the privatization of military family housing at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and a transit-oriented development at the Twinbrook Metro Station in the Washington, DC metro area. Julia also has experience in high-end residential design. She earned a bachelors of architecture from the University of Notre Dame and studied abroad in Rome, Italy. She has also worked and volunteered in Dublin, Ireland, San Jose, Costa Rica, and Lima, Peru. She is a member of NCARB, ULI, USGBC, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.
Tom is interested in studying the renewable energy industry, and is particularly interested in the intersection between government policy and business strategy. Before coming to Michigan, Tom worked at NYSE Regulation, a securities industry regulator responsible for ensuring market integrity and investor protection. At the NYSE, he was an analyst in the Division of Enforcement and an associate in the Risk Assessment Unit. He also worked on Mike Bloomberg’s 2005 mayoral reelection campaign. Tom earned his undergraduate degree in Political Economy at Georgetown University; he loves competitive sports of all kinds, enjoys traveling (most recently to Morocco), and is an Admissions Ambassador for the Ross School of Business.
Theo is interested in renewable energy, specifically in expanding the
availability of small-scale renewable energy options. Prior to attending
Michigan, he spent four and a half years coaching water polo, during which
time he also tutored, traveled in South America, and worked at a startup
online media company in San Francisco. Theo graduated from Harvard
University in 2003 with a Bachelor¹s of Arts in Earth and Planetary
Sciences. He has studied Japanese and Spanish, enjoys most things active,
and would like to make the world a better place.
Jennifer is interested in developing sustainable innovations for restoring the environment, stimulating agricultural and nutritional reform and fostering health and education initiatives throughout the developing world. Her focus on environmental justice propels her toward creating equitable solutions to environmental and social challenges while evenly distributing the benefits and minimizing the burdens of such advancements. Jennifer graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in engineering. Prior to entering the Erb program at Michigan, she completed her five year active duty military commitment at the Los Angeles Air Force Base Space and Missile Systems Center. She worked as a developmental engineer and project manager on both the Space Radar and Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite systems. She also spent six months working with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA designing optical systems for the Space Interferometry Mission.
Mark is interested in corporate environmental strategy, linking strategic environmental choices to the profitability of firms. Prior to coming to Michigan, Mark was working as a mechanical engineer at Varian, Inc. doing research and development for their nuclear magnetic resonance division. Mark graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in Economics. While at Stanford, he was also a diver on the NCAA champion swimming and diving team. In his spare time, Mark enjoys skiing, mountaineering, mountain biking, running and cooking.
Brent is interested in corporate environmental strategy with a focus on the renewable energy and green building sectors. Brent graduated from The Colorado College in 2000 with a B.A. in Political Science. Since then he has pursued a variety of environmentally focused careers from being a wildlife research assistant in the Utah desert to running Outward Bound leadership courses in Costa Rica. Most recently, Brent worked for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) where he coordinated the educational program for its annual Greenbuild conference, which attracted over 13,000 attendees in 2006. While there, he also managed USGBC’s China outreach program which involved designing and leading a trade mission to Beijing and Shanghai. Although Brent’s original interest is in green buildings, he is taking advantage of his time at U of M to explore other fields within sustainability.
Gaurav is interested in starting a socially-responsible business in India and wants to learn how corporations can play a bigger role in making a global positive impact. Before attending Michigan, Gaurav worked with an Indian non-profit group Indicorps/Manav Sadhna, for four years. Nearly two of those years were spent in India working with a slum community and making efforts to improve their living conditions. Prior to his non-profit venture, Gaurav worked for six years in the investment management industry, last for Loomis Sayles & Company, managing institutional relationships. During this time, he also served on the board of directors for Children’s Council of San Francisco. Gaurav holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona.
Zach is passionate about helping firms develop competitive advantage through corporate environmental strategy. He is excited to work with industry leaders to incorporate ecological, social and economic interests into the design process, thereby ensuring that the next batch of gadgets are equitably created. Prior to the Erb Institute, Zach spent seven years in Silicon Valley, working with Sun Microsystems and advising companies such as Google, eBay, and Apple. Zach earned his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Vanderbilt University.
Prior to beginning the Erb program, Beth worked with the World Wildlife Fund on improving the environmental sustainability of international financial institutions through partnerships and environmental policies. Before this, she spent time in Cameroon, West Africa, as a Peace Corps Volunteer focused on enhancing soil fertility through natural methods in a small farming community. She is interested in helping businesses develop and implement strategies that promote both environmental sustainability and profitability, specifically in the areas of sourcing and finance.
Ryan's interests include corporate environmental strategy, sustainable
development, and sustainable behavior. Prior to graduate school, he founded
a consulting company providing project management, marketing, and strategic
planning services to Microsoft and other clients in the Seattle area. Ryan's
career experience includes training for an energy systems software company,
managing R&D projects for 3M, and helping to found an environmental dot-com,
as well as working for the National Park Service in Alaska, leading
adventure travel tours throughout the U.S., and spending two years pursuing
naturalist training and wilderness studies. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys
skiing, running, and international travel. He graduated from Northwestern
University with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and a certificate in the
Business Institutions Program.
