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Meet the SBC Board Members:
Olan Lloyd Alsup – or Bubba –
as most know him, has been a Missoula resident for over 15 years. He married an awesome Missoula girl named Stephanie McAfee over 21 years ago and they have 3 busy teenage children. When not busy with the children’s numerous activities, Bubba works for Western States Insurance and sells Health and Life insurance plans to small businesses. Stephanie manages their retail store – ‘Pet Stop’ in Southgate Mall. Bubba has been very active in volunteer work for organizations such as Sentinel Kiwanis, YMCA, Little Grizzly Football, Boy Scouts, Missoula Valley Church to name a few. He has also previously sat on the Southgate Mall planning board, Chaired, and still serves, on the Chamber’s ‘Leadership High School’ program committee. He has also served as president of National Association of Insurance and Financial advisors of Western Montana, and was a founding member and president of Missoula Christian Business Network. Bubba graduated from Harding University in 1988 and received a Masters in Education from Abilene Christian University in 1991. Bubba has joined the SBC because he feels that business is starting to see sustainability as the ‘right thing to do’ and not a political issue. “When we get past the politics, it is up to all of us to provide a better future for our children.”
Jobe Bernier
After growing up in Alaska and apprenticing in Anchorage,
Jobe pursued further study of Architecture in Bozeman, Montana. His
Master’s Thesis, Entropic Phenomena Actuating Dynamic Space, focused on the
future adaptive reuse of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline after the future event of
terminus oil production (ie: what do we do with the 800 mile pipeline when
there is no more oil in Alaska?) He was lauded for his efforts with the
top thesis award by his professors. After achieving his academic goals in
early 2008, Jobe relocated to Missoula and joined renowned A&E
Architects. This accomplishment augmented many prior years of
architectural work in Alaska where he gained experience with arctic and
industrial designs in tandem with educational, specialty retail, residential,
and other typologies.
With A&E, Jobe manifests his love of architecture
through thoughtful design, research, master planning, drawing, and model
building. His focus on entropy (energy transfers) and sustainability
serves A&E Architects well as the built environment becomes increasingly
damaged with time—an entropic process—and A&E has an important focus on
historic preservation and high-performance new construction. Additionally,
Jobe serves A&E and the community at large as a LEED Building
Design+Construction accredited professional. A passion for the poetic
human experience, a strong ambition, a utilization of context, a theoretical
basis, and a respect for sustainability, preservation, and embodied energies
contributes to his process in the reification of the architectural experience.
Awards - Best Thesis (Architectural) 2008; Alpha Rho Chi
Medal 2008; Design Award-Montana Audubon
Affiliations - American Institute of Architects; National
Council of Architectural Registration Boards; USGBC LEED Accredited
Professional, Version 3; Sustainable Business Council
Bonnie Buckingham
Bonnie is the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition’s (CFAC) co-founder
and first Executive Director. She has over 15 years experience
with food security and hunger reduction issues as Program Operations Manager
of Missoula Food Bank, and Director of Women's Opportunity & Resource
Development. Bonnie is a strong advocate for the local food movement
in Missoula. She initiated Montana’s first Farmers Market EBT Food Stamp
program in Missoula and actively participates in several coalitions associated
with food security and non-profit organization and collaboration. Bonnie
has served as a member of the coordinating committee of the Finding Solutions
to Food Insecurity project, exploring ways to overcome barriers to food
security and access to social service programs; the Jeannette Rankin Peace
Center Coordinating Council; and is currently the moderator of the cabinet at
University Congregational Church. A social worker by training, Bonnie has
considerable experience with community development, strategic planning,
Community-based Participatory Research, and group facilitation. She
received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Montana in
2007. When not at work, Bonnie can be found skiing, hiking, biking,
boating or playing hockey. She enjoys the many seasons of play that
Missoula has to offer and is happy to be a part of creating greater
sustainability within the place she calls home.
Liz Dye
Liz was born and raised in Missoula. She studied art at
the University of Montana and then the Art Institute of Seattle where she
received her degree. She is a Realtor at the locally owned and operated, Portico
Real Estate, where she is a Broker and has won awards for excellence in
service. She is very involved in the local arts community, participating on the
City of Missoula's Pubic Art Committee and volunteering at the Montana Museum
of Art & Culture with cataloging their extensive art collection. She enjoys
cooking and traveling with her husband Tom and their daughter Winnie. Two dogs,
two cats, a chicken and an assortment of koi round out the household and help
Liz with the gardening.
Susan Estep
Ms. Susan Estep is the Senior Partner at Estep, Hope and
Weber Capital Management, a majority women owned local Financial Management
Company. Susan has over 30 years in the securities industry. Her
career began in 1981 on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. In
1987 she joined JP Morgan as a Vice President of Institutional Trading and held
that position until 1992 when she returned to Montana and joined AG Edwards in
the Missoula, Montana branch. Susan was one of the founding brokers when Smith
Barney opened a new branch in Missoula in 1998 and moved to Merrill Lynch in
September 2005. Estep, Hope and Weber was founded in early 2010 as
an answer to clients demands for local accountability and transparency.
Estep, Hope and Weber Capital Management specializes in Socially Responsible/Sustainable Knowledge
Based Investing.
Elizabeth Harrison
Elizabeth grew up in the Deep South, and credits her
conservation-focused school, leave-no-trace camping lessons at summer camp and
her general love for the outdoors with informing a passion for sustainability.
Her decision to move out West was a natural fit, and in 2009, Elizabeth
graduated from the University of Montana with a master's degree in journalism
focusing on the environment and natural resources. After reporting stints at
the Flathead Beacon in Kalispell and the Great Falls Tribune, Elizabeth headed
back to Missoula to begin a career in the non-profit world.
“Heart’s work” and “dream job” are two phrases
Elizabeth often uses when people ask if she likes working in communications and
fundraising at YWCA Missoula. Having a direct affect on women and children
survivors of violence, homeless families and growing strong women leaders makes
coming to work every day the easiest thing in the world. Elizabeth has also
discovered a drive for social justice work and community involvement. She
serves on the board for the National Coalition-Building Institute; on the
Justice & Witness Team and as the clerk for the executive cabinet at the
University Congregationalist United Church of Christ; volunteered with MUD’s
Earth Day 2011 committee; and is collaborating with Social Justice Fund
Northwest on the Montana Giving Project, awarding grants to organizations
committed to social justice work.
In her down time, Elizabeth enjoys hikes with her
furry canine companion, Izzy; cycling; yoga; and kayaking. She is very excited
about this opportunity to volunteer for SBC, a non-profit that is consistent
with her values.
Blake Ludwig
Blake is a longtime Missoula resident having relocated here from Chicago with his family in 1969. He is a CPA and a graduate of the University of Montana School of Business. He has worked a number of years in public accounting mostly with the firm of Galusha, Higgins & Galusha PC, and has spent the last fourteen years working as Controller for Sun Mountain Sports, Inc. Blake has worked with and had exposure to a wide range of business issues, from operations, tax and auditing to import/export law, and network design. Blake is married, has a daughter and a stepson, he and his wife Caryn enjoy the fine Montana quality of life, lots of outdoor activities and traveling.
Heather Phillips
Heather Phillips grew up in Missoula and graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle before returning to the area. Heather works in the field of graphic design with Missoula businesses through Go Two Gals, a marketing and design firm founded by Heather and her business partner in 2008. As the co-owner of a locally owned and operated business, Heather is dedicated to applying sustainable business practices in her day-to-day relationships with clients. When not developing the perfect logo for a client, Heather enjoys yoga, hiking with her Lab, Cache, and pouring herself a glass of wine.
Kristine Redli
Kristine is a Missoula native. She attended our very
own Hellgate Elementary and Big Sky High School, graduating from Big Sky in
2005. She is married with two children
and loves being a mother and spending time with her family. Her entire
family loves Montana and spends much of their free time outdoors. She also
enjoys photography and cooking - with the help of her kids.
Kristine started her professional career during her high
school years excelling in customer service,
clerical, Collection Agency Legal work, and as a legal secretary. Since
2009 Kristine has been an Administrative Assistant for Alps Corporation.
She enjoys volunteering for great causes and this experience includes volunteer
work at the United Way as the Team Captain for Day of Caring, CASA, Bowling for
Kid’s Sake with Big Brother and Big Sisters, Adopt a Family for Christmas, and
the Ronald McDonald House. She’s excited to participate on the SBC Board
and to continue the important work of the SBC, it’s missions and programs.
Lisa Swallow, CPA CMA
Lisa Swallow teaches sustainable business and accounting courses at the University of Montana between two campuses - the College of Technology and the Davidson Honors College. She recently published Green Business Practices for Dummies and co-writes a monthly column for the Missoulian In Business section. She is involved in sustainability literacy and is particularly interested in faculty development to build confidence in integrating climate change issues into general curriculum. Lisa is married with one college age son (studying green building) and another than is a senior in high school. Her interests include international travel, running, yoga, time at the lake, skiing, music and hanging out in the woods with the family's golden retriever, Meiko. Her license plates say it all. Pura Vida!
Brandy Sularz
Born and raised in Missoula, Brandy made her return home
from her most recent adventure, teaching English in South Korea and traveling
around Asia with her faithful backpack. She graduated with a Bachelor's
and Master's degree in Civil Engineering and spent several years working in
Portland, Oregon, planning and designing sustainable transportation solutions
and utilizing technology to measure and reduce vehicular carbon footprints.
She is thrilled to be back in Missoula and is committed to raising awareness
and educating the community about sustainable living. In her spare time,
she enjoys spending time with friends and family, soaking in the great
outdoors, traveling and cooking.
Emese Vitális, Ph.D.
Emese was born and raised in Hungary and has lived in
Germany and the Netherlands. She completed her doctorate in Psychology at
Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Nine years ago she moved to the
United States. She has spent most of her working life teaching psychology in
colleges and universities. After moving to Missoula, Emese developed a passion
for start-up companies. She had the opportunity to work with several of them,
among them Rivertop Renewables, located in Missoula, Montana developing the
technology and production of bio-degradable carbochemicals. Emese is currently enrolled in the University of
Montana’s MBA program. She and her business partner won the 2011 Ruffato
Business plan competition. Emese loves traveling, skiing, reading, and spending time
with friends. Emese has a husband and lovely daughter.
Ryan Weisser
Ryan Weisser has been a Business and Technology Professional
since 1992. After receiving his degree at the University of Montana in
Computer Science he used and developed his skills in structured programming,
system analysis, system integration, relational databases and project
management. In 2001 Ryan and his 3 partners started AXIOM IT Solutions which
specializes in custom software solutions for private companies and government
agencies. Ryan is President of the company and is primarily responsible
for business development and operations. Since joining the Sustainable
Business Council (SBC) in 2009 Ryan’s knowledge and passion of sustainability
has grown. He has served as Fundraising Committee Chair, Board
Development Committee chair and is currently heading up important technology
initiatives for the Organization. He regularly practices sustainability
measures learned through the many events and programs the SBC hosts for its
members and the community. Ryan also enjoys travel, downhill skiing,
football, hiking and anything else that gets him into nature and the world.
Meet the SBC Staff Members:
Susan Anderson - Administrative Coordinator
Susan Anderson graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Montana in 1983 and an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Decision Science from the University of Oregon in 1989. She holds a Certified Public Accountants license in Oregon and practiced accounting for 4 years in a firm that specialized in auditing, tax work and consulting for small business. Susan is part owner of BalanceTech, LLC, a family-owned and operated software development company specializing in decision management software and consulting. Her primary roles with the company include accounting, business management, and sustainability educator/trainer. Susan has taught classes in accounting, environmental issues in business, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and the impacts of energy choices on society as an adjunct instructor at University of Oregon, Linfield College in Oregon, and the University of Montana on a part-time basis over the past 20 years.
Drew Little - Program Coordinator
Drew Little is the Education, Outreach, and Volunteer Coordinator for the Sustainable Business Council and has been working for the SBC since the fall of 2010, after completing an eight month AmeriCorps internship as the Education Program Development Intern. She currently sits on the Business Education and Community Outreach committees and co-chairs the Membership Outreach and Communication committee. After growing up in a small mountain town south of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and a stint attending Reed College in Portland, OR, Drew established a home base in 2006 in the woods just north of Victor. Selected by the Environmental Studies faculty as 2010's Outstanding Senior in the area of Sustainability Studies, Drew's undergraduate focus was Sustainable Business Management. Her passions include biomimicry, true cost accounting, and the power of informed dialogue and collaboration. When not managing interns, implementing SBC programs, or merchandising produce at the local grocery store, Drew enjoys hiking, disc-golfing, slack-lining, photography, and in general enjoying the natural splendor of the Bitterroot Valley.
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