About Green Business Networking
Green Business Networking was formed in 2005 when a small group of business leaders began meeting informally to discuss ways to work together to advance green, sustainability and wellness ideas and businesses. The group grew quickly, and now boasts participation from over 2,000 business leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants and evangelists in the Los Angeles area. Yet despite this growth, its strives to remain a place where doers can go to meet like-minded people in a relaxed atmosphere.
Green Business Networking operates as a non-profit under the umbrella of the Earthways Foundation and is currently lead by Greg Wendt, Ferris Kawar, Scott Badenoch, and Benjamin Shakin.
Greg Wendt
Greg Wendt, CFP heads the Sustainable Investing practice at Enright Premier Wealth Advisors, Inc. - a well established and recognized registered investment advisory firm with offices in Torrance and West Los Angeles. With over 17 years of experience in the financial services industry (including Smith Barney, PaineWebber and Prudential Securities), Greg has earned a reputation as one of the leading financial advisors in Southern California specializing in socially and environmentally responsible investing.
Greg values community service in his life and he actively supports a number of environmental and social justice organizations with his time and money. Greg is the Founder of Green Business Networking, and is on the advisory board organizations and companies including: Creative Citizen, Inc., Watts Up America, Sustainable Business Council of Los Angeles, and The Institute for Conscious Entertainment. Greg is leading the effort to start a Los Angeles chapter for Business Alliance for Local Living Econmies.
Ferris Kawar
Ferris Kawar is currently the Recycling Specialist for the City of Burbank and a LEED AP. Before going to work for the City, Ferris was the VP of Sustainability and co-founder of Greenopia, a consumer-friendly directory designed to help individuals easily locate local eco-friendly alternatives to the products and services they use every day. Prior to Greenopia he was the Residential Program Coordinator for Sustainable Works, a non-profit environmental education organization that was tasked with promoting sustainability to residents and businesses in Santa Monica.
Armed with a degree in Marketing and experience from a previous career in advertising in San Francisco, Ferris has found his home in Los Angeles where he is an active leader in the green business movement. He sits on the board of advisors for Sustainable Works, is a member of Green Business Networking’s steering committee and previously sat on the Venice Neighborhood Councils Environmental Committee.
Benjamin Shakin
Benjamin Shakin is founder and president of Sprout Business Consulting - consulting and virtual incubation for startup and growth companies making a positive impact in the world. Sprout Business helps passionate entrepreneurs polish and realize their visions by providing experience, resources, relationships and critical support where they are most needed. Benjamin is also a member of the Green Business Networking steering committee, and part of the effort to start a Los Angeles chapter for Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.
Benjamin earned his Masters of Business Administration from USC's Marshall School of Business, and his BA in Philosophy from New York University. He has 10+ years experience in retail and B2B sales, marketing and business development, and 20+ years in startup, early stage and growth company management. You can reach him through Sprout Business and LinkedIn.
Ambassadors & Volunteers
Davida Heller
Davida Heller is a Sustainability Specialist and Founder/CEO of Ecospire, an environmental sustainability consultancy, providing sustainable solutions for homes, businesses and lifestyles. Through Ecospire, Davida renders services to residential and commercial clients and is currently working with Science Applications International Corporation, administering recycling consultation services for the Los Angeles County Smart Business Recycling Program. She is a LEED AP as well as a Certified Green Building Professional and Green Point Home Rater through Build It Green. She is certified in Home Performance Testing through the CBPCA (California Building Performance Contractor Association) Energy Star program.
Jeff Hayes
Jeff is president and CEO of The Vector Group, an LA-based consultancy providing small to mid-market businesses with performance management tools and services. The firm was founded by Jack Hayes in the late '60s to drive top-line growth at mid-market logistics companies. Jeff joined the firm in 1998, and when he proposed shifting The Vector Group’s business development focus onto social and environmental entrepreneurship in 2005, Jack responded with, 'over… my… dead… body…' But times change and people do too, and Jack has since become a big fan of The Vector Group’s groundbreaking eco-business tools, FootPrinterTM and CONDUCTORTM. Prior to The Vector Group Jeff created visual effects for films and directed animation for gaming and ride experiences for everyone from Disney to garage startups, and his projects earned >250MM in combined revenue. In his free time, Jeff surfs under the full-moon at Leo Carrillo State Beach and is a fan of both Edward Tufte and John Singer Sargent. The Vector Group: for business performance excellence.
