© Shanenon Starrett www.Shanenon.com

Sustainable Works is a non-profit environmental education organization. We are a project of Community Partners. We are funded by the City of Santa Monica's Sustainable City Plan, our program participants, grants and donations, and from in-kind services from Santa Monica College. Although our programs are targeted to Santa Monica residents and businesses, our participants represent the greater Los Angeles Area. Sustainable Works is interested in expanding into other cities with a focus on sustainability, resource efficiency or community development.

Barent Roth, Executive Director

Barent rose to the role of Executive Director for Sustainable Works in January 2009 after teaching the Green Living Workshops in the Sustainable Works Residential Greening Program for three years. Shortly after receiving his undergraduate degree in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois he returned to discover his passion for teaching, educating designers on sustainable materials and processes. While graduating with Honors from the Masters program in Industrial Design at the University of the Arts, Barent continued to educate on industry's ability to unite environmental and economic goals through sustainability. In 2005 he launched the LA office of grow-design, a green industrial design firm, focused on creating sustainable to restorative solutions.

Seeking to connect the green community in Los Angeles, Barent founded LA Green Drinks, an informal environmental networking group for anyone interested in environmental issues.

www.lagreendrinks.org

Nancy Barba LEED AP, Residential Program

Nancy has been a Green Living Workshop participant, the Residential Program intern, and is thrilled to now be heading the Residential Program.  She earned her B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from California State University Long Beach.  She has been passionate about the environment for nearly two decades. She lived in the San Francisco-Berkeley area for 10 years and is excited to return to the Los Angeles area.

Susy Borlido, Business Greening Program

Holli Fajack, Student Greening Program Coordinator

Lisa Harrison LEED AP, Development & Marketing Program

Lisa was born and raised in Seattle and lived in New York City for over 12 years before relocating to Los Angeles in the fall of 2002.  Currently, she is completing her undergraduate degree in Geography with an emphasis on Environmental Studies in conjunction with managing the Fundraising, Membership and Marketing Programs at Sustainable Works.  Having worked in various business sectors including Graphic Design, Marketing and Production Services, Lisa feels blessed to blend her business acumen with the vibrant Santa Monica sustainable community.

Tamsyn Hunnewell LEED AP, Business Greening Program

Tamsyn has been involved with Sustainable Works since her arrival in Southern California in 2006. A graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in environmental engineering, she worked for several years as an environmental engineer on transportation-related projects in New York City.  Prior to moving to Los Angeles she also lived in New Zealand, where she assisted the work of several environmental non-profits including the World Wildlife Foundation’s Climate Change Initiative project. Tamsyn has enjoyed many pristine natural environments in her travels, and she is working to ensure that many others will be able to share these pleasures for years to come.

Edward Pakdaman, Business Greening Program

Edward received his degree in International Business from San Francisco State University. While researching clean technology companies for the US Department of Commerce in San Francisco, Edward’s interest for a more sustainable planet quickly turned into a passion that drove him to apply his first hand knowledge and experience to the Southern California region. Coupling his enthusiasm for sustainability and human interests, Edward delivers an ardent and diverse approach in troubleshooting various environmental issues. He feels honored and fortunate to be a part of Sustainable Works and the Business Greening Department, where all are wholehearted with their work and demonstrate excellent leadership.

Neha Sharma, Executive Assistant

Neha was born and raised in Los Angeles, California to parents who moved here from India. She graduated from Harvard-Westlake High School in the summer of 2009 and started at Santa Monica College in the Fall 2009 semester. Neha first began at Sustainable Works in October 2009 as an office manager intern and was promoted to Executive Assistant in February 2010. Neha's concern for the environment coupled with her interest in people and education has made this a wonderful work experience. Neha feels fortunate to have the opportunity to explore her passions and be a part of the Sustainable Works team.

Samantha Sommer, Community Sustainability Program

Samantha Sommer received a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz in Environmental Studies and a MS from the University of California, Davis in Community Development.  While at UC Davis, Samantha worked in various capacities teaching, researching, and writing in the Environmental Science & Policy, Community Development, and Design Departments.  She was a Teacher Associate for the class, Introduction to Sustainability, completed the Education for Sustainable Living Program and worked as a Community Liaison for the John Muir Center for the Environment. She is interested in how land-use impacts the environment and public health and fostering sustainable communities through outreach, education and action.

Our mission is to foster a culture of sustainability in cities, colleges, and businesses.

Sustainable Works exists to manifest the concepts of sustainability and the actions associated with living a sustainable lifestyle into the daily activities of individuals, institutions and businesses. We accomplish this by providing hands-on, interactive, educational experiences, serving as a liaison between governments, institutions, businesses and individuals and fostering community development. We turn knowledge into actions that improve quality of life by promoting sustainable practices in the urban environment. Our goal is to ensure a just society, a clean and healthy environment and a vibrant economy for present and future generations.