a project of
Chris O'Brien, Director
M.S., Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute; B.A., Penn State. With two degrees focusing on science, technology and society, Chris' motivating interest is in using the power of the marketplace to create a more just and sustainable society. He has twelve years of experience working to promote corporate responsibility and has served as Director of both the Co-op America Business Network and the Fair Trade Federation. In 2006, Chris authored an award-winning book on corporate responsibility and sustainability in the brewing industry. He is now working on a book about justice and sustainability in the global coffee trade. He has also lived, worked and traveled extensively in Africa. Chris has played a lead role in developing and expanding the Responsible Purchasing Network to become a nationally recognized and rapidly growing membership organization.
Matt Kittell, Research Director
M.A., University of Maryland; B.S., University of Wisconsin. Matt has over seven years of experience working on environmental and energy issues. While earning his Masters in Public Management, Matt served as Special Assistant to the Executive Director at the Center for Clean Air Policy where he worked on air, climate, energy, and transportation policy on local, state, national, and international levels. Matt then continued his work in promoting green business, energy efficiency and other green economy topics at Co-op America and joined the Responsible Purchasing Network team in 2006 to design and administer our clean vehicles and energy programs. He now directs research for RPN purchasing guides and consulting.
Mary Peters, Communication and Marketing Manager
BA, St. Norbert College. Mary joined the staff of The Center for a New American Dream in January 2007. Prior to RPN, Mary was the manager of education and certification marketing at The Association for Operations Management (APICS); was a founding staff member of Vernacular Press, an independent publishing company in New York; she volunteered as an AmeriCorps*VISTA for a year at Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP); and worked with Clean Wisconsin, formerly The Wisconsin Environmental Decade.
Seán Sheehan, Special Projects Director
B.A., American University (magna cum laude). Former associate, TV-Free America. Seán has worn many hats during his eleven years of employment with New Dream, including overseeing the creation and explosive growth of our New Dream Community and directing several of our public education, advocacy, and grassroots initiatives. He co-founded the Montpelier Energy Team and Alternative Gifts of Greater Washington, and serves on the boards of the Simplicity Forum and Take Back Your Time. In 2008, he will play a key role in implementing our Carbon Conscious Communities (C3) program.
Mary Jo Snavely, Program Coordinator
In 2006 Mary Jo earned a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she worked on projects that combined environmental protection and business management, including a Santa Barbara County organic waste management business proposal. Her experience includes leading an industrial ecology course, organizing the 2006 UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference, and interning for a green products retailer. Mary Jo joined New Dream in 2006 as the Responsible Purchasing Fellow.
Courtney Godwin, Fellow
Courtney earned her BA in Psychology and Criminology/Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has organized three annual campus Earth Day celebrations and bolstered UMD recycling. She helped create and run the University's "Don't Waste, Donate" program. She is an avid collector of Mid-Century Modern furniture and loves badminton. Courtney joined the Center in August 2007 as the Responsible Purchasing Fellow.
Sarah O'Brien, EPEAT Outreach Director
Through the RPN Extern program Sarah was placed at the Green Electronics Council where she educates purchasers and the general public about the EPEAT (Environmental Product Environmental Assessment Tool) system for purchasing environmentally preferable electronics.
Sarah has many years of environmental purchasing and advocacy experience. Most recently, she was EPP Program Manager at Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E), assisting health care facilities, systems and Group Purchasing Organizations across North America to reduce environmental impact and improve environmental performance through purchasing initiatives. Before joining H2E, as a Senior Outreach Associate with INFORM, a national nonprofit, Sarah assisted government agencies, institutions and businesses to reduce their purchase of products containing persistent toxic chemicals. As part of her work with H2E and INFORM, Ms. O’Brien was an NGO member of the national stakeholder team that developed and implemented the EPEAT standard and system, and served as a member of the EPEAT Board of Advisors.
Lisa Wise, Executive Director, New American Dream
M.A., B.FA., B.A., University of Arizona. Center for a New American Dream is the home of the Responsible Purchasing Network. As Executive Director of New Dream, Lisa Wise works closely with the staff of RPN to deliver successful programs and consulting services that result in measurable shifts in environmentally preferable purchasing. Lisa brings over a decade of administrative, fundraising and organizing experience to New American Dream. While working as a National Field Manager for Planned Parenthood, she developed strategies for large-scale activist mobilization. She is experienced in both traditional community-based outreach and the use of cutting-edge social networking techniques to galvanize participation in social movements. Building campaigns from the ground up requires sophisticated planning, management and creativity – all qualities Lisa honed during her tenure with Planned Parenthood. As Vice President of Genetic Alliance, a national health care advocacy organization in Washington, DC, Lisa sharpened her fundraising skills while further building on her organizing background. A former adjunct professor of media arts and communications, Lisa is also co-founder of Pan Left Productions, a not-for-profit media company in Tucson, Arizona. Lisa joined New American Dream in January 2007.