About Us

Our Mission:

  • To increase the profits of the businesses that are having the least impact on the environment and through "Business-to-Business" mentoring and strength in partnership, encourage more sustainable business practices.
  • To educate and influence the public to think more about the goods and services they use in their own communities and to encourage more sustainable choices

Our Story

The Green Alliance was born from a partnership of community environmental advocacy and business ingenuity. Green Alliance founding business, Simply Green Biofuels, was trying to break into a market dominated by fossil fuels, when they realized that an alliance of similarly green-minded businesses might bring more tangible results. Simply Green owner Andrew Kellar knew that Seacoast residents using biofuel would probably be similarly interested in green landscaping companies, green restaurants, and the like. Kellar had the idea of teaming up with these other local green businesses, where each business would offer each other's customers mutual discounts, while sharing best business practices and marketing techniques.

At the same time, community activist Sarah Brown was working in Portsmouth and Kittery on environmental issues -- focused on individual energy use and personal environmental impact. As the advocacy widened to include towns and then business, Brown saw that some businesses -- including Kellar's Simply Green -- were leading the way in sustainability. As business goes, so goes the individual, she thought But how to bring attention to those local businesses that are doing the right thing for our planet? Furthermore, how do you encourage more timid businesses to "go green" and provide support in that process? A "Green Alliance", of course!

 

Our Team

Sarah Brown - Green Alliance Owner, Director

Sarah Brown has been an environmental advocate in her community for the last 10 years. She has served on Kittery's Town Council and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Sarah created Kittery Progressive Action, a community action coalition which responds to and organizes around, progressive issues in Kittery, Southern Maine and Portsmouth. She also formed St. John's Stewardship of the Earth Committee in Portsmouth; a group which educates the Seacoast community on environmental issues. Brown spear-headed Cool Kittery, which convinced the Town Council to sign the Mayors Agreement on Climate Change and then regrouped to become Kittery's current Energy Efficiency Committee - a town-sanctioned board that is now working to reduce Kittery's energy use and promote conservation in the schools and the community.

Before moving to the Seacoast, Brown worked for 5 years as a journalist in Moscow, Russia for CNN, BBC, NBC and the Associated Press. Pre-Russia she worked at CNN's New York bureau. Brown has a degree in Russian Studies from Columbia University. She lives in Kittery with her husband and three young daughters.

Jim Cavan - Director of Media and Public Relations

Jim joined the GA in February 2009 as support staff with a focus on social media marketing and writing. He has since become a full-time team member, serving as the Director of Media and PR. Since coming to the GA, Jim's work has been published in a number of regional newspapers, magazines, and online, along the way helping raise the profile of GA Business Partners and green happenings throughout the Seacoast.

A native Michigander, Jim is a 2005 graduate of UNH, where he studied philosophy and sociology. Jim has long maintained a keen interest in environmental social and political issues, having canvassed for NHPIRG and the Sierra Club as well as completing a senior honors thesis on issues of social and environmental sustainability. Jim hopes to continue his work strengthening the GA's social marketing potential through regular blog updates, online networking, as well as contributing GA-related stories to local media publications.

When not fighting the good fight for the GA, Jim also works part-time for a Dover-based rare book and map seller. In his free time Jim enjoys spending time with his fiance Deana, playing basketball, disc golf, yoga, cooking, and getting worked up over politics.

Scott Szycher - Assistant Director

Scott joined the GA in August 2010 to assist with content development, Business Partner outreach efforts, and Green Card Holder expansion programs. With a background in marketing and sales, he has developed content and implemented marketing programs for companies in the environmental services, health and wellness, and wireless communications industries. 

A lifelong New Englander, Scott holds an M.B.A. in Marketing from Northeastern University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Tufts University. He is heavily involved in issues such as renewable energy, naturopathic healing, climatology, and energy efficiency, and is a member of numerous environmental advocacy groups. Scott is looking forward to supporting sustainable communities and economies through his work for the GA.

An avid skier, hiker, and mountain biker, Scott enjoys a variety of activities with his wife and son throughout New England. Some of his musings on sustainability, climate change, and the economy can be found at www.beyondeconomics.org.  

 

David Anderson - Writer

Dave is the newest member of the Green Alliance staff. Prior to joining the GA, Dave worked as an organizer for some the nation's leading environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection. He holds a MA in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire, where he studied environmental policy and law. 

When he's not at the Green Alliance, Dave can be found making homemade rain barrels from recycled materials with the New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership, where he works as part-time Project Coordinator. A self confessed political junkie, Dave gets his fix writing about the Granite State's first-in-the-nation presidential primary from a green perspective at NewHampshirePrimary.blogspot.com.

In his free time, Dave loves to romp around in the woods of Pawtuckaway State Park with his dog Nick, go for long hikes in the White Mountains, and occasionally test out his amateur rock and ice climbing skills. He also loves to spend time with his fiance Mackenzie and getting together with friends and family to make enticing meals using ingredients bartered for at the Portsmouth Farmers' Market or hand picked from his own vegetable garden.

 

Bridget Sprague - Director of Marketing and Brand-management

Bridget is eager to use her branding expertise to inspire more New England residents and businesses to join our green community. Bridget brings over ten years of experience building major brands including General Motors, MTV, and Stride Rite.

Bridget combines her undergraduate education in Economics and Business Management with her current pursuit of a Master’s degree in Consumer Psychology, to provide a unique perspective on brand building and expanding B-to-C dialog. In addition to her work with The GA Bridget consults with socially responsible businesses to create and implement focused communication plans.

Bridget is passionate about marketing, social and economic responsibility, and most importantly, her family. She is raising three children - Ellie, Kate, and Peter with her husband Billy, a physical education teacher. They love to explore their backyard for bugs and birds and grow organic vegetables in their raised gardens.

Contributors -

The Green Alliance team of writers also includes our loyal band of interns and other staff: Andrew Tiebout & Phil Fabens-Jones.

 

 

 

 

 Green Alliance Sustaining Members

  

Sustaining Members are making a committment to moving the Green Alliance forward. By investing in a lifetime membership, they're showing their support for the work we do every day with green consumers and businesses alike.

Your lifetime membership helps provide the support we need to turn our local economies into truly green economies. If you like what you see in the Green Alliance, help us to increase our impact by becoming a Sustaining Member.

 

 

Current Sustaining Members:

1 . Matt Knowlton. Matt and his wife Leah received their 1st Green Alliance membership as a Christmas Gift in 2009, and they've made such good use of of the discounts at Simply Green Biofuels (for their B20 blend heating oil), as well as for the great deals they get at Robert's Maine Grill in Kittery and the Portsmouth Brewery, that they decided to become Sustaining Members! They plan on utilizing the Green Card for various work they may need when they move into a new dwelling.  Matt & Leah recycle and compost everything they can, and have drastically reduced their trash output over the last few years through this highly effective, low-cost strategy.

 2. Brooke Keeler. Brooke and her husband Jeff live in Stratham, NH, with their 2 young daughters, Morgan and Parker. While Brooke's husband Jeff is organically involved in the sustainability movement, as one of NH's premier old fashioned wood turners, Brooke has become a sustaining member as a catalyst to help move her towards a more sustainable lifestyle. "I'm relatively new to the green movement, but I've been insipired by my friend Sarah Brown, Green Alliance Director, to think more about the environmental impact of the choices I make as a citizen and parent. I hope to use my Green Card as an aide to make more sustainable choices on a daily basis," says Brooke, about why she became a Sustaining Member. 

3. William Gilbert. William lives with his wife Wendy in Eliot, ME, on a beautiful piece of property that includes fruit orchards. They are hoping to expand on their organic gardening efforts. As they explore potential home improvement and renovation projects, the Gilberts hope to tap into the resources and discounts offered by many of the builders, remodelers, and renewable energy purveyors in the Green Alliance business community. "In addition to supporting what the Green Alliance stands for, there's great financial benefits to being a Sustaining Member," says William. "With all the green business in the Green Alliance that I plan on using, I think a lifetime membership makes great financial sense." 

4. Patricia O'Connor. Patty and her canine partner Tucker are new to the Green Alliance, but find it easy living la vida verde! They live in a geothermal, insulated concrete form, passive solar home featuring older-model Energy-Star appliances. They recycle, shop Freecycle and at farmers markets, and have belonged to a CSA. Patty is distressed by the waste she sees in our society. "When a relative was in the hospital in Boston, I was appalled at the waste and the lack of recycling there," explains Patty.  One of her long-term goals is to get small, medium and large commercial establishments to genuinely address their waste streams, and minimize the amount of solid waste destined for landfills. Patty and Tucker are big fans of Beach Pea Bakery in Kittery and the Portsmouth Brewery.

5. Alison Pyott. The husband/wife team of Alison and Chris Pyott don't just practice sustainability in their spare time; they also facilitate it during long hours at their respective positions! Alison is a Wealth Manager and Certified Financial Planner™ for the Portsmouth office of Veris Wealth Partners, a wealth consulting firm that emphasizes sustainable investing. Chris is an environmental scientist for the Ma. DEP.  At home, they recycle, use all natural and organic personal care products, clean with green cleaning agents, eat local, organic food, and maintain a low-carbon footprint through a heightened consciousness of what they consume. They also give back to the Seacoast Community; Alison sits on the advisory board of Coastal Enterprises Inc. and is involved with Leadership Seacoast.

6. Sherri Watson. Sherri, Dan and their son Jack live in a 200+ year old farm house in Dover. Dan is originally from Minnesota and Sherri from Pennsylvania. They both grew up in farming areas, and are excited to have a bit of land to grow food and keep chickens. They have used their Green Alliance card at ReStore in Dover, and for Bioheat from Simply Green. They are hoping to put in a solar electric system through ReVison Energy within the next year and currently each drive a vehicle from Seacoast Volkswagen. But the most joy they have received so far from the Green Card is at the Portsmouth Brewery, which has quickly become Jack's favorite restaurant.

7. Jessica Sheldon. Our seventh Sustaining Member is also someone whose career is devoted to protecting the environment. A University of Maine graduate, Jessica Sheldon currently lives in Berwick, Maine, and works at the Air Resources Division of the NH Department of Environmental Services, helping to protect our region’s air quality. Jessica purchased her Green Card at the 2010 Sustainability Fair in Portsmouth, uses the Card at ReStore, and plans to use it when she transitions to Simply Green’s bioheat. At home she recycles, composts, gardens, raises chickens, and enjoys hiking in her spare time. “I believe it is of utmost importance to conserve and respect the Earth and its natural resources,” comments Jessica, who volunteers at her local farmers market in Rollinsford. Over the past few years, Jessica has become increasingly interested in supporting local farms and businesses, which made supporting the Green Alliance an easy choice. “I appreciate the Green Alliance's connecting customers to environmentally-friendly local businesses,” she concluded.

8. Shirley Cornell.

9. Amy Pollard.

10. Victor Reno.

11. Tim MacCannell. After moving to the Seacoast with his wife Alex 10 years ago, Tim settled into his home and started greening multiple aspects of his life, including using a super-efficient biofuel heating system, organic lawncare from Purely Organic; tree care from Cornerstone Tree Care; bikes, tune-ups, and accessories from Papa Wheelies bike shop; skiing at Shawnee Peak; dining at Poco’s Bow Street Cantina and the Portsmouth Brewery; and lighting products from Rockingham Electric! The MacCannells also grow their own organic garden to teach their kids where food comes from, and the work involved to grow it. “And we use the Green as a primary resource when searching for something new - be it a contractor or a restaurant,” said MacCannell. “Having the Green Alliance ‘stamp of approval’ means more success in finding businesses with similar values to ours.”

12. Ron Brush.

13. Barbara Fletcher. Barbara works right next door to the Green Alliance as a contributing artists to the Kittery-basedJust Us Chickens artists coopeartive. Just Us Chickens, located at 9 Walker Street, features hand-crafted items from local artists, and is a Partnering Business in the Green Alliance. Barbara is a jeweler, and prides herself in hand-crafted items made & sold right here on the Seacoast! "My husband want to support the organizations in our community that are really making a difference. The Green Alliance is one of those organizations, and we're proud to be Sustaining Members!"

14. Kent Wein. Kent and his wife Linda discovered the Green Alliance in 2008 and have been using it as their only referral service ever since. So far, every business we've discovered through the Green Alliance has been fantastic. We started by changing to Simply Green biofuel for our house and then tried Little Green Homes for a closet addition, SEA Solar for a PV solar installation, and even switched to Dr. Nathan Swanson at Newmarket Dental. We've more than made our money back from our Green Alliance membership, so we thought it was time to sign up for life." Kent says. Having grown up in Germany, Linda was looking for an alternative to the products offered by traditional home improvement stores and is really happy with the Acorn Organic Salon she found through the GA early on. Before deciding on anything, Linda says she checks the Green Alliance site first. "The discounts they offer help as well." she said. Kent flies as a co-pilot for a major airline and writes a blog called Cockpit Chronicles, where he recently talked about the tricks some pilots have adopted to save fuel while flying.

15. Paul Wiles. Paul, his partner Dawn, and nine year-old daughter Kelsey live in Durham, and he feels strongly about the need for consumers to become a driving force for sustainability in our communities. "I feel our votes with our consumer dollars are just as important as our votes in the booth," said Wiles. "Goverment policy only goes so far, and most businesses will settle for the bare minimum of environmental standards unless our consumer dollars demand a higher level of accountabilty". Wiles lauded the Green Alliance for bridging the gap between consumers and businesses, and raising the bar. And as for his investment in the Green Alliance's Sustaining Member program? "Between the discounts at Redhook, the Portsmouth Brewery, and the UNH Dairy Bar, this Sustaining Memberhsip will pay for itself by Labor Day." The Wiles household also recycles whenever they can and heats their home with geothermal,  while Paul brings his mug to his local coffee shop, and takes the Downeaster train on his visits to Boston and Portland. And of course, he patronizes businesses that show genuine efforts in sustainability.  

16. David Tibbetts.

17. Therese Thompson.

18. Deborah Chase. Deborah has made good use of her Green Card to obtain discounts at several Business Partner locations, including Rockingham Electric, the Portsmouth Brewery, and the Beach Pea Bakery. But she received the biggest bang for her (green) buck when she used her Green Card at Little Green Homes, which she enthusiastically refers to as "the outstanding design/build company renovating my home!"

19. Thomas Leake

20. Gesele & George Scully

21. Susan Engel

22. Amy Gendreau. Amy Gendreau lives in Newmarket with her husband and two children. She is the owner of Stolat Organics (the name is derived from a Polish phrase meaning, "100 years of prosperity"), which specializes in natural and organic body care products.  Stolat's line includes daily care products as well as lotions, salves and cleansers with natural ingredients targeted to help heal skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, rashes, etc. "My children suffered from skin problems, but I wasn't comfortable  using harsh pharmaceuticals on them," said Gendreau. "So I developed my own line, with the assistance of a naturopath and dermatologist.  I source as many local ingredients as I can, including sustainably-harvested sea kelp from Maine." She's even coming out with a line of pet products, including a calming lavender spray, and a product that eliminates the smell of skunks! More info on Stolat Organics can be found at www.stolatorganics.com, and Amy can be contacted at info@stolatorganics.com, or at 603-659-7946. And in her spare time, Amy and her family use their Green Card at the Riverworks Tavern and Simply Green Biofuels.

23. Thomas Obrey. Thomas lives in Barrington with his 3 young boys, Mason, Dylan, and Jackson. He is an avid CSA member and sustainability advocate. Thomas prides himself on being a "slow food" father, preferring home-cooked meals made from scratch for his boys, and buying local food products, including vegetables, meats, dairy, fruit, and more from Brookford Farm, Little Brook Farm, and several local markets. Raised in Dover, NH, Thomas co-founded PixelMEDIA (a leading digital marketing firm in Portsmouth) in 1994, which now boasts of 60 full-time employees. When he's not working, Thomas is devoted to spending time with his boys, and providing support to community organizations such as Mayhew, the Cross Roads House, City Year NH, and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. He purchased his Green Alliance Sustaining Membership "because it makes sense, and I want my boys to understand the importance of a local and sustainable lifestyle, for both goods and services." Thomas plans on possibly using his Green Card for some tree work that he's in the market for, as well as some restaurants in Portsmouth!