AJ GRANT, Principal

AJ Grant is president of the nationally recognized communications firm, Environmental Communication Associates, Inc. (ECA). ECA was specifically created to meet emerging environmental communications needs of today´s businesses and government agencies. Drawing from her combined background and experience in communications and environmental science, Ms. Grant brought together an interdisciplinary team of specialists to create ECA.

Since its inception in 1989, ECA has been helping businesses achieve environmental improvement through strategic communications and strategic planning. As pioneers in environmental communications management, ECA provides a variety of services including: environmental policy development, facilitation (Community Advisory Panel design and facilitation, media/crisis management, risk communications, public outreach and employee communications programs.

Ms. Grant´s expertise includes designing and orchestrating communication strategies in crisis situations and highly contentious issues. She also leads the development and delivery of ECA´s training in Crisis Communications and Speech Coaching. AJ has developed crisis management plans and provided executive training for organizations such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Association), The Vatican, U.S. Army, Roche, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, Albright and Wilson, Syntex Chemicals, and Alpha-Owens Corning among others.

TERRELL MARSHALL, Training Services

Terrell Marshall brings an extensive background in executive training, crisis management, public relations, media relations, and high-profile event management.

Ms. Marshall has been a principal at Environmental Communications Associates, Inc. providing her leadership and skills in media and crisis communications work. Terrell and her partner AJ Grant have developed crisis management plans, and orchestrated and provided executive training for organizations such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Association), The Vatican, U.S. Army, Roche, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, Albright and Wilson, Syntex Chemicals, and Alpha-Owens Corning. Ms. Marshall´s work has included the development of strategic communications systems, reputation management programs, public outreach structures, executive training sessions, and minute-by-minute situation management plans.

Ms. Marshall also has served as a Lead Press Advance Representative for the Executive Office of the President of the United States. In this role, Ms. Marshall coordinated all media aspects of selected presidential visits. Terrell interfaces with bureau chiefs, network producers and directors, working members of both the national and local press, as well as Republican National Committee staff members, national and local elected officials, and local political volunteers.

SHANNON KEAGAN, Design Services

Shannon Keegan is a 30–year veteran of advertising and design communications. She is an outstanding creative director, designer and illustrator and has worked with AJ for 25 years. Shannon is a rare talent that possesses equal abilities in conceptual development, copywriting and design. Her astute understanding of marketing and insights into human behavior makes Shannon a great asset to any creative endeavor and team. Various disciplines include corporate identity development, advertising and marketing development, interactive software and video game design as well as children´s book authoring, design and illustration.

JACK FARMER, Creative Services

Jack Farmer has presided as Creative Director with Environmental Communications for the past ten years. Jack was previously Creative Director at Bates Worldwide New York, a major ad agency with over 60 offices around the world.

In addition to Jack's years of creating and producing response oriented advertising and marketing for both national and international clients, he has created a number of environment focused campaigns for states, cities, and several large corporations one of which is on permanent display at the Chicago Museum of Science.

While creating television, radio, newspaper, and magazine ads that break through the clutter and build brand recognition, Jack has garnered hundreds of advertising awards. He has also judged several national and international awards and has served as a judge on the International Broadcast Awards for three years.

JEFF SCHWARTZ, Media & Science Services

Colorado resident Jeff Schwartz has more than 25 years of experience in media relations, issues and crisis management, strategic communications and business development. Mr. Schwartz has earned sustainable support for the programs, people, services and stakeholders of U.S. energy, environmental, health, science and high-technology initiatives, the nation´s National Laboratories, academia and the news industry. He has a decade of experience as an anchor-reporter for network television affiliates in four U.S. markets.

He has trained Fortune-500 officers, astronauts, elected and regulatory officials, healthcare and educational leaders, Nobel Laureates, scientists and Presidential appointees for hundreds of press, regulatory and public briefings, and other reputation-defining moments, some in classified settings. As an official spokesperson, he has represented some of most compelling issues and events of our time during thousands of interviews with the media worldwide. He has national awards for communications, technology transfer and quality, and Congressional recognition for community involvement and public affairs.

ANNE B. WEIL

Anne B. Weil graduated cum laude from Yale University with a B.A. in American Studies concentrating in Environmental History. After six years working in the real estate group at Credit Suisse First Boston in New York City, Anne moved to Boulder, CO to pursue her love for environmental education. Upon arriving in Boulder, Anne worked for the outdoor experiential education magazine, The Outdoor Network, before joining Environmental Communications Associates to write environmental education curricula in 2001. Through ECA, AJ Grant and Anne Weil have created many award–winning curriculums together; for Dallas Area Rapid Transit 1st through 5th graders, as well as extensive curricula development for the City of Boulder, Operation Water Festival – celebrating water education and conservation for 5th and 6th Grades, as well as conceptualized, developed and wrote the H2O Go! water education curriculum for 7th and 8th Grades for the City of Boulder. Anne has also been a backpacking trip leader for Wilderness Ventures based out of Jackson, WY and for Manitowish based out of Wisconsin and has a strong love for outdoor experiential and environmental education.

ANITA BURKE

Ms. Burke is internationally recognized as a thought leader on sustainability and how to deliver change and profits by reducing and eliminating the negative ecological and social footprints of existing industrial infrastructures. Until recently, Anita worked for Shell International as the advisor to the Shell International Committee of Managing Directors on the operationalisation of sustainable development and the energy portfolio implications of a carbon constrained future. During her 18 years of working in all aspects of the oil business, Anita designed profitable technologies and organizational processes that drove sustainable development and climate change strategic vision. She is dedicated to the creation and continued development of sustainable businesses through communication, innovation, teaching and coaching. Anita is the founder of the Catalyst Institute and works extensively on stakeholder engagement for projects around the world. She brings her expertise in risk management and communications to Environmental Communications Associates and clients.

TRACI JONES, Design Services

Traci brings vitality to whatever design project she is working on. Adept in all aspects of design, Traci can make ideas come to life. She has a strong background in destination marketing and signage system design.

Her work around the area is well known – most notably she designed the popular HOP, BOUND, JUMP, and ZIP buses. She has developed Boulder Water Quality Reports, identity packages and images for Disney World, RTD transit bus designs, and large-scale signage systems and interiors for restaurants and retail establishments around the country.

Capabilities include creative direction, print design, website design and knowledge of all necessary design and production software.

DIANE GENTRY, Administrative Services

Diane Gentry serves as Executive Assistant/Project Manager for AJ Grant and Environmental Communications Associates. In addition to her work with ECA, she also supports Ms. Grant´s role as President of Big Green Company, a children´s entertainment company, focusing on healthy lifestyles and the environment.

Ms. Gentry holds a Master of Arts degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Michigan State University.

She enjoys spending time with her 10 year old daughter, writing and editing, and staying fit with running and cycling.

The combination of the principals from ECA (AJ Grant, Jeff Schwartz, Terrell Marshall, Traci Jones, Anne Weil, Jack Farmer) offer formidable leadership and expertise. Our qualified team is already steeped in the environment, communications and environmental fields, which allows us to jump into projects with a running start. Clearly ECA's strength is our cross functional abilities which make it easy to meet client needs and work loads.

One of the unique differences that the ECA Team brings to clients is our operating philosophy and how we view our work, clients and issues. All of our suggested methodologies and actions are founded upon our philosophies and principles. By following these practices, we can keep to our course and attain the necessary consistency of action that brings success and satisfaction to our clients and our team.