Greening California One Business At a Time.
The California Green Business Program leads the state and nation in working with small to medium-sized businesses to grow a vibrant and healthy green economy. Led by a coalition of cities and counties, we contribute to more livable communities with healthier environments, while also conserving resources and saving money.
Overview
The California Green Business Program is a network of local programs operated by counties and cities throughout California. Businesses that apply receive personal attention from the public agencies and utilities that serve them. The program is funded by grass-roots contributions from local government and utility partners to make it accessible to small to medium-sized businesses in California. Certified Green Businesses exceed all environmental regulations, and implement specific practices to reduce pollution, save water, conserve energy, and protect human health.
Our Goal
The goal of our incentive and assistance programs is to help local businesses conserve energy, water, minimize waste, prevent pollution, and shrink their overall carbon footprint.
Our Impact
The measured results of all 4000+ California Green Businesses put together nets some huge environmental outcomes:
- Over 400,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions reduced, the equivalent of planting over 20,000 urban acres of trees a year for ten years.
- Enough kilowatt-hours saved to power over 25,000 houses for an entire year.
- 100,000 metric tons of waste diverted from the landfill, almost 15,000 garbage trucks worth of waste eliminated.
- 742 million gallons of water saved – a lot of low-flow toilets and showerheads folks!
- Over 20,000 gallons of hazardous waste eliminated.
- $18 million dollars in utility bill savings.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Nicole Nguyen
ChairNicole Nguyen is a sustainability analyst for County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability, working on a multitude of programs and projects that support the County’s Sustainability Master Plan. She has been the Green Business Coordinator for the Santa Clara County Green Business Program since 2015 and a board member since 2019. She enjoys partnering with business owners to achieve certification while learning about their contribution and impact to the community. Nicole has a B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Asian American Studies from UCLA and a Master’s of Public Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University with a concentration in Human Resources. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son and husband and attempting to train her cat.
Robert Carr
Vice ChairRobert Carr is the Education and Projects Manager for the San Diego Green Building Council who specializes in making the built environment more sustainable. He is a LEED AP, LFA, and GPRO instructor and has used this experience to participate in many LEED projects in the San Diego region. Robert also volunteers for SD 350 and the San Diego Building Electrification Coalition to advocate for just, equitable and sustainable communities for all.
Frank Ferral
Secretary/TreasurerFrank J. Ferral has been the Program & Public Policy Director for the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce for 24 years. He has been a Recycling Market Development Zone administrator in Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin Counties. Frank has also created economic development programs to be leveraged with the RMDZ initiatives like the Stockton Chamber Apprenticeship Program (SCAP), Business Education Alliance (BEA), Fitness Rejuvenates Employee Sustainability & Health (FRESH), Green Team San Joaquin (GTSJ), which include Recycling BIN, REXPO, Lunch at the Landfill and is the program administrator for the California Green Business Network in San Joaquin County. He has recently launched the Growing Unity Inclusion Diversity & Equity (GUIDE) program in Stockton. Ferral holds a BA in Political Science and a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from CSU Stanislaus. He is also a graduate of WACE Academy 2019.
Katie Hentrich
Board MemberKatie joined the City of Carlsbad in October 2021 and has been coordinating the Carlsbad Green Business Program since then. Katie’s role as the Climate Action Plan Administrator focuses on implementing, monitoring, and updating to the city’s Climate Action Plan, as well as other sustainability-related city efforts. Katie has a Master’s in Environmental Science and Management from UCSB and joined the board in 2023.
Mary Ciesinski
Board MemberMary grew up in San Jose, California and moved to San Luis Obispo directly after college. After a brief move back to the Bay Area (always with the intention of moving back to SLO) she returned to the Central Coast in 2015 with her husband. While Mary’s degree is in Business Management and Marketing, beginning her career in tech, she has volunteered with nonprofits for nearly 20 years, gaining experience with managing volunteers and coordinating events. When not working at ECOSLO, Mary can be found enjoying nature - relaxing at the beach, sharing a backyard bonfire with friends, or caring for her gardens of veggies, roses, and succulents.
Martha Segovia
Board MemberMartha Segovia is a Senior Project Manager, Environmental Programs for the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. A joint power authority of the 16 cities in the South Bay and the County of Los Angeles. Diligently working on issues of mutual interest to their constituents such as water, energy efficiency, transportation, homelessness issues, climate action and much more. She has been the Green Business Coordinator for the Cities of Hawthorne, Torrance and El Segundo Green Business Program since 2018 and a board member since 2023. Martha has a B.A. in Mass Communications with a minor in Advertising. In her spare time she focuses on her real estate career and managing her investment portfolio.
Gino Tayebi
Board MemberGino joined the Board in 2023 as the Sole Entrepreneur. His Family Recycling Business was Founded in 1945. By the very nature of their operation they are preserving natural resources and committed to zero waste and carbon neutrality. The Fundamental Guiding Principles of their Business are Integrity, Environmental Justice and Sustainability. From the inception of the newly formed Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program in 2003 their Business was selected to take a Pledge for Certification. On Earth Day 2004 they were awarded the First MBAGBP Certification. In 2020 the First SCCGBP Tier 2 Innovator. Gino has served on several MBAGBP Committees. As a Program Partner Gino independently developed and launched an In Person Outreach Campaign with his Client Base and recruited numerous Businesses to successfully achieve Certification. Gino has received recognition from CA. State Senate, CA. State Assembly, Ecology Action and Others for his Environmental Efforts. He holds MEng (Civil), MBA (Business Administration) and 6G.
Javier Saucedo
Board MemberJavier is an Energy Conservation Specialist and owns Energy Conservation Consultants, which provides energy audit services in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Javier uses his knowledge of energy conservation and renewable energy systems to assist businesses and homeowners with their health, safety, comfort, building durability, and energy use reduction goals.
Karl Bruskotter
Board MemberKarl has served as a Sustainable Procurement Advisor for the City of Santa for 22 years. He has focused on developing and implementing the City’s sustainable procurement, toxics-use reduction, integrated pest management, sustainable food, and green business programs and policies. Prior to joining the City of Santa Monica, Karl enjoyed a diverse professional career in the environmental, health and safety field working in the private sector. Karl holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Environmental and Occupational Health. He loves nature and all animals, especially his adopted Russian Blue cat who is still trying to figure out how to shake paws.
Staff to CAGBN
Jo Fleming
Executive DirectorJo has over 25 years experience in the environmental realm in a wide breadth of scientific research, environmental remediation, commercial/industrial pollution prevention, environmental outcome data and community-based social marketing programs to address some of the most pressing environmental problems of our time. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Minor in Spanish. She has worked to establish numerous Green Business Programs, green hundreds of businesses, and serves as the Executive Director of the California Green Business Network. Jo has lived and worked all over the world.
Julianne Rhodes
Director of TechnologyJulianne has worked in both the public and private sectors developing specifications for on-site regulatory compliance of projects involving the assessment and removal of hazardous materials from 1987 to 1996. She gained extensive project, personnel, and contract management experience during her 12 years as engineering manager at Cruzio.com and subsequently earned a Masters in Applied Marine and Watershed Science from California State University Monterey Bay. Her background in environmental issues and technology led her to be the Director of Technology and Environmental Outcomes for the California Green Business Network
Corona Maria
Bilingual Sustainability Consultant and Equity ChairCorona is a sustainability professional with social media marketing, design, and environmental justice expertise. She conducts marketing efforts for the 40 programs in the California Green Business Network and is the City of Watsonville Program Director where she works with English and Spanish speaking businesses. She also co-chairs the Equity Committee.