Awarepreneurs

David Reiling is the President and CEO of Sunrise Banks, a mission-driven, values-based bank with locations in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. David has worked in the community development banking industry for more than 25 years. He is a social entrepreneur and innovator who strives to forge meaningful partnerships, drive sustainable economic growth and create financial empowerment for all.

• Sunrise Banks site

• Social Venture Network site

• Self Online Credit Builder Program

• David's email

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

For four decades, Rebecca "Puck" Stair has built teams to tackle complex, high-profile, high-dollar projects. In 2023, she came to the New Mexico state energy office after two decades in the New Mexico film industry, where she worked as a producer and location manager on over a hundred films, television shows, commercials and other media projects, including podcasts and conferences for the Franciscan monk Father Richard Rohr. In 2020, she ran for NM Senate, and subsequently served as a policy analyst for our House of Representatives Consumer & Public Affairs Committee. For two years, Stair served as president of New Mexico's largest film crew union, IATSE Local 480. Stair graduated Cum Laude from Amherst College with a BA in English Literature, and completed some graduate study in linguistics at Georgetown University. Between championing clean-energy projects for the state, she rides horses, skis, races triathlons, and other questionable activities that require helmets.

This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• New Mexico Clean Energy site

• Atomic 66 site

• Rep. Andrea Romero Awarepreneurs interview

• Michael Poffenberger Awarepreneurs interview

• Kristy Drutman Awarepreneurs interview

• NMClimate newsletter

• New Mexico's Community Solar program

• New Mexico's Energy Transition Act

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Paul Zelizer is the host of the Awarepreneurs Podcast, the world's longest running social entrepreneur podcast, and has been a Business Coach who specializes in working with social entrepreneurs and climate tech founders for the past 18 years. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Bloomberg Law article

• Hiring Hub site

• Rose Velasquez interview

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Dana Koller is President and CEO of Kactus Brewery, a highly community active brewing company and the Executive Director of UN-17. UN-17 is on track to be the #1 resource within New Mexico to help guide businesses and governments to accomplishing the 17 goals of sustainable development set by the United Nations. With a proven track record of success and quality business management, Dana is turning his focus to encouraging the largest shift in making New Mexico's private sector the leader in the SDG's (sustainability development goals) within the United States. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• UN-17 site

• Kactus Brewery site

• Honeycomb Credit site

• UN's Sustainable Development Goals

• Kristy Drutman interview

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Ben Shultz is a dedicated product/marketing manager at Aqua Membranes, where he combines his background in environmental planning and design with strong relationship-building and event-planning skills to drive innovative water treatment and provide clear messaging to customers and investors alike. Having started as a production technician, Ben quickly demonstrated his ability to adapt and excel, gaining hands-on experience in membrane technology and design that led him to his current role. Today, he collaborates closely with engineers, researchers, and customers to understand their needs and deliver products that meet high standards and expectations. Driven by a commitment to providing clean/sustainable water for all, Ben actively supports Aqua Membranes' mission to be a leader in the industry.

This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Aqua Membranes site

• Ben Shultz on LInkedIn

• Lean Startup book

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Kristy Drutman, otherwise known as "Browngirl Green" is a speaker, consultant, media producer, and environmental educator passionate about working at the intersections between media, diversity, and environmentalism. As a young entrepreneur, Kristy has educated hundreds of thousands of people across the globe about modern-day environmental issues through speeches and media content as well as facilitates workshops centered around environmental media and storytelling in cities across the United States.

Kristy is also the Co-Founder of theGreen Jobs Board, a climate tech start-up bridging the equity and inclusion gap within the green economy through conversations, resources, and pathways to bring more diverse talent into the environmental field.

This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Browngirl Green site

• Browngirl Green Podcast

• Browngirl Green Instagram

• Green Jobs Board

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Paul Zelizer is the host of the Awarepreneurs Podcast, one of the world's longest running social entrepreneur podcasts, and has been a Business Coach for social entrepreneurs and climate tech startups for over 17 years. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• NMClimate email signup

• Work on Climate

• My Climate Journey

• Carbon Collective

• Women of Color Collective in Sustainability

• Leaders for Climate Action

• Climesumer

• Green Tech Noir

• Paul's consulting site

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

As CEO of Mango Automotive, Jesse's vision is not just to lead but to revolutionize the automotive repair industry. They are ambitiously scaling towards a $100 million empire in the EV repair and maintenance domain, balancing this with their expertise in traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. This journey is fueled by a commitment to sustainable business practices and creating an inclusive environment for their workforce and clientele. Jesse likes to say they are not just fixing cars; they are setting new standards for service excellence, environmental responsibility, and workplace equality in the automotive industry. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Mango Automotive site

• Contact Jesse via email

• SBA THRIVE site

• Rose Velasquez episode

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Representative Andrea D. Romero is a daughter of New Mexico. After attending the Santa Fe Public Schools, Andrea graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science and received her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law. She has dedicated herself to the growth of Northern New Mexico's community, economic, and environmental vitality through her small business and volunteer service to various organizations throughout the region. In so doing, Andrea serves as a volunteer State Legislator for House District 46. Outside of work she enjoys lots of traipsing around outside and tinkering with eggs, with one patent issued on healthy probiotics eggs. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Andrea Romero's campaign site

• Andrea Romero on LinkedIn

• New Mexico State Investment Council

• New Mexico Climate-Solutions Focused Venture Fund

• Garry McBerryhill of Raven Indigenous Capital interview

• Ward Hendon of Dangerous Ventures interview

• Carlos Perea of Terra Vera interview

• COP 29 site

• Aqua Membranes site

• New Mexico's Baby Bonds Initiative

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Welcome to another episode of Awarepreneurs with your host, Paul Zelizer. In today's special solo episode, Paul dives into three critical topics that will shape the landscape for social entrepreneurs and climate tech founders as we head into 2025. We'll explore the game-changing $58 billion New Mexico Permanent Fund and its impact on the state's thriving start-up ecosystem, the anticipated headwinds and challenges for impact-driven businesses in the coming year, and the importance of embracing the season of winter to rest and resource ourselves. Tune in as Paul shares insights, strategies, and personal experiences to help you navigate these transformative times and prepare for a successful year ahead. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help more people discover the path to positive impact through values-based business. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• New Mexico's Climate Solutions Venture Fund

• NMClimate Meetup newsletter

• Steve Sponseller's website (co-leader of NMClimate)

• Rep. Andrea Romero's bio

• Wintering book

• Paul's Strategy Sessions

• Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode