Today I'm talking with Annie Bevan, sustainability collaborator, facilitator, visionary, and changemaker. She's an Impact Icon, CEO of mindful MATERIALS, founder and CEO of SMSC, and global head of sustainability for Superior Essex, but most importantly what I have come to appreciate and love the most is she's a good human being.

Her desire and drive to fight for better for those and what she cares about is unmatched. Our conversation gives you a little insight into the woman behind the work. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Meet the 2022 Impact Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc.

Bonnie Sharphouse is an independent sustainability consultant with more than fifteen years of experience in corporate sustainability strategy, program design, management systems, and reporting for the manufacturing, chemical, CPG, energy, and pharmaceutical sectors. 

Whether Bonnie knows it or not, she and I are good friends. I can't tell you the last time I enjoyed a conversation more, Bonnie and I had literally just met when we recorded together. I'm enamored with her, with her approach to her work and her ability to articulate why she does the work that she does - and how she can see so clearly the impact she has and wants to have on the world.

She is so refreshing. She's such a light. I hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did. 

Meet the 2022 Impact Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc.

Mr. Lucky might sound like a funny title for a conversation with Gabe Wing, but you'll soon see why it's the perfect title.

MillerKnoll says Gabe has fundamentally reimagined the way their products are designed. And even though Gabe does this work day in and day out, I still get the impression he's pinching himself from his rough start in chemical engineering (....seriously, he hated it), to stepping into Miller's sustainable legacy. You can feel the love this man has for what he does and who he does it with.

What's luckier than that?

Meet the 2022 Impact Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc.

A fighting chance might be a tenet of Aaron VanderGalien and Deksia, but it's also one of his core values. A serial entrepreneur himself, Aaron's passion for growing other entrepreneurs and his love for his community led to his Impact Icons award. When you put resources into people, into buildings, into your values, it's amazing the impact you'll have on the world. Also, a huge shout out to Aaron's mom for being okay with their garage being for paying customers only...I wonder if she knew then what would happen.

Meet the 2022 Impact Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc.

In this episode, we delve into a conversation with Eric Corey Freed - an architect, author, and teacher with a remarkable sense of humor and a crucial role as the Sustainability Director at Cannon Design. Eric shares his unique perspective on climate change, preferring to liken it to a disease no one would want our planet to catch, rather than using conventional, and in his opinion, benign terms. We explore his drive for making meaningful impacts in the industry and discuss his knack for causing 'good trouble'. Prepare for enlightening insights and a good laugh in this engaging conversation!

Meet the 2022 Impact Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc.

In today’s episode, Jen talks with Impact Icon Jane Rohde, Founder, and Principal at JSR Associates, a healthcare and senior living design firm developing programming, planning, and care models that focus on the desired outcomes of residents, patients, staff, family, and visitors. Jane believes in a global, cultural shift toward de-institutionalized senior living facilities through research, advocacy, and humanistic approaches to care. She is a consummate professional, a voracious consumer of knowledge, and so incredibly kind. 

Toward the end of the conversation, she talks about legacy and what it means to think about your own — the legacy you’ll leave. It’s a thoughtful, intriguing conversation and one we hope you enjoy. You can learn more about Jane’s work at www.jsrassociates.net.

Meet the 2022 Impact Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Connect with Jen Levisen on Instagram and LinkedIn

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc.

Reseat's New York Times feature, "The Furniture Hustlers of Silicon Valley."

In today’s episode, Jen talks with Jon Strassner, Chief Sustainability Officer at the American Society of Interior Designers, and co-host of Imagine a Place Productions podcast, Break Some Dishes. 

This conversation is like overhearing two friends having coffee. Jon shares his tips on how to do business with friends, why sustainability simply isn’t enough, and how we just have to get comfortable being uncomfortable, because like Jon says, if we’re not constantly evolving — what are we doing? 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy! 

You can learn more about Jon’s work at ASID at https://www.asid.org/sustainability and listen to Break Some Dishes wherever you get your podcasts, 

Meet the 2022 Impact Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Connect with Jen Levisen on Instagram and LinkedIn

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc.

In today's episode, Jen talks with Brandi Susewitz, Founder and CEO of Reseat, which is automating and transforming the process of reselling high-quality office furniture across the country. Reseat was founded in 2020 and in their first year alone they saved more than 3 million pounds of furniture from the landfill. The now award-winning digital platform has revolutionized the lifecycle of commercial furniture and they have an incredibly passionate CEO at the helm. Jen talks with Brandi about the life experiences that have shaped who she is, and how the strength and courage she gained from those moments are what breathes life, and even fire, into her passions today.

Meet the 2023 Icons

Follow along with Impact Icons on Instagram and LinkedIn

Connect with Jen Levisen on LinkedIn 

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production, presented by OFS, Mortarr, and Ecomedes, Inc. 

Hosted by Mortarr and Ecomedes' Jen Levisen, Impact Icons celebrates sustainability leaders within the built environment who have been instrumental in building the foundations needed to shape the skyline for a greener tomorrow. 

From energy and water to carbon, health, circularity, and social, our industry has unsung heroes who move the needle in one or more of these impact areas. These sustainability heroes are our Impact Icons, and it is the noblest cause for celebration! Join us each month as we meet these industry leaders and learn how and (most importantly) why they are working to shape a more sustainable future.

Impact Icons is an Imagine a Place Production

Learn more about Impact Icons at forum.mortarr.com/impact-icons