Great question. As you can likely tell, we're quite passionate about the greening of our world, but we're also realistic. We know it will take a lot of small steps by a lot of people but we're confident it can and will happen. You're a part of that. You should know we're not new to the green concept. Our team has been discussing, debating, publishing articles and teaching businesses about green and sustainable practices and practical applications since the 1990s. We were talking about green things long before it was fashionable! Another reason to choose Our Green Value is that we're extreme perfectionists. You can trust that the ideas, knowledge and tools we create and share with you are well researched, verified and current. Some of the training we make available was created by others. We put any class or seminar we offer through rigorous scrutiny before offering it to you. We understand that adult learning is different. Most adults prefer self-directed learning, and to learn at their own pace. They want the new knowledge to take into account what they already know and what they have already experienced in life. Most adults are quite goal oriented and want what they learn to be relevant to their current life, practical in nature. It's for all these reasons we have structured our training the way we have. Lastly, we want you to be beyond happy -- we want you to be thrilled with what you learn and the tools you receive as a result of your experience with us. That's why we offer a money-back guarantee for our classes. We've never had such a request from anyone who's taken any of them, but we won't hold it against you, if we're just not a good fit. Just tell us why and we'll happily refund whatever you have paid us for the class. The Core Team Members We don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk. Each time the recycling truck rolls up, we look like recycling ninjas, with far more recycling than bagged garbage at the curb. When possible, we walk or ride our bicycles for short errands and to visit friends. You won't catch any of us driving a gas guzzler, even if gas were ten cents a gallon. Each of us still grows some of our own food -- some in the ground and some in containers on a deck. We think carefully about our food and all our other purchases. What we learn, we share. Many times, the only payment we receive for teaching and/or speaking is the satisfaction of knowing that we've helped someone else take at least one more small step toward sustainability. Meet the Founders of Our Green Value • Two are published authors. The third certainly will be soon. • All have played (and coached) team and individual sports. All three still enjoy sports. • Two snow ski, one only snow shoes. One trip down the bunny hill was all it took. • Two play guitar and the third would like to learn. • Two are technologically proficient. One who plays guitar and skis is not. (But we love him anyway.) • All three have formal degrees, but they're certainly not in the same fields. One was trained as a teacher and administrator, one as a scientist and computer specialist, and one was educated in the arts. (All three are currently matriculating toward a degree in a balanced, green and sustainable life.) • Two are native New Yorkers. One is a southerner through and through. It's easy to pick her out. • All three have substantial experience in designing and growing teams and helping individuals and companies achieve things they've not before dared dream they could do. Most importantly, all three love to share their talents to help others grow and excel. They work tirelessly to help get others, personally and professionally, to Learn, Do and Share more in our ever growing green and sustainable world.   Jerry Scher jerry@ourgreenvalue.com Jerry's known by many names -- business builder, executive, trainer, sales professional, facilitator, coach, mentor. Regardless of the title, the end result is the same -- making people around him significantly more successful. His ability to diagnose business issues and effectively communicate appropriate solutions, that can be acted upon quickly, truly differentiates him. A frequent speaker for C-level conferences across several industries, Jerry continues to receive excellent reviews as a speaker and trainer for providing concise and relevant content while motivating his audiences to actually change their behavior. As an author, Jerry has shared his expertise in areas including sales management, strategic planning, business building, the sales process, effective communication and building sales organizations. Jerry's frequently ahead of the curve. Beginning in the late 80's, Jerry spent years designing products, services, sales and marketing initiatives as well as training programs focused on proactive environmental strategies within the printing and imaging industry. These initiatives incorporated pollution prevention, waste minimization technologies, manufacturing process improvements (lean manufacturing), supply chain optimization and the development of environmentally friendly alternative raw materials. (Funny how so many of these topics are considered in some circles as "new and hot" now.) From the early 1990's on, Jerry has been publishing articles and speaking about "green" issues. People around him greatly benefit from his ability to simplify the complex, ask the right questions and assist in designing the most appropriate solutions. Click here for more about Jerry.   Paula Collins paula@ourgreenvalue.com Paula Collins is known for her straight talk, unique insights and uncanny ability to put people at ease. Paula is a natural people-person. She is equally comfortable with a carpenter as she is with a bank president, and both will likely enjoy her jokes. She brings to the team a highly diverse set of experiences and skills developed over her 25+ year professional life - perhaps nothing more important than a love of helping others. Nothing gives her a bigger kick than standing before a crowd, interacting with the group while sharing her knowledge and motivating people to take one step at a time to live more sustainable lives, personally and professionally. A "sponge" that never seems to fill, she works diligently at not only learning new information, but actually assimilating it into tools and activities she and others can use. While recently speaking at a green conference, she closed one of her seminars with, "I thought we were poor because we grew what we ate. I had no idea just how incredibly wealthy we were." Paula grew up on a small working farm in south Georgia where she learned a lot helping grow what her family ate, and sharing in the bounty with neighbors. She learned how to respect the earth, and what happens when you don't. And, it only took one barn raising event to fully appreciate the meaning of social responsibility. Paula was living the triple bottom line long before John Elkington coined "people, planet, profit". (And, she still grows (and shares) part of what she eats, even if she did overplant the space this year!) Our Green Value is a proud member of the Green Chamber of the South, and Paula spearheads our team's efforts with the chamber. Knowing the best way to participate is to serve, Paula is sharing her talents by actively connecting members with others, and as Chair of the Business Section. Click here for more about Paula. Julie Scher julie@ourgreenvalue.com One of us doesn't have as much past experience with green and sustainability as the others, but is actively participating in building a better future. The Obama Family isn't the only one with an organic garden to provide food for meals and entertaining. Julie grew her first "real" organic garden in the ground rather than containers this year. She even grew corn this time! Julie Scher has over twenty years of multi-faceted entrepreneurial and business experience including the textile, special events, promotional marketing, technology, consulting and manufacturing industries. Julie has valuable experience in procurement and fulfillment, sales and marketing, custom manufacturing, internal operations, customer service, contract negotiation, government bidding, human resources, import/export, project management and CRM/ERP implementation. Don't be fooled. Julie's not all about the "back office" work at all. She's far more a renaissance woman, for sure. While earning her BA from Tulane University she also attended Tulane's prestigious School of Architecture and developed a strong foundation in the arts by engaging in the University's photography a nd fine arts programs, including trying her hand at pottery and glass blowing. Today you'll often find her with a camera or video recorder in her hands, capturing her personal and business worlds. (Better watch out -- you could end up on YouTube!) As a founder and principal, Julie continues to integrate her extensive business experience, intense project management skill and technical capabilities into directing the operations of Our Green Value, and at Peak Focus LLC (the parent company to OGV). A huge fan of the outdoors, you'll find her with a smile on her face while hiking, biking, rock climbing... just about anything that's outside and requires strength and endurance. Julie has been an annual participant in the Peachtree Road Race since 1998. No, she hasn't won it yet either, but don't put it past her just yet. A lover of animals (dogs in particular), she's prone to talking with just about any animal she meets. When you meet Julie, ask her to tell you the story of this big guy (on the right).