alegria partners qualifications & experience

ALEGRIA PARTNERSStrategies for Sustainable Business

Algeria Partners specializes insustainability initiatives development

and marketing communications strategiesso companies enhance operational

efficiencies, adapt to change and connect with stakeholders.

SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES• Analyze your current social and

environmental impacts & create a strategy for improvement.

• Pinpoint your current “baseline” in the above areas to use as a comparison for future milestones.

• Find the most cost-effective ways to reduce your company’s carbon emissions/output.

• Assist you in determining and understanding your company’s carbon footprint.

• Determine other sustainability initiatives that would benefit your company and contribute to your success.

• Assess your relationships with your company’s stakeholders and develop a plan for improved communication and collaboration.

• Identify steps and execute a triple bottom line strategy that encompasses the People & the Planet aspects of your business, to increase your Profits.

Other services include marketing communications strategy, event production and social media campaigns.

CAPABILITIES SUMMARY• Strategic Planning: implemented sustainability

initiatives to decrease a mid-sized company’s waste stream, energy use and costs (saving the company $3.3 million since 2007).

• Business Development: created a strategic business development plan to generate leads for a mission-driven marketing company, doubling client list in the first six months.

• Communications: strategized and executed internal and external communications for a global company’s sustainability initiatives in its headquarters office and satellite sites (including ISO 14001 certification and “green team” efforts).

• Project Management: projects focused on CSR, supply chain analysis, waste streams, product life cycle analysis and commute/carbon reduction.

• Competitive Analysis: researched and reported on competitors’ sustainability initiatives and certifications.

• Sustainability Visioning: facilitated strategy sessions for a company’s principals to achieve financial and personal goals for the year.

• Social Media Strategy: planned and executed a social media campaign for a best-selling, world-renowned author.

ALEGRIA PARTNERS TEAM• Graduate of the Presidio School of Management, an

MBA program focused on sustainable management

• Named one of the “Top 10 Women in Cleantech and Sustainability” in Renewable Energy News and Cleantechies

• Founder of EcoTuesday, a national networking forum that facilitates vital connections and essential change in the business community

• Serves on the Board of Directors for Women in Cleantech & Sustainability and Going Organic Magazine

• Past clients include Williams-Sonoma, Morrison & Foerster, DynaMedia SF, Technology Forecasters/Blue Coat Systems, Greenopolis, and Burning Man, LLC.

Nikki Pava, Founder

ALEGRIA PARTNERS TEAM

• Graduate of the Presidio School of Management, an MBA program focused on sustainable management

• Leader of the “Green Schools Initiative” for a local school to become Green Star certified (this includes creating a green team of staff and parents, coordinating auditors for various needs such as energy, lighting and water, expanding the school garden and procuring green cleaning products)

• Served as the project team lead for a company that produces special economic reports focused on various countries and geographic regions

• Board Member of the Petaluma Mother’s Club for the past 3.5 years

Tauni SwensonLead Consultant

Deep ExpertiseProven track record working with all types of “green businesses” on sustainability-related issues and trends.

Project Specific TeamsEach client team is different and formed with knowledgeable experts based on that client’s specific needs.

Strong ConnectionsAlegria Partners is connected to the best minds in sustainability through the national EcoTuesday network and the Presidio School of Management.

Petaluma ExpertTeam leader has been actively participating in the local Petaluma area for many years.

KEY STRENGTHS

Green TeamsStarting sustainability/CSR programs and green team initiatives from scratch.

VolunteersEnrolling and invigorating company volunteers in headquarters and satellite offices.

Community Guiding philanthropic programs, non-profit outreach, and community engagement.

Long-term Success Successfully engaging cross-functional teams to create effective long-term visions.

KEY CSR STRENGTHS

WHAT IS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY?

Social responsibility is the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment through transparent and ethical behavior that is consistent with sustainable development and the welfare of society; takes into account the expectations of stakeholders; is in compliance with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behavior ; and is integrated throughout the organization.

Working definition, ISO 26000 Working Group on Social Responsibility, Sydney, February 2007

• Beginning in 2013, all companies on the London Stock Exchange will publish full details of their greenhouse gas emissions.

• NASDAQ OMX, along with 4 other members of the Sustainable Stock Exchange, recently committed to promote reporting on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) risks and opportunities by listed companies.

CSR & THE STOCK MARKET

“Hopefully we’re heading toward a tipping point,

where companies that don’t report have some explaining to do, rather than those that

do being the exception.”

- Michelle Greene, Vice President and Head of CSR at NYSE

• Increased anticipation and management of an ever-expanding spectrum of risk

• Enhanced ability to recruit, develop and retain staff

• Improved innovation, competitiveness and market positioning

• Enhanced operational efficiencies and cost savings

• Improved reputation management

• Access to capital

• Improved ability to attract and build effective and efficient supply chain relationships

• Enhanced ability to address change

• More robust “social license” to operate in the community

• Improved relations with regulators

• A catalyst for responsible consumption

WHY IS CSR IMPORTANT FOR YOUR COMPANY?

CASE STUDIES

CASE STUDY: WILLIAMS-SONOMA

Background

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of home furnishings and gourmet cookware in the United States. Williams-Sonoma is the parent company for Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, WS Home, Rejuvenation and Cultivate.

Challenge (CSR Report)

Williams-Sonoma needed to research the various options for generating a public-facing CSR report. Executives wanted to know what reporting method to use and understand all options. They also wanted to get a baseline of where they were in the process, and a roadmap for how to manage the program internally.


Solution

• Provided a comprehensive report of our research on competitors, reporting options and recommendations, internal baseline and plan for implementation

• Using GRI standard guidelines, identified where Williams-Sonoma was already aligned and where it needed to focus attention

• Generated a three year roadmap for implementation of sustainability initiatives in order to meet guideline requirements for reporting

Results

• Aligned Williams-Sonoma with GRI standards • Presented Executives with recommendations as

to how to prioritize each step of the GRI

• As a result, Williams-Sonoma hired a CSR Manager in 2011 to implement the report


Background

Blue Coat Systems is a leading provider of Web security and WAN optimization solutions. The company is based in Sunnyvale and has sales offices in 9 countries.

Challenge

Blue Coat needed support in creating a Green Team that would involve key stakeholders and employees from all functional units and offices so that the company could save money, engage employees, and reduce their overall carbon footprint.

CASE STUDY: BLUE COAT

CASE STUDY: BLUE COATSolution

A wide variety of CSR/Sustainability initiatives were developed for the company’s newly-formed Green Team, called “Blue Planet,” including:

• Supply chain, purchasing and equipment design analysis

• Waste, paper, lighting and commute reduction initiatives

• Streamlined consistent messaging from Executives about initiatives throughout all offices

• Earth Day and other events to engage employees

• Internal newsletter & other communications focused on Blue Planet’s efforts

CASE STUDY: BLUE COAT

Results

• In 3 years, Blue Coat’s operational costs decreased by $3.3 million

• The company’s overall carbon footprint decreased by 8%

• The carbon footprint per employee decreased from 17 to 14.3 metric tons per person

Background

Gap, Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta brands.

Challenge

Leaders in the Corporate Sustainability department wanted to develop and execute “Earth Week,” a series of events to promote the company’s sustainability initiatives and encourage employees to get involved in grassroots campaigns.

CASE STUDY: GAP, INC.


Solution

• Secured keynote speakers for multiple days of events

• Organized brown bag lunches and selected topics

• Generated employee-facing information and resources on the intranet

• Served as the liaison between the Gap’s cafe and facilities staff to ensure smooth interactions and logistics throughout events


Results

• The Earth Week series of events was a full- fledged, successful multiple month project that involved hundreds of Gap employees.


Background

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of home furnishings and gourmet cookware in the United States. Williams-Sonoma is the parent company for Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, WS Home, Rejuvenation and Cultivate.

Challenge (Waste Diversion)

Williams-Sonoma wanted to decrease their waste in 9 Bay Area stores and 5 headquarter offices.


Solution

• Hired to research, design and plan a road map for a waste diversion program in 9 Bay Area stores

• Execution involved interface and meetings with store staff, facilities staff and SF Recology Waste Haulers to identify materials collected, best waste container configurations and pick up schedules as well as internal waste container needs and placement

• Further involved hands-on assistance with placing signage, containers and monitoring proper usage. Final steps included employee training and ongoing monitoring systems

Results

• A working group was formed between 15 major retailers and 2 mall development companies to discuss better recycling opportunities in malls

• Discussions included pilot recycling program areas, pilot material recovery programs and strategies to get other retailers involved

• An effective recycling and composting program was implemented at all the headquarters offices

• Opportunities were identified for improvement in 3 stores with savings up to 26% and diversion rates up to 75%


CLIENTS

We understand how to help companies reach their sustainability goals.

Thank You.

Alegria Partnershttp://www.alegriapartners.com

alegria partners qualifications & experience

Environment