References and Testimonials
Comments about Hunter
Comments about Christopher
Comments about Paul
Comments about NCI
Comments about LASER
Comments about the book, Natural Capitalism
Comments about Hunter
8 March 2006
Hello Hunter:
I attended your presentation at CU last night and was so heartened and intrigued by your message and philosophy. I work with Boulder’s office of Environmental Affairs as a liaison to the business community and your concepts and examples are quite pertinent. I appreciate the time you took to speak publicly. Thank you for the inspiring words.
Regards,
Dan
Dan Powers
Community Affairs Manager
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
8 March 2005
Dear Hunter:
Congratulations on last night.
In my view you accomplished a great deal on many levels. Stoked the fire of urgency. Encouraged the university and its students to "step up." Educated EVERYONE. Offered a set of solutions and possibilities that laid track for a new direction in our future.
You were beautiful, commanding, enlightening, available, engaging, soulful, inspiring and even humorous. Your talk hit the mark square on.
Let's go for it!
Let's use this ripe climate here in Colorado to build something that will be a foundation for what's wanted and needed in the 21st century.
With great love and respect,
Audrey
Audrey James Levine
CEO, Paradigm Nouveau Enterprises, LLC
8 March 2006
Hey Hunter!
I heard you on Joel's KGNU show yesterday. I was supposed to be working on the library garden, but sat in my car instead listening to you.
You're still my hero.
Bless you for all you do for the Afghan people.
Jennifer Heath
February 2006
On behalf of the Steering Committee for the State-EPA Symposium on
Environmental Innovation and Results, I thank you for your terrific
opening plenary presentation at last week's conference. We wanted to
inform, inspire and energize participating State environmental and EPA
staff and you did all three.
I particularly appreciate the rich array of real world examples you
shared of how various individuals, communities, companies, and
governments are bringing about a more sustainable future. The optimism
of your message resonated throughout conference and helped make all of
the subsequent discussions constructive and positive. Your preview of
Major General Johnson's closing remarks also provided just the sort of
"buzz" we wanted to build interest in the final plenary and he did
indeed provide the perfect complement to your wonderful opening.
As you know, you were speaking to an audience that is deeply
committed to protecting our nation's "natural capital" and to achieving
a more sustainable future. Your enthusiastic recognition and
encouragement of their sometimes challenging efforts was a valuable and
buoying gift. You will be glad to hear of an immediate outcome of the
conference - one of our EPA colleagues is now on a mission to learn more
about Biomimicry and Ms. Benyus' book so she can add this important
concept to training on sustainability now offered for EPA staff.
Thank you again for your important contribution to the success of
the State-EPA Symposium. I wish you the best in your ongoing work and
hope our paths cross again in the future.
- Betsy Shaw
Chair EPA Symposium Steering Committee
June 2005
. . . During the first panel discussion, entitled "How to Gain a Green Office
Environment," one panelist described with pride (and at length) how
she convinced her office to convert from the disposable bathroom towels
in their office bathroom to an air dryer. My eyes drooped shut and
my head nodded forward.
The evening’s tone changed dramatically during the break, when, while
I was speaking with George (and plotting a graceful departure), a guest
grabbed the microphone. George told me that the speaker was
renowned environmentalist L. Hunter Lovins, a true hero among the
green movement. Her present company is called
Natural Capitalism,
Inc. The few words she offered made me realize
the world is beset with problems that we in the development community
cannot ignore.
"I have distressing news, she said. She then described in stark terms the
problems regarding the deterioration of the ozone layer and global
warming – serious ecological issues that will deeply impact our children’s
lives. She described how we have a short window of time to
address these problems and that we all must become familiar with and
try to incorporate the concept of "sustainability," that we not waste
energy, and strive to reuse what we have.
After hearing her speech, I came to two sober and depressing realizations:
first, forget trading in my SUV with a less fuel efficient (yet cooler)
model, and more seriously that with their development on North
Ashland Avenue, George and Susan Sullivan are ahead of their time.
The techniques and processes that they are utilizing to “build green” are
vitally important. Every responsible developer should learn about the
incentives being offered by local, state, and federal government, and
realize the financial benefits let alone the personal gratification, that
one can glean by going green. Not only is green construction a new
niche that every developer should consider pursuing, but if these prognostications
are correct, "going green" must be a commonplace way to
build and renovate property.
- Mark Glasser, President
Rogers Park Business Group
Excerpt from "As I see It" in the Rogers Park Business Group
Summer 2005 newsletter
June 2005
Dear Hunter,
Thank you for your inspiring presentation for World Environment Day! It is rare to have core beliefs challenged concurrent with the presentation of opportunities for growth and new thinking. I’ve received many positive reactions from attendees. I cam excited about providing an ongoing forum and platform for reform in our ideas about development. You are always welcome in San Francisco!
- Mark Palmer
SF Environment
Christi Grahm
Healthy Home Plans
February 2004
"Hunter’s presentation and her whole life
shows that environmental protection and economic
prosperity can and must and shall go hand in hand.”
- John Howard,
Federal Environmental Executive
Program Chair Marin Conservation League
April 2004
“Hunter possesses that
rare combination of spunky spontaneity and down-home
credibility. She presents well and in that I mean, she
has the remarkable ability to deliver powerful
statistics from years of research, coupled with the
solutions that turn those discouraging statistics into
practical applications for a sustainable future. And
Hunter is down right fun! The cowboy had really helped
smooth the way for our conservative Scottsdale
audience.”
-Bell Starr,
SolFest Southwest
Director
January 2003
Dear Hunter:
If anyone were to ask me how to create a leading-edge program in Sustainable Management, I would say: call in Hunter Lovins!
That's how important I think your contribution has been to the dialogue we've been having and had on the weekend.
Your presentations, observations and recommendations are about as germane as it's possible for them to be.
All of which is to say we're profoundly appreciative of the work you've done with us to date and especially over the weekend.
Thanks for helping us make this a national model for how graduate business education ought to be done!
With warm and high regard,
--Dick Gray, Founder and Board President, Presidio School of Management
Comments about Christopher
“Christopher
Juniper's presentation and workshop on Natural
Capitalism for the 2ndVittachi International Conference
on Sustainability in August of 2003 received rave
reviews from the delegates representing 10 countries. He
not only gave an excellent overview of the theories of
economic and environmental sustainability, but also
involved all participants in a dynamic process of group
problem solving the real issues confronting businesses
and government. Conferees gained the experience of
examining and working with these issues using their
international perspective. Conferees ranged in age
and experience from 18 to 62, university students and
international entrepreneurs, educators, artists and
health care professionals. The theoretical and practical
aspects of Mr. Juniper's presentation engaged this
diverse group in lively interaction and their
evaluations gave him high recommendations for his
professionalism, communication abilities and depth of
presentation.”
-Illene Pevec, MA
Director of Vittachi II Conference on Sustainability
We are very proud to be working with NCS and Christopher.
- Marvin Klein
PortionPac (Chicago, IL)
Comments about Paul
December 2005
Principles of Sustainable Management was a fantastic initiation into the Presidio School of Management MBA in Sustainable Management Program. The course provided a clearly understandable context for the program. I really enjoyed my learning experience in this class.
On a professional level, I came into this program to increase my understanding of sustainability and to develop business skills. In my first semester at Presidio I have met my expectations for developing a foundation of knowledge in these areas. On a personal level, I came to Presidio on a quest for hope. I had become more than a little cynical about our society’s ability to take on the challenges that lie before us. I had made the issues black and white and was unwilling to open my mind to others that thought differently than me. I was mentally stuck (I mean really dug in) and didn’t know why.
My attitude and behavior began to shift when I overheard Hunter mention at the third residency that, “there are no enemies, it’s just us.” This simple Yoda-like phrase has become a real paradigm-shifter for me. Since that residency I have found myself repeating this mantra when I realize that I have chosen a side in a discussion. Repeating the mantra helps me to reach out with my mind to understand where others are coming from without offering criticism just so I get to be right. I think Hunter’s words foster healthy communication “energy” that is applicable to what we are learning in our communication class.
Principles of Sustainable Management was a great beginning class to learn the frameworks and tools of sustainability. The class readings were incredibly helpful in understanding the issues around sustainability. Natural Capitalism was a life altering read for me. I am relieved to learn that sustainability isn’t just the “new environmentalism,” but something deeper, something more powerful that includes everyone. It is an inclusive movement that requires all of us to learn and act together.
It was an honor to learn from Hunter and Paul. I liked the energy that they generated around the issues. I especially appreciated their humility. They adeptly kept their egos in check while presenting their own theories and respectfully presented thoughts that were different than their own. As a student of sustainability, I appreciated that Hunter and Paul made us feel like we were all partners on the same team on a quest to figure this thing out.
I am happy to report that through this course I found not only hope, but also inspiration as well. Hunter and Paul’s personal experiences with businesses and communities that are making a difference provided this renewed sense of hope and inspiration. I leave this course believing that I have a solid base of understanding on which to build. This course was the shot in the arm (kick in the ass?) that I needed to get back into action.
My final observation is that I learned more than I thought I would from my fellow classmates. I can easily say that I learned something from everyone in class. It was an honor to be among such a special and engaged group. I look forward to the next year and a half with them.
- Dorsey More
Presidio School of Management MBA Candidate 2006
Comments about LASER team
December 2005
Dear Hunter, Gwendolyn and
Christopher,
Hope you arrived well home for Christmas. Happy new year to all of you.
Once more thank you really very much for such qualitative seminar with workshops you three have done.
Please find
attached
some photos from training.
Regards to all of you,
- Vlastimir Milosavljevic, J.D.
Regional Office Director, America's Development Foundation (Serbia)
Comments about NCS' team
BRAVO, Hunter, on all the hope you are generating, and on buliding a lean, effective team to deliver nat-cap know-how far and wide.
I am in awe - and wonder - and hope. Thanks so much. This is soul food and a great pre-thanksgiving treat.
January 2005
"With their sustainability workshop, Hunter Lovins and her team from Natural Capitalism provide an inspirational and informative forum for learning about the opportunities in becoming a sustainable enterprise. The interactive format of their workshop involves all the participants and makes the learning experience valuable to everyone who attends. The Chicago companies who participated in our 2004
GreenPlants workshop enjoyed the experience and came away more informed and energized to take the next steps on the sustainability journey."
- Karen Wan
Chicago Manufacturing Center
Comments about the book, Natural Capitalism
"By illuminating the common ground between economics, environment, and society with crystal
clarity and eloquence, Natural Capitalism is the design manual for the 21st century. Read it! Read it again!"
- David Orr (Earth in Mind)
"You had better have a copy of this on your shelf or you will not be able to identify tomorrow’s companies and industries as
they appear before your eyes . . ."- Professor Stuart Hart of the University
North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business
School
"There is not an idea in this powerful book that doesn’t make intuitive, obvious,
immediate, calculable sense."
- Bill McKibben (The End of Nature)
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