SPC Staff

Anne Johnson joined GreenBlue in 2005 as a Program Director.  Trained as an engineer and scientist with a background in management and sustainability consulting, she has more than 15 years of experience in materials, industrial processes, environmental management and systems evaluation of products and packaging.  In her role as the Director of the SPC, Anne led the effort to develop a consensus-based definition of sustainable packaging for the SPC, which has been the guiding vision for the Coalition for the past four years.  Since that time she has helped develop a variety of projects within the SPC to support industry efforts to move towards the vision articulated in the SPC definition.  Some of these projects include the development of design guidance for packaging, environmental technical briefs on packaging materials, indicator and metrics for sustainable packaging, and a comparative package design software application called COMPASS, which uses life cycle metrics and packaging characteristics to evaluate the environmental impacts of packaging across its life cycle.  Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College, a Master of Science from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Anne Bedarf joined GreenBlue in September 2007 as a Project Manager for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and has provided project management, content development and training for the Essentials of Sustainable Packaging course. Anne is also leading an SPC project on Package Labeling for Recovery as well as a sustainable packaging design library. She was previously the environmental and safety manager for the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority and Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority in Charlottesville, VA, where she led the implementation of an Environmental Management System at a wastewater plant, water treatment plants, and solid waste/recycling facilities. In addition, she managed a landfill bioremediation project to include groundwater and air quality monitoring. Anne has been a project manager and environmental scientist for the Environmental Company, Inc. (TEC). She has her Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and Ecology from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, with a focus on Sustainable Food System Planning.

Minal Mistry manages the continuous development of the COMPASS® , a life cycle based web application for packaging assessment tool. He regularly contributes to a variety of the technical publications created by the SPC and GreenBlue. Minal enjoys working with industry to help develop pathways leading to improved environmental and social accountability. Minal's background is in ecology and environmental policy. His career includes 12+ years of operations management and technical positions in environmental chemistry, data infrastructure, Internet, training and sustainability consulting. Minal has contributed to framework efforts related to the responsible development of nanotechnology, supply chain indicators and metrics for packaging, regional carbon emission reduction of built environments and a sustainable textile standard. Minal has traveled extensively in developing countries. His education includes a BS in Wildlife Zoology, an MA in International Environmental Policy and MBA focused on the influence of MNCs on sustainability in developing countries.

Katherine O'Dea joined GreenBlue as a Senior Fellow in 2007, bringing more than 15 years experience in sustainability and corporate social responsibility to the organization. At GreenBlue, Katherine leads projects for both the organization and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC). For the SPC, Katherine recently completed development of the Sustainable Packaging Indicators and Metrics Framework, a comprehensive guide to standardize performance measurement against the SPC vision of sustainable packaging. Prior to joining GreenBlue, Katherine was Executive Director of INFORM, Inc. an environmental research and education non-profit based in NYC, Chief Operating Officer for the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, VP of the Business and Environment Program at Business for Social Responsibility in San Francisco, and Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the International Society of Logistics Engineers, where she spearheaded the development of an Environmental Working Group and pioneered adaptation of logistics engineering tools including a variety of "design" for methodologies. Katherine has consulted on a variety of sustainability issues for many Fortune 1000 Companies including ABB, Dell, DuPont, Dow, Ford, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, McDonalds, Nike, Texaco and others.

Liz joined GreenBlue and the Closing the Loop project in 2008 to promote improved recovery and recycling of packaging materials. Coming from a natural resource conservation and policy background, she has enjoyed continuing to work on conservation, this time from a material use and design perspective. She has focused her work to date on recycling and waste management systems around the world. Combining her interest in international relations and the environment, Liz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University, where she became interested in the issue of non-native invasive species as a growing environmental concern. Liz served as the U.S. Geological Survey's detailee to the National Invasive Species Council and later as program coordinator for The Nature Conservancy's Global Invasive Species Initiative. She has consulted on both non-native invasive species and migratory species issues for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America.

Adam Gendell joined GreenBlue in 2010 as a project associate with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, bringing with him a diverse range of experiences in the physical and environmental sciences. Most recently, Adam worked with a consulting firm specializing in water resources management within the Rocky Mountain region. His academic experiences encompass physical and aquatic chemistry, materials science, toxicology and risk assessment, and hydrologic and environmental systems modeling. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from James Madison University and is currently completing a Master of Science degree in geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines.

Heather Martin joined GreenBlue in 2008. She previously assisted with prostate cancer research as a laboratory and research specialist for the Department of Microbiology at the University of Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. During her time in college she participated in a research internship and used green chemistry techniques to synthesize substituted pyridines, and performed toxicity studies to determine their efficacy for use in fuel cells. In addition to her research and environmental interests, she enjoys participating in programs that focus on the ethical treatment of animals.

Stephanie, who joined GreenBlue in 2008 as our communication designer, brings over four years of studio design experience as a graphic designer. Most recently, she worked at Bussolati Associates, a boutique studio serving many of DC’s associations and nonprofits. Before that, she was a designer at an agency focused on cause-related branding and design. Throughout her career, she has strived to put her design practices to use in a way that is ethical as well as beautiful. Stephanie is also an illustrator and book artist, producing hand-made books from recycled materials and found objects. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts and Design from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jennifer Howk manages daily internal operations and provides IT support at GreenBlue. Jennifer has an extensive background in operations management that includes serving as an executive assistant to senior military personnel in the United States Navy (1998 to 2002) and to senior partners of an international change management law firm. Her passion now lies in serving organizations making innovative progress in sustainability initiatives. Jennifer tries to serve her community by volunteering her time with local organizations including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Blue Ridge Chapter, Habitat for Humanity and the Charlottesville SPCA. Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts majoring in Government from The College of William and Mary.

Erin Malec joined GreenBlue in 2007 as the director of external relations. She brings with her over ten years of experience in public interest communications and policy on a broad range of issues, from the environment to economic development and public health. Before joining GreenBlue, she worked as a political strategist and writer for a Bay Area think tank, the Breakthrough Institute, and its sister company, American Environics. Erin also managed the communications department for the Breast Cancer Fund, a national non-profit organization focused on the environmental links to the disease, and she was a senior account executive at Fenton Communications, the nation's largest public interest communications firm. Erin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dianne Martin serves as director & COO for GreenBlue. Dianne has a background in non-profit management, leadership development and politics. Most recently, Dianne was on faculty at the University of Virginia as associate director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, a bipartisan leadership training program. She previously worked for a national leadership development institute, training senior executives of public and private human service organizations. Dianne has provided consultant services to the National Democratic Institute, EMILY's List and candidates for statewide and congressional office, and she served as the finance director of the Democratic Party of Virginia. Her non-profit management experience includes executive director of a community group, vice president of a statewide organization and associate director of a national organization.  She has a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia and Bachelor of Arts degree in human services from the University of Tennessee.