2023 – 2026 SBN Board Member Candidates

The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) is special in many ways, one being that the organization chooses to be governed by volunteer representatives from our membership to help ensure we remain the authentic voice for the local independent triple bottom line business community. Each year, you – the membership of SBN – have the benefit and the responsibility to elect SBN’s Board of Directors. Please review the following board candidate profiles of your colleagues and peers who are offering their time and energy to lead in this capacity. 

New Candidates

 

Alice Sun, ezcomposting

 

Personal Bio:

 

Growing up in an immigrant household, I learnt at a young age the importance of being resourceful and creatively reusing what we had. This sparked my lifelong interest in sustainability and in 2022, I founded ezcomposting alongside my husband. Established largely in response to the Chester incinerator, ezcomposting is a social enterprise on a mission to provide accessible and convenient composting services while educating the public on how we can better care for the environment.

 

Outside of ezcomposting, I hold a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s of Biomedical Engineering from the University of New South Wales and have a background in logistics and project management. While I grew up in Australia, I moved to the United States in 2016 for work and have now settled in Swarthmore, Delaware County where my husband grew up.

 

 

Statement: 

During the pandemic, my husband and I moved back to his hometown of Swarthmore to be closer to family. On our return, we were shocked to learn that the City of Chester renewed the incinerator contract with Covanta and, as a result, I founded ezcomposting to combat the issue of waste incineration. As a social enterprise, ezcomposting is focused on providing accessible and convenient composting services for residents and businesses in the greater Philadelphia area and educating the public on how to better care for the environment. Within our first year, we are on pace to divert over 100,000 lbs from the incinerator and our mission is to reach 1,000,000 lbs next year. As such, I am in the process of expanding the ezcomposting team by creating green jobs, with a focus on providing stable employment to those from the communities who are most impacted by the incinerator.

 

Through ezcomposting I am increasingly exposed to how much opportunity there is in the greater Philadelphia area to have a positive impact on the environment and community. For example, many neighboring states such as New Jersey and New York have implemented laws requiring large food waste generators to recycle food waste, however Pennsylvania has not implemented such measures yet. I recognize there is only so much I can do as an individual, which is why I am excited about the opportunity to join the SBN Board and to empower other social enterprises and create more high-level change.

 

I also have a professional background in logistics focusing on project delivery and financial management. I have experience in strategic planning, having worked on two large scale enterprise resource planning implementation projects. Regarding financial management, I am part of the capital assets team where I manage the annual acquisitions budget of $300K, which is a key component of the strategic marketing plan to bring on new customers.

 

 

Alisa Shargorodsky, ECHO Systems 

 

Personal Bio:

 

Alisa’s professional background is in Urban Design and the Circular Economy. Throughout the years she has held a series of diverse sustainability coordination and consulting positions in the Tri-State area: Companies such as Live Nation, Weavers Way Food Coop, The Office of Sustainability at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Water Department. Her academic research focuses on solid waste prevention (source reduction), and systems design with applications in integrated Global Information Systems (GIS). Alisa has generated visual assets for the Independence National Historic Park in collaboration with Let’s Go Outdoors. She has served as a panelist for Be Waste Wise: Columbia University, Living Futures: Greenbuild United, Sustainability Symposium: Jefferson University, Symposium on Plastic Waste: Friends of John Heinz, and the EPA.

 

Statement: 

I would be honored to serve as a board member of the Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network (SBN) and feel that I am well suited to provide my professional expertise to the benefit of the organization. In this post-COVID era where climate threats are mounting, businesses are faced with more challenges than ever before. The marketplace is full of regrettable solutions and companies seek support from member organizations such as SBN. This is why I feel I am a strong candidate for the position. I will provide my honest and informed guidance to the organization around packaging and procurement to the benefit of SBN and its members so that we can be truthful and visionary in the delivery of SBN’s mission to not only envision but hopefully also enact “interconnected local economies that function in harmony with local ecosystems.”

 

We cannot sustain our communities if the planet will not sustain us and we must find new solutions to the antiquated problems that industrialization has left to us, which I believe are only solved by securing ecologically sustainable practices and thereby bolstering and supporting local businesses. In return, I look forward to making many new friends with whom to solve these problems together. I hope to learn more about other members and gain access to the many wonderful SBN member resources that will support ECHO in growing stronger as a business and organization.

 

Marsha Levell, PolyMath Consulting LLC

 

Personal Bio:

 

I am a product of public-school education. Graduating from a Stuyvesant HS in NYC and from Skidmore College. My career began with a stint in the Federal Government doing benefit analysis, from there I spent more than 25 years managing marketing, sales and logistics operations in the publishing industry, higher education, and at various points in time I have spent time in Retail management, Banking, Venture Capital, Senior Living industry, Healthcare practices and as an executive assistant. Along the way I earned an Executive MBA from Temple University.

 

Statement: 

Nearly nine years ago, I began my journey of working with Small Business Owners [SBO]in the Philadelphia region. It has been and continues to be a dynamic and fulfilling journey. In December 2013 I began as the Alumni Manager then being promoted to Business Advisor for SBO’s who had participated in and completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative [GS10KSB]. The training, provided by faculty at Babson College, for business advisors was exemplary. They used role playing and exercises to reinforce the concepts and principles that have proven useful in guiding SBO’s to successful growth.

 

The focus on Operational, Ideation of growth opportunities, Human and Financial resources supplemented my MBA and enabled me to add value to those I had the pleasure to work with through the program. My practical skills throughout my work life experience in Marketing, Sales, Business Development, Venture Capital, Health Care, Retail, and consulting has served me and those I have been fortunate to work with to create a path forward for sustainable achievable growth. The relationships I have formed have been life changing. Now that I have retired from 10KSB, I continue to support business owners providing accountability, strategic planning coaching and consulting. Currently, I work with a few business owners through the Circle of Aunts and Uncles providing coaching, operational and financial guidance to ensure their use of the funds augment their growth. I would be honored and delighted to be considered for the SBN board.

 

 

Shiny Marina Mathew, JMT

 

Personal Bio:

 

I have over 15 years of engineering design and project management experience. My first projects include residential and commercial redevelopment in southeastern PA for private developers. As Philadelphia Water Department began to enforce stormwater regulations and implement the goals of Green City, Clean Waters, I began to diversify my clientele. My former employer had a renewed focus on pursuing public clients, providing me opportunities to be a part of the mission and vision of GCCW. A few years later, I found myself supporting PWD and Streets Department on variety projects which lead to my most notable project and largest partnership program for both agencies, American Street Streetscape project. I was the project manager and lead designer for the GSI. Recognizing my interest to working with public clients, my current employers allow me to work with PennDOT, PHL, PIDC, PWD, Streets, SEPTA, and many more within the region. With these agencies, I have done some amazing projects included Sharon Hill Flood Resiliency, Tinicum Island Rd relocation, Cottman Ave. Streetscape project, and many more.

 

Statement: 

Over the course of my career, I diligently work to maintain, rehabilitate, or construct new infrastructure such as roads, bridges, pump stations, transit access, flood control, stormwater, etc. I am committed to delivering equitable, resilient, and sustainable projects to the region.

 

There is significant responsibility laid on the public agencies and authorities in our region. I collaborate with these individuals and have the upmost respect for them. I understand that year after year, public agencies are required to do more work with less money. They realize that they are never going to make ends meet unless organization like SBN can lend a helping hand to close the gap. Creating a grass roots effort to develop momentum, start conversations, and identify tangible goals. SBN’s objectives align with my personal drivers to improve our environment, address climate change, promote resilient practices, and continue to expand green stormwater infrastructure programs in an equitable manner.

 

My leadership style is very collaborative. I encourage and respect hearing different perspectives especially when we are working towards the same goals. I do not hesitate to ask questions or make decisions, but I like to gather and evaluate relevant data points before deciding. I am a strong believer that a small, focused group can make a tremendous difference.

 

Steven Chintamen, Bellevue Strategies

 

Personal Bio:

 

Steven is an attorney and government affairs professional with extensive experience and knowledge within the Philadelphia city government. He is Bellevue’s lead for city relations with the City Council and the administration where he puts his unique analytical, legal, policy, and political advocacy skills to the test.

 

Prior to working at Bellevue Strategies, Steven served as Legislative Counsel to former Philadelphia City Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown where helped craft legislation on workforce diversity; social justice; small business development; and the environment & sustainability. Steven also has considerable campaign experience having served as a Field Organizer on President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and Field Director, and Treasurer of the Mary Ellen Balchunis for Congress campaign, where he rallied support for economic fairness and common-sense legislation to stop gun violence.

 

Steven earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude from La Salle University and his law degree from Rutgers School of Law in Camden, New Jersey. During his law school career, Steven served as Staff Editor of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion and was honored for his publication on religious liberty/privilege. Steven currently lives in Northeast Philadelphia; is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, where he serves as the Chair of the Governance Committee; and is an elected Commissioner for the Mayor’s Commission on African & Caribbean Immigrant Affairs. He is also admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

 

Statement: 

Philadelphia is experiencing an unprecedented time where the private and public sectors are making significant investments in quality of life issues that impact all of our communities, specifically those impacting our most disadvantaged neighborhoods. As a city, we must continue to be at the forefront of this ingenuity by forwarding the mission of organizations that foster an environment where anchor institutions like small businesses build enterprises that serve community needs, and invest wealth in the generational inequities that have plagued our neighborhoods. It would be an honor to join The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, an organization that values entrepreneurship and business development that is committed to social change. As a member of the Board, I would use my expertise as an attorney, government affairs professional, and community advocate to connect members of SBN with decision makers and share solutions for how policies and processes could better support business growth that positively impact all of our communities. As a board member, I also hope to learn more about the critical growth industries that SBN has identified as providing small diverse businesses with the ability to grow and to enhance equitable community development, such as renewable energy. SBN has the potential to be a greater catalyst of diverse small business development and growth that addresses the quality of life issues Philadelphia has long sought to eradicate. It would be a privilege to be a part of this movement in our history.

Over the course of my career, I diligently work to maintain, rehabilitate, or construct new infrastructure such as roads, bridges, pump stations, transit access, flood control, stormwater, etc. I am committed to delivering equitable, resilient, and sustainable projects to the region.

 

There is significant responsibility laid on the public agencies and authorities in our region. I collaborate with these individuals and have the upmost respect for them. I understand that year after year, public agencies are required to do more work with less money. They realize that they are never going to make ends meet unless organization like SBN can lend a helping hand to close the gap. Creating a grass roots effort to develop momentum, start conversations, and identify tangible goals.

 

SBN’s objectives align with my personal drivers to improve our environment, address climate change, promote resilient practices, and continue to expand green stormwater infrastructure programs in an equitable manner.

 

My leadership style is very collaborative. I encourage and respect hearing different perspectives especially when we are working towards the same goals. I do not hesitate to ask questions or make decisions, but I like to gather and evaluate relevant data points before deciding. I am a strong believer that a small, focused group can make a tremendous difference.

 

Returning Candidates

 

Jenn Richey Nicholas, Pixel Parlor   

 

Personal Bio:

 

Jenn Richey Nicholas is the vision caster and mission keeper of Pixel Parlor. As the CEO of Philadelphia’s only Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Certified B Corp branding and design studio (and one of the few across the country), Jenn stewards Pixel Parlor’s promise to push the boundaries of traditional design and conventional business practices. An experienced creative director and artist, she fosters strategic partnerships, invests deeply in client relationships and communities, and attracts designers and creative thinkers who want to use their talent to support inspiring mission-focused businesses and organizations.Pixel Parlor is a three-time winner and proud recipient of the B-Corp Best for the World Changemaker award. Jenn serves as the chair of the development committee for the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia.

I have spent the last three years as the chair of the SBN Development committee and as a member of the executive committee. During this time, I’ve been able to see the organization through the lens of a board member and as a business member to see how important this organization is to local businesses—especially in these challenging times.

 

I’ve provided leadership and continuity to the organization through a period of great change. If I’m accepted for a second term, I intend to remain as the chair of the development committee to help build the organization’s reach and financial base through sponsorship, partnerships, and membership. By continuing in this role, I will provide stability, engage the full board in our development strategy, grow the reach of the development committee, and reinforce our vision, partnerships, and relationships that are essential to SBN.

 

I hope to see the organization’s engagement, reach, depth of services and programming grow in support of the strategic plan through programming, fundraising, partnerships, and memberships.

 

Statement: 

It is a great honor to be considered for a second term on SBN’s Board of Directors, a privilege that has been incredibly meaningful to me for the last three years. Over that time, while SBN membership has allowed me to connect with a dedicated, passionate community of local business leaders who are committed to the progressive evolution of our local economy towards sustainability, serving on the Board has offered me the opportunity to contribute tangible impact to that evolution. Beyond that, I currently hold the distinction of serving the Board as Chair, a position that—besides the responsibilities inherent to it—has offered me a tremendous and ongoing opportunity for learning in a multitude of directions. That learning has not only contributed to my personal and professional progression, but has deepened my capacity for contributing to SBN, its mission, and its Board.

 

In my time on the Board, SBN has gone through a number of transitions and developments, to which I have been able to contribute compassionate, stabilizing leadership: navigating the onset and duration of COVID-19 and its impact on SBN, its members, and our region; the murder of George Floyd and its deep, broad impact across our community; the pandemic’s impact on SBN’s Board, as well as it’s ongoing shift into a more distinctly professionalized governing body; the multi-faceted development of a strategic plan; and the recent transition of SBN’s executive leadership, which I’m incredibly excited to see progress into the establishment of a fantastic new Executive Director in early February. The last three years have changed how businesses and organizations like ours do just about everything, and my time on the Board (and as Chair) has been primarily focused on building sound infrastructure to bridge SBN’s storied past and its vibrant, essential future.

 

With the support of the Membership, I hope to continue contributing to SBN’s ever- growing impact for another three years, during which we hope to see the organization blossom into a new era. I appreciate your time and consideration.