Green Champions

Do you know what happens to those bread tags or misprinted 3D models? What if they could be transformed into beautiful, functional furniture? Joseph Klatt, the founder of Marble Plastics, is on a mission to revolutionize the furniture industry. His company is transforming discarded plastic – from bread tags to 3D printer waste – into durable and beautiful chairs, tables, and countertops. Their uni...

Did you know that plastics are as different from each other as paper is from metal? Joseph Klatt, founder of Marble Plastics, dives into the complex world of polymer types and how they impact our efforts to recycle plastic waste. Joseph’s passion for sustainability was sparked by an unlikely source - a college job collecting recycling by bicycle. This hands-on experience ignited his fascination wi...

Did you know that Columbus, Ohio generates a staggering one million pounds of food waste per day? But the city taking concrete steps towards sustainability, and Aryeh Alex, its Sustainability Manager, is leading the charge. The city's ambitious Climate Action Plan has already seen success with its weekly recycling program. The new food scrap drop-off program, specifically targeting underserve...

Can a childhood of playing video games lead to a passion for protecting the planet? Aryeh Alex, the Executive Director of Keep Columbus Beautiful and Sustainability Manager for the city of Columbus, shares his unlikely path from an indoorsy kid who dreaded nature camps to a passionate environmental advocate. Aryeh's transformative experience at Yosemite National Park ignited a newfound apprec...

Are you curious about how electric vehicle owners overcome range anxiety and embark on cross-country adventures? Mryia Williams, the Ohio Program Associate for Solar United Neighbors and the Executive Director of Drive Electric Columbus shares exciting updates on the funding and initiatives driving solar and electric vehicle (EV) adoption. With a focus on accessibility, Mryia discusses the $312 mi...

Did you know that you can power your electric vehicle with solar energy? Mryia Williams, Ohio Program Associate for Solar United Neighbors (SUN) and Executive Director of Drive Electric Columbus, shares her insights on making sustainable transitions accessible to everyone. Mryia shares her inspiring journey from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming a leading advocate for solar energy and electric...

How can going the extra mile for your customers lead to a million-pound impact? Ray Leard, the "Compost King" of Central Ohio, talks about the driving forces behind his incredible success with the Compost Exchange. Ray shares invaluable insights into his customer-centric philosophy, the key role pilot programs played in expanding the business, and the challenges he faced in finding facil...

Ray Leard is dubbed as the "Compost King" for his pioneering efforts in bringing large-scale composting to Central Ohio. As the founder of the Compost Exchange, Ray single-handedly paved the way for residential curbside food scrap recycling and composting services in a region of over 3 million people. His journey began in 2012 with a small experiment in Athens, where he built a compostin...

Picture your dream wedding. Does it include overflowing trash cans and wilting flowers? Probably not. But weddings are often surprisingly wasteful. However, one inspiring event planner is determined to change this. Dana Watts, founder of Thyme & Details, is on a mission to bring sustainability to the forefront of weddings without sacrificing the beauty and romance. Thyme & Details speciali...

Have you ever stopped to think about the amount of waste generated at a typical wedding? From leftover food to floral arrangements and decor items, the waste can quickly add up. But what if there was a way to plan a beautiful, romantic event without compromising on sustainability? Dana Watts is the founder of Thyme & Details, a sustainable event planning company that specializes in creating wh...

Can you imagine a future where clean energy access is the norm, creating thriving communities and a healthier planet? John McNamara is making this vision a reality through solar innovation and commitment to social impact. John McNamara, Chief Operations Officer of Appalachian Renewable Power (ARP), is a champion of change in the solar industry. His journey underscores that you don't have to b...

Can you imagine starting every day knowing you're making a tangible impact on climate change through renewable energy solutions? That's the inspiring reality for John McNamara, Chief Operations Officer at Appalachian Renewable Power. John is a force for positive environmental change. His passion for sustainability took him from a career path few would expect into a leadership role in the...

Can a neighborhood thrifting initiative make a dent in the massive problem of fashion waste? Lisa Goldsand, the founder of Circular Thrift, shares her mission to valorize post-consumer textile waste and scale the reuse of clothing and accessories at a hyperlocal level. Through her unique collection bins, swap events, and mobile trike sales, Lisa is revolutionizing the way communities approach sust...

What motivates someone to leave a 20-year corporate career in fashion to spearhead a sustainability revolution? Lisa Goldsand, founder of the hyperlocal service Circular Thrift, shares how we can transform our fashion habits. With insights from her extensive corporate retail experience, she discusses challenges and opportunities within the industry and emphasizes consumer power in driving change....

Can sustainability and profit-maximization co-exist in the hotel industry? Grant Behnke, Director at Rockbridge private equity real estate firm discuss his pioneering work in implementing environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices in the hotel sector. Grant shares his journey of establishing a baseline for ESG performance, producing Rockbridge's first-ever ESG report, and advocating...

How did a fascination with hotels from a young age evolve into a career championing sustainability in the hospitality industry? Grant Behnke, Director of Development & ESG at Rockbridge, shares his unique journey into the hotel industry. Discover the catalyzing experiences that sparked Grant's early interest in the inner workings of hotels and how his commitment to sustainability grew in...

How do you mobilize an entire city to take action for the environment? Shelly Douglas of Green Columbus shows us how a small but mighty nonprofit can make a big impact through community engagement and planting roots for sustainable change. In this episode, we dive deep into the inspiring work of Shelly Douglas, the driving force behind Green Columbus. From organizing the largest volunteer-driven E...

Did you know that planting trees can reduce crime, lower rates of asthma, and even cool our cities? Hear the amazing story of how Shelly Douglas is leading the charge to bring more trees to communities in need. In this episode, Dominique Hadad and Adam Morris chat with Shelly Douglas, the Executive Director of Green Columbus, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing tree coverage and envi...

Adam is the co-host of Green Champions and founder behind People Helping People. This dual venture offers a rich tapestry of inspiration, practical tools, and educational resources tailored for social entrepreneurs aiming to realize positive social change. Beyond his professional endeavors, you can find Adam organizing events with GiveBackHack, the launchpad for social innovation. With an extensiv...

Dominique is the co-host of Green Champions and founder of Green Scope Consulting, a company transforming organizations into zero waste operations. When she’s not supporting clients in reaching their sustainability goals, she is also the founder of MOJO, a mobile coffee company with single-serve pour over packets for conscious coffee enthusiasts. Dominique is passionate about demystifying sustaina...

Green Champions is a podcast by Dominique Hadad and Adam Morris , focusing on environmental change through conversations with individuals making a difference in sustainability. Dominique brings her experience as the sustainability expert, while Adam adds his interest in social impact through social entrepreneurship. The show aims to demystify sustainability, share success stories, and address clim...