Our People

Regina Hauser - Executive Director

Regina believes that life is an adventure that shouldn’t be missed, which goes a long way to explain her decision to leave the comfortable life of a lawyer at Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt to take the helm of The Natural Step Network. Because she enjoys blazing a trail, it makes sense that she has led the Network from a local organization to a growing national network in just seven years.  Perhaps it was the patent litigation in her background that attracted her to the science of the Natural Step. Regina’s exuberance for life, her sense of humor, and her passion for sustainability can be seen both in her many presentations about the Natural Step, and slide shows from trekking adventures in places like Bhutan, Tibet and Peru.  Her husband Chris will attest that she’s not afraid to take a spill, whether in water, mud or life.  Regina sees the challenge of sustainability as a defining opportunity for individuals and organizations alike, and believes our response to that challenge will define our character for generations to come. 

Chas Martin - Director of Communications  Chas changes the way people think. A career creative director and instigator, he challenges others to circumvent their assumptions and break traditional thinking patterns to reveal innovative solutions. 

Martin’s career path connects marketing communications, interactive entertainment and online education. He has worked in nearly every media along the way. He began his career as an art director in Boston. A non-linear path took him to design firms in San Francisco and eventually to lead his own communications group in Oregon for 17 years. He provided communications leadership for SAS Institute, Sprint, USMC Center for Business Excellence, and guided development of interactive education at BetterManagement.com.
Martin is also a former instructor of media and visual communications at Boston Art Institute, San Francisco Academy of Art and Pacific Northwest Academy of Art. When detached from his laptop, his enjoys bonsai, fly fishing, backpacking, cooking or any new. His strength is helping others reframe questions, challenge assumptions, and open doors to breakthrough ideas.

Heidi Blankenship - Director of Training Development Heidi splits her time between Portland and Wisconsin, where most recently she has worked with local government and business to choose sustainability actions aligned with The Natural Step Framework. Heidi is a graduate of Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden where she obtained a Masters degree in Strategic Leadership Toward Sustainability. As the Training Director she is creating professional development programs for business and community leaders. Heidi most wants to see organizations equipped with the perspective and tools they need to thrive and provide for the next generation.

Holly Brunk - Membership & Services Coordinator

Holly Brunk came to the Natural Step Network first as a business member – she and her husband launched a luxury leather goods brand, with their operations and product design grounded in sustainability principles and use of the Framework. As one notorious for setting a demanding schedule, Holly jumped at the chance to work for the Network in 2008, and enjoys the daily challenges and opportunities afforded her in her position. Pulling from her diverse background, which includes 10 years in social work with experience in medical and refugee services in the UK and US as well as work in workforce development services in Oregon, Holly thrives on facilitating connections, partnerships and collaboration opportunities among Network members and others. She lives in Portland with her husband and two small children, deftly balancing her passion for the Network with her commitment to her family and business.

   
April Knudsen - Office Administrator

After earning an English degree from Centre College, April took the time-honored career path of many liberal arts graduates, and started working in restaurants. Always true to her skill set, this California native has lived and worked in Texas, Indiana, New Jersey, Kentucky and Colorado, and most recently spent five years in Nome, Alaska, in the field of healthcare administration. The quiet one, April manages the workflow in The Natural Step Network office with a sense of humor and judicious application of baked goods. April lives in Portland with her husband, and also owns a small letterpress studio, Mercy Morgan Press.

Photos: Many thanks to Brian McDonnell

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steve Faulstick
Thor Hinckley
Tom Osdoba
Susan Sokol Blosser
Julia Spence
Steve Strauss
Nancy Stueber
Dennis J. Wilde
Justin Yuen, Pres

Steve Faulstick

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Thor Hinckley manages the nation’s leading residential green power program. PGE’s Renewable Power Program serves more than 70,000 residential and business renewable customer accounts, and is one of most successful in the nation. Thor also developed the nation’s fastest-selling renewable energy program, Renewable Futuresm and oversees the Healthy Habitatsm donation program in coordination with The Nature Conservancy, the nation’s first utility salmon habitat restoration option. Hinckley’s leadership in business sustainability includes developing one of the nation’s leading renewable power programs for medium to large businesses — Clean Wind — customers include Intel, American Honda Motors, Toyota Motors, Epson, and other leading Oregon businesses.

Thor also directs the utilities carbon offset strategy for the residential and commercial industrial markets. Thor has also consulted with other west coast electric and gas utilities in the creation and marketing of their retail carbon offset products. He has presented on voluntary carbon products and marketing related issues at numerous sustainability seminars, green power marketing conferences and trade shows including the American Wind Energy Association.

Hinckley’s professional activities include serving as board member of the Oregon Natural Step Network, and as chair of the board for the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center. Thor also serves on the Renewable Advisory Council for the Oregon Energy Trust and previously served as a commissioner for the Portland Sustainable Development Commission. Hinckley holds a bachelor of arts from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Ill., and is a master of business arts’ candidate at Maryhurst University in Oregon.  Return to top

Tom Osdoba is a social entrepreneur and strategic advisor to help communities become more sustainable. He is the Managing Director of the Center for Sustainable Business Practices at the University of Oregon College of Business, and a consultant to numerous organizations that are advancing sustainability in North America. He holds a M.A. degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Economics from St. John’s University.

Tom has held senior leadership roles in two of North America’s leading cities on sustainability. As Sustainable Economic Development Manager for Portland, he created a framework for a sustainable regional economy, launched a collaborative, multi-sector sustainability institute, and created innovative clean energy investment strategies. As Sustainability Director for Vancouver, he led initiatives for climate protection, green building and development, economic development strategy, and purchasing, including award-winning initiatives for neighborhood-scale clean energy systems, and community engagement on energy and climate change.

He also created the Canada Carbon Trust, a collaborative, business-led initiative to mobilize and accelerate investments to reduce carbon emissions across all economic sectors. Return to top

Susan Sokol Blosser, wine industry pioneer, community activist, environmental advocate, and author, is a contemporary Oregon icon. Known for her leadership of Sokol Blosser Winery, she was a forerunner in instituting environmentally friendly business practices and practicing the triple bottom line concept of people, planet, profit. With its certified organic vineyard, the first LEED (U.S. Green Building Council’s certification) certified winery building in the U.S., and business practices based on the Natural Step model of sustainability, Sokol Blosser Winery made social responsibility and its environmental ethic priorities, while pursuing its vision of making fabulous wines. For its leadership, Sokol Blosser Winery has received multiple honors, including Sunset Magazine’s 2007 Green Winery of the Year, the State of Oregon’s 2008 Governor’s Award for Sustainability in the Small Business category, and Oregon Business Magazine’s 2009 100 Best Companies to Work For and 100 Best Green Companies to Work For awards.

Susan holds a B.A. from Stanford University and an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Portland, citing her entrepreneurship within the context of environmental and social responsibility. Other awards include Lifetime Achievement Awards from Women for WineSense and the Oregon Wine Board. Her memoir, At Home in the Vineyard: Cultivating a Winery, an Industry, and a Life, was published by the University of California Press in 2006, and her business philosophy, Gracious & Ruthless: Surprising Strategies for Business Success, appeared in 2008. Return to top

Julia Spence has been in her current position with Neil Kelly Co. for nearly 25 years. She has a BA in Art with work in Architectural History from Lewis and Clark College, an MS and doctoral work in Adult Workplace Learning and K-12 teaching credentials from Portland State University. Earlier in Julia’s career she was a designer and drafter with Neil Kelly Co., and then a High School and Middle School Art teacher. Julia has been actively involved in Neil Kelly’s work toward sustainability since the Portland inception of The Natural Step, and has participated in and assisted with a number of Natural Step educational programs over the years. For the past several years, Julia served as a volunteer co-chair on the Building Committee for Portland’s First Unitarian Church’s LEED gold certified, 20,000 square foot Buchan Education Building. She also currently serves on the Board of EarthShare Oregon. Julia is a 4th generation Oregonian, a gardener, and a potter. Julia’s daughter, Anja, son-in-law, and granddaughter live in Portland. Return to top

Steve Strauss is President of Glumac, a building services (MEP) engineering firm, founded in 1971 by Dick Glumac. In 1976, the various offices incorporated as Glumac & Associates and in 2000, when the offices joined as one corporation, Steven became President of the company. The firm now has offices in Sacramento, Portland, Irvine, Los Angeles, Seattle, Silicon Valley and Las Vegas. The firm continues to grow, with plans to open additional offices to meet the needs of our increasing client base.

Although Glumac’s focus is mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) consulting engineering services, Glumac also offers extensive sustainable design expertise, lighting design, technology integration, and building commissioning services that complement and enhance their core capabilities.
Since graduating from Berkeley, Steven has been passionate about environmental issues and design. Now Steven leads a firm where all Principals and Associate Principals are LEED® Accredited Professionals and are focused on and making a real impact on conserving our natural resources, for projects big and small.  Return to top

Nancy Stueber is the president of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), and has served in this capacity since 2000. She has led the development of the organization’s strategic plan and focused the organization on performance measures. She joined OMSI in 1981 as a manager of community events and temporary exhibits, and during her time at OMSI has served as the vice president of Exhibits, chief operating officer and interim president. She developed and implemented the exhibits master plan for the new 250,000 sq. ft. facility, and built an internationally recognized exhibitions program within the museum that produced more than 25 traveling exhibitions, which are touring the U.S. and Europe.

Nancy graduated with honors from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS degree in environmental biology and terrestrial ecology, with graduate work in ecology and management. She and her husband, Dan, moved to Portland in 1981.

Nancy has a passion for sharing science and is actively involved with community partnerships and organizations devoted to improving access to educational opportunities for all. She advocates a sustainable business model that measures effectiveness to a “triple-bottom-line,” considering financial, social, and environmental impacts of business decisions.
Nancy serves as past board chair for the Portland Oregon Visitors Association, board vice president of the Association of Science-Technology Centers, and a board member of the Portland Streetcar, Inc. and the Oregon Natural Step Network. She is a member of the Oregon Women’s Forum and the American Association of Museums. Return to top

Dennis J. Wilde's passion for sustainable urban development runs deep. From his graduate studies in architecture and urban planning to his current role at Gerding Edlen, environmental responsibility and smart design are central to his philosophy. He first realized the possibilities of sustainability from a business perspective while attending a workshop on The Natural Step in 1997, the same year he joined Gerding Edlen. Dennis was drawn to the company because of the ethical standards that Bob and Mark articulated and employed in all of their dealings.

As Gerding Edlen’s designated “green guy,” Dennis has encouraged increased environmental stewardship in development projects while building a strong business case for the economic and social benefits of environmental responsibility. Dennis’ responsibilities include feasibility studies, management of the pre-construction process and overall project management and he is also an active board member of the Natural Step Network, the Cascadia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center (Oregon BEST).
Dennis is passionate about design as well, believing that it is an expression of man’s highest aspirations. He has more than 20 years of experience in urban planning and design, and has been active in construction and real estate development since 1967. He earned a degree in Architectural Engineering from Washington State University, as well as master's degrees in architecture and urban planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Return to top

Justin Yuen - President  Justin founded FMYI in 2004 after a successful career at Nike where most recently he oversaw sustainability business integration as a senior manager in corporate sustainable development. Prior to that role, he was the company’s head of footwear quality for the Europe/Middle East/Africa region based in the Netherlands. Accomplishments while at Nike included creating innovative organizational change programs, designing collaboration tools, building the business case for sustainability, and managing global employee training. Justin conceived FMYI due to his passion for sustainability and an interest in how advances in technology can help lessen our impact on the planet while positively affecting society. He is currently Co-Chair of the City ofPortland/Multnomah County Sustainable Development Commission as well as Chair of the Board of Directors forThe Natural Step Network. Justin serves on the Board of Directors of the Portland Parks Foundation, theNorthwest Earth Institute and The National Crittenton Foundation. He is also on the Advisory Board for Portland State University’s Center for Global Leadership in Sustainability. Justin holds a degree in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University. Return to top