- This event has passed.
Changemakers: Daring Women Shaping A New Economy
April 6, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
$25
Thursday April 6th from 5PM to 7PM. Doors open at 4PM for time to enjoy a glass of wine from the cash bar and explore Alnoba’s ground and art.
Fiona Wilson, Director of UNH’s Sustainability Institute and Changemaker Collaborative moderates a conversation with four daring business leaders who are shaping a new economy. From the products they create, the services they provide and the brands they protect, each will share their story and perspectives of how they lead companies to benefit people, planet and profits.
As Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good for the iconic Tom’s of Maine, Michelle Theodat Waring, helps ensure the brand stays true to its sustainability commitments, from ingredient sourcing to community engagement. Tom’s simple and powerful mission – Do Good. For Real.
After 25 years in corporate recruiting and employee development, Margo Walsh founded MaineWorks, social employment agency for people in recovery from substance abuse, re-entry from jail or prison or new Americans. MaineWorks is the first B certified corporation in Maine.
Alison Pyott, Partner and Senior Impact Wealth Manager, Veris Wealth Partners brings her expertise in gender lens investing to this independent, woman-led wealth management firm. She co-authored Gender Lens Investing: Bending the Arc of Finance for Women & Girls.
Maine’s fishing families are known for ingenuity, stewardship, and fierce independence. Altlantic Sea Farm’s Zoe Craft, shares her passion of how this women-run company and first commercially viable seaweed farm in the U.S. works to support coastal economies, combat climate change and grow mineral rich sea greens.
Join us for this intimate and conversational event and rare opportunity to meet these nationally recognized wisdom-keepers as they share their stories of pioneering for change in the world through business
More about the speakers
Dr. Fiona Wilson – Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, University of New Hampshire (UNH)
Dr. Fiona Wilson is the Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer for the University of New Hampshire (UNH), the state’s flagship public university, a land, sea and space grant institution, and a recognized national leader in sustainability. She is also Director of UNH’s Sustainability Institute, and an affiliate Clinical Associate Professor of Social Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability at the Paul College of Business & Economics. Prior to her academic career, Fiona spent fifteen years in the business world, including as VP of Marketing for CMGI, an internet investment and operating company, and in various roles at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising in both London and Barcelona.
Michelle Theodat Waring – Steward for Sustainability, Tom’s of Maine
Michelle Theodat Waring is the Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good at Tom’s of Maine. She leads all of the CSR efforts at Tom’s of Maine, which includes the stewardship model (ingredient sourcing and transparency), sustainability efforts, and the Giving for Goodness program (10% of profits to nonprofit organizations). In her role she develops strategies to elevate social impact for Tom’s of Maine. Working cross-functionally with key stakeholders across Tom’s and Colgate-Palmolive, she manages key strategic partnerships and initiatives with 3rd party validators and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Tom’s of Maine, Michelle led the Communications Partnerships team at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) as the Director of Entertainment and Brand Partnerships. Prior to that, she started her nonprofit career at UNICEP USA. Michelle earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Trinity College in Connecticut.
Margo Walsh – Founder & CEO, MaineWorks
As an expert thought leader in economic and social development, Margo Walsh applied her 25+ years of experience in corporate recruiting and employee development to launch the innovative staffing agency, MaineWorks. MaineWorks defines social employment by creating economic viability for people in recovery from Substance Use Disorder, reentry from jail or prison, and new Americans. The concept originated after Margo volunteered at her local jail pre-release employment program, quickly identifying the need for inmates to be connected to more appropriate employment opportunities within the construction industry. As a woman owned business, Margo led MaineWorks to become the first Certified B-Corp in Maine. MaineWorks continues to be recognized as an innovative business model, combining a social B-Corp with a partner 501c3 nonprofit, United Recovery Fund, founded in 2017.
Alison Pyott – Partner and Senior Impact Wealth Manager, Veris Wealth Partners
Veris Wealth Partners is an independent, woman-led wealth management firm with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Portsmouth, NH. Alison Pyott is a Partner and Senior Impact Wealth Manager at Veris Wealth Partners. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) professional. The CPWA certification is an advanced professional education and certification program for advisors who serve high-net-worth clients. She formerly led the firm’s Women, Wealth and Impact strategy, co-authoring several papers on gender lens investing including Gender Lens Investing: Bending the Arc of Finance for Women & Girls. Alison also serves as an advisor to the Northern New England Women Investor Network, a group working to increase the number of women angel and impact investors. Alison graduated from University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics with a B.S. in Hotel Administration and from Merrimack College with a Certificate in Financial Planning.
Zoe Croft – Director of Sales, Atlantic Sea Farms
Zoë is the Director of Sales at Atlantic Sea Farms, a women-run, mission driven and vertically integrated kelp aquaculture company based in Maine. She is an enthusiastic and impactful personality in the national natural food community, and a proud Mainer with a deep dedication to the wellbeing of our oceans and working waterfront communities. Before joining Atlantic Sea Farms, Zoë worked with Maine brands Sea Bags and GrandyOrganics and continues to champion the idea that brands can (and should) be changemakers and drive positive impacts for people and the planet. Zoë brings a fresh perspective to the ever changing marketplace and her passion for the social and environmental mission of Atlantic Sea Farms is contagious.
