Amber Bieg  |  Green-Ideas - Systems Analysis & UX 

Amber is a philosopher-inventor-ecogeek with a passion for ethical finance and a mission to create a thriving future for everyone. She has nearly 15 years of experience in sustainability marketing, systems design and sustainable development. As the principal of Green-Ideas, Amber has worked with clients such as the City of San Francisco, Autodesk and ChicoBag on strategic sustainability marketing and sustainable behavior change campaigns. Amber has co-authored two feasibility studies focusing on local economic development: 1) A regional textile mill with Fibershed and 2) A localized farm to retail supply chain for the Food Commons. Amber is the co-founder of three ventures: Fabripod LLC, a modern-design home furnishing manufacturer; California Cloth, a sustainable textile line; and Open Tree Map, an open source project.  She has an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School and a BA in International Studies with a focus on Economic Development and Women’s Studies from the University of Oregon.

Fun Facts: In her spare time, Amber makes textile art and volunteers her time to educate women about money scams, writing about women, money and spirituality on the Green-Ideas blog.

Eric Leland  |  Fivepaths - Strategic Technology and Website Development

Eric Leland has spent the last 13 years working with progressive organizations tackling online and offline technology challenges. As the founder and director of Leland Design, Eric focuses on strategic technology planning, website and database planning, development, and implementation for entities including progressive health and human services organizations, human rights groups, and environmental advocacy groups. Eric served as the director of TechCommons at TechSoup.org, one of the nation's most comprehensive nonprofit technology assistance organizations. Eric directed technology activists seeking solutions to systemic nonprofit technology issues, leveraging the latest online community tools to engage nonprofits and solution providers to contribute to lasting solutions.

Fun Facts: Eric is very active in nonprofit and technology circles. He serves on the board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, and as a member of the Tech Underground and the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network.

Noelle Bonner  |  Bonner Communications - Public Relations

Noelle Bonner started her communications career in the San Francisco office of a leading national crisis communications firm. In the winter of 2011, Noelle moved from San Francisco to New York City, and became the PR Director of a new high fashion magazine. After successfully leading the launch of the magazine, which was embraced by the fashion community, she moved on to pursue other interests on the business side of fashion. But shortly after, she was tapped to be the NY Consultant for a San Francisco based crisis management firm with Fortune 500 and celebrity clientele on the East Coast. That was in the fall of 2012. By winter 2012, Noelle added two other companies to her client base, and with 3 clients on her roster, realized there was no looking back.

Fast-forward to today, and Bonner Communications has worked with clients and other agencies, spanning multiple industries; to create and evaluate messaging, manage reputations in the media and online, and place stories in top tier, local and trade media.

Fun Facts: Traveling (with family), experiencing new cultures, studying people (psych major), working out, self proclaimed ‘foodie’, shopping, politics, and reading books on various faiths and spiritual designations.

Vijay Gakhar  |  User Experience Advisor

Vijay is a frequent collaborator and advisor currently leading User Experience for Travelzoo. He has over nine years of User Experience, Interaction Design, User Research, Usability, and Product Design experience that he's gained in strategic design teams at Xoom, Yodlee, and SAP.

He enjoys designing cross platform consumer and enterprise experiences for mobile and web. Vijay is simply said, an ace, and has extensive experience driving the design process from requirements gathering, validation, user research, design, and supporting development. With him on your team you not only get excellent organizational, project management, multitasking, and communication skills served on a silver platter, but also an easy going, fun individual who loves work and plays hard.

Fun Facts: Used to sing in a choir at home in India, body surfs, but can't swim, and loves dancing :)

Ben Lempert  |  Writer – Musician – PhD

Ben Lempert is a writer from San Francisco. He has been called a “verbal black belt” and a “Swiss Army knife of content.” 

Originally from San Francisco, Ben attended UC Berkeley for college, then moved to New York, where he studied at the New School’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program and split his time between playing music professionally and working with inner-city youth. Eventually he returned to the Bay Area, where he earned a PhD in Literature and Philosophy (also from Berkeley), did a postdoc at Stanford, then morphed into a full-time slinger of prose. As a copywriter and content producer, he has helped dozens of companies hone their identity and find their voice. He especially loves translating complicated technical material into clear, compelling, delightful prose.

Fun Facts: Has played Jazz, R&B, African music, and many other styles up and down the East Coast. Has played guitar for the President of Nigeria. Enjoys reading poetry and watching basketball, occasionally at the same time.