BSG events are facilitated by experts in the field of sustainable management. We’d like you to meet a few of our facilitators.

Steve Attinger, MBA
Director, Business and Sustainability Group
Mr. Attinger has a background in product management/marketing, partnership development, corporate training, and sustainable business practices. His experience includes a finance position in Zurich, Switzerland, a consulting engagement with The Natural Step, and over twelve years in the Silicon Valley high-tech sector. Attinger has worked with both emerging and established companies, including Dell, Gap, Genentech, HP, IDEO, Intel, Oracle, and Schwab.

Steve developed a deep sense of social and environmental awareness from early involvement with the Foundation for Global Community. As Director of its Business and Sustainability Group he educates executives about the economics and tangible benefits of an integrated bottom line. He recently produced a two-day workshop on “Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Design and Intelligent Materials Pooling” with Michael Braungart, William McDonough, and Peter Senge. Steve has spoken on sustainability to both corporate and academic audiences, and is committed to this shift in business thinking.

Mr. Attinger holds an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio School of Management, and a BA in Information and Communication Studies focused in Marketing. During his graduate work, Steve authored a paper, “Cradle to Cradle: What Is It, How To Get There,” where he explained the steps that companies can take along their path toward C2C integration.

 

Lisa Friedman, Ph.D.
Lisa Friedman, Ph.D. is a co-founder of the Enterprise Development Group (EDG), an international consulting firm based in Palo Alto, California, that specializes in strategy development and implementation for groups facing complex change. She is also the author of The Dynamic Enterprise: Tools for Turning Chaos into Strategy and Strategy into Action.

EDG works with executive leaders and boards, managers, and change teams as well. Recent clients include SRI, the BBC (London), ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan), Stanford University, Lifeguard, LifeScan / Johnson & Johnson, Panera Bakery Cafe's, Texas Health Resources, and Swiss Air (now known as Swiss International Airlines). Typical projects span the range of business and organization design and change implementation, including: Facilitating a large health care system to design "Hospital of the Future;" vision and integration planning following the merger of two airlines; helping a pharmaceuticals company with its alliance strategy; business process redesign in a company that had to simultaneously lay people off and improve its quality; and culture-building in a company that was growing quickly. While EDG works predominantly with large companies, it has also worked on the strategy and business planning for several nonprofits, including Rainforest Action Network, Nature Conservancy, and Climate Neutral Network.

As a leader of EDG's Sustainability Practice, Dr. Friedman specializes in helping clients to craft a collaborative vision and to create the designs and implementation plans to enable people throughout their enterprise to build a sustainable future. She is also a frequent speaker and workshop leader for creating business value through sustainability.

Dr. Friedman is a founding member of the Business and Sustainability Initiative of the Foundation for Global Community, which sponsors a speaker series at Stanford University for Silicon Valley business leaders as well as Sustainability Seminars. In addition, she recently worked with others from this team to organize the first annual Silicon Valley Sustainability Tour.

 

Joe Kresse, MBA
Joe Kresse is a member of the volunteer staff of the Foundation for Global Community

In 1988, Joe took early retirement as a partner of an international public accounting firm, so that he could work for the Foundation's predecessor, Beyond War. He was with his firm for 24 years and was in charge of its practice for financial institutions in Southern California.

Prior to joining his firm, Joe received a BA in Economics from Stanford University, served as an officer in the U. S. Navy, and then returned to Stanford, where he received an MBA in Accounting and Finance.

At the Foundation, Joe's responsibilities include introducing the public to the Center's philosophy and programs, writing for the Foundation’s publication, Timeline, and coordinating the Foundation’s Business and Sustainability Initiative.

Joe was a member of the board of directors of Community Bank (in Pasadena, California) from 1988 to 1995, serving as chairman for the last two years. He has also been a member of the board of directors of the California Society of CPAs and of its Los Angeles chapter, and is a past president of the Stanford Business School Alumni Association. He received the Stanford Associates Award for service to the University, the Silver Award from the Boy Scouts for service to scouting, and the Honorary Service Award from the California PTA for service to youth. In 1988, he was named to the "Westside Hall of Fame" by Westside Today for his efforts to make the west side of Los Angeles a better place to live.

Joe and his wife, Barbara, have been involved with the Foundation for Global Community and its predecessors, Creative Initiative and Beyond War, for more than 30 years. They live in Redwood City and have two grown sons, both married, and four grandchildren.