BASG events are convened by a volunteer team of organizers – Carol Baroudi, Eric Grunebaum, Amy Perlmutter, and Arnold Sapenter.
Carol Baroudi is a free-lance sustainability consultant. In this role, she works to help define and to drive sustainability initiatives including education, evangelizing and reporting. She is the lead-author of Green IT For Dummies, which gives organizations basic principles and guidance in moving toward sustainable IT.
For eight years Carol led Sustainability for Arrow Electronics’ End of Life business. She has worked as an industry analyst as Research Director of Sustainability and Green IT at Aberdeen Group, CEO of Baroudi Bloor International, and Vice President at Hurwitz Group, providing quantitative and qualitative research and marketing consulting. A best-selling author, Carol’s books have more than 7 million copies in print in more than 30 languages. Ms. Baroudi holds a B.A. from Colgate University and a post baccalaureate certificate in Sustainable Development from the University of Massachusetts.
Carol has co-led the Boston Area Sustainability Group since 2011, producing monthly programs aimed at furthering sustainability education, building collaborative networks, and driving sustainability forward.
Eric Grunebaum is a consultant to clean energy companies, impact investors and clean energy funds. He cofounded TeraCool – an industrial ecology startup; he consulted on the U.S. expansion of Apeiron-Synthesis – a European green chemistry firm; advised Greentown Labs – the largest cleantech incubator in the U.S.; and via his company Cambridge Energy Advisors, assisted in the development of clean energy projects and deployment of impact investor funds.
Prior to energy work, Eric developed mixed-income housing and produced documentary films including The Last Mountain, focusing on a West Virginia community that proposed a wind-farm on a nearby mountain to stop a coal strip-mine. The film premiered at Sundance, was theatrically released and features Bobby Kennedy, Jr. Eric also produced A Life Among Whales on MacArthur “Genius” Roger Payne and The Price of Sugar which was short-listed for the Academy Award and won the Slow Food on Film Award.
Eric has organized and presented three BASG events as well as panels for Cambridge Innovation Center, Climate Action Business Association and in support of epidemiological research on the health co-benefits of carbon pricing. Eric received a BA in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard College and still lives in Cambridge, Mass., his hometown.
Amy Perlmutter is an independent consultant whose practice includes strategy, stakeholder engagement, communications, and facilitation to build the green economy. She was an early pioneer in the recycling field and continues to be fascinated by trash. She was the Director of Solid Waste for Passaic County, New Jersey; Recycling Director of the City and County of San Francisco; and founding director of the Chelsea Center for Recycling and Economic Development, where she worked with businesses, researchers, and government to increase the use of recycled materials in manufacturing processes in Massachusetts. She is the lead consultant for the City of Boston’s Zero Waste Plan development, on the advisory board of Zero Waste USA, an advisor to the startup, Magnomer, and a Clean Tech Open mentor.
Arnold Sapenter, MBA, LEED Green Associate, is Founder/Principal of Arnold Spencer Consulting and a high energy organizational consultant with over 30 years of professional experience in cultural diversity, environmental planning and sustainability program development as well as, organization training, project development and management. He is an adept communicator and analytical thinker with proven ability to develop and lead cross-functional teams. An expert presenter, negotiator, and facilitator able to forge solid relationships between government and community partners and across multiple organization levels.
Arnold serves as a board member and advisor or a number of non-profit organizations including the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, the Fenway Health Center, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators Boston Chapter and the Shirley Eustis House in Roxbury. After retiring from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Director of Sustainability and previously serving as the Director of Diversity and Program Monitoring; Arnold decided to use his program development, project management, training skills and experience to assist business, and non-profit organizations in achieving their missions and strategic goals related to cultural diversity, social justice and environmental sustainability.
Past Organizers
Over the years, a number of dedicated individuals have contributed to creating and sustaining the BASG community.
Tilly Pick (2016-2022)
Holly Fowler (2014-2022)
Becky Snow (2011-2016)
Bob Pojasek (2011-2014)
Rich Goode (Co-founder, 2009-2011)
Glenn Grant (Co-founder, 2009-2011)
BASG 