We're sustainability and communication strategists, and brand-savvy designers, on a mission to make sustainability business as usual.

Adam is an Art Director at thinkPARALLAX who loves to find creative solutions to even the most challenging problems. With over 16 years of experience, he’s helped bring ideas to life for brands such as Panera Bread, Merck, Procter & Gamble, and MillerKnoll. Adam’s extensive skill set includes branding, print and web solutions, environmental design, marketing campaigns, motion graphics, and more. Having the ability to comprehend complex visual brands, while being extremely detail-oriented, allows him to fit seamlessly into most any project. Outside of work, Adam spends his free time playing games and going on adventures with his wife and two young kiddos.

Driven by the ardent belief that sustainability is the most important work of our time, Amanda spent 15 years partnering with organizations like The Walt Disney Company, Tillamook, and Native Shoes to understand and address their environmental impacts. Coupling her expertise in corporate sustainability strategy with a knack for systemic problem-solving, today Amanda’s role is to ensure thinkPARALLAX has an organizational design that propels us to achieve our vision.

Amanda holds an M.S. in Environmental Engineering with a focus in Water Resources and sits on the Board of Directors for the Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable. When she's away from her laptop, you can find her playing basketball, practicing yoga, or exploring new places with her family.

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Sofía is a Senior Client Engagement Manager at thinkPARALLAX, where she leads new business strategies and helps companies identify pain points to find the right solutions for their sustainability journey. With six years of sustainability experience, Sofía has supported clients at various stages of their ESG efforts, working with companies such as Sunnova Energy, IFF, Norwegian Cruise Line, and agilon health. She is passionate about guiding organizations, especially in the early stages, and believes in the power of partnerships to drive meaningful impact. Sofía holds a Master of Arts in Social Innovation from the University of San Diego and serves on our DEI and volunteering committees. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and scuba diving.

With 8-plus years of experience in client services and project management, Anna has a knack for bringing groups together, strategic planning and uncovering process improvements and efficiencies. Since joining thinkPARALLAX in 2021, she has helped clients such as WM, Cox Enterprises and Campbell’s communicate sustainability progress with confidence. Solution-oriented by nature, Anna loves finding practical ways to support her clients and colleagues as they navigate today’s changing landscape. She has a particular interest in waste management, circularity, and regenerative agriculture.

Anna has a B.S in Business Administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. When not working, you can find her enjoying a sunny day in golden gate park or up-cycling her latest thrift store finds with her trusty sewing machine.

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Annika has over seven years of experience in marketing and branding. She’s been instrumental in thinkPARALLAX's social media strategy, Perspective events, website redesign, Inspiring Perspectives podcast, and marketing operations and analytics. Her hands-on approach ensures that every project, from digital platforms to event strategy, is executed with precision and creativity. She thrives in fast-paced environments, turning complex challenges into clear, actionable marketing solutions that resonate with audiences.

With a Master’s in Social Innovation from the University of San Diego and a B.A. in Marketing from Seattle University, Annika approaches her work through a systems-thinking lens, combining strategic insights with compelling marketing tactics. Outside the office, Annika enjoys surfing, hiking, and climbing in San Diego, as well as exploring new cities.

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Cam is a Strategist focused on integrating sustainability into business strategy. With a balanced perspective that aligns long-term sustainability with strategic growth, he’s supported clients across healthcare, agriculture, pharmaceutical, legal, insurance, and manufacturing industries. Cam has developed sustainability strategy and communications projects with influential clients, including Avantor, Blue Diamond Growers, and Merck. He is a strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset excited to help organizations advance sustainability and ESG impact. Cam is a graduate of the University at Buffalo with a degree in Business Administration. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, road trips, and exploring his native Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York.

Christine is a Senior Strategist and Copywriter driven by empathy, curiosity, and connecting the dots for stakeholders. She collaborates with clients across industries at various stages of their sustainability journey, including Ralph Lauren, Clearwater Paper, and Beyond Meat. Initially starting in marketing and graphic design, Christine’s passion for positive change led her to the sustainability and social impact space, where she discovered her true purpose.

She has over a decade of experience in sustainability, social impact, communications, and reporting, along with a Corporate Citizenship Management certificate from Boston College and an executive certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Georgetown University.

A native of New Hampshire and graduate of Marist College, Christine enjoys reading, cooking, outdoor adventures, and traveling with her family.

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Derek is a Sr. Director, host of the Inspiring Perspectives podcast, and Client Relationship Lead. He excels at engaging with diverse clients on various sustainability topics, finding the common thread, and asking the right questions to understand their needs and the problems we can solve. With a career rooted in sustainability in the apparel industry, Derek has supported clients like Ralph Lauren, Neiman Marcus Group, and technology companies like Trimble, Assurant, and Virgin Voyages.

As a former college sustainability instructor, Derek’s superpower is helping teams grasp the complexities of sustainability while motivating them to accelerate their work. A proud Anteater, Derek earned a Studio Arts degree and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine. In his spare time, he serves as President of the UC Irvine Alumni Association and aims to surf one of his favorite local beach spots at least once a week.

Edison leads thinkPARALLAX’s creative team of collaborators and strong critical thinkers. He is also a firm believer in using fun as a vehicle to create brilliant designs. Throughout his nearly 18 years with thinkPARALLAX, Edison has helped clients including Snap Inc., IFF, Interface, Campbell’s, and Southwest Airlines visualize and execute projects that exceed expectations and push their brand equity forward. With multifaceted experience in branding and design systems, print and web solutions, and experiential activations, Edison prides himself on his ability to drive clear and meaningful visuals that evoke impactful storytelling.

Edison received a B.A. in Art and Graphic Design from San Diego State University and enjoys traveling and exploring art and culture in his free time.

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Guusje Bendeler (pronounced Who-sha) is Co-Founder of thinkPARALLAX. With over 20 years of experience in sustainability communications, branding, and strategy, she’s led the company in its mission to better the world by articulating and amplifying impact. Guusje has been instrumental in driving success for clients such as Southwest Airlines, Qualcomm, International Paper, Eli Lilly, and Scotiabank, among others. Guusje stepped down as thinkPARALLAX’s CEO in June 2021, but continues to provide senior counsel for select clients. Having lived and worked both in The Netherlands and the United States, Guusje brings a global perspective to her work. She is passionate about her belief in business as a force for good, and ensures thinkPARALLAX walks its own talk as a Certified B Corporation. Guusje is active in sharing her industry knowledge at conferences and in media outlets. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, yoga, and volunteering as an art teacher at her kids' school.

Hallie is a Senior Strategist focusing on sustainability communications and strategy. With over seven years of experience, she began her career working in media and events for large sustainability conferences. Over the past four years at thinkPARALLAX, Hallie has leveraged her background in sustainability and brand storytelling to help companies amplify their sustainability progress in authentic, meaningful ways. Known for her strong project management skills, Hallie builds lasting relationships with clients, guiding them through projects to ensure successful outcomes. With a passion for people, creative storytelling, and positive impact, she has led projects for brands including Qualcomm, Bliss, Panera, IFF, and Keurig Dr Pepper.

Hallie received a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her dogs and making ceramics.

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Iulia is a Strategist passionate about leveraging her problem-solving and relationship-building skills to drive impactful sustainability initiatives. With 7 years of experience in environmental consulting focused on land use development, she has developed a robust foundation in environmental topics and project management. Iulia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a minor in Professional Writing from the University of California Santa Barbara and recently completed a Sustainability Analyst certification through Voiz Academy. She is dedicated to utilizing her experience to help clients advance their sustainability goals. Outside of work, Iulia enjoys running, pilates, and exploring new travel destinations.

Janna leads clients across industries to transform their sustainability and social impact strategies into cohesive, engaging narratives and activations. Working with clients like WM, Lilly, Pompeian, Interface, and Keurig Dr. Pepper, Janna has helped organizations drive performance, boost engagement, rally teams, and achieve audience- and business-specific goals. As the head of marketing and communications at thinkPARALLAX, Janna plays a key role in shaping the company’s growth strategy. With more than 10 years of prior experience as a magazine editor and writer, Janna weaves sustainability expertise with her graduate studies in marketing and brand to bring impact stories to life in effective, inspiring ways. Outside of work, Janna is a travel enthusiast who is happiest adventuring with her husband, daughter, and golden retriever in the mountains or by the ocean.

Jean has a marketing and communications background with 10 years of agency experience, mostly in the healthcare sector. As Senior Strategist, Jean has facilitated reporting, strategy, and communications (including web, video, and social) partnerships with influential companies including Qualcomm, Ionis, Merck, and Neiman Marcus Group. She’s currently interested in learning more about environmental justice and the integration of social and environmental issues. Jean graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Asian American Studies. She attributes her passion for sustainability to the Japanese notion of “mottainai,” which literally means “what a waste!”—but idiomatically expresses regret for when things are not put to their fullest use, and more broadly serves as a philosophy for how we ought to take care of each other and our world.

For the past 16 years, John has worked as a writer, editor, brand strategist, and corporate communications professional. John led communications and sustainability initiatives for Avocado Green Brands, where he partnered with Disney, the New York Times, Condé Nast, and iHeartRadio while integrating sustainability into Avocado’s marketing and communications content. He’s published stories throughout outdoor publications, and the magazines he led as an Editor In Chief earned several National Magazine Award nominations and won dozens of regional magazine awards. Throughout his career, his work has featured a central theme: communicating complex stories about the environment, sustainability, and our relationship with the natural world to large audiences. He lives in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, where he skis, mountain bikes, and hikes with his family.

Jonathan brings over two decades of expertise in strategic communications, sustainability, and social impact. Since founding thinkPARALLAX in 2003, Jonathan has transformed the agency into a nationally recognized leader in sustainability strategy, reporting, and communications, serving a roster of Fortune 500 clients across the country. His commitment to positive impact extends beyond his work—he also runs a community hub, Perspectives Space, coaches sustainability professionals and entrepreneurs, and volunteers with local nonprofits and USD’s School of Peace and Justice.

With a diverse background in law, healthcare, and the beauty industries, Kaela brings extensive experience in administrative support for C-suite leaders and business process improvement, always with a people-centered approach. At thinkPARALLAX, Kaela has contributed to projects such as our B Corp recertification, Climate Neutral certification, IT security initiatives, and managing our Perspectives Space—a community and art studio. She also plays a key role in organizing tPX events and providing support wherever needed. Kaela believes in nurturing environments with kindness and compassion to ensure they flourish for future generations. In her personal time, she enjoys being outdoors, exploring new places, and spending time with her son, dog, family, and friends, as well as discovering sustainable products and enjoying live music.

Kelly is an experienced business professional with a background in accounting and finance across various industries, including publishing and biotech. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Delaware and has worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York before finding her home in San Diego.

As the Finance Manager, Kelly brings a strategic approach to financial analysis, delivering insightful reports and management tools, while contributing to internal operations and client engagement. When not crunching numbers, Kelly can be found at the beach or going on adventures around San Diego with her husband and two teenage daughters, walking her mini goldendoodle, and doing pilates.

Through a blend of in-house and consulting experience, Kirkland has developed sustainability programs and communication activations across diverse sectors including real estate, consumer product goods, and manufacturing. She played a key role in developing sustainability frameworks and targeted communications strategies for companies like WM and Clearwater Paper, crafting strategic messaging, training, and sales materials to engage stakeholders and position the organizations as sustainability leaders. Kirkland is a strong advocate for using business objectives as a guiding framework for creative initiatives and values the power of collaboration, believing that diverse perspectives lead to stronger outcomes. Outside of work, Kirkland loves to coach for Girls on the Run, hike coastal California trails, and cook recipes from her favorite chefs Molly Baz and Yotam Ottolenghi.

Kyrstin is an award-winning Art Director who is passionate about great design that is visually appealing and communicates effectively. Known for her collaborative approach to creative development, Kyrstin has over 15 years of experience collaborating with clients like Qualcomm, Scotiabank, and Eli Lilly both in a hands-on capacity and at a high-level to ensure creative solutions adhere to strategic goals. An East Coast native and Pratt Institute graduate, Kyrstin is driven by the belief that each action we take to positively impact the planet and people living on it — no matter how big or small — actively contributes to the betterment of the world. When Kyrstin isn’t creating innovative digital and print experiences, you can find her in her studio making abstract encaustic paintings, body boarding in the ocean, or laughing with friends (and their dogs) at the beach.

Laura is driven to achieve meaningful climate action through regenerative business practices and collaborative innovation. With over eight years of professional experience at the intersection of sustainability, social impact, strategy, and storytelling, she has contributed to a diverse portfolio of projects spanning sustainable development, freshwater conservation, and regenerative tourism, as well as a range of clients including the National Park Service, Quest Resource Management Group, and Ulta Beauty. She leverages systems thinking and balances left- and right-brain ideation to uncover data-driven insights that will move the needle for clients and teams in pursuit of a more just world. An advocate for slow, mindful travel, Laura has worked on four continents and applies a global perspective and keen cultural awareness to cultivate strong relationships. Laura holds a BA in strategic communication from Ohio State and an MBA in sustainable solutions from Presidio Graduate School.

Niamh has over 15 years of experience in corporate strategy and program management, focusing on ESG, regulatory, and innovation initiatives. She has worked across professional services, manufacturing, supply chain, consumer goods, and luxury industries, with global experience in China, Europe, and the U.S. Niamh has worked with leading companies PCH, EY, Glanbia, and Richemont.

A trained lawyer, certified project manager, and sustainability professional, Niamh has held C-suite advisory roles in ESG strategy, reporting, and management consultancy. She advocates for integrating sustainability into business as a competitive advantage, vital to growth and long-term success. Niamh excels at aligning complex organizations and turning sustainability goals into actionable plans. Outside work, Niamh enjoys exploring her home in North Carolina with her family.

Nicole specializes in sustainability strategy, reporting frameworks and standards, and social impact. A recovering academic, Nicole balances rigorous academic training and creative thinking to help clients set goals, measure programmatic impact, and make progress. Since joining the team at thinkPARALLAX, she has helped clients including Snap Inc., WM, Clayco, and Pompeian assess and report on material sustainability topics, set sustainability goals, and increase data disclosure and transparency. With experience in higher education, consulting, and community engagement, Nicole is driven by a desire to contribute to positive change and collaborate to make things better for all.

Nicole earned a PhD in Sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder, but since she’s too Midwest to quit, she calls Detroit metro home with her spouse and cat daughter. In her free time, you can find her engrossed in a book, watching college football, reading tarot, or walking in a forest.

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Sami has a 16+ year career as a communications strategist, branding expert, and climate writer. He’s worked with clients like Blue Diamond Growers, Verathon, Western Digital, and Snap, focusing on sustainability reporting, sales, staff training, and human-centered communications. Before joining tPX, he led sustainability communications for clients including Burt’s Bees, Self Help Credit Union, and Jada Pinkett Smith. He’s written thousands of articles on topics including climate politics and electric transportation, with bylines in Treehugger and Mother Jones. In 2020, he published his first book, “We’re All Climate Hypocrites Now,” advocating for a systems-based approach to individual climate action. At home, he enjoys composting, foraging mushrooms, and sharing his questionable music with his family. Fluent in English, Finnish, German, and Danish, Sami is a proud word nerd and co-coined the term “greenhushing.” Originally from England, he now lives in Durham, NC.

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Sheila is a strategic systems thinker dedicated to creating a safe, healthy, regenerative, and equitable world for all. With an MBA in Sustainable Management and over 20 years of experience, her superpower lies in seamlessly embedding sustainability into corporate strategies. She has successfully guided industry leaders in the natural and consumer packaged goods sectors, including Starbucks, LUSH, Beyond Meat, Blue Diamond Growers, and Bloomin' Brands.

Sheila excels at addressing complex challenges—such as the climate crisis—with both urgency and pragmatic solutions. As a certified TRUE Zero Waste Advisor and with credentials in TCFD and CSRD, she actively contributes to her local B Corp chapter and participates in community clean-up initiatives through Adopt One Block in Portland.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Sheila enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and nurturing their Backyard Habitat-certified yard with native plants.

Tyler is a vital member of thinkPARALLAX’s creative team, known for blending fun and creativity to deliver impactful results. He’s contributed to diverse projects, from sustainability frameworks and reporting to campaigns and web recommendations. His experience spans industries, working with clients like Snap Inc., Boston Scientific, Merck, Scotiabank, Southwest, Graphic Packaging, and International Paper. He thrives on variety and the ever-changing challenges that keep his work engaging.

Tyler is always eager to learn, with hobbies that shift month to month, but his passion for the outdoors, technological innovations, and the pursuit of happiness remains constant. A proud San Diego State University graduate, he holds a B.A. in Applied Arts and Sciences with a focus on graphic design.