About Our Team | CSR Ratings

Management/Founders and Advisors

Bahar Gidwani – Cofounder, CEO
Bahar Gidwani was CEO of New York-based Index Stock Imagery, Inc, from 1991 through its sale in 2006. He has built and run large technology-based businesses, and has experience building a multi-million visitor Web site. Bahar holds a CFA, worked on Wall Street with Kidder, Peabody, and with McKinsey & Co. Bahar has consulted to a number of major companies and currently serves on the board of several software and Web companies. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School. Bahar is based in New York City.

Cynthia Figge – Cofounder, COO
Cynthia Figge is a forerunner and thought leader in the corporate sustainability movement who co-founded EKOS International in 1996, one of the first consultancies integrating sustainability and corporate strategy. Cynthia has worked with major organizations including BNSF, Boeing, Coca-Cola, Dow Jones, and REI to help craft sustainability strategy integrated with business. She was an Officer of LIN Broadcasting/McCaw Cellular leading new services development, and started a new “Greenfield” mill with Weyerhaeuser. She serves as Advisor to media and technology companies, and served as President of the Board of Sustainable Seattle. Cynthia has an MBA from Harvard Business School. Cynthia is based in the Seattle area.

Stephen Filler – Cofounder, Advisor
Stephen Filler is an intellectual property attorney who is the Director of Business Development for Prism Solar Technologies, Inc., a solar photovoltaic module manufacturer. He has provided legal services to and served on the boards of sustainable, environmental and renewable energy businesses, technology and media companies, non-profit organizations and trade associations. Stephen serves on the Boards of NY Sloop Clearwater, NY Solar Energy Association, Sustainable Hudson Valley Business Network. He received his JD from Boston University Law School.

John Atcheson – Advisor
John Atcheson serves as board chair of Sightline Institute, a Seattle-based sustainability think-tank. John spent over 20 years as an entrepreneur in the field of media and technology, founding several startup companies including Ads.com and MusicNet, and serving as VP and general manager of Media Publishing at RealNetworks (RNWK). John has been a section leader of the Seattle Symphony Chorale, and an occasional soloist with the Seattle Symphony. He received his BA from Brown University and his MBA from Stanford Business School.

Russell S. Barton, Ph.D. - Advisor
Russell Barton, Partner and Co-Founder of EKOS International, has for over 20 years served as a lead consultant to the top North American management teams including Boeing, Darigold, Milliken (Baldrige winner), Nike, SmithKline Beecham, and Weyerhaeuser. From 1986-1994, he was one of four Managing Partners of Deltapoint. He has led 12 Executive Study Missions: 10 to Japan and two to Europe. Russell is a member of the original group of trainers who have helped bring The Natural Step to the United States. He is co-author of the book, Mapping the Journey: Case Studies in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies. He holds a Ph.D. and MA in Organizational Psychology, from the University of Oregon.

Carol Pierson Holding – Advisor
Carol Pierson Holding is President and Founder, Holding Associates. Carol serves as Guest Blogger for CSRHUB. Her firm has focused on the intersection of brand and social responsibility, working with Cisco Systems, Wilmington Trust, Bankrate.com, the US EPA, Yale University's School of Environmental Sciences, and various non-profits. Before founding Holding Associates, Carol worked in executive management positions at Siegel & Gale, McCann Erickson, and Citibank. She is a Board Member of AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation). Carol received her AB from Smith College and her MBA from Harvard University.

Lorinda Rowledge, Ph.D. - Advisor
Lorinda Rowledge is Partner and Co-founder of EKOS International, and Founding Provost Bainbridge Graduate Institute. Lorinda has for over 20 years helped executives of leading global companies integrate sustainability and business strategy. She co-authored Mapping the Journey: Case Studies in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies. Prior to co-founding EKOS, from 1986 to 1994, Lorinda was one of four partners managing the Deltapoint Corporation, a consulting and publishing firm leading in advanced Japanese management systems. Lorinda has led 5 Executive Study Missions to Europe and Japan, Lorinda holds a Ph.D., specializing in Organizational Psychology, from the University of Oregon.

Board Members

Bahar Gidwani – Cofounder, CEO
Bahar Gidwani was CEO of New York-based Index Stock Imagery, Inc, from 1991 through its sale in 2006. He has built and run large technology-based businesses, and has experience building a multi-million visitor Web site. Bahar holds a CFA, worked on Wall Street with Kidder, Peabody, and with McKinsey & Co. Bahar has consulted to a number of major companies and currently serves on the board of several software and Web companies. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School. Bahar is based in New York City.

G. Benjamin (Ben) Bingham - Board Member
G. Benjamin (Ben) Bingham is the Chief Investment Officer of 3Sisters Sustainable Investments LLC currently focused on a Private Equity Fund called Scarab Holdings for partners in the new paradigm to foster a sustainable environment and social justice within a diverse and meaningful world culture.

Ben has been a social entrepreneur and investor since the late 70’s when he co-founded a non-profit residential community based on bio-dynamic agriculture to meet the needs of young adults with intellectual challenges (Triform Camphill Community). After developing a network of support from mission aligned philanthropists he went on to co-found two technology companies, one in biological healthcare (Demegen) and one in internet workflow technology (Anthurium Solutions). Since 2000 he has served as a financial advisor to this network of approximately 70 families first at Legg Mason, then Citigroup Smith Barney and since 2007 as an independent advisor. In 2010, 3Sisters Sustainable Investments was formed to continue the triple bottom line performance Ben had established and to deepen the focus on positive impact investments. Ben earned a CFP designation, and has trained in Grantsmanship, Gestalt Psychology, Spacial Dynamics, Biodynamics (Emerson College) and Fine Arts (Yale). Ben is a Fellow of Economists for Peace and Security (EPS), the Investor’s Circle and the Social Venture Network. He and Jenny, his wife of 37 years, have 5 adult children and 4 granddaughters.

Tom Cusack - Board Member
Tom Cusack is a private investor and business advisor. From 1989 to 1999, he was an executive with Transamerica Corporation. From 1995 to 1999, he was Chairman (1996), President and Chief Executive Officer of the Transamerica Life Insurance Companies. Prior to joining Transamerica, Tom was Manager of Business Development and Strategy for General Electric Company. He was also a consultant with McKinsey & Company in their San Franscisco office and was a financial analyst for Bankers Trust Company in New York. Tom earned his Masters in Business Administration with High Distinction from Harvard Business School and was named a George F. Baker Scholar. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Wharton School, both at the University of Pennsylvania. Tom is Chairman of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Vice Chairman of Direct Relief International, and a Trustee of Cate School. He is also a director of the Weber Companies, LLC.

Associates

Berit Anderson develops and executes strategy to encourage the spread of responsible business. Berit manages CSRHUB's social media outreach and develops business and community relationships. Her background in media and community relations runs the gamut from non-profit sustainability magazines to 24-hour corporate news operations and forward-looking tech publishers. When she isn't busy building bridges with language, Berit studies Arabic, explores the great outdoors, or takes to the garden, where she merges her loves of local food, urban agriculture and education. Weaknesses include large, fluffy canines, Reeses peanut butter cups and playing dress-up.

Ruth Edwards is passionate about the environment and making a difference in our world. As a Data Analyst, Ruth assists with aggregating and analyzing company social performance data at CSRHUB. She also develops user videos for CSRHUB, updates the website, and manages email campaigns. Her wide-range of experience also includes corporate computer training, documentation, website design, advertising, and marketing. Although always loving the outdoors, her passion for the environment began when she completed an environmental audit of a medical supply manufacturing facility for a college course. Ruth enjoys attending the various sporting events her children compete in, photography, green home renovations, sailing, sunsets and peaceful hikes.

Jana Petrikova is passionate for environmentally and socially responsible business practices with five years of experience in the field. As a Data Analyst, Jana assists with aggregating and analyzing company social performance data at CSRHUB. Jana also holds a position of a Sustainability Consultant at Green Team Spirit. She believes that employees who are respected and listened to can be a great resource for innovative solutions to business and environmental challenges. Jana is an active member of Net Impact where she volunteered on several consulting projects for non-profit organizations. In her spare time, Jana writes a blog about composting hoping to inspire others to compost and create a supportive environment to share experience and motivate others in their quest to protect our precious environment.

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