366 | Moving Forward Together Through Employee Ownership with Benjamin Gardner
Release Date: 04/15/2025
395 | My Strategic Pause to Protect Quality with Paul Zelizer
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Paul Zelizer is the host of Awarepreneurs, the world’s longest running social entrepreneur podcast, and a coach and consultant who works with clean energy companies and climatetech startups. My latest role is Fractional VP of Business Development for Pii Energy, a plug-in solar startup. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned...
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394 | Creating Effective Impact Networks in Chaotic Times with Cole Hoover
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Cole Hoover has spent 17 years designing the spaces where social impact leaders learn together. He's built fellowships, cohort programs, and learning communities serving over 1,500 changemakers globally—from social entrepreneurs in Ghana to corporate partners navigating sustainability transitions. His work focuses on community infrastructure: the peer networks, shared analysis, and coordination capacity that determine whether movements survive and scale. He is the founder of Ponto Social Impact Consulting. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul...
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393 | Economic Development - Leading Through Uncertain Times with Elyse Cherry
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Elyse Cherry has served as the CEO of BlueHub Capital since 1997. Under Cherry’s leadership, BlueHub has invested over $3.2 billion, leveraged an additional $16.1 billion, and built a national tax credit practice to: finance affordable housing, health centers, schools and other community facilities; create jobs; benchmark and drive down energy and utility costs. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include:
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392 | A New Business Model Rooted in Regeneration with Matthew Britt
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Matthew Britt is driven by a lifelong passion for innovation and connection. He brings more than two decades of entrepreneurial experience to his work redefining how individuals and communities live. As Chief Execution Officer of The Food Biome and a leader in strategy and partnerships, Matthew helps homeowners, companies, builders, and communities integrate smart, regenerative systems for food and water. His work celebrates the global shift toward resilient, abundant living by showcasing world-class innovation in sustainability through education, technology, and hands-on demonstration. A...
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391 | Raising Smarter: How Cleantech Startups are Adapting with Paul Zelizer
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Paul Zelizer has been a business coach and consultant for social entrepreneurs and cleantech companies for the past 18 years, the host of the Awarepreneurs podcast and co-founder of NM Tech Talks and NMClimate. A growing portion of his work is as a fractional VP of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for cleantech startups and mission driven companies. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include:
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390 | How to 100X Your Social Impact with Kurt Avery
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Kurt Avery is the founder and president of , a company at the forefront of innovation in outdoor protection and humanitarian aid. With a background in marketing for Fortune 500 companies and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Kurt launched Sawyer with a mission to develop practical, life-saving solutions—most notably in water filtration and insect repellents. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a global force, serving both outdoor enthusiasts and vulnerable communities around the world. Through partnerships with over 140 nonprofits in...
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389 | Vetting Investors as Much as They Vet You with Lauren Howard
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Lauren “L2” Howard is a telehealth program operator, mental health advocate, and women’s champion who believes, above all, that isolation lies—it’s not just you, and help is available. She is the CEO of LBee Health, a virtual mental health treatment program that supports people recovering from burnout, toxic work environments, and trauma, while also providing full-spectrum mental health care with an emphasis on accessibility and lower-cost options. Lauren is also the CEO of ElleTwo, a digital platform and community boldly calling BS on outdated ideas of “professionalism” for...
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388 | Navigating the Cost of Living Crisis with Fuzzy Jardine
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Kolaiah “Fuzzy” Jardine, co-founder of HUI Mastermind, empowers Native Hawaiians and locals to build generational wealth through real estate in their homeland, the Pono Way. A former drug addict and dealer who spent time in federal prison, Fuzzy built a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio, including 100+ affordable homes and a $6 million rental portfolio. He uniquely teaches investing using Other People's Money and Time (OPM/OPT), making complex strategies accessible. Fuzzy’s journey began from growing up with nothing, leading to addiction, drug dealing, and federal prison....
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387 | Making Circularity Possible Today with Adam Baruchowitz
Awarepreneurs
Bio: Adam Baruchowitz, Chief Recycling Officer at Return to Vendor, is a pioneer in textile recycling. He began collecting and recycling clothing as a personal project and has now recycled over 35 million lbs. of clothing and textiles. He began his career as a day trader, building and managing a team of 15 people. In 2001, he co-founded HEEB Magazine, one of the highest circulated Jewish culture magazines in the world. Adam has 15 years of experience creating collection hubs for municipalities, apartment buildings, organizations and fashion brands. This episode is sponsored by...
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386 | The Cost of Sloppy AI Marketing + A Holiday Break with Paul Zelizer
Awarepreneurs
BIO: I’ve been a business coach for social entrepreneurs and cleantech companies for the past 18 years, the host of the Awarepreneurs podcast and co-founder of NM Tech Talks and NMClimate. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include:
info_outlineBenjamin Gardner is the Chief Executive Officer of Dekker Designs and a working principal of the D/P/S commercial group, Benjamin is dedicated to improving the built environment using skills acquired from combined backgrounds in architecture, construction, and construction management. Benjamin has been with Dekker/Perich/Sabatini since 2001, and has led multiple project teams through all phases of planning, design, and construction administration. His years with D/P/S have given him a breadth of project experience that informs his unique understanding of the issues faced by developers, educators, and the communities in which the firm does business.
Benjamin also has a long history of developing his family-owned properties, including hotels, a Montessori preschool and elementary academy that serves over 200 students, which he co-founded with his wife. They have recently developed a 78 bed senior living facility that is adjacent to the schools and it provides an intergenerational experiences for both seniors and students. His background provides him with a clear understanding of commercial real estate development, including mixed-use, retail, and civic properties.
This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.
Resources mentioned in this episode include: