Awarepreneurs

BIO: For the past 20 years, Paul Zelizer has been a coach and consultant for mission driven entrepreneurs and businesses. You can find out more about his services at PaulZelizer.com 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: Episode 390: How to 100X Your Social Impact with Kurt Avery Pii Energy website Avanyu LLC website Episode 396: Incorruptible with Eric Ries Paul's Strategy Sessions Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Bio:  Riley Neugebauer is a licensed residential electrician and solar tradeswoman based in Colorado. She works as a technical trainer with Unirac, a solar racking manufacturer, and founded a non-profit, Solar for Women, to help create community, training opportunities, and advocacy for solar tradeswomen across the U.S.  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:   Solar for Women group Paul's Strategy Sessions Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Over the last two decades, Eric Ries's ideas about continuous innovation, long-term thinking, governance, and market reform have reshaped company building and management practices. He is the creator of the Lean Startup method, and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Lean Startup; The Leader's Guide; and The Startup Way.  As a founder, he has put his own ideas into practice with The Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE); Answer.AI, an AI R&D lab; the Lean Startup Co, which teaches and supports the implementation of Lean Startup; Virgil, a legal services startup; and IMVU, where the ideas that became the Lean Startup method were forged. On his podcast, The Eric Ries Show, he talks to guests including world-class technologists, thought leaders, and executives working to build profitable companies for the long-term benefit of society. Eric has served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Harvard Business School and IDEO. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children. This episode

                            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 Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Pii Energy site TechFest 2026 site Paul on LinkedIn Facilitating Change Podcast Utah Tech Week site Paul's services Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

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 Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Skoll Foundation site The Soil of Leadership book Cole on LinkedIn Facilitating Change Podcast Ponto Consulting site Paul's services Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

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 Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Blue Hub Capital site Elyse on LinkedIn Paul's services Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

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 former national champion hockey player turned entrepreneur, Matthew has built and scaled multiple mission-driven ventures. He is a part owner of Food Forest Abundance, a global movement designing and installing permaculture-based food systems that decentralize food and medicine production. He is also a founding partner of U2Treat, a blockchain company focused on aligning human energy with nature's regenerative power. Ma

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 Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Paul's services Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

Bio:  Kurt Avery is the founder and president of Sawyer Products, 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 more than 80 countries, Sawyer has helped provide clean water to millions, significantly reducing waterborne diseases and improving health outcomes in underserved areas. Kurt's approach to business is deeply rooted in purpose, faith, and impact—a philosophy he shares in his book, Sawyer Think: How a Small Company Disrupts Markets and Changes the World. Kurt and his company have been featured in major outlets, inc

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 women and inviting them to join #teamdifficult as they redefine what leadership and success can look like. Across her companies and consulting work, L2 uses technology, storytelling, and care to build spaces where people can heal, tell the truth about what they're going through, and do work that feels more human and sustainable.   This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session

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. His pivotal turning point came during incarceration, igniting his pursuit of real estate investing as a path to freedom and legacy. Through his unique experiences, Fuzzy developed the step-by-step HUI Framework to help aspiring investors ethically succeed in Hawaii's challenging market, proving that anyone can change their financial destiny. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider

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 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: RTV site RTV Forbes article on circularity RTV Stretch product Paul's Fractional Services Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

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 Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Paul's consulting NM Tech Talks site Paul's Strategy Sessions Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

BIO: Brian Thompson is the Founder and Financial Planner of Brian Thompson Financial LLC, where he helps LGBTQ+ and mission-driven entrepreneurs build profitable businesses that reflect who they are and support the impact they want to make. As a financial advisor, business strategist, and host of the Mission Driven Business podcast, Brian works with service-based founders who are building more than just a business. They're building movements, communities, and legacies. He helps them bring clarity and structure to their finances so they can grow with confidence and stay rooted in their purpose. Before launching his firm, Brian spent nearly a decade as a tax attorney. That background, paired with his own entrepreneurial experience, informs a planning approach that's inclusive, strategic, and grounded in real life. As a Black, queer financial advisor, Brian is especially passionate about creating space for diverse voices in business and finance—and showing that profit and purpose don't have to be mutually exclus

Bio: Philip Krim is the Co-Founder and CEO of Montauk Climate. Previously he founded early-stage investment firm Montauk Ventures. He also co-founded, led, and served as Chairman of Casper Sleep, scaling it to over $500M in revenue, taking it public on the NYSE, and overseeing its eventual sale. Mr. Krim is a Director of the Travis Manion Foundation and on the Leadership Council of the Robin Hood Foundation. He holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from the Red McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin Bio: Evan Caron is Co-Founder and CIO of Montauk Climate with over 20 years of experience in energy, electricity risk, and commodity management. He previously led Venture at Riverstone Holdings, a $40B energy investment firm, and co-founded ClearTrace, an ESG data platform for emissions tracking. Evan is also Co-Founder of Daylight Energy, a community energy software network. He serves on the Board of RPower, a distributed energy platform backed by Isquared, and previously served on MP2 Energy's Boa

Clark is an Albuquerque native and the state investment officer for the New Mexico State Investment Council, which manages a $67 billion portfolio—one of the nation's three largest sovereign wealth funds and on track to become the largest within 5–7 years. The SIC's returns are projected to surpass oil and gas as the biggest contributor to the state's general fund by 2043 and already provide over a quarter of K–12 funding and more than three-quarters of early childhood funding. Jon is committed to strengthening New Mexico's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the SIC has invested $1.7 billion in New Mexico-focused venture funds over the last three years, fueling growth in advanced energy, deep tech, and aerospace and defense. These investments aim to attract billions more, create thousands of high-quality jobs, and elevate the state's standard of living. Before joining the SIC in 2024, Jon served as deputy and acting secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, where he launched the Office of Ent

Paul Zelizer is the host of Awarepreneurs, the world's longest running social entrepreneur podcast, the co-founder of NM Tech Talks, the co-founder of NMClimate and a business coach/consultant for social entrepreneurs and cleantech startups for the past 18 years. 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: Desert Dev Lab site NM Tech Talks site Paul's Fractional Services Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

What if the path to climate resilience was not found in glass and steel — but in earth, craft, and community? This is just one of the provocative questions we explored with Daniel Parra on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer. Bio: Daniel Parra is a Colombian architect and was born in Soccorro, Santander - a small town with a rich history. He is the leader of the Rammed Earth Collective, an international design–build collaborative advancing earthen architecture. His practice blends traditional tapia pisada with contemporary design to create low-carbon, place-rooted buildings. Through Ciudad Insecto Estudio and Rammed Earth Colombia, Daniel designs, documents, and teaches earthen construction across Latin America. His work focuses on craft, climate resilience, and dignified housing that grows from the colors and soils of each site. This episode is sponsored by the consulting company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider Fractional Business Development Services if you can

Is it possible that the heart of social entrepreneurship beats just as strongly in a stadium as in a startup? This is just one of the provocative questions we explored with Ron Patel on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer. Bio: Ron Patel is President of New Mexico United, the USL professional soccer club in Albuquerque. He co-founded the club in 2018 with Majority Owner/CEO Peter Trevisani and, as VP of Sales, helped drive league-leading attendance and merchandise while shaping a strong community brand. After leading a sports & entertainment group in McAllen, TX, he returned to New Mexico in 2021, became Chief Business Officer in 2022, and was named President in January 2024. Earlier, he founded “Just Dine In” (2006), expanded it through mergers to seven Western markets, and exited after its 2015 acquisition by Grubhub. Patel also founded Albuquerque Sol (2013) and helped lay the groundwork for New Mexico’s first professional soccer franchise in United. This epis

Bio: John E. Harmon, Sr. is the Founder, President, and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ), the state’s leading organization advocating for Black-owned businesses and economic empowerment. A former chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce and a current board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Harmon has spent more than 27 years building bridges between government, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs to advance equity and opportunity. He is the host of the award-winning Pathway to Success TV show and The Empowerment Hour radio program, and author of Power Moves: The Life and Legacy of a Black Chamber Executive. 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: African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ site Power Moves book John E. Harmon on LinkedIn Paul's Strategy Sessions Pitch an Awarepreneurs