California Green Business Network
Lacey Raak serves as the Co Executive Director at the California Green Business Network since August 2024, previously holding the position of Sustainability Director at California State University, Monterey Bay from May 2015 to December 2023. Prior experience includes serving as Director of Sustainability and Climate Action Manager at the University of California, Santa Cruz from 2011 to 2015, and working in the Division of Planning Engineering and Environmental Compliance for the City of Monterey from November 2007 to July 2011, focusing on climate action planning and sustainable development. Additionally, Lacey Raak was a Fulbright Researcher for the U.S. Department of State in Indonesia from January 2010 to November 2010. Lacey Raak holds a Master of Arts in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from the University of Minnesota.
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California Green Business Network
The California Green Business Network leads the state in working with hard-to-reach businesses to create a vibrant, green economy. We contribute by helping to make our communities healthier and more livable while also conserving resources and saving money. Since 1996, the Network has offered technical assistance and economic incentives to help business owners make lasting changes that (i) enhance the bottom line, (ii) protect the environment, (iii) grow the workforce, and (iv) serve environmentally conscientious consumers. The California Green Business Program is a network of local programs operated by counties and cities throughout California. Businesses that apply receive personal attention from the public agencies and utilities that serve them. The program is funded by grass-roots contributions from local government and utility partners to make it accessible to small to medium-sized businesses in California. Certified Green Businesses exceed all environmental regulations and implement specific practices to reduce pollution, save water and energy, and protect human health. Led by a coalition of state, local, utility and non-governmental organizations, the program achieves its mission by recognizing and promoting businesses that meet high sustainability standards. The measured results of all 3000+ California Green Businesses put together nets some huge environmental outcomes: Over 800,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions reduced, the equivalent of planting over 40,000 urban acres of trees a year for ten years. Enough kilowatt-hours saved to power 25,000 houses for an entire year. Over 400,000 metric tons of waste diverted from the landfill, almost 60,000 garbage trucks worth of waste eliminated. 124 million gallons of water saved – a lot of toilets and shower heads folks! Over 28,000 gallons of hazardous waste eliminated. The Network was formalized as an official state program in 2011 (A.B. 913 Feuer) and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.