New leadership brings expertise in marketing, strategy, innovation, organizational transformation and sustainability-focused collaboration
Alliance for Sustainability President Terry Gips and Board Co-Chair Collie Graddick are pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Rivera as Board Co-Chair and Teri Reitan as Co-Executive Director.
“These outstanding leaders will strengthen the Alliance’s leadership and bring expertise in marketing, strategy, innovation, organizational transformation and sustainability-focused collaboration,” said Alliance Co-Founder Gips. “They will allow us to further our mission to co-create sustainability on a personal, organizational and planetary level.”
Rivera brings nearly a decade of experience in marketing for a range of organizations, with a recent focus on sustainability-centered companies and nonprofits. She has worked with organizations including Holistic Therapy Services, Acterra, Re: Wild and Pure Love and Harmony, helping improve marketing outcomes and expand visibility. Rivera has been volunteering with the Alliance since the fall of 2024 and will now help guide the organization’s communications, outreach and strategic growth in her role as Co-Chair.
“I’m excited to expand the impact of our Campaign for Sustainability, Health, Equity and Kindness (S.H.E. Kindness) while furthering the rapid growth of the Alliance’s Transformative Sustainability Substack and bi-weekly newsletter,” she said. Rivera is originally from Wisconsin and lives in Puerto Rico. She has served as both a fire fighter and educator.
Reitan is the Business Director and Founder of Collaborative Edge Consulting, where she specializes in leadership, innovation, strategy, execution and organizational transformation. With more than 35 years of experience across the private, public and nonprofit sectors, she has worked with Ameriprise Financial and consulted with numerous Fortune 500 corporations and public agencies.
“Having volunteered for the Alliance in the past, I am happy to be re-engaged in the roles of Business Director and Co-Executive Director,” Reitan said. “I’m excited about the impact we can have in transforming our world at this critical time.” She has volunteered as Chair of the City of St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission and with Scouting America. As Co-Executive Director, Reitan will bring her extensive experience in organizational strategy and transformation to support the Alliance’s next phase of impact.
In addition, Duluth-based applied technology entrepreneur Brady Johnson, is returning to his role as Board Treasurer and Twin Cities-based international consultant and evaluator Marouan ben Larbi has been elected to the Board.
“Their leadership, together with the active engagement of our members, partners, young people and the public, will generate the energy to propel our vision forward: A healthy, just, equitable, thriving, kind, and peaceful world that works for everyone, fulfills fundamental needs, and realizes humanity’s greatest dreams of sustainability,” said Graddick.
About the Alliance for Sustainability
The Alliance for Sustainability was founded in 1983 by visionaries from around the world. It developed one of the first definitions of sustainability: ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane, embodying our highest values in terms of how we treat people, animals and the planet. The focus of its S.H.E. Kindness Campaign is to bring about fundamental systems change through personal and organizational transformation and impactful public policy.