Core Team
Sivan Schlecter, Lead Organizer
Sivan Schlecter has over a decade of experience in program management and audience development in sustainability, LGBT, health, and music. As a strategist, cause-marketer, and entrepreneur, she returned to academic roots in 2007 to co-found Picture Earth, a social mission enterprise that helps people recognize their inherent ability to care and take responsibility for each other, our planet and future generations. In 2009, she led efforts to take Picture Earth nonprofit as the first and leading organization that uses art to help people embrace sustainable living.
Chantal Buard, Creative Director, Mana Productions LLC
Chantal Buard co-founded Picture Earth. She has over 15 years experience in media production and business development, working as a media producer, creative director and business consultant for a range of international clients in varying industries. Highlights include a producing role with NBC/Quokka Sports for the online version of NBC's coverage of the Sydney and Salt Lake City Olympics.
Chantal also worked for France Television, Agence Capa (filming reportage in Africa and the United States), The Goethe Institute, The Oakland Unified School District, The Peralta College (developing educational programs and creating media for engaging and empowering inner city youth), Adaptive Edge, Real Change (filming the trends of tomorrow in sustainabilty and innovation). She also helped various educational and environmental nonprofit organizations raise their profile and create effective fundraising tools.
Chantal is originally from Paris, France and resides in San Francisco. She holds an MBA from IAE - Aix en Provence and York University, Toronto, specializing in Media and Arts Management. In addition, Ms. Buard received an Art Certificate with Honors from San Francisco State University Multimedia Studies Program.
Marc Carpentier, Finance, Picture Earth, Inc.
Marc Carpentier has over 20 years of experience in financial management and budget administration, primarily within the New York City government for which he worked under three different administrations.
Marc started his career in public service straight out of college as an operations research analyst for the Department of Correction. Over a 6-year period he was promoted to Director of Operations Research and then to Director of Financial and Operational Analysis. In 1998, he was appointed to Assistant Commissioner of Budget and Finance, a post that he served for nine years during which he streamlined the City’s budget to save well over one billion dollars. He also served as his agency’s liaison to FEMA and successfully coordinated the federal reimbursement for his agency’s efforts in both the World Trade Center and Hurricane Katrina emergency response efforts.
In late 2007, Marc's desire to make a more direct positive impact on our world led him to leave his NYC post and pursue his passion for art, education, and environmental sustainability.
Marc is also the sole proprietor of CARP Graphics, which he started in 1989, and has created maps and technical graphics for Variety Magazine, ad work for the New York Times, and digital artwork for many other clients. As a freelance financial consultant, he has worked with Osmosis Media Lab, RH Productions, and Columbia University, amongst others.
Marc holds a degree from Providence College in Computer Science and also a degree from Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science where he studied Industrial Engineering and Operational Research.
Jackie Sussman, Business Affairs, Picture Earth, Inc.
Jackie Sussman has over 17 years of experience in contract law, specializing in drafting and negotiating entertainment industry agreements. She was in-house counsel at TVT Records, the largest independent record company in the United States prior to beginning her own practice, expanding into new specialty areas, and rekindling her interest in the non-profit sector. Jackie's entertainment law experience with specialization across media platforms is essential to day-to-day business affairs matters for Picture Earth, Inc.
Jackie has long been an avid supporter of a variety of causes, having volunteered with Big Brother/Big Sister, NYPIRG and Social Justice for Women. Her passion for environmental issues started with personal choices made more than 20 years ago when she became vegan and chose earth-friendly personal and household products long before these decisions became lifestyle trends.
Based in New York City, Jackie holds a J.D. from the Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Paul Burgess, Web Strategy, Dot Dash Marketing
Paul Burgess has more than 20 years of experience as a senior level marketing strategist and manager. As a senior executive he helped grow a nascent company into an industry leader. Paul developed and guided top tier campaigns using all traditional and digital channels.
As Executive Vice President, Paul served a variety of leadership roles and helped build TVT Records into the #1 independent record label for five consecutive years (Billboard). He oversaw global marketing, promotion and sales, and helped increase yearly revenue by $40M across a four-year period, while his partnerships with MTV, Best Buy and Myspace helped establish TVT as an internationally known brand. TVT developed the first record label digital download store and was an acknowledged industry leader in social media and digital promotions.
Burgess has also served as CMO for digital media start-up Buzzline.tv and has consulted a wide variety of clients on digital marketing, social media, business and creative development.
Long ago he helped find and guide the careers of several ground breaking rock bands and ran his own record label. He lives in an old brick house in Brooklyn with his wife and seven year old son.
Geza Guenther Schenk, Marketing Communications, Picture Earth, Inc.
Geza is the principal of GGS Communications, LLC. He moved to the United States from Germany in 2008 and specializes in communications concepts, design and advertising.
Geza's 18 years of experience includes working with internationally renowned companies including Grey and MAN across all marketing communications disciplines and consumer products industries. His expertise and passion for cultural institutions and projects includes work for the Bavarian Theater Academy in Munich and regular pro bono assignments for a range of non-profit and cultural programs.
Geza studied Slavic Studies and Business at Freie Universitaet Berlin and holds a Masters in Business.
Lewis Blaustein, Corporate Development, Picture Earth, Inc.
Lewis Blaustein is a 20-year media and sponsorship sales, business development and marketing veteran. Culminating 10 years in the sports media and corporate sponsorship world, Lew shifted his focus to sustainability as a response to the events of September 11. In 2005 he expanded his expertise to sustainability and the arts with the launch of his marketing consultancy, Lewis Brand Solutions.
Since its founding, Lew brought corporate sponsors including Tropicana, Clif, Safeway, and Motorola together with leading green-themed properties, such as EcoMedia and the Green Apple Festival, the producer of annual Earth Day events nationwide. He also created and implemented green-focused corporate promotions for Whole Foods Market and Starwood Hotels. In the arts world, Lew has worked with the Boston Symphony Orchestra to help increase attendance among younger audiences for their summer concerts at Tanglewood in the Berkshires.
Lew started his career in pharmaceutical marketing before pursuing his passion for sports as a business development and media sales specialist at Professional Sports Publications and Sports Illustrated Kids. Long committed to volunteerism, he also works with the residents of the Jewish Home & Hospital of the Aged.
Lew received his Bachelors in History from Rutgers University and an MBA from New York University, and resides in New York City.
Mary Sack, Sustainability Editor, Picture Earth, Inc.
Mary Sack is a consultant on energy and environmental issues, and a photographer. She has worked as a research consultant, editor, and conference planner for the Sustainable Energy Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and as researcher and grant writer for agencies and non-profits such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Latin America and Caribbean, The HALO Trust, TechnoServe and Dalberg Global Development Advisors. In the field of photography and media she has worked for artists such as Nan Goldin and aerial photographer Alex MacLean and on environmental programs for the Discovery Channel and PBS.
Based in New York City, Ms. Sack is on contract for the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre in Lebanon. She holds a Master of International Affairs, with a focus on International Energy and Environmental Policy, from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Brown University.
Stephanie Handford, Sustainability Advisor , Picture Earth, Inc.
Stephanie Hanford specializes in designing business, policy and communication strategies linked to sustainability. She focuses on corporate social responsibility (CSR), climate and energy, sustainable production and consumption and innovation and technology.
She regularly advises companies, both large and small, on how the concept of sustainable development can enhance their business models. She worked internationally for over 10 years with leading environmental organizations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in Geneva, The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in Geneva and the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) in Rio de Janeiro. She founded Connectivity Consulting in 2006 and now serves a variety of clients including The Green Media Group, the US Environmental Protection Agency and a handful of fortune 500 companies.
She is a Fellow at The Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (IGSD) in Washington, DC and holds a Master in International Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School, Tufts University and a Bachelor of Art from Loyola College, Maryland.
Lydia White, Art Director, Mana Productions
Lydia has 10 years experience in online design and interactive communications, both as a designer and web developer. As Art Director for Mana Productions, she is the lead designer responsible for creating the look and feel for Earth From Above's digital and print marketing materials for the US tour of the exhibition.
Lydia spent 5 years at world-renowned interactive agency AKQA, where she created engaging online advertising for big and small brands including Target, Xbox, and Visa. In 2006 she focused her personal passion on music to help launch an indie record that promotes local music artists and produces events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. Lydia is also a photographer, and recently returned from 6 months of travel across Southern Africa, Southeast Asia and the United States to learn more about how other people live and to capture their stories.
Lydia received a BFA in Communication Arts at San Francisco State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Jef Zaborski, Architectural Design
Jef Zaborski is an architect and designer in New York City. He specializes in connecting institutional clients with meaningful sustainability and social responsibility policies.
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