About CEF
CEF Team
M.R. Rangaswami
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P.J. Simmons
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Michael Vito
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Christine Virsunen
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Amy O'Meara
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Maryann Jones Thompson
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M.R. Rangaswami
Founder
M.R. Rangaswami is the founder of the Corporate Eco Forum. He is CEF’s catalyst, critic and cheerleader. MR brings the same energy, enthusiasm & impact to the sustainability arena that he brought to his career as a 25-year veteran of the software industry, co-founder of SandHill Group, and founder of the acclaimed Software & Enterprise Conferences.
P.J. Simmons
Chair
P.J. has worked for over 15 years as a trusted sustainability analyst, strategist, and bridge-builder. After serving as a researcher on environmental affairs at the National Security Council (1993-1994), he founded and directed the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change & Security Program, the Carnegie Endowment’s Managing Global Issues program, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s U.S. in the World program. He also directed the strategy practice at Saatchi & Saatchi S, where he advised companies on corporate-wide sustainability strategies in the electric utility, consumer goods, pharmaceutical, and publishing sectors. Major publications include Washington DC's The Greener Business Guide, Managing Global Issues: Lessons Learned, U.S. in the World: Talking Global Issues with Americans, and (with Dan Esty) The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function (March 2011). P.J. served twice as the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Deputy Chair for Energy & Climate Change and remains an advisor to CGI on energy and environmental affairs. P.J. received his B.A. in political science (summa cum laude) from Tufts University, his M.A. from Johns Hopkins SAIS, was a Fulbright scholar, and holds a Certificate in Conservation Biology from Columbia University. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Michael Vito
Director of Programs
Michael comes to CEF with extensive experience in nonprofit management and business strategy consulting, having overseen projects ranging from operations to technology strategy to marketing and communications. He has developed a specialization in environmental sustainability through work with the New York Industrial Retention Network, IBM Global Business Services’ Energy, Environment and Sustainability group, and E+Co. Michael received his MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, is an accredited LEED Green Associate, and is an active member of Net Impact.
Christine Virsunen
Events Director
Christine brings over two decades of experience in managing meetings, events and large-scale productions for major corporations as the founder of Encore Productions. She works meticulously to incorporate the highest standards in green meeting design and practices at all CEF events. For logistical information relating to CEF events, including travel and accommodations for the annual meeting, please contact Christine directly.
Amy O'Meara
Director of Special Initiatives
Before joining CEF, Amy served as the Senior Manager for Environment and Energy at the Clinton Global Initiative, advising corporate and NGO members on commitments related to clean energy, corporate sustainability, green mobility, and waste management. Previously, she spent 5 years building the Business & Human Rights Program at Amnesty International USA. Amy has also provided technical and research assistance to nonprofits and companies in a wide range of industries – including extractives, technology and banking – on cross-sectoral partnership development, stakeholder dialogue, and social responsibility. Amy holds a Masters Degree in International Educational Development from Boston University.
Maryann Jones Thompson
Editor
Maryann has over 15 years of experience in writing, editing and research in the publishing industry. She was the founder and editor of The Industry Standard's "Metrics" section, and had written extensively for the Sand Hill Group, Business 2.0 and Red Herring. Maryann has also performed editorial and marketing research for IDG, PC World, Tokyo Journal, Popular Science and the Los Angeles Times. She holds a business degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where she studied marketing research.