OUR TEAM
​BECKY ASSELIN
Co- Founder
Becky is passionate about sustainable development and seeing businesses advocate for social change. She holds a MSc in International Development from The London School of Economics, a B.A in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Westmont College, and a Certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard University Online. Formerly, Becky worked for Westmont College’s Center for Social Innovation and is currently an adjunct professor in the Economics and Business department. Becky is a trained B Corp Consultant through B Lab and enjoys working with businesses to achieve their impact goals. As a former professional track and field athlete, Becky cultivates a positive, collaborative, and hardworking atmosphere at Everoot. Becky spends her free time surfing, stroller running with her son or hanging out with high schoolers from her church youth group.
AVERY YOUNG
Co-Founder
Avery is driven by her vision for a world in which businesses actively contribute to social and environmental flourishing. She loves working with business leaders to amplify their positive impact particularly in the areas of regenerative business, the circular economy, design thinking, and human rights. Avery holds a M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, a B.A in Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Westmont College, and a Certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard University Online. She has an intimate knowledge of B Corp Certification standards and was trained as an external verifier in the Outside Verification Pilot Program for B Lab. Avery also has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and spends her time outside of the office guiding backpacking trips, playing beach volleyball, and trail running with her husband.​
GRANT FOAD
Consulting Director
An unconventional, winding road of educational and career paths has led Grant to helping businesses find a more beneficial path to operating. He received a B.A in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, accompanied by a certificate in Technology Management. He spent several years managing the new construction and LEED certification of college laboratories, before venturing into tech, where he focused on strategic sales and marketing. Most recently, Grant joins Everoot after several years in food science – developing products with for-profits and organizations across the globe aimed at lowering produce waste within global supply chains. The ability to build products with a benefit to people, planet, and purpose is an action he is passionate about supporting others in. Outside of work, Grant is an avid air sports addict and enjoys spending his time in the mountains of California and abroad.​​​​​
JOHN GEORGE
Sustainability Consultant
John is a sustainability professional who is passionate about delivering scalable solutions to sustainable businesses. He believes a stakeholder approach to corporate strategy enables organizations to uncover opportunities for growth, mitigate risks, and ensure long-term sustainability within their business models. Prior to joining Everoot, John’s work focused on engaging with global asset owners on climate-related risks and opportunities and developing ESG strategies for various financial institutions. While working at Lord Abbett, a US-based investment management firm, he led impact reporting and sustainability strategy, including the launch and commercialization of a climate-focused fixed income fund. He holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University’s Earth Institute, a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Rutgers University, and a Certificate in Sustainable Design from IE University in Madrid, Spain. John spends his free time playing soccer, volleyball, and occasionally dusting off his guitar after months of not playing.
NATALIE
COLVIN
Workplace Culture & JEDI Consultant
Natalie is a lifelong environmental advocate who has built her career around a passion for making the world a better place. After studying Development Anthropology and Latin American studies in college, Natalie took her community building skills to Central America where she worked with underserved youth for three years. After moving back to the US, she earned a Sustainable Business MBA. Natalie went on to expand her career in the outdoor industry with a focus on helping products and brands be more sustainable. She has worked with pioneering brands like Patagonia, Teva, The Renewal Workshop, and Toad&Co. Natalie has extensive experience building corporate ESG (environmental social governance) strategies, establishing and managing corporate/nonprofit partnerships, and communicating social and environmental impact programs both for for-profit businesses and nonprofits. Natalie is always exploring. She loves surfing, backpacking, rock climbing, trail running and making gourmet s’mores around a campfire.
SYDNEY AZZARELLO
Human Resources & Operations Manager
Sydney is passionate about the ways in which business can be used for social good in our world. Having earned a BA in Economics & Business and Sociology at Westmont College, she has already applied her passions and education in non-profit work in various urban contexts. From Houston to San Francisco to her current home base of Santa Barbara, the work Sydney does is animated by a conviction to affirm our common humanity. Sydney continues this today through working in non-profit social services here in Santa Barbara, CA. She spends her free time in Santa Barbara hiking, with friends, and loved to be outdoors.​
OUR ADVISORY BOARD
VIOLAINE PANASCI
Stakeholder Governance Advisor
Violaine Panasci (“V”) is Corporate Legal Counsel at Syntax, a global company that provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses of all sizes. Prior to joining Syntax, V practiced law at Rockridge, a B Corp intellectual property and technology law firm. She focused her practice on the intellectual property, data privacy, regulatory compliance, and technology aspects of corporate transactions. Beyond transactional law, V holds an LL.M. in environmental law from Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law and has particular expertise in counseling a broad range of companies and investors around B Corp certification and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. She is a member of the board of the Social Enterprise Alliance and the French American Chamber of Commerce of Tennessee. In her free time, V enjoys traveling and learning about food and wine from various cultures as a level 1 sommelier.
KIAH JORDAN
Sustainable Finance Advisor
With a B.A in Business Economics and Spanish from Westmont College and an M.S. in Social Entrepreneurship from USC, Kiah offers a rich perspective to Everoot. He is the Founder and leading Impact Strategist of Certified B Corp, Impact Family Office, where he provides financial insight through the lens of social impact and the CFO of Certified B Corp, Parker Clay. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Westmont College and is actively involved with a number of organizations in Santa Barbara, such as the Sustainable Change Alliance. Kiah is a father of four and spends his weekends coaching soccer and teaching Sunday school.
RACHEL RAINS WINSLOW
Social Innovation Advisor
Rachel is a U.S. historian specializing in policy, political culture, and social change. She works at George Fox University as the Director of Faculty Development and teaches in the History and Politics Department. She also collaborates with the Kettering Foundation, the Gaede Center for the Liberal Arts at Westmont College, the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, and the National Policy Consensus Center at Portland State University. From 2012-2022, she was faculty at Westmont College, Founder and Director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Co-Founder/Co-Director of the Center for Dialogue and Deliberation. She earned her Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
HALEY DAKE
Business Strategy Advisor
Haley Robison Dake is the founder of East of Weird & Company, where her executive coaching and project work support businesses and entrepreneurs in strategy, product development, team building, and personal growth. Recent roles include Venture Partner at Praxis, Senior Advisor at Openfields, Instructor at American Enterprise Institute, and Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at The University of Texas.
Haley enjoys approaching problems from multiple perspectives and draws from varied experiences, including her time as CEO of Kammok, an outdoor gear company, and at IDEO, Bain & Company, Trinity Forum Academy, and National Outdoor Leadership School. Haley holds a BA in Business and Finance from UT Austin and a joint MBA and MEd from Stanford University. She lives in Bastrop, Texas with her husband and two sons.
NATALIE RUIZ
Community Engagement Advisor
Natalie has a heart for the marginalized and actively seeks justice in every aspect of her life. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Because of Hope, a nonprofit with the mission to empower widows and orphans in Uganda. Natalie holds a B.A in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Santa Barbara. When shes not working, Natalie is inspiring women to pursue their passions, serving with with her husband at their local church or running at the beach.
ALAN COLLIER
Global Justice & Legal Advisor
Alan is a human rights advocate currently focusing on public policy and rule of law issues surrounding access to holistic justice for the indigent in Africa. He serves as Director of West Africa for Pepperdine University School of Law, Sudreau Global Justice Institute. He has been based in Accra, Ghana where he is also General Counsel and CFO for the nonprofit TURN which connects stakeholders to aid the less fortunate around the world. Alan has been a lawyer since 1990 after graduating from Pepperdine School of Law. He served as a partner in a NY/LA law firm for 25 years doing international aviation law before starting AIR Legal Consulting in 2016. He has been married for 37 years, has 4 adult children, 6 grandchildren and loves his new life based primarily in West Africa. Alan spends his free time cooking, bird watching and writing children’s books for his grandkids.
