If you were to ask Ellen Strickland to describe the last seven years of her life, an exciting roller coaster would come to mind. Ellen has been on the leading edge of Green Retailing since 2000, when she opened her first store and gallery in Santa Barbara, California. Her mission then, as it is today, is to offer her clients healthy and sustainable choices in building materials and interior furnishings.
Ellen began her professional career in interpretive planning and design, specializing in educational programming and exhibition design that encouraged learning through interactive fun. Her projects during the last 28 years include interior spaces and exhibits for museums, zoos, aquariums and other educational facilities around the country. Her knowledge of building and finishing materials used during construction served as a good basis for what was soon to develop into a life-changing mission.
It was while building an exhibit to house a walrus that prompted her to investigate healthier, alternative materials for the animal’s health. This set off a chain of discoveries that haven’t stopped. Ellen soon realized that “traditional” building materials and methods were often unhealthy for animals, humans and other species, not to mention the damage it did to the environment as a whole that we all share. This catalyst initiated an investigation to offer alternative building materials and furnishings to a broader audience looking for more conscious choices then what was currently available. Livingreen was the result of that idea. Ellen now has two stores, as well as a website and online store that launched in the fall of 2006. Ellen is very visible in both locations when she’s not writing articles, speaking on panels, attending industry events or hosting educational workshops for various communities.
Livingreen is more than a couple of retail stores and a website and Ellen is more than an exhibit planner that “got a conscience,” she is a pioneer within the growing green retail community. Her stores and website are often the first link interested consumers find to learn about healthier material choices for remodel projects as well as creating healthier home environments.
Ellen is a member of ASID in Los Angeles, the Sustainable Business Council, the LA chapter of AIA and continues to maintain membership in many local and national educational and environmental organizations.
Dennis Flanzer
Dennis Flanzer has over forty-five years of architectural, graphics, tenant improvement and product design experience. Dennis and his wife, Fay, co-founded Dennis Flanzer Associates, Inc. (DFA) in March 1978. He directs and participates in the total range of the firm’s consulting services. Each client personally receives the creative and cost-saving benefits of his extensive in-depth know- ledge and expertise in every aspect of the processes involved in programming, planning, budgeting, designing, constructing and managing development of office, medical, industrial and other commercial facilities. Projects since 1990 have totaled in excess of 4,000,000 square feet.
Prior to starting DFA, Mr. Flanzer was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Group Artec (since purchased by Kimball International), a manufacturer of internationally distributed office systems furniture and architectural products, where he substantially increased annual sales in his first year, participated in the design and development of new products, and designed a show room in the Los Angeles Pacific Design. For over seven years prior to that, he held the position of Vice President / Chief Designer with Michael Sanchez Associates (now SK Partners), a Los Angeles area planning and design firm, where projects included planning and management of interior development for Kaiser- Permanente medical centers in Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as numerous institutional headquarters and branch office facilities for banks and saving and loan associations throughout California.
Dennis holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design degree with a minor in Architecture from the University of Illinois.
Carol Ruiz is vice president of public relations for Culver City, California-based 5th Gear, a full service advertising and public relations agency specializing in residential and commercial real estate marketing. She is responsible for management of the public relations team, media and client relations and new business development. Ruiz has more than 15 years experience in real estate focused PR and marketing. Her byline has appeared in numerous industry publications, including Urban Land, Units, Sales and Marketing Ideas, Multifamily Trends, Multifamily Executive, Options and Builder and Developer. She is an active member of the Building Industry Association (BIA), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). She sits on the Residential Neighborhood Design Gold Council for ULI. She is the past chair of Sales & Marketing Ideas magazine’s editorial advisory group and is on the Building Industry Show (BIS) Conference Committee. She belongs to the editorial advisory boards for Options and Builder and Developer magazines. Ruiz is also a frequent speaker at real estate industry events, including the International Builders’ Show, HomEX and the Building Industry Show.
During her years as a PR professional, Ruiz has worked with a wide ranging list of real estate focused companies, including development, land planning, home building, real estate financing and service companies. Some of her clients have included KB Homes; The Planning Center; MBK Real Estate, whose parent company, Mitsui & Company, is one of the world’s largest companies; AMCAL Multihousing; Gateway Capital, developer of the W Hotel and Condos on Hollywood and Vine; John Andrews Group Architects; and Fifield Companies, a Chicago-based residential and office high-rise developer.
Ruiz bases her PR practice on relationships, both with her clients and the press. She believes that the three keys to a successful PR campaign are developing strong relationships, good planning and the ability to tell a good story. She has found significant success in garnering press coverage, both on a regional and national basis, for her clients based on these three guiding principles.
Ruiz is also an award winning documentary filmmaker and was an instructor in the School of Film and Television at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles for five years.