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Portraits By Valerie Easton
Joanie Parsons / Is building on visions of green
Three years ago Joanie Parsons re-imagined Parsons Public Relations as a change agent for sustainability and green design. She developed new clients, and work is pouring in. The Puget Sound Business Journal recently gave Parsons a Women of Influence Award. We chatted recently in her Phinney Ridge office, surrounded by golden retrievers. Q: Was it exciting to be honored? A: I had to wonder what I had in common with Mimi Gates (another of the 20 award-winning women). But I think it was about our focus on giving back. For a small company to give as much as we do locally and globally is very significant. Q: Globally? A: Parsons Good Works built an education center in Costa Rica to help save the leatherback sea turtles. We raised enough money so that the EcoTeach Foundation could hire (former) poachers to patrol the beaches, cutting down on turtle poaching by 70 percent. Q: Why the emphasis on volunteerism? A: My Mom and I always marched for women's rights and volunteered for political campaigns. Now I encourage clients to develop their company's charitable-giving goals and vision as well. Q: Why did you shift gears? A: I wanted to get back to my love of the environment. Through twists of fate, we found our way to green building, saw the potential, and ran with it. We've taken on organics, recycling, safe lawn care. Q: What inspired you?
A: In 2005, I went on an International Sustainable Solutions tour of Denmark and Sweden. They're so ahead of us in transportation, wind power, energy efficiencies. They've been dealing with a limited amount of land for a long time. Q: How do you live green? A: Our office is in a 1914 Craftsman bungalow. All the furniture is old, and we're remodeling the basement with recycled carpet tiles, Marmoleum and low-VOC paint. Q: Who are some of your clients? A: We represent Seabrook, a new green town on the Washington coast, which is all about community. And the California firm Vetrazzo, which makes gorgeous recycled-glass countertops and flooring. The Fifth and Madison Condominiums stand out, the first high-rise in Seattle to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certified, and part of a whole city block built green. Q: Is a downtown condo in your future? A: I'm tempted, but I have big dogs.
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