Amanda Crater, Editorial Director

With a background in journalism, branding and marketing communications, Amanda Crater has found her calling connecting movers and shakers in the green industry through her work as founder of CraterCom, a public relations and branding firm for green businesses. She helps her clients – who range from a Fortune 50 consumer products company to green business conference organizers to the largest solar installer in Southern California – gain media coverage, utilize social media and articulate their brands through compelling marketing messaging.

Before starting her company in June 2009, Amanda worked with public companies in the alternative energy sector as a media relations specialist for a global investor relations agency. Her background includes writing for The Orange County Register, the San Francisco Bay Guardian and two years at The UCLA Foundation. As an international spokesperson for the “Books not Bomb” student strike in 2003, Amanda appeared on CNN Headline News at the age of 20 and was quoted extensively in national news outlets. More recently she appeared on CNN Local Edition and has been quoted in the Houston Business Journal and Career Doctor. As a public speaker on green entrepreneurship, Amanda is also a contributing writer to several green news sites including Greenopolis, Environmental Leader and Triple Pundit. She holds a BA in American Studies with a focus on ecology from the University of California, Berkeley and loves modern dance, ballet, yoga, pilates and the ocean.

Chathri Munasinghe, Green Tech Editor

After graduating from USC Marshall School of Business, Chathri went on to work in the business of fashion as a footwear buyer for a major department store and then a luxury apparel company in Orange County, California. In 2009 Chathri received an MBA with a focus on Strategy from the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine and decided to switch gears and leave the fashion industry. 

Chathri took on the Director of Social Media and Marketing role at Opportunity Green and launched a multi-level social media platform prior to their third conference.

Chathri is now a social media consultant and the host and producer of Tech by Southwest, a tech news podcast. Also known as techxsw, the podcast provides well researched news for tech-savvy listeners with content aggregated from reliable sources. In her spare time she loves to hike, delve into gadgets, promote sustainability, appreciate creative fashion, and travel around the world.

Steve Shepherd, CEO/Publisher

Steve Shepherd, has 20 years experience in media and publishing (Zfari Media) and has spent the last two years pioneering mobile fundraising platform strategies including the web site for MobileCause.com. MobileCause has become the leading software for mobile fundraising with over 400 non-profits utilizing the platform. As CEO of MobileGive.us Shepherd expands his role as a licensed MobileCause platform reseller to offer mobile expertise and custom solutions at the absolute lowest possible price with $0 set up and same-day turn around.
GreenBusinesses.com is a new website that offers a destination for businesses who want to prosper and valuable resources for green consumers.