Enviromedia Social Marketing

Kevin Tuerff is leading the charge for ethical green marketing, and those efforts have been highlighted in Brandweek and by USA TODAY. He is a frequent speaker for national groups like the Retail Industry Leaders Association and American Apparel and Footwear Association. He is also a guest lecturer on social marketing for higher education institutions such as Hofstra Law School, the University of Oregon and at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin.

Among Tuerff's key client and project accomplishments: founding and launching America Recycles Day in 1997; leading several tobacco prevention campaigns contributing to a 40 percent drop in teen smoking; developing strategy for Dell, Inc. on electronics recycling; and directing advertising campaigns for Green Mountain Energy Company, leading to a 70 percent sales jump in 2006.

He has been honored by the Austin Advertising Federation as"Ad Man of the Year." Tuerff is passionate about public service for public health and environmental causes. He serves as an elected director of his county's water utility district. His experience of kindness from strangers on September 11, 2001, led him to create Pay It Forward 9/11.

Whether sounding a warning to greenwashers on NBC's TODAY show or spending all day in a landfill to show her dismay at the state of U.S. recycling efforts, Valerie Davis passionately speaks out about injecting ethics and authenticity into companies' sustainability programs and communications efforts.

Davis led the Don't Mess with Texas campaign to victory in the America's Favorite Slogan Competition, beating Nike’s "Just Do It" and "Got Milk?" She is a speaker at water, energy, solid waste, health and advertising conferences, including the National Symposium on Market Transformation for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy in Washington, D.C.

She is a winner of the American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award for outstanding contributions to advertising and furthering the industry's standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern. Davis serves as a board member of the Children's Environmental Health Institute, and earned a Bachelor of Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin.

What I do at EnviroMedia:
Develop strategic media plans, execute media placements and manage the media department.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
Very similar to my current life.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
Our campaigns make a difference in the world.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Jerry Garcia.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
Texas/OU 2006 with Lee Ann Womack.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Water pollution.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
Staff Retreat Talent Show, summer 2003. I was Emeril.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Development of a statewide media plan for Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and the execution of the buys by the department as a whole.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
Trout fishing in a Colorado stream.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Outlaw Crocs footwear.

My favorite Web sites are:
orangebloods.com
thatsracin.com
10vinceyoung.com

In my spare time I enjoy:
Golf.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
“I turned an unassisted triple play in baseball.”

What I do at EnviroMedia:
I oversee the agency’s experiential marketing and outreach initiatives.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
I spent three years before EnviroMedia campaigning for a job at EnviroMedia. And at various other times I worked with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Keep Texas Beautiful and The University of Texas on public education and outreach.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I get to help change the world for the better every single day with people who are passionate and smart and who recognize my vocal talents.

The celebrity I admire most is:
I like how Harriet Tubman rocked that whole Underground Railroad thing. She’s a little yesteryear, but I still dig her.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
Since I am a bit of a celebrity stalker, the list of brushes with fame is long, but most recently I hobnobbed with the president of MTV. Green-lighting virtual Laguna Beach was genius. Integrated marketing at its best.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Health coverage for every child.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
Can I talk about the time I did synchronized swimming on Lake Travis?

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Working on a campaign to help ensure Texas’ most vulnerable citizens had access to life-saving drugs during the complicated Medicare Rx rollout.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
On the beach in Mexico with Faith and Avery.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
Someone with the discipline to train for a marathon.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Mandatory Peace Corps service for all.

My favorite Web sites are:
nytimes.com (every day)
enviromedia.com (every day)
dlisted.com (when I think no one is watching)

In my spare time I enjoy:
My iPod, movies, walks, political campaign work, my sweet little nephew Seth and my godson's laugh — it's hilarious.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
“My first job was with a Nobel Prize-winning researcher. He pretty much discovered the effects of cholesterol on the human heart with my help. Plus, I’m 5'11".”

What I do at EnviroMedia:
Concept million-dollar ideas. Produce on a dime.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
Armed with degrees from UT in radio-TV-film and broadcast journalism, I worked in Hollywood for William Morris, Disney and Marketing Corp. of America. Before landing at EnviroMedia, I did grad school in Boston and taught college-level students the basics of mass communication, script writing and video production.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
There’s no better way to change the world.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Meryl Streep for her amazing talent and her ability to stay true to her profession without contracting tabloid fever.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
Not recent, but I recall approaching Michael Richards (pre-“Seinfeld”) after a screening of “UHF” in which he played Stanley Spadowski and telling him how he was a “rising star” in the world of comedy.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Expression — necessary for evolution.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
Losing a bet to Valerie Davis and showing up “bald” to a company dinner.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Helping build it from scratch with a handful of the most dedicated, fun, smart people on the planet.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
In St. John, Virgin Islands, swimming in the pristine waters and enjoying the world’s most amazing public beaches.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
Steven Spielberg.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Equal Rights Amendment.

My favorite Web sites are:
eonline.com
adcritic.com
phonespell.org
anagramgenius.com
apple.com
travelocity.com
harveysidfisher.com
sesamestreet.org

In my spare time I enjoy:
Reflecting on periods of my life in which I had spare time (pre-parenthood).

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
“I won an award as “best belcher in the park” when I was in the fourth grade. Thankfully, I got that out of my system back then.”

What I do at EnviroMedia:
I manage public relations and advertising campaigns for our clients and do a mean karaoke performance of the B-52’s “Love Shack” at the holiday party.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
I was born and raised in Austin, which makes me an endangered species. I graduated from the University of Texas and spent 10 years working in TV news. I covered the bombing in Oklahoma City of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995, went fishing with former President Bush and his son George W. and appeared on “The Maury Povich Show” to explain my investigation into a bikini maid service (OK, so it’s not quite Watergate, but it certainly was scandalous). Before EnviroMedia, I served as Director of Public Relations for Capital Metro, which thankfully wasn’t scandalous.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I haven’t made the cut to be the next “American Idol” (yet) and because I love working for a company that gives a darn and makes a difference.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Either Al Gore or Cher. Gore for his leadership and vision in fighting global warming. And Cher because she has staying power. I was a fan as a child when she starred with Sonny on the “Sonny and Cher” show and again in the '80s during my college days. I’m hanging on for just one more “Farewell Tour” — I know she has it in her (there have only been three so far).

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
Taking a picture with KFC’s Colonel Sanders on Madison Avenue in New York City, which is tied with sitting next to the cast of “Friday Night Lights” at Guero’s (thanks, Angela and Gabriela!).

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Global warming.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
Riding into Times Square waving a Don’t Mess with Texas flag in a pickup driven by a real-life version of “Large Marge” from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
I’m still employed. Okay, seriously, I’m proud I work for a company that does something every day that makes a difference. It’s a rare and wonderful thing.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
Snow skiing at Heavenly in Lake Tahoe.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
UT Head Football Coach Mack Brown on Jan. 4, 2006.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
The “Stop Global Warming Now” Act (that probably wouldn’t be the name), which would mandate immediate and drastic carbon emissions reductions for industry and require greater fuel efficiency standards for all new vehicles.

My favorite Web sites are:
This one, of course.
Nytimes.com for my environmental and political news, hornfans.com to fulfill my Longhorn sports addiction and wellsfargo.com to see how much money I have left.

In my spare time I enjoy:
Running, playing tennis and softball, walking my dogs, seeing movies and plays, eating slice-and-bake cookies and watching the Longhorns play just about any sport.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
“Have you ever seen me twirl?”

What I do at EnviroMedia:
I oversee our account service teams to make sure we are not just order takers, but talking partners with our clients, delivering the highest level of service possible.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
Fast cars and beer. Advertising for DaimlerChrysler at one of the largest agencies in the world (BBDO) had its perks, and I’m sure you can imagine the lifestyle that comes with being the Regional Marketing Manager for Guinness. But thanks to EnviroMedia, I’m now living and promoting a much more sustainable lifestyle. Slainte!

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I learn something from someone every day.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Lance Armstrong. Not just for using his celebrity to promote a good cause, but for the brand he’s built. He’s also faster than a speeding bullet and hotter than Superman.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
I flew to a San Diego Chargers game on the 49ers team plane. I walked up the stairs into the plane directly behind Jerry Rice and had a conversation about hamburgers with Bill Walsh. This is an example of the aforementioned perks.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Public health.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
The talent show at my first staff retreat.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Hearing from our clients that our work gets results. Because of the way we do things at EnviroMedia, more people are better prepared for emergencies, the state is cleaner than it otherwise would be and fewer people will die from tobacco use. And so on.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
On the beach in Del Mar, playing in the waves with my daughter.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
What I thought I’d be when I was little — an Olympic gymnast.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
A ban on the production of tobacco-related projects. Second would be a soda tax.

My favorite Web sites are:
igoogle.com
policylink.org
CDC.org
My mom’s blog: http://adeakers.blogspot.com/
babycenter.com

In my spare time I enjoy:
Baking (not to be confused with cooking), swimming, running with my dogs, biking, drinking wine, reading, trying to beat my family at Scrabble, practicing new hairdos on my one-year-old daughter.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
Ironman, shmironman. Piece of cake. You can totally do it, too.

What I do at EnviroMedia:
I oversee EnviroMedia’s Western region operations and manage the Portland office. I’m also the entertainment director and rain survivalist for the Austinites when they visit Portland.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
After college I was a production assistant at ABC News in Washington. I “crewed” for Good Morning America and This Week (back when Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson were the anchors). I lived in Edinburgh, Scotland and got my Masters in international politics. Then spent six years working in public relations and digital communications at Fleishman-Hillard.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I believe that, as in tennis, working with people who are smart, creative and talented makes you a better professional. Plus, I love working with people who play as hard as they work.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Lance Armstrong.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
I almost spilled wine on Gus Van Sant’s shoes at the opening of The Nines hotel in Portland. But I didn’t realize who he was until someone told me.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Educating people of all backgrounds about HIV prevention and acceptance of those living with the disease.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
The Vault. And what happens in The Vault, stays in The Vault.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Helping a great company open its doors in a new market.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
Drinking scotch on George Clooney’s patio overlooking Lake Como in Italy.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
A panda. I am pretty sure that in general life is good for them.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Universal health care.

My favorite Web sites are:
Mashable
The New York Times
Hulu (because they have all the good stuff YouTube takes down)
OregonLive

In my spare time I enjoy:
Good food, good wine and good conversation. My daily escape is to run the loop along the Willamette between the Steel and Hawthorne bridges — it’s where I get the best ideas. Opening a bottle of Archery Summit Renegade Ridge pinot noir with my dad and talking about life. Watching Charlie Chaplin films — he makes you realize that effective communication is rooted in what we see and hear, not in talking.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
I once interviewed Monica Lewinsky for a job. True story.

What I do at EnviroMedia:
Oversee art directors, writers and interactive teams to make sure we’re doing the best possible creative work.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
Creative Director and/or writer at several top national and regional ad agencies. Also ran my own business for four years as a freelancer.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I want to put my talents and energy toward doing some good in the world.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Winston Churchill. Grace under pressure with enough flaws to keep him interesting.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
Shot a TV spot with Dave Matthews Band.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
After 20 years in advertising, I’m particularly attuned to the problems of conspicuous consumption and our disposable society.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
New business trip with Val. LAX to Sherman Oaks, CA in 24 minutes… in a Prius.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Our team winning a Best of Show at the Austin Addy Awards in my first year on the job.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
Splitting time between Italy and Maui.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
A golden retriever.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Zero corporate, PAC or lobbyist money in the political process.

My favorite Web sites are:
ebay.com
lifehacker.com
funnyordie.com
emusic.com

In my spare time I enjoy:
Long walks on the beach, romantic dinners by candlelight and puppies.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
I once had Legionnaire’s Disease. (Wait, where’s everybody going?)

What I do at EnviroMedia:
As Vice President, I wear many hats. Most of them involve client service and strategic development. I'm also the resident expert on most aquatic sports.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
I spent a year with Westin Hotels before enrolling in graduate school at the University of Texas. I was well on my way to becoming Professor Roberts before KT and Val rescued me. I earned a master’s in Latin American history, and I may someday return to academic life.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I can go home every night knowing my job made the world a better place that day.

The celebrity I admire most is:
George Clooney.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
I was in an Italian restaurant in the West Village when Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) suddenly appeared. He had spaghetti.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Finding social and environmental justice for those whose voice is not being heard.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
I hold the world record for DUCK mascot appearances: 64 and counting. Top that!

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
Hiking with Kim and Isabella.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
Give me one day to live as Limpião — the Brazilian Robin Hood of the ’20s and ’30s. Preferably not the day the police beheaded him and the other Cangaceiros …

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Mandatory limits on political campaign spending.

My favorite Web sites are:
I don't use the Internet.

In my spare time I enjoy:
Water polo, watching my dog run down the trail, climbing Mayan ruins with Kim, photography, Longhorn victories, golf rounds when I break 80, writing, ruining the garden.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
Two choices:
“I was a member of the 1993 National Collegiate Club Champion Water Polo Team at Northwestern.”
or
“It's all ball bearings these days.”

What I do at EnviroMedia:
I help promote the company so that the rest of the company can concentrate on promoting our clients.

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
Rio Grande Valley born and raised, UT-Austin radio-TV-film. Back to McAllen: substitute teacher, classic rock band, newspaper reporter, columnist. Back to Austin: 17 years editing The Alcalde, magazine for Texas Exes. Married Kirstin, three young sons. Wrote six books. Made a movie. Played lots of guitar, aaand scene!

I work at EnviroMedia because:
Good causes. Good folks. Good times. Good karma.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Eric Johnson. He’s the best in the world at what he does (playing guitar) but refuses to play the rock star.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
Shared a men’s room with Grammy-winning recording artist Mr. Larry Gatlin. I don’t care how famous you are, that’s the great equalizer.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Peace — between people, between countries, between political ideologies, between religions, between classes, between races, between genders. I’m also very passionate about trees. There are some profound connections between peace and trees. (See Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai.)

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
Watching fireworks from the deck.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
South Rim of the Grand Canyon — 43 and I’ve still never seen it.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
Adolf Hitler, and the day would be August 31, 1939, the day before he invaded Poland. I would humiliate myself in public somehow so I could never hold office again, go back to painting, and spare the world the deadliest war of all time. That seems like a day well spent.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Required attendance in Congress. Thank you, CSPAN, for alerting us to the fact that there’s rarely anyone in those rooms listening.

My favorite Web sites are:
ALittleSomethingSweetOnline.com (my wife’s baking)
SealeStudios.com (my brother’s art photography)
JanSeale.com (my mother’s writing)
SoulPancake.com (Rainn Wilson’s project)
TexasExes.org
Ancestry.com
FailBlog.org
Bahai.org
AvrelSeale.com (shameless self-promotion)

In my spare time I enjoy:
So I know this is weird, but I enjoy pruning trees. It’s aesthetic, but also logistically challenging, and sort of a Zen thing too. I know.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
Flex-arm hang, fourth grade. They stopped timing me.

What I do at EnviroMedia:
Research oversight and strategy development. I also try to keep internal meetings from getting off track (but that’s more of a hobby).

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
I grew up in San Antonio, went to college in New Orleans (Tulane) and graduated with a degree in Communications. I tried my hand at llama herding and then turned to a career in public relations where I worked at agencies in Dallas, San Antonio and Washington, D.C. on everything from finance, to food, to consumer products, to wildlife conservation. Then I moved to Austin and found myself here for five years before I left to get my MS in Social Psychology, only to return again.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I get to contribute to great causes in ways I enjoy.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Probably someone in professional sports — not because I admire the lifestyle perpetrated by professional athletes but the talent and dedication required at that level is impressive. And they get bonus points for giving back in some real way. (i.e., Lance Armstrong)

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
I know that they redid the movie as a TV show on Fox. Haven’t seen it. Don’t really want to see it.

The issue I’m most passionate about is:
Child health/protection issues, although my husband would say it’s Social Security and encourage you to ask me about it.

My most memorable moment at EnviroMedia is:
Riding in an airship over Austin with Kevin and Shelly. Amazing and a dream come true!

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Returning as Director of Research and Account Planning or planning and executing the first DMWT Road Tour managed solely by EnviroMedia.

If I could be anywhere else at the moment, I would be:
Near any body of water (lake, river, stream, bay, ocean) with the sunshine, my husband and daughter, crabs and beer.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
Ellie Aiken Shoup.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
Queso Day.

My favorite Web sites are:
According to Tamala, you can pretty much google or wiki anything you need to know so I stick with those.

In my spare time I enjoy:
Spare time?

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
I once had a job where I learned (and had to be able to describe) the technique used to artificially inseminate rhinos.

What I do at EnviroMedia:
Staff therapy

My life before EnviroMedia, in 50 words or less:
I spent my time at home, sleeping all day virtually anywhere, eating, licking things, and being naked.

I work at EnviroMedia because:
I could sleep all day virtually anywhere, but at EnviroMedia people feed me scraps. Plus, I get to meet a lot of interesting people and lick them. I can also go to work naked.

The celebrity I admire most is:
Lassie.

My most recent “brush with fame” was:
Getting a hug from Dan Rather.

The issues I’m most passionate about are:
Meat and cheese, the smell of another dog's butt, world peace.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of at EnviroMedia is:
Nearly perfect potty-break behavior.

If I could be someone (or something) else for a day, I would be:
Nothing compares to my lifestyle now.

If I could enact one new law it would be:
A ban on plastic bubble wrap. Or a ban on "Cats" (the musical).

My favorite Web sites are:
puppywar.com
animaltrustees.org
alpo.com

In my spare time I enjoy:
Napping, scolding the new dog and racing in the office halls.

My most impressive “cocktail party line” about myself would be:
“I don't mingle at cocktail parties.”