Terry Gips is a widely published ecologist, agricultural economist, sustainability business consultant, Adjunct Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, independent Natural Step Framework (NSF) instructor and speaker with more than 30 years experience in global environmental leadership, policy, sustainable development, business management and consulting.

He is the President of Sustainability Associates, which works with business, government, communities, hospitals, architects, educational and religious institutions and nonprofits to reduce costs, improve performance and strategic position, and achieve ecological soundness and social responsibility through leading edge sustainability thinking, NSF training, auditing, technical consulting, public policy, strategic marketing, and capital formation.

Previously, he served as Aveda Corporation Director of Ecological Affairs and Sustainability, where he was responsible for assuring the soundness of all aspects of Aveda operations. Earlier, Gips was co-founder and President of the International Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (now the Alliance for Sustainability, www.afors.org) in Minneapolis. Gips wrote the widely-acclaimed Breaking the Pesticide Habit, co-authored The Humane Consumer and Producer Guide, served as technical editor of Reviving the Land, edited Manna, and wrote numerous articles based on his work in more than 45 countries.

He was White House aide to President Carter, Congressional Legislative Assistant to US Representative John Krebs, Cargill economic analyst and grain merchant, and co-founder and Director of the Cooperative Extension Service’s Sacramento Community Garden Program. He also has worked as a brokerage assistant with the Wall Street investment firm Neuberger and Berman and as an aide to US Representative Abner Mikva.

Show full bio

Hide full bio