Brian Thurston on Environmental Entrepreneurship

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Brian Thurston, an environmental entrepreneur, currently serving as a Sustainability Solutions Sales Director at APTIM, an environmental solutions firm. He's also worked as a Senior Advisor for multiple companies and nonprofits in the environmental sector, focusing on business development and strategic partnerships. His background is in business development and consulting – utilizing innovation and technology to build multi-disciplinary networks to attack big problems at scale.

He and Ted discuss his background, born in Torrance, CA, raised in Manhattan Beach, and still lives in the South Bay area in Hermosa Beach. He shares that he grew up at the beach and in the ocean surfing, which is how he wound up in the environmental field. Being eco-conscious was ingrained in the ethos of growing up where he did, participating in beach clean ups, and very much aware of the deterioration of water quality. 

He attended Long Beach State to play volleyball, and then transferred to the University of Southern California to study American Literature.  Between his undergraduate degree and graduate degree, he worked in the film and event planning industries. He then decided to shift to a career in the environmental sector, attending graduate school in Washington DC at Johns Hopkins via their hybrid program, studying environmental science policy and sustainability. 

He and Ted met when he worked at EcoMedia, where he was hired to be a Program Director, developing and managing public/private partnerships. He then worked for Waste Management as a national business development manager, where he focused on customized and scalable programs for Waste Management’s Fortune 500 customers, leveraging internal assets and technology. 

Brian then moved on to consulting with climate tech companies. He and Ted discuss some recent ventures, including the Bluebox energy efficient HVAC solution, Hytch Rewards mobility app, Oceanworks recycled plastic solution, and being a board member of Sustainable Surf. Working with all of these mission-driven companies that tackle big problems, Brian believes that the concept that the environment and profit are at odds is a myth, and that creativity and innovation prove that every day!