like a fish in water

Michael Vito is a strategy and operations professional combining traditional business and financial analysis with understanding of the needs of firms and government programs evaluating development of and investment in sustainability strategy. He monitors developments in renewable energy generation and efficiency technology, NGO activity, and environmental policy in the US, China and Japan. Michael is a graduate of the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, an accredited LEED Green Associate, Asia Society member, and active participant in Net Impact. He is currently pursuing ongoing studies of Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.

Connect

Email: michael (dot) vito @ gmail (dot) com
Twitter: @mjvito – frequent updates
Flickr – frequent updates
LinkedIn

Employment Highlights

Director of Programs, 2011-Current, New York

• The Corporate Eco Forum (CEF) is an invitation-only membership organization for large companies that demonstrate a serious commitment to environment as a business strategy issue. CEF’s mission is to help accelerate sustainable business innovation by creating the best neutral space for business leaders to strategize and exchange best-practice insights. Members represent 18 industries and have combined revenues exceeding $3 trillion.

C.K. Prahalad Research Fellow, 2010-2011, New York

• Conducting studies to support Forum mission, member networking activities, and generate insight into areas of enterprise environmental sustainability.

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Independent Consultant, 2010-Current, New York

• Managed a communications strategy engagement with E+Co, an organization that invests services and capital in small and growing clean energy businesses in developing countries.
• Conducted research in corporate sustainability activities and accomplishments of Corporate Eco Forum member companies.  Research will inform annual report, member networking activities and in-development book The Green to Gold Business Playbook.
• Managed IT resources component of an alumni engagement strategy project for Public Allies, a nonprofit established to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation.

Network Partner, 2010-Current, Charlottesville

• Sustainability subject matter adviser to startup consulting firm delivering renewable energy solutions to commercial and government clients.

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Global Business Services

Senior Consultant, 2008-2010, Washington

• Educated leading US telecom in tenets of sustainability.  Evaluated current and potential initiatives in energy efficiency and waste reduction.  Mapped integration with corporate business strategy and stakeholder needs assessment.  Facilitated workshop breakout groups and captured output.  Developed pitch for follow-on projects to address opportunities identified.
• Conducted cleantech industrial competitiveness workshop with a US state government CIO to evaluate repurposing of existing industrial assets for manufacture of renewable energy generation, efficient vehicles and high capacity power storage.  Evaluated opportunities to commercialize university research, patents and expertise in water management.  Developed pitch for follow-on projects to address opportunities identified.
• Identified gaps in competitive factors for major Midwest US city and suggested next steps for improving investment attractiveness to selected industries.  Sectors included wind generator component manufacturing, thin film photovoltaic manufacturing, specialty automotive batteries, advanced cleantech vehicle assembly.
• Enabled better system procurement decisions that would increase quality and capabilities, shorten time to deployment, and reduce design and maintenance costs for a US federal agency.  Demonstrated relevance of modular, interoperable systems that adhere to open standards with published interfaces.  Managed deliverables and timelines for selected work streams.
• Analyzed financial data for technology development center under a US federal agency to determine how much was spent on products and services, what types of work were performed in-house vice contracted out, whether the center was contracting for inherently governmental work, and uses of overhead.

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Summer Associate, 2007, New York

Nonprofit economic development organization established to strengthen New York City’s manufacturing sector and promote sustainable development

• Managed client relationship.  Created pricing and management plans by analyzing cost structure (with primary emphasis on energy usage), industry best practices, and performing market analysis for leasing unused capacity of a commercial kitchen.
• Made recommendations for improving efficiency, meeting client needs, and tracking results for mentoring service which linked nascent firms with industry consultants and experienced business owners.

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Administrative Manager, 2005-2006, Philadelphia

• Managed strategic planning process, including peer institution best practices analysis, resulting in improved tuition structure, enriched student experience, new concert venue choices, and clear positioning strategy for development (fundraising).
• Created and implemented marketing and public relations strategies, including design and management of new website and email marketing campaign, resulting in 150% increase of web traffic within three months.
• Analyzed potential development opportunities, segmented prospects by evaluation criteria and developed messaging to convey value of investing in the organization.

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Public Relations Assistant 2004-2005, Philadelphia

• Developed media relationships to cultivate positive organization public image.  Shaped messaging during crisis level dispute between management and union leadership.
• Managed media at events and authored public relations collateral.