Karin G. Bennett, Consultant
Karin was born in 1964 in Gratkorn, Austria.
In 1983 she graduated from Bundeshandelsakademie Graz (Business College) in: Business Management, Accounting, Mathematics, German language, English language, Italian language and EDC.
Karin holds an Austrian Degree in Business Management; a Product Management Certificate from Management Center Europe, Brussels, Belgium; a Certificate for Effective Business Presentations from Hierold Presentation Services, Vienna, Austria and a Diploma in Professional Property Management from Ashworth University, Norcross, GA.
She grew up in a country that had to deal with the “Energy Crisis” in the 1970s, an average gas price of 2.80 dollars per gallon in the 1980s and where children got grounded when they forgot to turn off the lights when they left their room. Karin learned quickly that saving energy could save you a considerable amount of money and some trouble.
In 1984 Karin joined the Paper Industry as a Marketing Assistant.
Karin remembers: "That time Austria’s paper industry was well known as one of the major water- and air-polluters in the country. Austria’s 'Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection' became responsible for the coordination of all environmental protection efforts, addressing its efforts toward problems including waste disposal, pollution, noise, and carbon monoxide levels, as well as emissions by the paper, iron, steel, and ceramics industries. A toxic waste law enacted in 1984 established strict regulations for the collection, transport, and disposal of dangerous substances. In 1992 Austria was among the 50 countries with the highest level of industrial carbon dioxide emissions. The Austrian government imposed strict regulations on gas emissions. In addition the country had to fight the problem of acid rain which had damaged 25% of the country's forests. Rivers became the special focus of efforts to improve water quality. The industry had to invest enormous amounts of money in building waste water treatment plants, installing air filters and the development of TCF (totally chlorine free) papers, as well as “repairing” the paper industry’s bad reputation."
In 1995 Karin was promoted Product Manager for one of the paper industry’s leading international brands – a TCF (totally chlorine free) paper - produced in Austria and The Netherlands and sold in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Karin left the Paper Industry in 1998 and joined a PR agency in her hometown. The agency’s owner has been passionate about promoting the green credentials of the clients. Being the Executive Assistant, Karin helped to highlight the client's Eco-investments by organizing conferences, seminars, trade shows, exhibitions and incentive trips.
Beginning of 2006 Karin decided to look for new challenges, left the PR Agency and moved to the United States to start up her own “green” business.
In October 2006 Karin founded a construction company together with a partner who has been a South Carolina licensed General Contractor. They quickly found a market niche by using sustainable products, mainly ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms) for their projects and by trying to implement the four R’s – recycle, reuse, repair and reduce – into all of their work.
While working in construction Karin discovered that ecology and economy became a growing concern in her new home country and in July 2008 she took her European “Eco-experience” and founded Pieces of Paradise, LLC – Consulting for an Eco Smart Life.
In April 2009 Pieces of Paradise, LLC introduced “The ECO Smart Network”, a membership based international association of businesses who develop and offer Eco-friendly and healthy products and services with the same long term goal in mind:
To convert our lives into a Paradise again – Piece by Piece.
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| Natalie K. Nais |
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Natalie K. Nais, Consulting Assistant
Natalie was born in Graz, Austria in 1990.
She is a student of “Hoehere Technische Lehranstalt” (College for Architecture, Design, Construction, Structural Engineering and Infrastructure) in Graz and currently works on her degree dissertation in “steel- and timber-frame construction”.
Being very interested in new environmentally friendly construction methods and new energy recovery technologies, Natalie joined Pieces of Paradise, LLC in May 2009.
Natalie is working part-time from her home office in Graz, Austria.
She describes herself as "a person who would like to spend more time on construction sites and less time in the class-room" and thinks about moving to the US after having finished her degree dissertation.
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