Elizabeth Schuster and Marissa Ferrari are the co-founders of Sustainable Economies, a research-driven consulting firm working at the intersection of nature and community. They're back together on the podcast to share how they built a business from a single lunch conversation, why strategy and storytelling are stronger when they're developed side by side, and what it actually looks like to help conservation nonprofits find their footing in an uncertain world.

Elizabeth brought a decade of independent consulting in strategic planning to the table. Marissa brought deep experience in community-centered branding and communications. What they discovered, first at the Women in Sustainability Network, then over a shared project at Summit Metro Parks, was that their two approaches were almost identical in process. That realization became Sustainable Economies.

Together, they walk us through what it looks like to help a conservation nonprofit move from a rigid five-year action plan to something more honest: a North Star that holds steady while strategies stay flexible. They share the story behind Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, a watershed that covers 20% of Ohio, and how years of community engagement led to a funded research collaboration that's now shaping real policy. And they make a case for why right now, in the middle of funding cuts and policy uncertainty, is exactly the wrong time for mission-driven organizations to go quiet.

Episode in a glance

00:00 Introduction
00:41 How They Met and Teamed Up
03:33 Why Strategy Needs Story
07:25 Founding Sustainable Economies
13:54 Client Wins and Resilience
23:37 Measuring Impact and Wrap Up

About Elizabeth Schuster & Marissa Ferrari

Elizabeth Schuster and Marissa Ferrari are the co-founders of Sustainable Economies, a consulting firm that helps conservation nonprofits and public agencies develop strategy, clarify identity, and measure impact. Elizabeth brings over 10 years of experience in strategic planning, community engagement, and facilitation. Marissa brings expertise in brand development, communications, and stakeholder research. Together, they work with clients in Ohio and across the country to build resilient organizations rooted in research and plain-language storytelling.

Connect with Elizabeth and Marissa

Sustainable Economies on LinkedIn → Sustainable-Economies

Sustainable Economies → sustainableeconomies.com

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