New Board Members
Simply Living is pleased to announce that Kai Landis and Robert H. Sloan have agreed to join its Board of Directors.
Kai Landis is founder and CEO of Green Roots LLC, a women-owned and MBE/EDGE certified small business located in Columbus. Green Roots is a sustainability-minded consulting firm helping clients meet their event and project goals while taking into consideration the environmental, financial, and social impact. Kai founded Green Roots to help businesses and non-profits implement projects with a lighter environmental footprint without sacrificing style or interfering with the financial bottom line.
As a community servant, Landis currently serves as the President of the Young Women’s Christian Council and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She is a past chair of the Community Engagement Committee for the Columbus Mayor’s Green Team, African American Leadership Academy Advisory Board, the boards for Yay Bikes and Green Columbus, and the Wexner Center’s Shumate Advisory Council.
Landis holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from The Ohio State University and attended Case Western Reserve School of Law (Ohio).
Robert H. Sloan is owner at Sloan Saxbe Creative, Columbus. Sloan Saxbe creative strives to boost clients’ brands and help build revenue with great graphic design and promotions, having been in business since 2016. Bob is a down-to-earth graphic designer and writer with extensive print, print purchasing, curriculum design and web design, including corporate and agency, experience.
Bob received his BFA degree in graphic design from the Columbus College of Art and Design in 1982, and was at University of Cincinnati in the 1976-1977 academic year.
Sloan is also affiliated with the Ohio Art League, the Worthington Area Art League and the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
Appointment of Executive Director
Simply Living is thrilled to announce the appointment of Cathy Cowan Becker as executive director.
Cathy Cowan Becker is a longtime leader on environment and sustainability issues in Columbus and Ohio. Most recently, she has chaired the Ready for 100 campaign, asking cities to move to 100% renewable energy. Cathy led the campaign in Columbus from 2017-2020, when it was instrumental in advocating for putting Community Choice Aggregation for 100% renewable energy on the city ballots of both Columbus and Grove City. She also works with Ready for 100 teams in Dayton, Toledo, and more.
Cathy is a trained Climate Reality leader (Iowa 2015, Denver 2017, Atlanta 2019), and started the Columbus chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby in 2014. She is a member of the Sustainable Columbus Advisory Committee and Grove City Environmental Committee, as well as elected member of Franklin County Democratic Party Central Committee from Columbus Ward 79, member of Westland Area Commission, and a fellow at the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity.
In her professional life, Cathy has a 25-year career in journalism, communications, and public relations. She recently earned a dual master’s in public administration and environment and natural resources from The Ohio State University.
Annual Meeting
It’s that time again! It has been quite a year since we last convened for the Simply Living Annual Meeting. This year’s event — a virtual dinner — will take place Sunday, April 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. We are excited to welcome our members, allies, and the public as we share our progress and goals for this onward year.
Register for this online event at bit.ly/SimplyLiving2021
Last year we awarded Cathy Cowan Becker the Carol Fisher Award for Community Service, and this year we are pleased to introduce her as our new executive director. To no one’s surprise, she has carried the torch, taken the reins, and charged out of the gate full-throttle. We’re thrilled with all we’ve accomplished under her direction, and we look forward to sharing what’s in the works.
Cathy will pass the community service torch in recognizing exemplar Claus Eckert of Green Columbus who will receive the Carol Fisher Award for Community Service. We will also recognize bright beacon Rita Haider as Outstanding Volunteer, unwavering anchor Lisa Kreischer as Outstanding Staff Member, and social-media-post-savvy Savannah Smith as our on-board social media amplifier. In addition, we have added the Momentum Award to recognize organizations, and will recognize Sunrise Movement Columbus Hub for their momentum in the sustainability movement. Hub leader Vicky-Abou Ghalioum will be on hand with several hub members.
A Virtual Dinner? Order takeout from Simply Living affiliate restaurants
This year’s Simply Living Annual Meeting will be a virtual dinner with people encouraged to order takeout from two restaurants affiliated with Simply Living: Freedom Ala Carte and Sassafras Bakery!
Please share this information with interested friends.
About Simply Living
Simply Living promotes sustainability, environmental awareness, and our local economy through educational outreach and partnerships within our community. We have been educating the residents of Central Ohio about how to live more sustainably since 1992. Simply Living serves as the Central Ohio hub for the national Transition movement. Our Sustainable University community calendar on SimplyLiving.org showcases events and learning opportunities for living locally and sustainably. By making life good together, Simply Living aspires to create a more compassionate and sustainable world through personal, community, and cultural transformation.