Meet the team

Right now Copia has no employees. We prefer for others to work with us not for us, and by “with us” we mean as Members with voting shares that give the right to a share of the profits. This aligns incentives and creates myriad benefits. When workers have equity one very important incentive that is more optimally aligned is the typical disincentive to automate or innovate away one’s own job. When customers have equity it balances the incentive for profit, which leads to things like planned obsolescence of manufactured products and low product quality, with incentives for modularity, repairability, upgradeability, and recyclability. When suppliers have equity the working conditions of downstream workers should improve (think the opposite of Foxconn’s suicide nets). And when the community at large has equity we balance the incentive for profit with the incentive to take care of our local ecosystem.

Below is the membership of our Slack workspace, which is our primary means of working together currently, below that you can find some of our other partners, past, current, and hopeful.

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We’ve also worked with some people over the years that we think are pretty great and want to highlight, and who haven’t joined us as Members yet. Nudge Nudge!

Chris Reinhart - Living Buildings and architectureChris is a Living Future Accredited Professional, award-winning designer and scholar, Volunteer Ambassador for the International Living Future Institute, educator in formal and grassroots settings, h… — **Chris Reinhart - Living Buildings and architecture**
Chris is a Living Future Accredited Professional, award-winning designer and scholar, Volunteer Ambassador for the International Living Future Institute, educator in formal and grassroots settings, has diverse construction experience in both laboring and management roles, experienced in relationships with contractors, and owners.

Marina Qutab - Marketing SpecialistMarina is a plastic-free and Zero Waste Vegan Influencer and marketing specialist. The co-founder of the first zero waste shop in Southern California, she has been advocating for a more just and thriving planet for… — **Marina Qutab - Marketing Specialist**
Marina is a plastic-free and Zero Waste Vegan Influencer and marketing specialist. The co-founder of the first zero waste shop in Southern California, she has been advocating for a more just and thriving planet for over 8 years.

Silas Bennet - Mechanical engineering, software programmingIn 2010 Silas received his Bachelor of Science degree from Caltech in Applied Physics and now provides consulting services mainly in the fields of mechanical & electrical engineering, Li… — **Silas Bennet - Mechanical engineering, software programming**
In 2010 Silas received his Bachelor of Science degree from Caltech in Applied Physics and now provides consulting services mainly in the fields of mechanical & electrical engineering, Linux Systems Administration, and software programming. He is also a talented permaculturalist and sustainability system designer.

Brian Kinzie - Biotic systemsBrian is a true naturalist, well-versed in biotic systems, particularly those of the Midwestern United States. Acquiring an Integrated Studies degree at Northern Kentucky University, he studied environmental science, geo… — **Brian Kinzie - Biotic systems**
Brian is a true naturalist, well-versed in biotic systems, particularly those of the Midwestern United States. Acquiring an Integrated Studies degree at Northern Kentucky University, he studied environmental science, geology, the geography of food production systems and writing. Brian now applies his knowledge and experience by regenerating ecosystems while providing a wide variety of services and products through his business Perennial Ecoscapes.

Michael Mays - Process engineerMike has an educational background in physics and after college decided he wanted to become a luthier (instrument maker). Now armed with the skillset of a fine woodworker, and the highly logical mind of a physicist Mik… — **Michael Mays - Process engineer**
Mike has an educational background in physics and after college decided he wanted to become a luthier (instrument maker). Now armed with the skillset of a fine woodworker, and the highly logical mind of a physicist Mike uses his skills to build beautiful things, whether those things be a bookmatched Acacia ukulele or a friend's up and coming chocolate business. He is a valuable mind and body to have on any project.

Mia Shepard - Energy AnalystMia is a certified LEED GA; composting activist, energy analyst, daylighting nerd and natural builder. She is committed to changing the way people see materials on this Earth such that they will be reused in creative and … — **Mia Shepard - Energy Analyst**
Mia is a certified LEED GA; composting activist, energy analyst, daylighting nerd and natural builder. She is committed to changing the way people see materials on this Earth such that they will be reused in creative and intentional ways. She is currently seeking opportunities to practice sustainable building design and build out her existing skills in energy modeling, radiation analysis, daylight analysis and community development. Mia has a B.S. in General Engineering with a focus on structural engineering and environmental design from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Jay Armstrong - IT Generalist & Systems DesignerJay designs software and infrastructure to make the world a better place. After two decades of solving IT problems for end users, he’s committed to bringing better design upstream to empower humani… — **Jay Armstrong - IT Generalist & Systems Designer**
Jay designs software and infrastructure to make the world a better place. After two decades of solving IT problems for end users, he’s committed to bringing better design upstream to empower humanity. Jay is driven by harmony and synergy, both in the micro and the macro.

David Tcheng - Computer Scientist and tech SorcererSpecialties in machine learning, artificial intelligence, electronics device prototyping. Advanced experience in writing novel computer algorithms to solve machine learning problems from all domains… — **David Tcheng - Computer Scientist and tech Sorcerer**
Specialties in machine learning, artificial intelligence, electronics device prototyping. Advanced experience in writing novel computer algorithms to solve machine learning problems from all domains. BS in Computer Science and a PhD in Informatics with a focus on Machine Learning and analysis of large datasets.

The Founder

Cody Harrison - Regenerative System Design, Corona FounderCody studied Environmental Science and Policy at Duke University and graduated in 2012. Since then he has been working toward and beyond Sustainability (Resilience & Regeneration) in sect… — **Cody Harrison - Regenerative System Design, Corona Founder**
Cody studied Environmental Science and Policy at Duke University and graduated in 2012. Since then he has been working toward and beyond Sustainability (Resilience & Regeneration) in sectors such as wastewater, regenerative agriculture, and green building, where he works to leverage technology as a tool for social good. His goal is to help end the anthropogenic mass extinction event currently taking place and bring humanity back in line with planetary and social boundaries.

Partners

Coneybeare Cleantech is a recruiting & staffing firm specializing in the sustainability space, with initiatives branching out into events/conferences, eco-resorts, & sustainability eComerce — **Coneybeare Cleantech is a** recruiting & staffing firm specializing in the sustainability space, with initiatives branching out into events/conferences, eco-resorts, & sustainability eComerce

EA is grateful to help restore native and sustainable ecologies throughout San Diego and beyond. Their team consists of permaculture designers, native plant specialists, and agriculture specialists.

Lumbercycle’s mission is to divert woody biomass from landfills by milling fallen trees into lumber and reinvesting it back into our communities.

Want to come along for the ride?

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Dream Team Advisors

*Disclaimer: none of these people have made any commitment whatsoever to advise us

Carl Nordgren? - Author, storyteller, entrepreneur, and former Professor at Duke University

Janine Benyus - Biomimicry expert and all around amazing human

Walter Jehne

Vandana Shiva - scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, and anti-globalization author

Elaine Ingham - soil scientist extraordinaire

Darren Dougherty

Marshall Brain? - Founder of HowStufWorks.com

Charles Eisenstein

Ben Falk