Gerod Rody

About get to know me

Gerod Rody is the Marketing Project Manager at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI), a sustainable business graduate school located in the Seattle area. Gerod is also a graduate of BGI, earning his MBA in Sustainable Business in 2009 with a double emphasis in Green Building and Community Economic Development.

Prior to joining BGI, Gerod worked in various marketing and community engagement positions in the built environment sector including gProjects, Meyer Wells and Jackson Nyberg. Gerod also developed Organic Comfort Food Cafe in Puyallup, the first organic restaurant in Pierce County, WA.

In addition to his role at BGI, Gerod is the Founder and Board President of OUT for Sustainability, a nonprofit that engages and mobilizes the LGBTQ community to advance social and environmental sustainability. Gerod has been featured in the Seattle Times, among others, and was recognized as one of the 40 People Redefining Green by Grist.org.

Gerod’s undergraduate degree is from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he majored in European Studies, focusing on Sweden and the intersection of housing models, immigration and national identity. In addition to study abroad terms in Stockholm and Reykjavik, Gerod was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, where he served as Social Chair and representative to the Inter-fraternity Council. In 2000, he completed a program on religious cultural understanding in England and Turkey as a gap year after graduating high school in Puyallup, WA.

Gerod lives in Seattle with his partner, enjoys good food, is a beginning runner, an avid fan of the Seattle Sounders FC, and seeks adventure at every turn.

- Born in Portland, OR after a 27 hour labor
- Obsessed with dogs, settled for a turtle (Racer)
- Big on puzzles, exploring the creek and reading
- Knew I was gay since I can remember
- Named after, and take after, both my grandfathers (Donald and Gerald)

- Voted most organized in 8th grade
- The biggest trouble I’ve ever been in was for rocking my feet during prayer in 7th grade Bible class
- Played piano for 8 years and performed in 2 high school musicals (Barbershop Bass in the Music Man, Slim in Oklahoma)
- Sang baritone in choirs from 8th grade to college freshman at UW
- Traveled solo through Iberia for a month after H.S. before a 6 month cultural/missionary/bible school in England and Turkey

- Studied how housing impacts culture, focused on Sweden, at UW with additional focus on business, architecture and small-state global politics/policy
- Member of Pi Kappa Phi, Alpha Delta Chapter at UW
- Finally came out as gay while studying in Stockholm, Sweden
- Developed the first organic cafe in Pierce County
- Designed/planned over 40 major events, including 12 weddings
- Studied sustainable business at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute to learn more on creating community through systems design

- Openly BiPolar and ADD, I’m stable and happy
- A beginning runner, personal best is a 2:25 on the Vancouver Half-Marathon
- Seattle Sounder FC season ticket holding fan!
- Healthy obsession with Sweden, and good food

Resume a glance at my career

SUMMARY

I add value to cutting-edge organizations by connecting vision to action. As a creative problem solver I develop intuitive systems to manage innovative projects. Above all, I build relationships that make a positive impact in the organization and the world.

EXPERIENCE

Marketing Project Manager
2009-Present
Bainbridge Graduate Institute
The first school offering an MBA in Sustainable Business, rated among the top 5 green MBA’s with curriculum fully integrating sustainability into every course.
• Initiated and managed an organization-wide brand update including visual identity, messaging, website, and collateral.
• Developed advertising and event strategy, tracked the departmental budget, managed website and social media, developed all graphic design.
• Collaborated with Advancement on fundraising and event campaigns.
• Managed major cross-departmental projects including the inaugural Madrona League Business Plan Competition.

Founder, Board President 2008-Present
OUT for Sustainability
The first and still only nonprofit to bridge the gay community and sustainability; now a network of thousands of people with national reach.
• Founded and developed the organization, and served as its spokesman.
• Managed the all-volunteer board, educational and volunteer events, and programs making deep local impact and focused global reach, such as “Greener Pride” targeting a zero waste and carbon neutral gay Pride.
• Developed strong partnerships with local and national nonprofits, government entities, small businesses, and corporations.
• Created programming frameworks harnessing diverse funding sources to leverage minimal dollars for high impact.

Junior Developer 2008-2009
gProjects Real Estate Development
A residential and mixed-use developer, targeting Seattle’s Central District and Capitol Hill neighborhoods, using 4 and 5 Star Built Green standards.
• Managed business accounts, restructured payroll systems, changed employee medical insurance providers, and prepared 15 months of amended tax returns and B&O tax audits.
• Ghostwrote for publications, prepared presentations, and developed and implemented social media strategy.

Marketing Intern Summer 2008
Meyer Wells
The leading designer and craftsman of elemental modern furniture using salvaged urban trees.
• Developed and implemented a marketing plan consisting of a newsletter, blog, and events including the annual appreciation event for 300 guests.

Marketing Associate 2007-2008
Jackson & Nyberg Real Estate
A Windermere Real Estate team leading the central Seattle market in sales.
• Developed client presentations, brochures, and websites.

Developer 2005-2007
Organic Comfort Food Cafe
The first organic restaurant in Pierce County, WA featuring comfort food for any dietary restriction, and part of the revitalization of downtown Puyallup.
• Crafted the business model to serve diverse audiences, and went on to manage site selection, brand identity, build-out plan, interior design, contractor management, and initial marketing plan.
• Performed an operations analysis to assess business opportunities after the first year.

EDUCATION

MBA in Sustainable Business 2009
Bainbridge Graduate Institute
Reinforced by a curriculum that fully integrated sustainability into each course, my focus was on how organizations innovate to consider social and environmental impact in strategic and tactical decisions.

BA in European Studies 2004
University of Washington
With a focus on business, architecture, and international studies, and studies in Stockholm and Reykjavik, my thesis focused on identity and immigration in the context of housing models in Sweden.

PROJECTS

Green City Growers
Capstone MBA Project 2009
Chief Marketing Officer for business case expanding a backyard garden company in New England from start-up to 20 Million in revenue in five years.

Duwamish Redevelopment
Feasibility Study 2008-2009
Modeled the case for redeveloping Boeing Plant 2 in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle, WA from a Superfund site into a green education center and green job incubator.

Spark! by CCDC
Student Consultant 2007-2008
Collaborated to launch an energy efficiency program, including comparable program research, brand identity and website for the Charlottesville Community Design Center in Virginia.

Holgate Redevelopment
Feasibility Study 2005-2006
Modeled the case for redeveloping an assemblage of 12 blocks of the Warehouse District of Tacoma, WA into a mixed use retail, entertainment and residential neighborhood.

What my colleagues say

Gerod is consistent in his passion and in being able to hold a larger vision while working incredibly hard to meet deliverables that achieve this vision.

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Gerod is a friendly, easy-going co-worker who would be an asset to any organization. He strives to find innovation solutions to problems and actually makes them work.

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I admire Gerod for frequently soliciting, receiving and acting on stakeholder feedback. When he sees a hole, he prioritizes finding a solution. And – most importantly, considering the organizational mission – he lifts people up when he works with them.

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Skills a few things I've learned

Branding

With several re-brands and a few brand origination’s under my belt, I’ve realized that good branding tells a story at a glance and the more that visual is unpacked, the richer it gets. Favorite rebrand: OUT for Sustainability

Project Management

Mixing best practices with intuition, I’ve successfully managed a range of challenging projects including the new branding and website finished on time and under budget at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

Marketing

Framing the benefits of an organization or company authentically is largely about developing the touch points that demonstrate values and need alignment with your target audience, like at Meyer Wells.

Development

Real Estate development is a giant puzzle without all the pieces predetermined. From the business case to the material sourcing, each detail depends on each other, like at Organic Comfort Food Cafe.

Finance

Getting dirty in the financial details, clarifying them to paint a picture of the present and future is so fun. I’ve managed various sets of numbers, including my capstone MBA business plan for Green City Growers.

Strategy

Strategy connects vision to action, something I’ve loved since I was a child developing 25 year plans to achieve my dreams. Now I get to help realize others dreams, like at Seattle LGBTQ Community Development.