Bio

Hi, I’m Bonnie Low,  owner and principal consultant of Greenleaf Project Management, founded in 2007.  After more than 18 years working for local governments, I decided to take a huge leap of faith by leaving a secure government job to start my own firm and work from home.  I had always wanted to start my own business and, fortunately, the skill set and experience I’ve picked up over the course of my government career put me in a unique position to launch Greenleaf Project Management.

I started working for local government in 1989 at the ripe old age of 20.  My first job was working for the Tehama County Public Health Department in the CHDP program, then later as the County’s caseworker for the CCS (California Childrens’ Services) program. The job was very gratifying, but paid little. In fact, I used to refer to my paycheck as my “twice monthly insult.”  Although young, I had to support myself and an entry-level County job in the late 80′s – early 90′s could barely keep the lights on.  I moved on to other positions with Tehama County, finally landing a job with the Tehama County Public Works Department where my time was split between three program areas:  solid waste, transportation and water conservation.  Although the pay was better, I had now acquired a small family and it became evident I needed a Bachelor’s Degree to go further.  I went back to school while working full-time and finished my degree in Liberal Arts. I fully intended to get a teaching credential but Butte County created a Recycling Coordinator position and because I had some experience in solid waste I decided to apply and voila’….I became a part of the fraternity (and sisterhood) of solid waste professionals.

Being a small town girl, I enjoyed working with rural jurisdictions.  I spent five years as the Butte County Recycling Coordinator. My most significant contributions in Butte County included landing a $370,000 Used Oil Opportunity Grant with which I created an Agricultural Used Oil Collection & Amnesty Program, curbside used oil collection for the Town of Paradise, a mobile HHW service to reach the remote rural areas of Butte County, and effectively promoted the use of re-refined motor oil through an innovative Sprint car racing contract at the Silver Dollar Speedway. I also developed the contract for the County’s first permanent household hazardous waste collection facility.

In 2002, I went to work for Redding Municipal Utilities in the Solid Waste Utility. I had the pleasure of supervising the Recycling, Household Hazardous Waste and Customer Service Divisions.   I directed the City’s 2002 New Base Year Study for AB939 compliance, developed the Utility’s safety program, and participated in master planning for the expansion of the Transfer Station and the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. I helped found the Shasta County Sharps Task Force and participated in the Countywide Pandemic Flu Coordinating Committee. I also worked with Redding Electric Utility and the Shasta Builder’s Exchange on Redding’s Earth Advantage Program to develop the solid waste component of this green building program. I have extensive experience in project management, grant writing and administration, program develop, public education and outreach. I also have a background in sustainable agriculture, which is one of my favorite topics to write about.

As an independent contractor, I’ve worked with the California Product Stewardship Council, the Regional Council of Rural Counties, engineering firms, small businesses, non-profit organizations, schools and community agencies. I also occasionally provide pro bono services for libraries in my local area.

I strongly believe in supporting the work of non-profits. Never before have communities and individuals had to turn to non-profits to fill the service gaps and provide for the basic human needs that government can no longer provide.

One of the great things about being in charge of my own firm is that I get to decide what direction it takes. I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. In 6th grade, my best friend and I would compete to see who could write the longest novels – more than 200 pages – by hand!  When I was young I wanted to be a journalist so I enrolled in one of the best journalism programs in the nation at the University of Missouri, Columbia and I loved it…, but I was homesick.  So I came back to California, but I never stopped writing: newsletters, reports, research papers, grants, newspaper articles, brochures, creative writing projects and so on. Now I can pursue writing as a career, which is why I refer to Greenleaf Project Management not only as a consulting firm, but as a “media project,”  as well.  Much of what I do, even in the project management arena, revolves around writing and editing.

I’ve written and managed nearly $3 million in grants from federal and state governments and private foundations, including CalRecycle (formerly CIWMB), the California Department of Conservation, US EPA, and the USDA.  I am a member of the Freelancer’s Union and Women in Consulting.

I have a great network of colleagues that I can and do collaborate with on special projects, such as web design, search engine optimization, and market research.  I’ve learned that I don’t have to do it all myself.  And why should I when I can have a management team with diversity and experience in many areas?!

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to get to know me (and my sense of humor) by visiting my family satire blog: www.momisnotyourslave.blogspot.com

If you’re as passionate as I am about raising your own food and supporting local agriculture, please visit my other website: www.farmgirlmedia.com

Thanks -

Bonnie