About Me

ANN WATERS WELLER – LOCALIZATION & SUSTAINABILITY BIO

                             -updated March, 2008

1970- Co-founder – Kalamazoo Glass Recycling Program- Kalamazoo, Mi

1971- Co-founder – Kalamazoo Food Coop - Kalamazoo, Mi

1975 – B.S. in Nutrition and food science – MSU, specializing in Natural Foods and the Biochemistry of Food Nutrients., East Lansing , Mi

1975 –MSU Alumni Association Presentation –“ Fashion on a Budget” – featuring recycled clothing, how to shop in thrift stores, clothing sharing among friends, remaking clothing, etc. , East Lansing , Mi

1976- 1980 – Sales Director, Marketing, Product Development, Product selection, Product Placement – Midwest Natural Foods, Ann Arbor, Mich ( A division of Balanced Foods)

1978-1980- President, “Earth and Sea Scentuals” – A natural Product Personal Care start up, Ann Arbor, Mi , sold in 1980

1980- 1983 Marketing Director, product development, Branding, Sales – Desert Essence Cosmetics, Topanga, Ca – I took this company from a troubled situation while in litigation over their name ( HOBA) to International pre-eminent position as #1 Jojoba Care Products - through Branding, New Product Development and Point of Sale Marketing Program for the Brand – Desert Essence.

1982 – Natural Products Expo ( Natural Foods Trade Show) National Panel on Skin Care – representing Desert Essence as a Jojoba Chemist.

1985 to the present – Founder and President of “Open Circle, Inc / dba:Ancient Circles” Offering Symbolic Jewelry and Clothing for a Richer Future– dedicated to offering spiritual symbols of our past to help restore the balance of the present, and create a future based on sacred wisdom and sustainable lifestyle.

1990’s – Green Party of Mendicino County Council Member (several years)

2003- Solfest presenter – “Thermal Depolymerization – Mining the Landfills: A New Energy Source?”

2004 – Cofounder of WELL – Willits Economic Localization, one of the country’s leading edge Local Sustainable Community Groups

2005 August - Solfest Presenter - “Building Sustainable Communities”

2005 August - Solfest Presenter – “Bringing the Sacred into our Sustainable Future”

2005 November - San Francisco Green Festival Presenter –– “An Approach to
Sustainable Community Localization”

2006 February – Hilo, Hawaii – Weekend Seminar Coordinator/Presenter – “Building Sustainable Communities”

2006 April - RLNC (Regional Localization Conference: 110 people – 30 communities) “Visioning – An Essential Component of Localization”

2004-ongoing “Now and Then Film Series” – dedicated to bringing films on sustainability to our local community ( over 50 films shown to local audiences so far)

2005-ongoing Producer of “Elder Talk” – Gathering the wisdom of Our Elders to create a future that remembers and builds on the past – now an ongoing popular local television series

2005-ongoing – Green Transition begins for Open Circle starting with Organic Cotton T-shirts, Reclaimed Materials bags, Market Totes, Stainless and Glass Personal Water Bottles and Bags and clothing products made from reclaimed and refashioned fabrics

2006-2007 – Producer and Director – Willits Harvest Festival – a day-long event with exhibits, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and a “100 Mile Local Dinner”

2007 June – INATS New Age Trade Show - Seminar speaker – “Merging the Sacred and the Sustainable”
2007- “Escape from Suburbia” – Award Winning Documentary - appearance and interview as a visionary and Co-founder of WELL

2007 – Solfest Presenter & Panel member - “Women in Peak Oil”

2007 – WELL Publicity Director – July 2007 through March 2008

2007 – 2008 MCRS (Mendocino County Railway Society) Secretary, “MCRS- Committed to rail service in Northern California”.

2008- Founder – “anniegreenjeans” - Consulting for your Business’ Green Transition www.anniegreenjeans.com