Jennifer Gerholdt

Jennifer Gerholdt is Director of Market Strategy & Engagement at Native, A Public Benefit Corporation, partnering with leading companies and brands to advance their sustainability strategies through climate action and ecosystem services projects and impact investments. Jennifer has nearly 20 years of experience working with private and public sectors on building and leading transformative strategies, programs, and stakeholder relationships that create business and social value, on topics including responsible forestry, circular economy, water stewardship, and climate change. Prior to Native, Jennifer held the role of Director of Corporate Engagement at We Mean Business, leading the coalition’s strategy, initiatives, campaigns and partnerships to accelerate corporate climate leadership and action. Jennifer orchestrated multiple teams across the coalition and managed a portfolio of re-grants to resource and empower partners to achieve greater impact and scale. Jennifer also served as Senior Director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, where she built the Sustainability and Circular Economy Program to advance business leadership on energy, water, and waste. Jennifer built and led relationships with leading and influential companies, conceived and directed high quality programs, events, and research, led new business development, and launched the Foundation's first scalable city-business pilot project to drive circular economy solutions locally. At Conservation International, Jennifer led the Business and Sustainability Council, redesigning the program to provide greater value and relevancy to its corporate partners on nature and biodiversity. Jennifer directed new business development and sponsorship, and designed strategic marketing assets to showcase the business benefits of valuing nature and the power of transformational partnerships. At World Wildlife Fund, Jennifer led relationships with influential North American companies to accelerate responsible forestry and trade globally. Jennifer advised companies and provided technical assistance to overcome key barriers for sustainable production and sourcing of wood and paper products, launched the advisory board to guide program strategy, and conceived the annual conference to enhance peer-to-peer learning, networking and generate new business development. Jennifer has a Master's degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy from The Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor's degree in Biology from New Mexico State University. Jennifer lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.