John Shegerian

A "Social Entrepreneur"

In his presentations to business, environmental and social forums around the world, Shegerian has repeatedly urged individuals and organizations to engage in socially beneficial entrepreneurialism, often citing his own achievements as an example. Regular themes of his presentations are "getting in touch with your green DNA," referring to inherent ways individuals and businesses can save money while being environmentally conscious, and "recycling lives," referring to the benefits of giving the formerly incarcerated a second chance at a career. ERI presently employs more than 60 formerly incarcerated individuals.

Shegerian serves alongside Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a member of the California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth and was recently appointed by Schwarzenegger to serve on the Governor's Gang Advisory Committee, focused on providing State legislators with guidance pertaining to policies geared toward the reduction of gang and youth violence. In 1993, he co-founded Homeboy Tortillas and Homeboy Industries, which continues to serve as a paradigm for urban renewal in America and was awarded the New York Stock Exchange "Building for the Future" Award for creating new jobs and opportunities for gang-impacted youth in post-riot Los Angeles. John is also the recipient of the prestigious "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award," presented by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Committee to businessmen working to provide compassionate solutions for society's problems. Believing in “recycling lives” by providing second chances to the formerly incarcerated (Shegerian has hired more than fifty formerly incarcerated individuals at ERI), Shegerian speaks passionately on the subject at forums across the country and presently serves as a member of the Increasing Employment Opportunities Advisory Board to the Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice.

Passionately espousing his trademarked mantra that "Green is Good," Shegerian serves as an executive board member of the Alliance Toward Harnessing Global Opportunities, as a board member of the Coalition for Clean Air, as a corporate board member of the Environmental Media Association, as a corporate representative to the California Resource Recovery Association and as a board member on the VerdeXchange for Innovations and Developments in the Green Economy. John is the Central Valley’s Founding Member of E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the Independent Business Voice for the Environment and serves on the Media Relations steering committee for the State of California's Integrated Waste Management Board. He also serves on the Fundraising Committee and as an Ambassador of Education at California State University at Fresno and the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Fresno.