Chris Searles
As a social entrepreneur, Chris founded the online green retail business GoodCommonSense in 2005. In 2006 and 2007 he produced the green living festivals, The Sustainable Shopper's Ball, and in 2008 produced an all ages educational engagement project, Green Tips from Great Kids. As a social advocate, he co-founded The Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin (IEN) in 2009. His 2010 project Austin Has a Dirty Secret led to public testimony on the rewards of clean electricity investments, and many since indoctrinated into Austin City policy. In 2011 he led Austin's first cross-stakeholder effort to increase transparency at the publicly-owned utility Austin Energy, resulting in dramatic increases in the company's annual reporting. As a musician, Chris toured and/or recorded with many of music’s greatest, including Buck Owens, John Prine, Roky Erickson, Los Lobos, and many more. Chris still plays drums and percussion from time to time and loves vegan food.
