University of Central Fla Incubator Client Changes Name and Stakes Out Commitment to Green Living

Nov. 18, 2008 - PRLog -- Owner Lisa Thorell said since opening the business in 2005 they’ve sought socially responsible clients.  “This name change is an overt declaration of environmentalism just to make the name of the company more in line with our clients’ missions,” she explained.  

From the start, Thorell has been spreading the word about environmentally conscious companies – those that recycle waste, use earth-friendly sustainable technologies and produce or sell organic and renewable energy products.  

Thorell has more than 20 years of experience in public relations and marketing, including a stint as vice president of marketing for AOL/CompuServe.  

“Remember those little discs that were sent out in the mail?” she asked.  “Part of the reason I started this company is that I realized I was responsible for millions of pieces of e-trash.”

In addition to researching whether a client’s product actually is green, Thorell and her Off the Grid staff of two, actually practice what they preach.  

“We use environmentally correct products such as paper approved by the Forest Stewardship Council, including our business cards,” she said. “We’ve changed other things about the way we do business, overall limiting the use of hard-copy marketing materials and forgoing fresh-cut flowers for dried flower or more long-lasting centerpieces at special events.”  

But, while it’s good for Mother Earth to green up, accepting “green-only” clients does present a challenge.  

“Every time we take on a new client we spend a lot of time researching their products to verify that they really are environmentally correct and educate the market on all the green features and benefits,” Thorell said.  “But, after it’s all said and done, if your products are good for the environment, then we want to work for you.”  

For more information about Off the Grid Public Relations – a client of the University of Central Florida Incubation Program’s Orlando Business Development Center District 2 on Colonial Drive – contact Thorell at 321-281-8378 or visit the company’s web site at http://www.offthegrid-pr.com.

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About the UCF Incubation Program

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies create over $300 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu.