A PARTNER WITH THE RIGHT
NATURAL INSTINCTS.
SOAP stands for Sustainable Organization Advocacy Partners. We are a team of strategists, environmental scientists, change-makers, engineers, business consultants, biochemists, designers, architects, filmmakers, developers, researchers, artists, marketers and cultural theory nerds working exclusively in the sustainability and social justice space.
We thrive on complex projects.
//PROJECT LOCATIONS
We’re very lucky to travel the world, working alongside the most amazing clients in the most amazing communities.
//LEADERSHIP
The principals at SOAP, leading the functional units of the company, each bring something unique to the table: Culture, Strategy and Science. It’s a rare, new and critical combination for today’s climate - a chimera of good as it were.
//JOHN ROOKS
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
John is the Founder of The SOAP Group, author of the book More Than Promote – A Monkeywrencher’s Guide to Authentic Marketing, and a frequent speaker and writer about the intersection of sustainability, language and culture. With nearly 20 years of experience in the environmental and business consulting space, John has worked for an environmental engineering firm, an environmental compliance software company, and as a partner at an ad agency. John’s also an adjunct professor of marketing and writing theory, and has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, the federal government and international NGOs on sustainability and business.
John is husband to one, father of two and nerds out on zombie movies. He is currently writing his next book - an expose on the seedy underbelly of sustainability consulting.
//BREK HEIKKINEN
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY DESIGN, PARTNER
Brek is a seasoned business strategist and sustainability advocate. Her experience ranges from working in China researching differences in symptomatology, diagnostics and treatment of mental illnesses between Eastern and Western cultures, to providing communication strategies to Hewlett Packard and other Fortune 100 companies. She also has experience building and managing integrated teams that executed complex web deployments, and consumer behavior group testing and reporting. With a degree in psychology, Brek develops strategies for our clients that integrate the cultural and technological facets of sustainability, with the added focus of mapping it back to an ROI for business.
Brek’s also a talented multi-media artist, and lives in Portland with her entrepreneur/environmentalist/sculptor husband.
//BOB ROOKS
DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, PARTNER
Bob is a US-registered engineer with a diverse background spanning more than 20 years of professional experience. He has a masters degree in environmental engineering from Duke University and has served as primary technical lead for multi-million dollar, multi-year environmental restoration programs for the US Navy and US Air Force, and as Program Manager for an A/E contract with the US Coast Guard. Bob oversees the technical execution of the company's work to ensure technical accuracy and defensibility.
Bob lives, plays and works in Hawaii.
//PUBLICATIONS
Toni Morrison said “If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” So we write a lot. And then we share it. (This is the same philosophy we use to innovate SOAP.)
//MORE THAN PROMOTE, THE BOOK
A Monkeywrencher’s Guide to Authentic Marketing
This book deconstructs two oft-competing concepts: “promotion” of consumption and the act of “sustainability”. Through this deconstruction, a new concept emerges; a strategy and methodology of promotion that is, simultaneously, both sustainability and strategic marketing.
//CULTURAL LENS STUDIES
We started completing lens studies as a way to peer deep into the soul of culture. We wanted to see what specific cultural artifacts says about culture itself, specifically sustainability culture. We think we can learn more about culture by looking at the things that culture produces.
//LANGUAGE
The rate at which language shifts is much quicker than Moore’s Law these days. We do socio-linguistic studies that reveal the most effective/popular/trite/toxic language in the marketplace. Language patterns reveal deeper cultural trends and present opportunities to leap frog competitors and inspire customers. Biannually, SOAP completed a research project to find, catalogue and understand language trends in sustainability.
//NO IDLING - EBOOK
We were asked to contribute to this collection of 30 Stories Inspired by Seth Godin’s Do The Work.
//ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER
SOAP Founder John Rooks is a columnist for Environmental Leader, the leading daily trade publication keeping corporate executives fully informed about energy, environmental and sustainability news.
//PRESENTATIONS
Ed Tufte said ”…we shouldn't abbreviate the truth but rather get a new method of presentation.” Our presentations are designed to bring new challenging concepts of sustainability and culture to new audiences.
//TEDxDIRIGO
SOAP Founder John Rooks’ spoke at TEDxDirigo about living in the simulacrum, the “green marketing wink” and how to build authentically sustainable businesses.
//LOHAS 2011
SOAP Founder John Rooks explores the relationship between Authenticity and Sustainability in this presentation from Boulder, CO in 2011. Drawing on Cultural Theory, Advertising as Pop-Culture, Punk-Rock and Science Fiction, John looks to find meaning in modern green business strategies.
(Credit: www.boulderstream.tv)
