Dean DeCrease is Founder and President of the fourth element, an organization dedicated to creating natural habitats for better living — restaurants, natural products, communities and sustainable lifestyles. He is a specialist in international business and has lived and worked in Europe, Asia and The Americas, with projects in paper & forestry, food, packaging, restaurants and the environment.
In addition to providing business sustainability strategic services, Dean is currently engaged in several restaurant, natural foods and community development projects. In April 2008 he led the BETA launch of festivore, a principle-driven culinary and lifestyle resource online. The site includes a restaurant guide based on fundamental principles of sustainable dining. The guide will serve as a roadmap for travelers and locals seeking to “eat well, live long, and enjoy life.” Festivore will ultimately cover over 150 cities, taking advantage of a worldwide network of affiliates.
Until 2007, Dean was an executive of Weyerhaeuser Company, leading their $300 million food packaging materials business. He has completed language training at Écôle Berlitz in Geneva and attended the summer program in global forestry policy at Green College, Oxford. He received a BS in Applied Science from Pennsylvania State University and an MS in Physical Chemistry from Northwestern University in Chicago.
Advocacy…
- Member of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute Academic Committee (BGI offers MBA programs in sustainable business) and serves on the Advisory Council for BGI’s industry concentration on Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems.
- Advises the Global Business program and the Global Social Entrepreneurship competition at the University of Washington Foster School of Business.
- Member of the chefs collaborative, a growing community of chefs, farmers, fishers, educators, and food lovers dedicated to promoting sustainable cuisine.
- Co-founder in 2006 of Friends of Seattle, an organization dedicated to building a more healthy, livable, and sustainable city.
- Chaired the World Affairs Council Board of Trustees until 2007 and now chairs its advisory council.
Previously…
- Involved in founding meetings for ISO 14000 certification for forestry (Europe and New Zealand)
- Worked with environmental leaders across Europe on global forestry policy
- Trained with Karl-Henrik Robèrt and The Natural Step (Sweden)
- Participated United Nations organizing meetings on global warming and biodiversity (Europe)
- Member representative to the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (Europe)
- Active in the formative stages of the “Group of ’95” in London for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Business Associations…
- ACE (Alliance for Beverage Cartons & the Environment) in Brussels – Exec. Board (2003-05)
- AF&PA (the American Forest & Paper Association) in Washington DC and Liquid Packaging International Committee – Chair (2004-2006)
- CEPI (the Confederation of European Paper Industries) in Brussels (2004-2006)
- JAMRA (Japan Milk Carton Recycling Association) and COMCEI (Committee on Milk Carton Environmental Issues) in Tokyo – close associate (2003-2007)
- Weyerhaeuser – policy-making sustainability councils (1993-2004)
