About
The Story: Suzette Mehler and Jim LeVine, Ph.d., co-authored a proprietary white paper that describes the rationale, purpose, and execution plans for a global strategy to slow escaped macro and microplastic debris. The solution-based strategy presents a significant business opportunity to solve a global puzzle beyond current public engagement designs. The comprehensive upstream strategy stands alone among other public engagement efforts as a new global, private-sector, self-funding business model that fills multiple gaps to slow uncontrolled plastic emissions. Suzette's international marketing background and Jim's economics, policy, and scientific background were an unusual alliance that may have been necessary to forge a global vision to engage consumers in a way that changes the course of plastic pollution. Suzette worked on the project for eight years, beginning in the Summer of 2014, before making contact with Jim in late 2021.
Project Beginnings: Suzette's life took a turn when Captain Dale Selvam invited her, alongside a few radio show guests, to witness the alarming pervasiveness of plastics in our oceans. It was aboard Captain Charles Moore's ("Charlie") specially-built 55-foot research catamaran, Alguita, during a trip in June 2014. As they cruised through Long Beach Harbor, Charlie used a trawl, a steel sieve-like net, to collect water samples. When Suzette examined a sample in a petri dish, she was shocked to see as many microplastics as there were tiny marine organisms. Her initial impressions were that consumer behavior had overwhelmed existing efforts by governments, NGOs, and academia, yet the public didn't want plastic pollution in the ocean. This disconnect inspired Suzette's decision to dedicate her time and resources to developing a compelling public engagement message and a marketing strategy to carry it out.
Suzette has invested her time and resources in conducting a broad multidisciplinary literature review of plastic pollution studies, focusing on both the harm it causes and human behavior related to plastic use. This meticulous research uncovered data anomalies in human behavioral studies across five continents. These anomalies became the foundation for Suzette's innovative algorithm tool. The tool allowed her to analyze public engagement designs and behavioral science research in a new light, leading to surprising and original insights.
About Suzette Mehler: Suzette's experience as a vendor (manufacturing liaison) for Skechers USA, Inc. played a pivotal role. Working to supply toys, bags, and hats to their global market honed a global perspective. Since 2014, Suzette has diligently researched plastic pollution, delving into scientific studies, behavioral science, and innovative solutions. This dedication has transformed her from a citizen scientist to someone with a broad and deep understanding of the issue, including the inner workings of the plastic pollution sphere. Beyond her academic background (B.S. in Marketing from California State University Long Beach), and wealth of marketing experience, Suzette is a patented inventor and entrepreneur, she has a proven track record in marketing research, licensed product development for global markets, offshore manufacturing, and importing goods for U.S. companies.
Suzette developed a deep love for the ocean and respect for nature while exploring tidepools near her childhood home. Driven to find solutions to plastic pollution, she immerses herself in the latest research, innovations, and scientific literature. She resides in Long Beach, CA.
About Jim LeVine:
Jim's academic and business experience perfectly complements this project. In 2021, he meticulously reviewed and validated Suzette's assumptions. Joining the project, he took the project to new heights by adding layers of policy and economics to explain why Suzette's findings and private-sector approach is a missing piece to the puzzle to solve plastic pollution. His in-depth research goes back five decades to substantiate their findings.
Prior to joining the project, Jim's impressive career included professorships at prestigious universities, including Cal Poly SLO and USC. He also served as a research scientist, a wetlands consultant, and ventured into urban landscape design, collaborating with Masao Kinoshita at Sasaki Associates in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Jim holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Economics from USC, where he was a Sea Grant Fellow. Additionally, he has a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii and another Master's in Landscape Architecture from Harvard GSD, specializing in Earth mapping technology.
Jim cites witnessing pollution firsthand as a driving force behind his discouragement with traditional methods. Suzette's research approach resonated with him, offering a beacon of hope.
Jim currently resides in Tacoma, WA, reads 10 published studies a day, writes, and mentors Ph.D. candidates. JIm was born and raised in Hawaii, which cultivated a deep connection with the ocean.
