About Us
Note: Sustainable Arizona® is on hiatus. We currently seeking new leadership for Sustainable Arizona. If you or someone you know has the background and interest in heading a leading sustainable economic development organization or designing a new direction, please contact John Neville at [email protected].
Sustainable Arizona® Directors 2021
John Neville, President and a founder of Sustainable Arizona®, has been involved creatively in sustainable development and communications for more than 35 years. He has helped multinational companies and a range of organizations with sustainability systems, business communications and management practices, culture and leadership development, and diversity enhancement. He was recognized with the Role Model for Youth Award for his development of the “Earthstar, Your EcoDiscovery” learning series. John is a USGBC LEED Accredited Professional and has supplied green building services to owners, architects and builders. He has provided sustainable systems, business development and communications consulting to businesses and municipalities and is a frequent guest speaker. He served on the board of the Sustainable Economic Development Initiative of Northern Arizona where he headed the Green Business Network and the Education for Sustainability teams and worked on energy efficiency and renewable energy and sustainable community indicators. In addition, John headed the Value the Verde Initiative which engages businesses in green practices, consulted with the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, and assists with green and charitable efforts in his community. The home he designed in Sedona has received awards for excellence in sustainable building, conservation and low impact living. John and his wife, Jawn McKinley, were recognized by business groups and the City of Sedona for their efforts in fostering sustainability and leading water conservation activities.
William Eaton, vice president and a founder of Sustainable Arizona®, has been involved with green initiatives since the 70’s. William designs innovative guitars and stringed instruments and is a founder and Director of Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery. A four-time GRAMMY nominee, Eaton records for Canyon Records and tours nationally. He has composed for and performed with the William Eaton Ensemble, Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra, Nebraska Chamber Orchestra and Amadeus Trio among others. Along with his wife Christine, William is the co-Director of Old Town Center for the Arts, in Cottonwood, Arizona where he brings top musical entertainment to the Verde Valley. He also contributes his time and talents to nonprofits throughout the state.
Ron Epperson, Executive Director of Sustainable Arizona®, has over 32 years of experience in a variety of economic, business and financial analyses on behalf of clients. He advises clients on the strategic and economic use of IP from creation to protection to value extraction. Ron has deep practical experience in IP transactions, having negotiated and executed more than 50 IP transactions in a wide variety of industries all over the world. Ron also has extensive experience in the detection, investigation and prevention of counterfeiting, piracy and product diversion. Ron has testified at trial in federal and state court, and at the ITC. He has conducted complex damage studies involving lost sales, lost profits, lost royalties, incremental profits, capacity, fixed and variable costs, product line profitability, valuation, diminution in value, reasonable royalty, unjust enrichment and prejudgment interest for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Prior to his consulting career, Ron served as a Licensing Director for a Global Fortune 50 chemicals and energy company, with license negotiations experience in the US, Germany, Spain, UK, Italy, Austria, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India. He has negotiated over 50 patent and technology licenses across a diverse set of industries. Ron is the Chair of the Licensing Executives Society’s Cleantech Committee, and Co-Chair of its Arizona chapter, and is active professionally and socially serving on various boards and committees, including Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization and Arizona Forward.
