Wendy M. James is president of The Better World Group, Inc., a strategic environmental communications firm specializing in constituency building, event planning, fundraising, public affairs and media relations. The Better World Group, with offices in Silicon Valley, Northern and Southern California, works with nonprofit, corporate and government clients on a variety of projects and campaigns covering global warming, clean transportation technologies, recycling, urban parks and neighborhood revitalization, and renewable energy. James specializes in coalition management, coordinating coalitions of environmental, health and consumer groups on various policy campaigns, including a coalition of more than 50 nonprofit groups involved with implementation of California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32.

Prior to forming The Better World Group, Wendy served as President of the nonprofit Environmental Media Association (EMA), working closely with the entertainment industry to support various environmental initiatives. James’ experience in energy and the environment spans more than 25 years, and includes both natural gas and electric technologies. She was on the forefront of advanced transportation initiatives, heading up Southern California Edison’s Electric Transportation Division, and led the natural gas industry’s environmental outreach at the American Gas Association in Washington, D.C. She also worked as press secretary for a Member of Congress and as a newspaper reporter.

James serves on the executive committees for both the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) and the California State Parks Foundation. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California-Davis, and serves on the board of Burbank Water & Power, a municipal utility serving more than 50,000 customers. She was appointed to the California Climate Dialog Group by CalEPA Secretary Linda Adams and was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Coalition for Clean Air in 2009 and honored by the California Climate Action Registry in 2008. In 2006, she was named Small Business Woman of the Year for California’s 20th Senate District and 43rd and 44th Assembly Districts.