VERTE SANTE EXPERTISE
For every entrepreneur, founder, and business leader—regardless of size—there is a shared, profound challenge: how to build an organization that can successfully harmonize mission, market, and financial growth. It’s not enough to be purpose-driven; you must also be profitable and professionally managed. We founded Verte Sante because we saw a crucial need for a partner who could truly live at this intersection.
This vision is born directly from the complementary expertise and shared challenges of our Founding Partners, a synergy forged in the field. Mark and Jeff first identified their potential partnership in 2017 in Sonoma, CA, while collaborating on a high-growth CPG company. The partnership potential became undeniable as Mark Griffin focused on developing the organic product positioning and optimizing the route-to-market (Verte and operational execution), while Jeff Silver oversaw the finance team and strategically prepared the company for its capital raise (Sante and financial structuring). Mark's three decades of experience founding and scaling mission-oriented companies defines the operational Verte perspective, which is seamlessly paired with Jeff's extensive expertise in global corporate finance and M&A, providing the essential Sante framework for maximizing enterprise value.
Their combined, 360-degree journey informed the singular truth of high-impact scaling: success is only possible when the founder’s passion is supported by a talented, committed team that fundamentally understands the route to impact, the demands of the market, and the intricacies of corporate finance. Today, our expanded team of Senior Partners, Partners, and Strategic Advisors rounds out this experience, allowing us to bring a full, hands-on solution to every client challenge.
This truth is the foundation of the Verte Sante Embedded Model. We don't offer passive advice; we become operational partners that fortify the business (Sante) so the planet-focused mission (Verte) can truly thrive.
The Verte Sante team is composed of seasoned C-Suite executives, board members and specialists who embody the firm's "Green Wellness" (Verte Sante) merchant banking advisory model. Our structure is designed to provide embedded executive-level service across the key areas identified in the strategic plan: board governance, operational alignment, corporate finance, and M&A.
Verte Sante replaces the passive advisory model with an Embedded C-Suite Partnership designed for velocity and accountability.
TRADITIONAL ADVISORS: Offer reports, leaving the company executives to execute on their own.
VERTE SANTE EMBEDDED PARTNERS: Fill the critical interim C-Level roles to implement systems, stabilize operations, and manage the complexities associated with capital.
THE VERTE SANTE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Mark Griffin
Co-Founder, CEO, Managing Director, Board Member
Mark is an impactful, mission-driven entrepreneur and business development professional who has dedicated his life to sustainable and equitable businesses. While driving change through innovative solutions, he promotes a healthy planet happy people and pure profit. Mark is the founder of Verte Sante Venture Partners Inc., and has operated and exited industry-leading businesses in the natural and organic foods industry, including national CPG brands, retail grocery, organic commodities and non-profit gardens. He has significant acquisition and integration experience for companies large and small. As a founder and entrepreneur, Mark knows firsthand the challenges that face impact-driven early companies and how to navigate many of the obstacles that stand in the way of their success.
Jeff Silver
Co-Founder, CFO, Corporate Finance Director
Jeff has nearly 30 years of corporate finance, private equity, M&A, investment banking, CFO, business development, and entrepreneurial executive management experience. Jeff has been involved in over 100 closed corporate finance transactions with an aggregate value exceeding $10B. He currently serves as Managing Partner of Ridgeline Partners, a merchant banking firm that assists emerging growth companies with corporate finance, CFO, strategy, and business development activities. Ridgeline’s portfolio consists of companies focused on positive impact and health and wellness initiatives.
Scott Leonard
Chief Sustainability Officer, Board Member
Scott is a pioneering Impact expert immersed in sustainable supply chains, GHG reductions, Biodiversity and Circular Economy. He is an advisor to several global organizations including Textile Exchange, Fair Trade USA, Fashion for Good, LuluLemon, Nike, Patagonia, EcoFashion, and Laudes Foundation. He helped in the formation, funding and launch of Fashion for Good, sparking and scaling Circular innovation, and creating roadmaps, while fostering sector-wide collaboration. Scott collaborates with a range of investors, foundations and other financial institutions to scale positive impact globally, with a focus on emerging markets, economically marginalized communities, Biodiversity and climate justice. He is responsible for spearheading revolutionary fair trade and human rights certifications, as well as pioneering production of finance models to scale fair trade cooperatives.
Christian Spoor
Revenue Director
Christian brings over a decade of experience to the team including holding positions in Business Development, Retail Sales, Commercial Operations, Brand Marketing and Category Management working within small and large Food & Beverage industry leading companies (Chobani, Nestle, Anheuser Busch, Botticelli Foods). Christian has a demonstrated history of leading towards innovation, growth, and execution. Skilled in B2B Sales, Retail & Wholesaler Management, Consumer Focused Journey Development, Partnerships, Packaging, Innovation, Product Launch and Commercialization Strategy, and Accelerating Growth. Christian is passionate about Sustainable Food Systems and Driving Brand Development at all levels. Hungry, and Excited - with a variety of Business experience, a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Marketing from Quinnipiac University, and a Nutrition Certificate from Orange Coast College, Christian is always looking to lean in and prove that 1+1 can = 3.
Lauren Storella
People & Culture Director
Lauren is a dedicated people operation leader driven by her passion for sustainable business and delicious food, a commitment she developed over an 11-year career at Alter Eco, where she helped the brand achieve rapid growth as the Director of People & Culture. She has consistently built her career around team building, relationship management, and authentic connections, including coordinating international trips to visit farmer cooperatives to highlight the challenges facing our global food systems. Now, Lauren partners with values-aligned companies and non-profits, using a strategic and trustworthy approach to assess and implement necessary HR processes, ensuring organizational goals are met and employees are supported to thrive and grow.
Jennifer Bushman
Strategic Advisor – Aquaculture, Policy, Media Strategy
Jennifer is a sustainable seafood expert, communicator, and strategist who has been championing ethical aquaculture for more than two decades. Food leaders such as the James Beard Foundation and the International Association of Culinary Professionals have recognized Jennifer’s culinary contributions. She sits on the boards of numerous ocean advocacy organizations, among which is Alexandra Cousteau’s Oceans 2050 and the Marine Mammal Center. She is currently the Executive Director of Fed by Blue. An NGO that focuses on providing and inspiring visionaries, thought leaders, ocean lovers, activists, early-adopters, foodies, and consumers with the knowledge and materials to help protect and participate in a responsible blue food system.
Birgit Cameron
Board Member, Strategic Advisor – Textiles, Consumer Brands, Sustainable Product Development
Birgit is the Co-founder and former Managing Director of Patagonia Provisions, a division of Patagonia Works. Founded in 2012 with Yvon Chouinard, she helped create an innovative company that redefined the food system and broadened Patagonia’s environmental mission by offering regeneratively sourced organic food. Under Birgit’s leadership, Patagonia Provisions doubled sales annually, rapidly expanding distribution into national and international markets. She pioneered mission-based products, including introducing Long Root Ale—the first beer made with perennial grain Kernza—and co-led the effort to establish the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) certification. A recognized leader in the organic food movement, her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Today, Birgit advises sustainable companies including Greenfins, serves as a General Partner with Align e Capital, and is on the board of Atomo Beanless Coffee, Aarstiderne Denmark, the Marine Stewardship Council, and Food Print Nordic Top 50 Farmers.
Shelly Larson
Strategic Advisor – Graphic Design, Marketing
Shelly is a problem-solving graphic design professional who loves to figure out the most strategic, efficient and creative way to design and produce impactful marketing materials that also deliver fantastic results – whether online or in your hands. With 35+ years experience in advertising, design, packaging and production, she has worked on both the east and west coasts designing and developing marketing materials, programs, and products for clients like Sony Music, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Adobe, T-Mobile, Autodesk, Fetzer (and many other Sonoma County wines), Symantec, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Radio Shack, Kaila Foods, Natural Habitats/Palm Done Right and Toby’s Foods.
PARTNER IMPACT
