Social entrepreneur Andrew Butcher is co-founder and CEO of GTECH Strategies—a social enterprise based in Larimer working at the intersection of community development and the green economy.
Monday, March 2
I’ll kick off the week with an 8 a.m. meeting @ The William Penn Starbucks downtown, to catch up with Saleem Ghubril (which is pretty much the classiest way to start a week that I can think of—speaking of both the company and venue). Busing from East Liberty I enjoy the opportunity to take in all the construction happening at the new East Liberty Transit Station. While my office is in Larimer, I love taking the bus downtown.
The rest of the day is a mere seven more meetings and phone calls @ GTECH’s office.
Heading home around 6 p.m., Julie, Aurora and I will make some dinner together and play some Legos. Monday is bath night for Aurora—a fan favorite for everyone. Afterwards I’ll head to the gym @ Bakery Square.
Tuesday, March 3
Fewer meetings today so I’ll spend most of the day at GTECH with a brief reprieve with Aurora (who is 2) at her gym class at Gymkhana followed by a lunch pick up at the East End Food Coop’s famous salad bar.
In the afternoon I’ll head to Uptown & Duquesne University for an energy policy discussion hosted by CCI about Critical Decisions That are Shaping Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy. After the event I’ll head back to the gym (that half marathon ain’t gonna train for itself).
Wednesday, March 4
Starting the day I’ll get coffee with GTECH’s CFO Kevin Gieder at Tazzo D’Orro close to home in Highland Park. After that I’ll head over to Tree Pittsburgh’s office in Lawrenceville to participate in a Saleforce learning circle with representatives from the Environmental Finance Collaborative (Construction Junction, Bike Pittsburgh, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association and Tree Pittsburgh). Trust me, it is a lot more fun that it sounds.
In the evening I’ll head to a Sprout Fund Board meeting in Garfield. After getting inspired hearing about the innovative things they are supporting, I’ll meet up with friends John Rhodes and Sam Franklin for some tacos at nearby Verde Mexican Kitchen & Cantina.
Thursday, March 5
Assuming that it’s not an icy death trap, I’ll catch sunrise on a morning run along the reservoir in Highland Park (it’s awesome this time of year with no leaves on the trees). Next: “Coffee and Connect” with the Carnegie Library staff in East Liberty to discuss “Sustainable Community Development and Libraries” joined by sustainability’s guru Court Gould of Sustainable Pittsburgh and Kathy Hrabovsky, the Sustainability Manager for Allegheny County.
Followed by a staff meeting with the incredible GTECH team: we’ll discuss preparations for next week’s Inspire Speaker Series featuring Urban Agriculture hero Will Allen at the Kaufman Auditorium in The Hill District.
Dinner will be a weekly tradition and “treat yo’ self” for Julie, Aurora and me as we dine at E2 in Highland Park (“Bring your bottle, bring your mess” done!).
Friday, March 6
Walk to work through Larimer (rack up points for the Green Workplace Challenge) and take in all the incredible activity underway even in winter. Phone calls all morning to help plan and coordinate the upcoming CEOs For Cities workshop happening in Pittsburgh in June.
Date night: The gorgeous, talented and inspiring Julie Butcher Pezzino and I will head to the Pittsburgh Public Theater for August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned followed by a sausage treat with our friends at Legume or Butterjoint.
Saturday, March 7
Get biscuits and ham sammies at Food Glorious Food and head to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (can’t wait to catch Henry Simonds’ Bounce exhibit). Saturday night we cook (so we should probably stop and get some groceries).
Sunday, March 8
Indulge in a long run in Frick Park (and/or cross country ski) down Nine Mile Run towards Braddock along the backside of The Carrie Furnace (an incredibly secluded urban sanctuary.)
If I’m lucky Julie, Aurora and I will meet at Square Cafe for some breakfast followed by a binge watching of House of Cards during nap time.