Welcome to Episode 180 of Autism Parenting Secrets.

This episode sheds light on why you will want to pay extra close attention to the cleaning products you use in your home.

We’re joined by Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO of ECOS.

ECOS offers eco-conscious cleaning products made with safer ingredients.

Kelly has been widely recognized for her influential voice in the green movement, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable manufacturing.

Under her leadership, ECOS has become a model for green businesses in the U.S. and has won many awards for its innovations in safer green chemistry, including the EPA’s Safer Choice Partner of the Year five times.

Also joining this conversation is Kristine Waldren, Sr. Director of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs at ECOS.  Kristine shares her insights from her journey to support her child on the spectrum.

These two powerful women make the case for ACTION.

Because cleaning your home with toxic chemicals is NOT OK.

The secret this week is…

A Healthy Home Starts With SAFE Cleaning Products

You’ll Discover:

• A Big Assumption That You CAN’T Make (4:51)
• The Logo You Want To See on Cleaning Products (8:09)
• The Color That Does NOT Mean Clean (14:12)
• The Link Between Chemicals and Behaviors In Kids (17:35)
• The Origin Story of ECOS (24:00)
• How You Can Make Your Voice Heard (27:12)
• The Many Ways ECOS Is Leading The Way (33:12)

About Our Guest

KELLY VLAHAKIS-HANKS

As President and CEO of ECOS plant-powered cleaning products, Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks is passionate about human and planetary health. She leads four manufacturing facilities across the U.S. as well as a European manufacturing platform. Kelly is widely recognized for her highly effective leadership at ECOS and her influential voice in corporate social responsibility, safer chemistry, and sustainable manufacturing. Kelly led ECOS to become a climate-positive company in 2021 after achieving carbon neutrality, water neutrality, and TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certification. ECOS is also the first manufacturer to receive LEED® Zero certifications in net-zero energy, carbon, and waste. As a woman of African American and Greek descent, Kelly has made environmental and social justice a cornerstone of ECOS’s mission. Kelly supports the green economy by creating sustainable manufacturing jobs across the U.S. and offering excellent wages and family-friendly benefits. Kelly received her undergraduate degree at UCLA and her MBA at Chapman University. She’s been featured on CNN, CBS News, ABC News, FOX News, NBC News, Bloomberg, and MarketWatch and in publications such as Fortune, Entrepreneur, and the Los Angeles Times. She’s received several awards for her sustainable leadership, including Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Powerful Women in 2020 and Conscious Company’s World-Changing Women in Conscious Business.

KRISTINE WALDREN

Kristine Waldren is the Sr. Director of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs at ECOS®, the maker of plant-powered cleaning products, where she blends her experience in communications and public policy with her passion for protecting the health of people and the planet.  Kristine guides the company’s internal and external communications in partnership with many ECOS teams and community stakeholders, with a focus on sharing ECOS’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing, green chemistry, and inclusive company culture. She also plays a key role in ECOS’s partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its Safer Choice program, the gold standard of third-party safety certification.

https://www.ecos.com/

References in The Episode:

• Feature film A Green Story tells the story of Kelly’s father, Van Vlahakis.

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

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