Hi, I'm Michael Taevs
🇨🇦 Born in Western Canada.
🇺🇸 Educated in the USA.
🇦🇽 Currently on the Åland Islands; the jewels of Scandinavia.
My work puts people first,
while respecting all living things,
through the responsible use of this planet’s unliving resources,
and the improved understanding of the systems that connect us.
while respecting all living things,
through the responsible use of this planet’s unliving resources,
and the improved understanding of the systems that connect us.
How can I help you today?
Smart Sustainability – I graduated from Harvard University with a Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainability. I am great at helping you create value through good actions.
I’m a Non-linear Thinker – I love to be given a problem and often find unusual new ways to solve it.
App Development – I am learning to code in Swift with Xcode and very excited to broaden my skillset!
Video Production – I film, Fly Drones, Record Audio, Edit and Share.
English Writing – I can check your English translations before you publish.
And much more Creativity – as expressed through this website and my other channels.
Resume CV
Personal Statement
🇸🇪 Jag har nyligen avslutat kursen Svenska för inflyttade på Medis. 
Min svenska är inte perfekt men jag förstår svenska som diskuteras 
på möten och jag kan läsa självständigt. Jag behöver fortfarande jobba 
med mitt uttal och använder mig av översättningsverktyg när jag skriver.
🇬🇧 I work to strengthen local business and society. 
The improvement of the Åland community, environment, and lives is my motivation. I am experienced working both remotely and in-office. Recent entrepreneurship and consulting work developed my skills in cooperation-building and provided a broad understanding of local Åland business. Now it is time to use these skills and create long-term value with you. Thank you for your time today, Michael.
Skills & Qualifications
Native English Language
International Education & Insight
Project Leadership & Coordination
Educator and Motivational Speaker
Sales & Customer Relationships
Business Cases for Sustainability
Community Engagement
Data Collection and Analysis
Climate Change Measurement
App Development (Swift) & Video/Media & Website Production
Professional Work
Consultancy & Owner at 
Plusax AB (2016 - 2020) Mariehamn, Åland, Finland
Focus on making companies more profitable in the short and long term
Custom sustainability programs for local business & groups
Data Collection, Analysis, and Results Communication
Annual Report writing and real-time results tracking
Carbon Neutrality Certification and Climate impact reduction
Environmental, Social, and Operational impact benchmarking
Lowering Risk to Reputation and Operations
Preparation for entry into formal sustainability programs (such as Global Reporting Initiative GRI, Integrated Reporting <IR>, UN Global Compact, and more)
Chief Sustainability Officer at Paf (2011 - 2016) Mariehamn, Ã…land, Finland
Successfully lowered costs in my first 3 months of employment to pay my salary into perpetuity (my department generated net-profit)
Youngest-ever CSO of a Nordic company with over €100 Million annual turnover
Managed Environmental and Community Responsibility Unit, with associated financial forecasting, strategic planning, and personnel leadership
Benchmarked Environmental Footprint & Climate Change Responsibility
Plan, Do, Check, Act methodology to drive continual improvement
Carbon Neutral Certification (at a profit)
WWF Green Office certification
Liaison to; Board of Directors, administration, employees, suppliers, and community
Initiated special projects with local and regional educational institutions
Advisor during Ultra-Low Energy retrofit of corporate headquarters and commissioning of 209 kWp solar energy plant (on-site renewable energy generation)
Site Director for Supplementary Education (2006 - 2009) Town of Westford, MA, USA
Managed daily operations and program employees
Curriculum developer and program funding/grant application writer
Founded the Westford Outdoor Nature Program to educate students ages 8-13 in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) through team based problem solving challenges
Inter-departmental liaison to education administration, employees, parents, and local media
Plus
Business Lab Ã…land, Entrepreneurship Program, 2017 - 2018
Ã…lands Utvecklings (Development) AB, Grand Prize Winner, 2017
Patagonia (Clothing) Retail Senior Salesperson, Boston, 2009
Vice President Student Life, Concordia University CSU, 2003
Mechanical Engineering Intern, Ford Motor Company of Canada, 2000
Education
Harvard University (2010) Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainability
Focus - International business sustainability and the cascading effects of foreign investment financing, stakeholder communications, social responsibility advocacy, and environmental stewardship towards successful project outcomes
Research Assistant - Water Resources and National Parks
Concordia University (2004) B.A in Psychology & Neuroscience
Behavioral Neurobiology / Sensation & Perception / Abnormal Psychology
Research Assistant - Neural Pathways & Laboratory Technician
Additional Accomplishments
Conferencier: SmartMarina 2021
Svenska för inflyttade: Allmänna språkexamina - mellannivå 2019-2020
Board Member, Ålands Natur och Miljö, 2017-2019
Speaker, JCI Finland, Sustainability; Doing the right thing for the wrong reason, 2016
Speaker, Bärkraft Åland, The Åland business case for Sustainability, 2016
GRI Certified Reporter, 2015
Thermal Energy Inspector Certification, 2014
Conservation Commissioner, Town of Westford, 2007-2009