Sustainability Strategist Suzanne Shelton Joins the Exceptional Women Alliance to Strengthen Climate and Inclusion Messaging

A new appointment and what it means right now

The Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA) announced this week that Suzanne Shelton, a long-time sustainability marketing executive, has joined its leadership circle. The move was made public in a press statement from the organization and names Shelton — founder and CEO of Shelton Group, today operating as ERM Shelton — as a new board member and advisor focused on communications and strategic partnerships. The announcement is aimed at boosting EWA’s outreach as it plans a slate of campaigns and events over the coming year.

How the Exceptional Women Alliance works and why it matters

The Exceptional Women Alliance is a nonprofit network that gathers leaders from business, government and the nonprofit world to push for women’s leadership and social change. It works by connecting experienced executives with causes that need funding, visibility and practical know-how. In recent years EWA has concentrated on programs that mix leadership training, public events and fundraising campaigns designed to move issues forward faster than individual organizations can on their own.

That mix of advocacy and practical help makes the group attractive to organizations that want expert help getting clear messages out — whether the subject is education, economic opportunity, or, increasingly, sustainability and climate resilience. Appointments to EWA’s leadership team tend to reflect that practical focus: the alliance looks for people who can take complex topics, shape them into stories the public understands, and build partnerships that bring money and attention.

Who Suzanne Shelton is and what she brings

Suzanne Shelton has spent her career at the intersection of marketing and social issues. She founded Shelton Group, a firm known for helping companies and non-profits communicate about energy efficiency, environmental goals and sustainable consumer choices. Over time the business has been folded into a larger sustainability communications unit, now operating under the ERM Shelton name, and Shelton remains a visible voice in the field.

Her work combines consumer research, message testing and creative campaigns aimed at changing behavior — not just selling products. That approach has been used by utilities, consumer brands and civic groups that need people to adopt new practices, like using less energy or choosing greener products. Shelton’s public profile includes speaking at industry conferences, writing and advising boards on how to frame sustainability in ways that matter to everyday people.

What she adds to EWA is a practical skill set: turning technical or policy-heavy topics into clear calls to action, helping design fundraising messages that resonate, and connecting nonprofits to corporate communications teams that can amplify their work.

Why this matters beyond a headline

At a basic level, the appointment signals that EWA wants to do more than convene leaders; it wants to get better at telling stories that move people and donors. Shelton’s background in sustainability communications matters because climate and environmental issues are increasingly woven into the social causes that women’s leadership groups care about. Clear, persuasive messaging can help those efforts gain traction with the public and with corporate partners who control budgets and channels.

For women in leadership roles, this is also a practical recognition: communications skills are often the difference between good ideas that stay quiet and good ideas that scale. Bringing a specialist like Shelton onto the team strengthens EWA’s ability to spotlight women-led initiatives and to shape conversations in ways that favor measurable progress.

From a market perspective, the move is unlikely to shift investor views or public markets. EWA is a philanthropic network, not a publicly traded company, and Shelton’s role is focused on nonprofit strategy and public outreach rather than commercial operations. The news is mostly relevant to readers interested in nonprofit leadership, sustainability communications and partnerships between the corporate and charitable sectors.

Reaction, planned steps and where to learn more

In the group’s announcement, EWA leaders welcomed Shelton and pointed to several upcoming initiatives where her expertise will be useful, including public campaigns and member events planned for the next 12 months. Shelton is quoted as saying she is honored to join and eager to help sharpen the alliance’s public work. EWA also noted that Shelton will help convene a series of workshops for member organizations seeking to improve how they talk about climate, inclusion and impact.

Readers who want further details can look for EWA’s upcoming event calendar and press materials, or follow ERM Shelton for examples of the kind of campaign work Shelton has led. For the public, the appointment is a straightforward sign that the alliance is investing in clearer storytelling and deeper partnerships as it pushes for change.

Photo: Karola G / Pexels

Sources

• prnewswire.com