Josh Tickell & Rebecca Harrell
SPEAKING CLIENTS
Program Title: From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank
JOSH TICKELL: Filmmaker, Author and Environmentalist
Josh Tickell is one of the nation’s leading experts in sustainable biofuels. Growing up near oil refineries in Louisiana, Tickell experienced first hand the health effects of pollution from oil processing. Tickell first saw sustainable biodiesel while working on an organic farm in former East Germany during a semester abroad.
Tickell’s best selling book, From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank – The Complete Guide to Using Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel, jump-started the US biodiesel movement. The American biodiesel industry now produces over 850 million gallons per year and supplies biodegradable biodiesel to commercial fleets including the San Francisco Fire Department, the Navy and NASA.
In 1998, Tickell organized Green Mountain Energy’s California Tour and its Pennsylvania “Know Your Power” concert, featuring James Taylor, Sean Colvin and Kenny Loggins. Over 50,000 people attended the biodiesel powered event.
In 2000, Tickell worked with Washington D.C. Earth Day event organizers to power the April 22nd Earth Day Event and Concert on the Mall on biodiesel made from used cooking oil. The 200,000 person event was at that time the largest single event ever to be powered with completely renewable fuel.
In 2003, Tickell began work on FUEL, the 2008 Sundance Audience Award winning documentary film that investigates the possible replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. In 2006, as a precursor to the film, Tickell’s second book was released. Entitled Biodiesel America – How To Achieve Energy Security, Free America From Middle- East Oil Dependence and Make Money Growing Fuel, the book offers a complete energy roadmap to wean the United States from fossil fuels.
At the time of the book’s release, Tickell founded the Biodiesel America Organization (now The Veggie Van Organization), which was selected by President Bill Clinton as an inaugural part of his Global Initiative on Climate Change. The organization mounted a biodiesel relief effort to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. The biodiesel-fueled relief ships delivered supplies and 20,000 meals to the hardest-hit areas of the disaster zone.
Tickell has consulted with companies and organizations including the Arizona State House of Representatives, Solar Energy International, Quicksilver, Clif Bar, Green Mountain Energy, Greenpeace, Volkswagen, Universal Studios, Woody Harrelson’s ‘Go Further’ Tour and The Indigo Girls. He has spoken at colleges and universities including MIT, Ohio University, Bard College, and Vassar College.
His media interview list includes The Today Show, Dateline NBC, CNN News, The National Geographic Channel, The Discovery Channel, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian Magazine, The Weather Channel, Maxim Magazine and Mother Earth News.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Sustainable Living from the New College of South Florida and an MFA in Film from FSU’s School of Motion Picture TV and Recording Arts.
REBECCA HARRELL: Producer, Marketing Director, and Musician
Rebecca Harrell is a producer, marketing director and musician who specializes in youth activism, education and the environment. She produced the Academy Award Shortlisted and Sundance Audience Award Winning documentary film, FUEL. She co-directs The Veggie Van Organization, a national nonprofit dedicated to education around sustainable energy. Working with a national team of experts and organizations including Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots program, Harrell is responsible for directing the creation of the first nationally accredited green curriculum, which will be available to all high schools for free this year.
At the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Harrell’s marketing strategy took Park City by storm. Using vehicle parades, peaceful street team educators and celebrity-studded parties, Harrell garnered the attention of filmgoers and media. By the end of the festival, over 10,000 attendees (1 out of 5 people) were wearing a FUEL button. Due to the buzz generated, over 2,000 people were turned away at the FUEL box office. ICM, one of the top Hollywood marketing agencies, sent its personnel to study the marketing techniques used in launching FUEL.
Harrell is an accomplished musician. Her song, ‘Drive,’ which she wrote and performed in the movie FUEL, was shortlisted for an Academy Award.
Harrell is the executive producer of “The End of Hunger,” a documentary journey into the devastating reality of hunger and how we can solve it on a global level.
In 2004, Harrell co-founded The Eleanor Group, a California-based marketing company that raises money for schools and non-profit organizations. Her client list includes the LA Unified School District and the American Cancer Society. She has spoken to and trained over 10,000 teens and teachers throughout Southern California in the art of fundraising and positioning.
Harrell also has extensive experience in the entertainment industry. She has starred in numerous films and television shows including the Christmas classic Prancer and NBC’s “Third Watch”. Harrell, who grew up in Vermont, is engaged to Josh Tickell, Director of FUEL. They travel and work together promoting the use of green energy.
Harrell has been interviewed on The Today Show, by The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post.
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