Green Cocoon offers eco-friendly and energy efficient insulation products for clients around New England. Launched in 2007, Green Cocoon found a niche in an industry not known for being kind to the environment. By offering innovative insulators such as soy-based spray foam, cellulose and denim, Green Cocoon has gained a loyal following. Their high-performance products offer supreme moisture protection, are long-lasting and have been proven to be safe for people, animals and the environment.
General Manager Candace Lord, 29, started work with Green Cocoon in 2011. Lord is passionate about the work her company does. “I love that we can help people and the environment,” Lord said. “Our products save our clients money by reducing their heating costs, which softens their impact on the planet. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Theresa Conn (TC): What do you like most about your job?
Candace Lord (CL): I love meeting people and building relationships with our clients. I also like that every day is so different. I get bored quickly, but luckily my job keeps me on my toes. On any given day, I could be doing accounting in my office, pitching our product over the phone or networking at mixers. I do 50 different things all the time, and I cherish that.
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TC: Where did you go to college? Does your college education help with your current job? What skills from college most prepared you for the work you do now?
CL: I graduated from Northeastern with a degree in Languages and Literature. I spent six years living in Mexico working as a simultaneous translator. After I returned to the States, I was looking for a job for almost a year before I started working at Green Cocoon. Although I didn’t get a degree in my field, I use skills I gained in college every day. While I was at Northeastern, I really learned how to interact with people. That’s been vital for my success; a large part of my job is sales, so it’s important that I’m able to convince potential clients that they need to buy our product. The organizational skills I learned at school are also valuable. Writing drafts, triple-checking things, working on a deadline, all of that work I did in college has paid off.
I also think my time at Northeastern was valuable because it provided me with a broad education. I took all sorts of courses in psychology, math and sociology to satisfy Gen. Ed. requirements. I’ve been shocked by how often I use things I learned in those classes.
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TC: What do you look for in an employee in this field?
CL: It sounds cliché, but we really want good people. We’re not seeking experienced construction workers; in fact, we want the opposite. We’re looking for fresh, new talent that we can help mold. People who care about the environment, think outside the box, and are willing to work hard. This field has a high turnover rate; it’s a physically difficult job and it requires a lot of attention to detail. However, our company has had a high retention rate. I think it’s because we care about our employees and clients.
TC: What made you integrate sustainability into your business/go into a green industry?
CL: Well, it’s obvious to us that the insulation business is changing. As technology improves and people become more educated about environmental issues, there’s going to be an increased demand for eco-friendly insulation. Green Cocoon saw an opportunity and filled a void in the market. Green Cocoon has been on the cutting edge of the green insulation movement since the beginning.
TC: What are you most proud of in your business as relates to sustainability?
CL: Well, sustainability in the insulation business is difficult. I compare using our products to driving a hybrid car; you’re decreasing your impact on the environment, but you’re still using up nonrenewable resources. However, people need insulation in their houses, so we offer them the best alternatives we can: soy-based spray foam, cellulose and even denim. I’m proud that we can offer these creative insulators that save our clients money and resources.
The Green Cocoon, Inc. is a green-certified business in the Green Alliance. For more info on Green Cocoon, visit their website. To learn more about the Green Alliance, go towww.greenalliance.biz.
