Julie Montgomery is the founder of Sage Principles, a sustainability consulting business in Santa Rosa that helps small and medium size businesses in Sonoma County improve their environmental performance.

Prior to starting her own business, Julie was a Peace Corps volunteer in the South Pacific island-nation of Vanuatu. That may sound like a tropical paradise but it was more like Survivor in Wonderland. She served as a Small Business Advisor to 1,600 islanders, teaching them how to start small income generating projects like weaving mats and raising chickens. She also coordinated community projects like building a bridge and replacing a water tank.

After returning home, Julie directed her global interests locally and set out to have an impact on humanity by changing the way business operates. Through her business she is helping local businesses decrease their reliance on fossil fuels, use less water, reduce their waste, and generally be smarter with their resources.

Besides running her business, Julie is co-Chair of Refer Local, the Sonoma County GoLocal Cooperative’s referral and networking program promoting local patronage of Sonoma County businesses. She is a Leadership Santa Rosa graduate, Class XXVI and chaired the program’s Green Issues & Opportunities Day.

Julie holds a B.A. in International Peace & Conflict Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. She is also a Certified Sustainability Professional through the International Society of Sustainability Professionals. And she has completed one year of Dominican University’s GreenMBA program.

When not working or volunteering in the community, Julie enjoys running, biking and winetasting in the beautiful wine country. She lives in Santa Rosa with her sweetheart, as well as her two teenage stepdaughters.