Insight | Experience | Creativity
Elevating Transformative Technologies
We're a communications firm fully focused on the clean technology industry.
Build your Brand
Our team expertly works with your business to unpack the phases of the buyer's journey, discover key market insights and trends, enhance demand generation, and convert leads to sales by providing value in a human and helpful way.
Meet Your Team
Our versatile team of marketers, programmers, content specialists and designers is led by Ellen Backus, an industry professional with extensive experience in developing powerful, impactful campaigns that drive results.
PR & Media at its Best
Let's work together to develop your brand narrative and strategically position your organization for success. We'll execute on a combination of thought leadership and targeted media relations to improve perceptions and enhance understanding.
Perspectives
“I see CleanTerra and Merit Controls as strategic partners. We are fortunate to have found this synergistic relationship. I continue to be impressed with your industry understanding, willingness to get into the technical lexicon and intellectual curiosity. You’ve helped us craft our capabilities into messages that can encourage our stakeholders to act, or at least better understand what we are trying to achieve.”
~Tom Kuster, CEO, Merit SI, LLC
“When I was VP of Marketing at Bottomline Technologies, a financial services tech start-up, Ellen worked tirelessly side-by-side with me to increase recognition and grow our business. During that time, we went from an emerging company to the recognized leader in our business sector – and eventually went public. Having Ellen work in-house with her expertise in media cultivation and speaking engagements was a huge value-add to our team.”
~ Phil Grannan, former VP of Marketing, Bottomline Technologies
“Ellen and I worked together on several initiatives on behalf of SMA-America, including promotion of a unique, award-winning solar project in Illinois, and a media outreach and social campaign highlighting a donated solar array for a New Jersey-based food pantry. I found Ellen and the CTC team to be responsive, focused and collaborative. Her knowledge of the renewables industry, excellent media connections and executional capacities ensured a successful partnership. I’m looking forward to working with Ellen and her team in the future!”
~Trish Moratto, CEO, Impressions Strategic Consulting
“You can trust Ellen and the CTC team to execute on their job, leaving you to focus on yours. Her ability to seamlessly coordinate, develop and execute on strategy, and troubleshoot unforeseen issues on the fly is astounding. It is hard to overstate how effective Ellen is at accomplishing the goals you set out to achieve.”
~Lewis Butler, Director of Sales, Simpleray
Perspectives on Ellen²
“I see CleanTerra and Merit Controls as strategic partners. We are fortunate to have found this synergistic relationship. I continue to be impressed with your industry understanding, willingness to get into the technical lexicon and intellectual curiosity. You’ve helped us craft our capabilities into messages that can encourage our stakeholders to act, or at least better understand what we are trying to achieve.”
~Tom Kuster, CEO, Merit SI, LLC
“When I was VP of Marketing at Bottomline Technologies, a financial services tech start-up, Ellen worked tirelessly side-by-side with me to increase recognition and grow our business. During that time, we went from an emerging company to the recognized leader in our business sector – and eventually went public. Having Ellen work in-house with her expertise in media cultivation and speaking engagements was a huge value-add to our team.”
~ Phil Grannan, former VP of Marketing, Bottomline Technologies
“Ellen is an excellent business development and strategic marketing professional. She was very successful in building relationships in a new market vertical we wanted to expand into that led to new customer sales. She designed and led a number of major marketing events that involved prominent venues, special setups, senior level visits and focused messaging.”
~ Chris Bade Analogic Corp. & boss at L-3 Security Detection Division
“Ellen is a seasoned public communicator, and her experience shows. She was the top spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration when I was Homeland Security Correspondent for CNN. We talked, at the very least, several times a week, often in high-pressure, high-stakes situations. A calm demeanor and professionalism were essential. Ellen never disappointed. I valued her candor and honesty, even when dealing with thorny issues.”
~ Jeanne Meserve, Award winning journalist, now at CTV
“Ellen’s leadership of TSA’s Public Affairs Office transformed the way in which TSA worked with the media. Her insistence on transparency, credibility, and straight answers – provided in time to be useful – all resulted in better coverage of TSA issues. Ellen’s innovation is well documented: Traveler focus groups, www.tsa.gov, the Blog, and the Ad Council public education campaign are all good examples. Less well known is the way she mentored and developed the Public Affairs staff at TSA. The results speak for themselves when you consider the broad and consistent positive news coverage generated and the rapid response use of the web to inform and correct factual errors in reporting. We thank Ellen for her superb work on behalf of TSA. It was a true honor to serve alongside her. “
~ Kip Hawley TSA Administrator 2005-2009
“Ellen and I worked together on several initiatives on behalf of SMA-America, including promotion of a unique, award-winning solar project in Illinois, and a media outreach and social campaign highlighting a donated solar array for a New Jersey-based food pantry. I found Ellen and the CTC team to be responsive, focused and collaborative. Her knowledge of the renewables industry, excellent media connections and executional capacities ensured a successful partnership. I’m looking forward to working with Ellen and her team in the future!”
~Trish Moratto, CEO, Impressions Strategic Consulting
“Ellen’s leadership of TSA’s Public Affairs Office transformed the way in which TSA worked with the media. Her insistence on transparency, credibility, and straight answers – provided in time to be useful – all resulted in better coverage of TSA issues. Ellen’s innovation is well documented: Traveler focus groups, www.tsa.gov, the Blog, and the Ad Council public education campaign are all good examples. Less well known is the way she mentored and developed the Public Affairs staff at TSA. The results speak for themselves when you consider the broad and consistent positive news coverage generated and the rapid response use of the web to inform and correct factual errors in reporting. We thank Ellen for her superb work on behalf of TSA. It was a true honor to serve alongside her. ”
~ Kip Hawley TSA Administrator 2005-2009
“You can trust Ellen and the CTC team to execute on their job, leaving you to focus on yours. Her ability to seamlessly coordinate, develop and execute on strategy, and troubleshoot unforeseen issues on the fly is astounding. It is hard to overstate how effective Ellen is at accomplishing the goals you set out to achieve.”
~Lewis Butler, Director of Sales, Simpleray
BUILT executive visibility campaigns to establish credibility and authority for leaders in the solar, storage and microgrid sectors.
CRAFTED POSITIONING to differentiate corporate brands as well as the personal brands of investors, consultants and legal experts.
ENGAGED stakeholders on a global and hyper-local community level to foster trust in new product offerings.
LAUNCHED strategic communications campaigns to define corporate brands and engage investors
CRAFTED STAKEHOLDER MAPPING AND DROVE ACTIVATION for existing and prospective members
DEVELOPED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS with academics, federal and local government, NGOs, think tanks, grassroots organizers and more
COLLABORATED with influencers on reports, speaking platforms and third-party validation
PRODUCED AND SUPPORTED conferences and smaller events for NGOs and industry organizations