My work with manufacturing companies helps propel them along their sustainability journeys through clear, concise communication within and beyond their walls.
When I founded JLFG Communications in 2011, the focus was on content writing. I still write white papers, blogs, and other content for my clients.
After a decade in business, however, I decided to leverage my multifaceted background in engineering, journalism, writing, and teaching plus my passion for materials and sustainability to expand my reach and impact.
My business now offers workshops and training programs on sustainability and communications to manufacturers in a variety of industries. I also speak at industry conferences to share my message about the importance of aligning words and actions to advance environmental sustainability.
“It is always surprising to see the (low)statistics on the percentage of material that actually gets recycled. I’m glad to understand the importance of this matter, and what we can do personally and professionally to help to reduce waste.”
I became a professional writer via an unusual path. I started my career as an engineer in semiconductor packaging, where I found myself being the team member writing the reports for government contracts and the articles for publication in the industry magazines.
Materials have been the focus of my technical interests ever since college, after I took an introductory materials science course and became fascinated with the concept of tailoring a material's properties and function. I decided I had to get an advanced degree in materials science.
I migrated to journalism in the early 2000s, writing and editing for a trade journal back when print magazines could attract enough advertisers to stay in business. People I met at trade shows assumed that I had a degree in English. I loved seeing faces change when I told them I held a PhD in materials science from UC Berkeley.
My degrees give me credibility when talking with engineers and scientists. My engineering background enables me to read and understand technical articles. When I interview engineers and scientists, I ask questions until I understand their topic well enough to write for an audience of their peers or corporate executives.
I’m also the author of two award-winning books. Writing and publishing Material Value: More Sustainable, Less Wasteful Manufacturing of Everything from Cell Phones to Cleaning Products propelled my sustainability journey and built my reputation as an expert on materials and sustainability. That book, which was a finalist in the 2019 San Francisco Writing Contest, came out on Earth Day in 2019.
My second book, Rethink the Bins: Your Guide to Smart Recycling and Less Household Waste, earned a gold award from the Nonfiction Authors Association and was the featured Community Read for the city of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in spring 2021.
I love talking with people who are passionate about what they do and making sure their message gets through to those who need to hear it. When it comes to sustainability, messaging is tricky. My mission is to help manufacturing companies get it right.
“Julia brings her knowledge of science, excellent editorial skills, and project management experience to every assignment.”