Joseph Button

How long have you worked at Straus?
More than six years.

What is your favorite Straus product?
I like to start my day with vanilla Greek yogurt topped with fruit and granola, but the real magic happens at dessert when I have Dutch chocolate and cookies and cream ice cream.

How did you get here? What did you do before?
Practically speaking, my wife, kids, and myself drove north from Monterey to Petaluma. Three hours from fish town to cow town. I have an educational background in global business and international environmental policy. I’ve worked in a variety of fields (energy, climate, localized business consulting, and international humanitarian development) that have prepared me for an opportunity like this.

What do you like about working at Straus?
Doing sustainability well is a constant challenge. I like that. There is nothing simple about making decisions that impact the long-term traditional success of a business while co-valuing the health of the environment, and the well-being of the community members and value chain stakeholders that are involved or impacted by our business. There is tremendous potential within the business sector to make transformational changes to the way our society works, for the betterment of people and the environment. Straus Family Creamery is focused on realizing this potential, and that is why I enjoy working here.

What do you do in your free time?
On an ideal day, I’ll get to make dinner and talk the day away with my wife. I spend most of my time playing with my kids and acting out their imaginations. On the weekends, it’s always fun to explore a Sonoma County regional park and enjoy nature. There is also this fleeting memory of being an active soccer player. That sounds fun too.

Where have you lived most of your life?
By length of time: Western Washington, California, and Washington D.C.