Maria Surma Manka brings an extensive background of energy communications, environmental expertise and social media experience to Tunheim Partners. She joined the firm in 2007 and has showcased her writing, coalition building, and special event organizing work for Fortune 50 corporations, nonprofits, and small business clients.
Marias client list includes U.S. Energy, Minnesota Environmental Initiative, Telvent and Ingersoll Rand. Whether advising on social media strategies or executing a multimillion-dollar workplace giving campaign, her hunger for knowledge and sense of fun keeps her motivated. Prior to joining Tunheim Partners, Maria worked for Fresh Energy, a nonprofit energy policy organization. She coordinated media relations for a coalition of 40 nongovernmental organizations across the Upper Midwest and wrote commentary and opinion pieces published across the region.
Since 2006, Maria has covered energy policy and cleantech innovations for her blog, Maria Energia, is a current podcast contributor to Earth and Industry and was named one of 16 women you must follow on Twitter for green business. She is also a past contributor to the blog network formerly known as Green Options and her writings have appeared throughout the green blogosphere.
Maria graduated summa cum laude from Hamline University with bachelor degrees in political science and Spanish. She serves on the boards of directors of EcoEducation and Clean Water Action of Minnesota. Maria is a novice scuba diver, a traveler, and loves anything related to food: growing it, hunting it, cooking it, eating it. She appears as a riveted audience member in the film An Inconvenient Truth.
