Escaping from the winter weather and finding a place to run, build new connections and think creatively are among the reasons why two of the owners of Earth Forward Group are in Bermuda this weekend.

“We like that running helps clear our minds of all the other things going on in our busy lives,” said Michele Aquino.

“Running helps us drop everything to focus on being in the moment or to think creatively about problems we are trying to solve. After a nice long run, we return home energised and more equipped to focus on our work”

He plans to run in the half-marathon, while Diana McCarthy-Bercury, chief executive officer of Earth Forward Group, will be running in the 10K.

The founders of the group met during graduate studies at Columbia University. They combined their professional experiences in renewable energy, workforce development, food systems, supply chain management and finance, to form the company in 2015.

“Our primary goal is to help clients initiate, improve or increase sustainability practices in their business models and operations. We have offices in Connecticut and New York,” Aquino said.

The group provides research, advisory and sustainability management consulting services in the public, private and non-profit sectors. It has worked with clients involved in renewable energy, water services, food production, education and policy issues.

Earth Forward Group staff have run casually in various races that support charities. Aquino has been road and trail running about 15 years now, since his college days. He has participated in the Broad Street Run, and the Philadelphia half-marathon and marathon. In May he did the Maine Coast Half-Marathon.

When asked why he and McCarthy-Bercury had decided to come to Bermuda to run, he said: “We are big fans of Bermuda, and one of our founding partners has visited multiple times, for pleasure and study. We decided to participate in the Bermuda Marathon Weekend events to take a break from winter weather and to build connections with more people in Bermuda.”

Aquino added that Earth Forward Group could help contribute to Bermuda’s social, environmental and economic sustainability planning.

He said he and McCarthy-Bercury are looking forward to enjoying the running weekend.

“As our running has slowed a bit since the college days, we also now enjoy road running as a great way to see new destinations. If we are going to challenge our bodies for a distance race, why not see someplace beautiful at the same time … a place like Bermuda.”

For information on Earth Forward Group, visit www.earthforwardgroup.com, or go to Twitter @earthforwardgrp.