Jacquelyn Ottman papers, 1969-2024

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Summary

Creator:
Ottman, Jacquelyn A.
Abstract:
Jacquelyn Ottman is an author, advertising executive and consultant who specializes in environmentally responsible or "green" marketing, based in New York, N.Y. The collection includes books, clippings, correspondence, video and audio recordings, color photographs, presentation materials, client projects, business plans, branding materials, packaging, educational records and other materials that document Ottman's professional and personal life. Topics represented include environmental marketing strategies; women in advertising and marketing; local environmental community initiatives. Companies represented include Wells, Rich, Greene; Backer & Spielvogel; Scali, McCabe, Sloves; Ahern & Heussner; Seligman & Potterfield; the Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Agriculture, General Electric, IBM, HSBC, NCR, Nike, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Hefty (Reynolds), Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, L'Oréal, and Green Seal. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
16.9 Gigabytes
15.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English, Chinese, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish.
Research Center:
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Collection ID:
RL.13086

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes books, clippings, correspondence, video and audio recordings, color photographs, presentation materials, client projects, business plans, branding materials, packaging, educational records and other materials that document Ottman's professional and personal life. Topics represented include environmental marketing strategies; women in advertising and marketing; local environmental community initiatives. Companies represented include Wells, Rich, Greene; Backer & Spielvogel; Scali, McCabe, Sloves; Ahern & Heussner; Seligman & Potterfield; the Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Agriculture, General Electric, IBM, HSBC, NCR, Nike, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Hefty (Reynolds), Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, L'Oréal, and Green Seal.

Biographical / historical:

Jacquelyn Ottman is an author, advertising executive and consultant who specializes in environmentally responsible or "green" marketing, based in New York, N.Y.

Jacquelyn Ottman was born in Flushing, Queens, NYC, on July 28, 1955. She attended Convent of the Sacred Heart high school, then Smith College, graduating in 1977 with an A.B. degree in Art History. After graduating, Ottman worked at Wells, Rich, Greene advertising agency (1977-1983), serving as Assistant to the Director, and later Director of the Information Services Department. She also created and edited several editions of "Bits & Pieces", an internal newsletter about trends that circulated among the account, creative, and research teams.

Ottman worked at Backer & Spielvogel (1984) as a senior account executive on the NCR personal computer launch as well as the Foundation for Savings Institutions account. Ottman then moved to Scali, McCabe, Sloves agency (1985-1988) as an account supervisor for the Ralston Purina account (cat food, and the launch of Purina One, which went on to become the largest dog food brand in America). Ottman later worked for Ahern & Heussner (1988-1989) and as a contractor for Seligman & Potterfield in 1989. Ottman's contractor work involved researching key environmental issues affecting consumer goods marketers which resulted in "The Environmental Crisis: Implications for Marketers," a presentation focused on five emerging issues: air and water pollution, food contamination, the garbage crisis, and ozone layer depletion. Ottman presented this to several companies, including Clairol, D'Agostino Supermarkets, San Pellegrino water, PepsiCo waters, the National Association of Cloth Diapers Association, and Norelco, among others.

in 1989, Ottman opened her own consulting firm, J. Ottman Consulting, Inc. with the goal of "helping corporate America develop the next generation of products designed with the environment in mind." Over the course of her 25-year green marketing career, Ottman advised several U.S. government agencies, over 60 Fortune 500 companies, and many entrepreneurial firms and nonprofits, including the Environmental Protection Agency (development of the Energy Star label), the USDA (USDA Certified Biobased label), GE, IBM, HSBC, Colgate Palmolive, L'Oreal, and Green Seal. She has guided Fortune 500 clients and audiences worldwide in the nature-based principles of her proprietary Getting to Zero process.

Ottman published several books and articles on environmental marketing, including Green Marketing: Challenges and Opportunities for the New Marketing Age and The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools, and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding. In 2013, The Guardian recognized Jacquelyn Ottman as one of the top 30 most influential sustainability voices in America.

Acquisition information:
The Jacquelyn Ottman papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from Jacquelyn Ottman in 2024.
Processing information:

Processed by Brandee Newkirk, April, 2026;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2024-0073

Arrangement:

This collection is organized into the following series: Advertisng and Marketing Career; Books, Writings, Speeches, Presentations; Consulting; Examples of "Green" Products; Electronic Records; "Green" Marketing; Personal Papers; Print Advertising Tear Sheets; Audiovisual Materials.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Access note. Collection contains original audiovisual items that need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Jacquelyn Ottman papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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