Hello. We are Plywood: an innovative community addressing social needs. We are always searching for social problems with the hope to match them with entrepreneurial creativity to organize, innovate, and manage ideas that produce change. We hope to foster conversations and collaboration between the privileged and those in need through educational environments, sustainable ventures, community places, social experiments, storytelling projects, cause marketing campaigns, and new consumption patterns. We live by the mantra: We will be known by the problems we solve.

Our Team
Jeff Shinabarger, Founder and Creative Director
Gisele Nelson, Project Manager
Marisa Wheatley, Gift Card Giver Manager
Kay Nwe, Manager of Billboard Bags
Russell Shaw, Designer

Board Members
Jeff Shinabarger
Andre Shinabarger
Brad Lomenick
Greg Gilbert
Rob Hunt
Matt DeWolf
Aaron Fortner
Jim Dudley

Blogger Team
Gisele Nelson, Blog Editor
Andre Shinabarger, Grady Memorial Hospital
Duncan McFadzean, Seven Men
James Pearson, Ember Arts
Leroy Barber, Mission Year
Cara Bowen, Cup of Joy Ministries
Deborah Lubbe, IDEX Fellowship
Jena Nardella, Blood:Water Mission
Kathryn Taylor, Organ Wise Guys
Joanna DeWolf, Editor
Leslie Slade, Texas Center for the Missing
Wendy Dickinson, GROW Counseling

WHAT WE DO
We believe that out of our excess we can address issues of need and suffering. Humanity deserves respect. Partnership with all people will only happen by bringing equality back to all. We hope to celebrate humanity through uniqueness and character of individuals. Communication about people groups must be done in an uplifting and positive positioning. We dare to bring hope and restoration to people through the introduction of new developing communities and groups.

These are the ways we are known by the problems we are solving.

Billboard Bags
We employ refugees who make bags out of billboards. We’re addressing social needs of job creation, language training, and the upcycling of discarded products.

Gift Card Giver
We collect unused/partially used gift cards, and give them to people and organizations in need. We are addressing social needs of hundreds of thousands of dollars going unused annually and taking a portion of those cards to help those who are struggling.

Education
We host a series of conferences and events to help educate non-profit leaders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who are working to make their ideas happen. We are addressing the issues of collaboration, content, and consulting.

Our Blog
We update our blog daily, focusing on highlighting other organizations/companies doing good work and providing compelling and inspiring content.

Plywood Retreat
A 3 day gathering of entrepreneurs focusing on business plans, inspiration, and content to make their idea happen.

Plywood Presents
An audience of 420 passionate influencers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and non-profit executives coming together for a one day conversation on the value of Social Innovation.

2011 Annual Report

Collaboration
Decentralized organizations can’t be stopped. We believe that through more complex and eclectic community, projects result in deeper thought, further in reach, and more holistic in nature. Community will instigate all creation. Loving our neighbors will be the heart of business, rooting a definitive presence in all materialization.

Local + Global
A new neighbor understanding is a reality. Globalization has brought a new responsibility to the idea of neighboring. Local communities must still prioritize passions. Without addressing the needs of both local and global communities, we are limiting the future of culture.

Beauty
Each creation should be crafted with a commitment to beauty and excellence. Artisans ought to be engaged in the process to help define the presentation style and swag with uniqueness and charm.

Environment
Sustainability is an essential presence. We are committed to a positive environmental impact of our actions through: solid waste reduction, limiting energy consumption, and creating new values in recycled materials. We believe that by creating through reusing, our story is creating a deeper economy and lasting impression.

More Than Profit
Bottom line success is evaluated through community, environment, and profit. The triple bottom line mindset fosters new forms of ventures that will redefine consumption and business standards. Creating the future will result in a deeper economy.