Michelle L. Livingston

Marketing director, Buffalo Exchange

Age: 38

Community involvement: Center for Retailing at the University of Arizona, mentor; Tucson Unified School District Professional Internship Program, mentor; Humane Society of the United States; American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Surfrider Foundation; Community Foundation for Southern Arizona

Music you're listening to: Myths of the Near Future, the debut album by Klaxons, a British dance-punk band

Best advice you could give: Let inspiration and opportunity guide you, but don't let irrelevant tangents take you off course.

A word from the nominator: "By organizing Earth Day benefits and promoting Buffalo Exchange's green practices as a sustainable company, Michelle has learned how cause marketing builds brand value and connects to teens and college students, who are increasingly attracted to brands that demonstrate social consciousness." - Lydia Kennedy, human resources director, Buffalo Exchange, and 2006 40 Under 40 winner