|
|
| Staff Directory |
 |
|
Gary Wolff, Executive Director
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: GWolff@stopwaste.org
|
Bio: Gary Wolff, P.E., Ph.D., is the Executive Director of StopWaste.Org.
 From 2005 to 2009, he served as Vice Chair of the California Water Resources Control Board or as a member of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. From 2001 to 2006, he served as principal economist and engineer for the Pacific Institute for Studies in Environment, Development and Security.
Dr. Wolff is an expert in the economics and engineering of resource use; including materials management, energy, water supply and quality, and incentive policies. His professional career has included solar energy construction contracting, water quality and rights regulation, design engineer at a wastewater treatment plant, founder and president of an engineering consulting firm, a post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University, and a visiting professorship at the Graduate School of International Policy Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
His community service includes chair of the Castro Valley Sanitary District Community Advisory Committee, past president of the Alameda County Recycling Board, past chair of the East Bay Municipal Utility District Demand Management Advisory Committee, and past chair of the Board of WaterKeepers of Northern California (now SF Baykeeper).
Dr. Wolff received his Doctoral degree in Resource Economics from the University of California at Berkeley, his Masters Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and his Bachelors Degree in Renewable Energy Engineering Technology from Jordan College. A publications list is available upon request.
|
|
Rachel Balsley, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: rbalsley@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Rachel Balsley joined the agency in 2001 and has a number of responsibilities in business assistance, environmentally preferable purchasing and home compost bin distribution. She has previous experience in the recycling industry working for the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority and for the Campus Recycling and Refuse Services at UC Berkeley. Rachel also previously served on the Board of Directors of the Northern California Recycling Association and on the City of Berkeley Solid Waste Management Commission. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in BioResource Science. |
|
Cassie Bartholomew, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: cbartholomew@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Cassie joined the agency in 2004, and manages environmental education, school garden and composting programs for students and teachers. Ms. Bartholomew formerly managed environmental education and teen volunteer programs for the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. She brings over 15 years of experience developing and implementing and evaluating environmental education programs in the non-profit and public sector. Cassie holds a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Masters in Teaching from the University of San Francisco. |
|
Jeff Becerra, Communications Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: JBecerra@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Jeff Becerra joined StopWaste in 2010 and is responsible for overseeing the agency’s media and communications efforts. Jeff has more than 15 years of experience producing environmentally beneficial public outreach programs for businesses and residents. Before coming to StopWaste, Jeff was a Senior Public Information Representative at the East Bay Municipal Utility District and Director of Marketing at RIDES for Bay Area Commuters. Jeff holds a B.S. in Physical Education from U.C Berkeley. |
|
Pat Cabrera, Administrative Services Director
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: PCabrera@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Pat Cabrera joined the agency in 1998 as Administrative Services Director, and is responsible for managing and directing Human Resources, Information Services, Risk Management and Finance. She previously worked for the City of Albany as Finance and Administrative Services Director. She is a graduate of Mills College and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College. |
|
Arliss Dunn, Executive Assistant
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: ADunn@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Arliss Dunn joined the Agency in 2006 as part of the StopWaste administrative team. She has over fifteen years of administrative experience mostly in the non profit business enterprises sector. She attended Patten College where she studied Theology and religious studies. |
|
Teresa Eade, Senior Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: TEade@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Teresa Eade, Senior Program Manager, joined the agency staff in 1993, and has overseen the development and implementation of new programs that focus on organics and sustainable landscaping. Projects include creating a Home Composting Program with one the highest participation rates in the country to being a lead in the development of a comprehensive sustainable landscape standard. She is currently the lead staff person of the Bay-Friendly Landscape Program for Member Agencies where she oversees the development of public policy, technical assistance and grants. She holds a Bachelor’s of Art degree from U.C. Davis with in Political Science & Public Service. |
|
Nathan Greene, Administrative Assistant
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: NGreene@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Nathan Greene joined the agency in 2001 as an administrative assistant, where he serves as a primary point of public and telephone contact. His clerical and administrative duties include distribution of various recycling resource publications produced by the agency. Nathan holds a degree in audio engineering from the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Arizona and is currently pursuing a degree in biology through the Peralta Community Colleges. |
|
Cynthia Havstad, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: chavstad@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Cynthia Havstad joined the agency in 2005, where her responsibilities include education and outreach to the professional landscaper on Bay-Friendly Landscaping, as well as assisting in the implementation of the Bay-Friendly Landscaping for Member Agencies. She brings more than 15 years of experience in composting education and technical assistance and has contributed to the Bay-Friendly Landscaping Program at StopWaste.Org since its inception. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agronomy from Colorado State University and a Master of Science degree from UC Davis in International Agricultural Development, specializing in sustainable agriculture. |
|
Anette Henderson, Aministrative Assistant
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: AHenderson@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Anette Henderson joined the Agency in 2006 as an office assistant. She has over 10 years of administrative experience, mostly in the non-profit business enterprises sector. She has a degree from Stureskolan College in Sweden and speaks Swedish fluently. |
|
Debra Kaufman, Senior Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: DKaufman@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Debra Kaufman joined the agency in 2001. She previously served as the Recycling Program Manager for the City of Berkeley, and has worked full-time in the waste management field since 1988. As the Senior Planner for the agency, her responsibilities include maintaining the Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan, assisting state agencies in developing recycling plans, and assistance to Alameda County in the area of recycled product purchases. Debra holds a degree from Rutgers College and earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from San Francisco State University. |
|
Karen Kho, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: kkho@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Karen Kho joined the agency in 2003, and manages a number of green building projects in both the residential and commercial sectors. Karen brings nearly a decade of professional experience, with an emphasis on environmental advocacy, community development and transportation policy. She was previously involved with the development of sustainable city policies for Urban Ecology, management of grants for the federal Empowerment Zones program, and development of legislation and regulations at the federal and regional level. Karen holds and a Bachelors Degree in Development Studies from U.C. Berkeley, and earned a Master’s degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. |
|
Justin Lehrer, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: JLehrer@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Justin Lehrer joined the agency in 2004, and works with business assistance programs, waste prevention planning, and home composting bin distribution. He previously worked for the County of San Mateo as the County Facilities Recycling Coordinator and for Booz-Allen & Hamilton as a consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He also brings private sector experience including management roles in the software industry. Justin currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Northern California Recycling Association. He graduated from the University of Vermont and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Natural Resources and Business Administration. |
|
Brian Mathews, Senior Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: BMathews@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Brian Mathews has been with the agency since 1997. He brings over a decade of private sector experience managing large-scale composting facilities with expertise in material recovery facility operations, food-processing, organics processing and marketing. Brian is also involved with the agency’s buy-recycled and grants programs. He is a graduate of California State University, San Jose, and holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco. |
|
Roberta Miller, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: RMiller@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Roberta Miller joined the agency in 1995 and has wide ranging responsibilities in the areas of contract management, administration and the agency schools programs. Prior to developing the agency’s first schools program, she worked for San Francisco Unified School District and taught in the Castro Valley School District for five years. Roberta is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento, where she also earned a Master's degree in Education. She also holds a Secondary Teaching Credential in Social Studies, and a Certificate in Integrated Solid Waste Management from U.C. Berkeley Extension. |
|
Jeanne Nader, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: jnader@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Jeanne Nader joined the agency in 2001, where her duties include public education and outreach efforts on home composting, grasscycling and other organic recycling programs. She brings nearly two decades of experience as a community organizer in the non-profit sector, with emphasis on affordable housing, youth development, land use and health care. Jeanne holds a degree in Radio, Television and Motion Picture Production from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. |
|
Chinwe Omani-Venable, Executive Assistant
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: comani@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Chinwe Omani joined the agency in 2001. In her capacity as Office Assistant she provides support services to agency staff and also serves as a primary point of public contact. Her duties also include management of distribution and payment systems for the agency’s home compost bin program and maintenance of the waste diversion and disposal accounting system. Chinwe is a native of Nigeria and holds a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations from California State University, Hayward. |
|
Tom Padia, Source Reduction and Recycling Director
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: TPadia@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Tom Padia has been with the agency since 1991, where he serves as the lead staff member for numerous source reduction and recycling programs. He has been the primary staff liaison to the Source Reduction and Recycling Board since its inception in 1993 and was a delegate to the White House Conference on the future of recycling in 1998. His twenty-five years of experience in the recycling and waste management field includes service in the public, private and non-profit sectors, and he was General Manager of a privately held company recycling 10,000 tons per month of materials. Tom holds a degree in Economics from U.C. Santa Cruz. |
|
Gina Peters, Finance Officer
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: GPeters@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Gina Peters joined the agency in 2000 as Finance Officer, where her duties include budget development, fiscal operations, implementation of agency goals and objectives and development of financial systems. She brings experience in both the private and public sectors. Gina holds a degree in Business Administration from Indiana University. |
|
Robin Plutchok, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: RPlutchok@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Robin Plutchok joined the agency in 2001, and has a number of varied program responsibilities -- including organics, compost bin distribution, incentives programs and multi-family recycling. She brings private sector environmental experience in the water quality and hazardous waste management field, with an emphasis on public information and outreach. Robin previously served as an environmental educator with the U.S. Peace Corps in Paraguay, and holds a degree in Theatre & Dance from Amherst College. |
|
Jeanine Sidran, Education Center Coordinator
|
|
Phone: 510-563-4282
|
|
Email: JSidran@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Jeanine Sidran joined the agency in 2008, and coordinates the iRecycle@School Education Center and field trip programs. She brings over 15 years of informal education program delivery and management for pre-K-12 and adults. She previously worked with Hayward Area Historical Society, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Bay Area Discovery Museum and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Jeanine graduated from University of California Santa Cruz, pursued a Master’s in Cultural Anthropology, holds a Nonprofit Management Certificate from California State University East Bay, and is a Master Gardener and Master Composter. She is currently working on her Masters in Teacher Education and Teaching Credential through University of San Francisco. |
|
Janet Smartt, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: JSmartt@StopWaste.Org
|
| Bio: Janet joined the agency in 2009 and works with business assistance programs, waste prevention planning, and the revolving loan fund. She previously worked for Contra Costa County Public Works Department as the Communications and Outreach Manager for the Keep the Delta Clean campaign. She also brings private sector experience as a former marketing project manager for Publicis Dialog advertising agency. Janet previously served on the Berkeley Zero Waste Commission. She received her Masters of Business Administration in Sustainable Management from the Presidio Graduate School and her Bachelors Degree in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin. |
|
Meri Soll, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: MSoll@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Meri Soll joined the agency in 1996, with previous environmental experience in both the public and private sectors. Meri serves as the primary contact with the building industry with responsibilities that include management of various green building projects including development of comprehensive residential Green Building Guidelines for the construction industry. She also manages a number of grants and resource assistance programs for businesses and public organizations. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. |
|
Wendy Sommer, Senior Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: WSommer@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Wendy Sommer has been with the agency since 1991 and manages numerous projects focusing on construction and demolition materials, green building practices, and public policy. She served as the primary liaison with Alameda County cities on development of solid waste contract and franchise agreements and creation of model policies and ordinances including a model Construction and Demolition Ordinance and model Civic Green Building Ordinance. She manages media-related projects, including website design and public outreach. Wendy brings two decades of public and private sector experience in the fields of planning and urban design. She holds an environmental planning degree from Sonoma State University and was actively involved in the formation of numerous organizations, including the Construction & Demolition Technical Council and Bay Area Build It Green. |
|
Mark Spencer, Senior Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: MSpencer@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Mark Spencer joined the Agency in 2007 as the senior program manager overseeing the K- 12 curriculum, school recycling and waste prevention education and outreach programs. Mark graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine and has a Ph.D. in Environmental Science Policy and Management from UC Berkeley. |
|
Meghan Starkey, Senior Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: MStarkey@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Meghan Starkey joined the agency in 1994. She brings fifteen years of public sector experience in affordable housing, public health, environmental education and communications. She is responsible for a number of administrative projects, disposal reporting system, and the Grants to Non-Profits Program. She is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in Social Studies. |
|
Wes Sullens, Program Manager
|
|
Phone: 510-891-6500
|
|
Email: WSullens@stopwaste.org
|
| Bio: Wes Sullens joined the Agency in 2006 as a Program Manager in the Green Building group. He brings over six years experience in the private sector where he was an energy and green building consultant. Wes managed a successful green building program in the San Diego area from 2004-2006, co-wrote the Multifamily GreenPoint Guidelines and Rating System, consulted on over 40 green building projects, and helped develop the GreenPoint Rated training curriculum. Current duties include supporting municipal, commercial and multifamily green building programs in Alameda County. He graduated from Sonoma State University in California with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Planning. |
|
|
