Building an Organization around People

Maybe we should have built a strategic plan to identify the most important work we should do and then find people to do it. But that’s not us. We have our main strategies. And the constraints that funder interests create. But within those limits, we try to find people who have awesome potential to make the world a better place and who clearly have superpowers that can contribute to faster environmental progress. We try to figure out how to help them do their best work by adapting what we do to match their potential. Our staff and consultants are not replaceable – they are special and their contributions are one of a kind.

Staff

Garrett Altmann, Western Restoration Program Manager

Joya Banerjee, Senior Advisor

Steve Barr, National Funding Navigator Manger

Mariah Black Bird, Tribal Mitigation Policy Manager

Garrett headshot

Garrett Altmann

Western Restoration Program Manager

Garrett joined EPIC in 2022 as the Western Restoration Program Manager. He brings a unique combination of education, experience, and enthusiasm to restore ecosystems for both local and global good. Garrett will be part of the Restoration Economy Center, working to help underserved communities and tribes access funding from DOT’s $1B culvert restoration grant program. Before joining EPIC, Garrett worked with the Santa Clara Pueblo- a Native American Tribe in New Mexico, where he integrated nature-based solutions and Indigenous knowledge to develop nationally recognized restoration projects. Garrett received his B.A. in Geography from UC Santa Barbara and his M.Sc. in Natural Resource Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Hello and welcome to my ‘fun’ bio. Here you will learn that what drives me is my passion for wild places and re-wilding those that have become impaired. I grew up in the coastal and intermountain west, experiencing firsthand the benefits of these places, and developing an understanding of how they’re changing. Natural systems provide habitat and biodiversity, that in turn, regulate climate, enhance our health and keep us resilient. They also offer unlimited recreation opportunities, which is what I especially enjoy- skiing, fishing, and spending time outdoors with my wife and two young sons.

garrett@policyinnovation.org

Joya Banerjee

Joya Banerjee

Senior Advisor for Water

Before her work in philanthropy, Joya was an attorney at Latham & Watkins and worked for the City of New York. She is a board member for the newly formed state California Water Data Consortium, the San Francisco-based 826 Valencia, and the Center for Diversity and the Environment. Joya also serves on the OpenET and Stanford Water in the West advisory boards. Joya enjoys climbing trees and building driftwood forts with her two boys.

Joya provides strategic counsel to social change leaders and organizations, with a particular focus on breaking down silos, building field capacity, and developing new partnerships. Joya led the Environment Program at the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation where she developed a ten-year grantmaking portfolio designed to advance a more sustainable, equitable water system that can meet the needs of people and nature and adapt to the stressors of climate change. She is also a Senior Fellow with the US Water Alliance.

steve

Steve Barr

Funding Navigator National Manager

Steve joined EPIC in 2022 as the National Funding Navigator Manager and works primarily on technical assistance provision in the development of water infrastructure projects for overburdened communities. Prior to joining EPIC, he worked for the American Water Works Association on the Community Engineering Corps program managing volunteer engineering assistance for small and disadvantaged community infrastructure projects. Steve has experience in the international development and environmental engineering industries, having received his B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and his M.Sc. in Science, Technology, and International Development from the University of Edinburgh.

My roots are in Southern California, where I grew up filling my life with music and backpacking and canoeing. In college I began to work on water and sanitation international development projects, which led me to Cameroon, Benin, Palestine, Thailand, Honduras, and Nigeria. My wife and I got engaged at a music festival in the Highlands of Scotland, and after our daughter was born we moved from San Diego, to Vermont, and eventually to Colorado. We live in a cohousing community, I’m a Councilmember for the City of Littleton, and fill my days being a husband and parent, disc golfing, biking, and keeping our dog entertained.

sbarr@policyinnovation.org

Mariah

Mariah Black Bird

Manager, Tribal Mitigation Policy

Mariah joined EPIC in 2021 as a Tribal Mitigation Policy Manager, specialized in Federal Indian Law and Tribal natural resources. She works to expand and build EPIC’s natural resource mitigation efforts into Tribal nations and create opportunities for compensatory mitigation policies for ecological restoration on Tribal lands and for Tribal trust resources. Mariah holds a Juris Doctorate degree from ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, with an Indian Law certificate and Bachelor of Arts in Tribal law from Oglala Lakota College.

I’m Mariah. I am member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, born and raised on the reservation. As well as a first-generation law school graduate. My goal is to be a voice for Tribal nations in the pursuit of environmental justice. I believe water and land should be a clean and protected resource for all walks of life.

mariah@policyinnovation.org

Phil Cork,
Water Data Scientist

Maureen Cunningham, Chief Strategy Officer & Director of Water

Grace Edinger, Senior Manager, Restoration Economy Center

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Phil Cork

Water Data Scientist

Phil is a Water Data Scientist at EPIC. His work involves using data-driven solutions to bolster equitable access to clean water and support the EPIC team. Previously, Phil served as a research assistant and data analyst. His projects included building spatial data tools for promoting environmental justice, analyzing racial disparities in drug arrests, and designing predictive models to help students maintain their scholarships. He holds a B.S. in Data Science from the College of Charleston and a B.S. in Music Industry Studies from Loyola University New Orleans. Phil is pursuing a master’s degree in Data Science for Public Policy from the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.

I’m Phil, a New Orleans native raised in south Alabama. I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree in Data Science for Public Policy at Georgetown University. At EPIC, I’m excited to use data science to advocate for environmental justice and equitable access to clean water. In my free time, you’ll find me rooting for the New Orleans Saints, writing, playing board games, or exploring our D.C. neighborhood with my wife and our two senior dogs.

pcork@policyinnovation.org

Maureen

Maureen Cunningham

Chief Strategy Officer & Director of Water Strategy

Maureen is the Chief Strategy Officer & Director of Water Strategy of EPIC. Prior to joining EPIC in 2020, Maureen was Senior Director for Clean Water at Environmental Advocates NY, where she championed statewide legislation and policies, and Executive Director of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, where she helped dozens of community groups protect their water resources. Maureen holds a master’s degree from the Yale School of the Environment and a bachelor’s degree from The American University. Maureen also serves as a Town Councilmember outside of Albany, NY.

After working and studying around the world, I’m back where I started: upstate New York. A graduate of the Yale School of the Environment and American University and a local elected official, I’m focused on helping organizations grow and communities participate in the pursuit of greater social and environmental justice. I believe that water should be clean, accessible and affordable, and I’m committed to creating the partnerships, policies, and creative solutions to make that happen. For me, it starts with the water I dream about - beautiful Adirondack lakes and the mighty Hudson River - and ends with clean water for all.

maureen@policyinnovation.org

Grace

Grace Edinger

Senior Manager, Restoration Economy Center

Grace joined the Environmental Policy Innovation Center in 2022 as the Senior Manager of the Restoration Economy Center. Prior to working at EPIC, Grace served as the Chief Program Officer for the national nonprofit Earth Force, that works to engage people in environmental policy development. In addition, she has served in advisory roles for multiple environmental coalitions and is a County Commissioner for her local community’s Parks & Recreation department. Her experience in public service, ecosystem research, and data communication culminates in her work here at EPIC, where she researches and writes recommendations that focus on restoration’s role in improving systems, policies, and processes. Grace holds a Bachelor's degree in Zoology specializing in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from Michigan State University, as well as a Masters in Biology specializing in ecosystem health from the University of Alabama.

I’m Grace. An unbridled curiosity and drive to strengthen the connection between our natural and developed worlds began my journey in zoological and ecosystem research. Quickly realizing that real change happened in the application of science, I pivoted to focus on advocating for scientifically informed environmental policy. With a history in education and science communication, I act as a public servant in my local community, working to bring diverse groups of people to the decision-making table. At the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, I’m Senior Manager of the Restoration Economy Center where I explore restoration’s role in mitigating the effects of Climate Change. My favorite days are spent in the woods, underwater, playing games, or on the fencing strip.

grace@policyinnovation.org

Phoebe Higgins, Director of Markets

Harry Huntley,
Senior Agricultural
Policy Analyst

Breeana Gonzalez, Water Policy Associate

Phoebe

Phoebe Higgins

Director of Markets

Phoebe joined Environmental Policy Innovation Center after nearly 10 years at Environmental Defense Fund, where she directed the California Fisheries Fund, an award-winning $3.5-million revolving loan fund financing sustainable commercial fishing on the US West Coast. Her work focused on lending to commercial fishing operations to improve their business efficiency while reducing environmental impact, as well as financing California’s first fishing quota banks. Phoebe also worked on sustainable fisheries finance strategy together with teams in Mexico, Chile, the Philippines and South Pacific Islands. She has served as an impact advisor to entrepreneurs participating in seafood business plan competitions. Prior to EDF, Phoebe was the Sustainable Programs Director at a community bank in Oakland, California. She holds a BA in Russian Studies from Carleton College and a Green MBA in Sustainable Entrepreneurship from Dominican University of California.

I grew up in Montana where I fell in love with mountains, nature and winter. A passion for social justice led me to community organizing in Minneapolis and San Francisco, and an MBA in social entrepreneurship. Combining my interests in food systems and finance I ran a loan program for commercial fishermen engaged in sustainable fishing at EDF. I’m fired up to expand conservation and social prosperity through work on markets and finance. I’m a travel and language enthusiast, and after time in Italy, I learned how to make more than 20 styles of Italian pasta by hand.

phiggins@policyinnovation.org

Harry

Harry Huntley

Senior Analyst for Agriculture Policy

Harry previously worked for the Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology and the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership, focusing on advancing policy to increase the use of land conservation and agricultural BMPs, including nutrient pollution trading. He graduated from college with many diverse experiences related to agriculture and environmental policy. His passion for the outdoors began working on three different organic farms, but he felt the necessary changes must be made systemically. So, to gain policy experience he interned with the National Association for State Departments of Agriculture and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Throughout college, Harry managed field work for a research study focused on the effects of cover crop planting time on nitrogen leaching. He also worked directly on policy advocacy with the National Farmers Union. Harry has volunteered on political campaigns from presidential- to city council-level focusing mostly on communications.

Despite growing up in urban Baltimore, I’ve had a love of farming from my first visit to a farmers’ market on my dad's shoulders. Senate Agriculture Committee and National Associate of State Agriculture Agencies intern. Research experience on cover crops and nitrogen leaching. Economics and agricultural science degree. Past employee and huge fan of the Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology and Chesapeake Conservation Partnership. I’m an avid gardener and cook, and my favorite vegetable is Chinese Red Noodle Beans.

hhuntley@policyinnovation.org

Breeana

Breeana Gonzalez

Water Policy Associate

Breeana is a Spring 2022 graduate from Texas A&M University where she studied Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST). During her undergraduate education, she held several leadership positions, mentored incoming freshmen and transfer students, and was actively involved in serving her community through various service projects. Before joining EPIC, Breeana interned at Wine To Water, a nonprofit organization focused on providing clean water to those who are in need through the usage of water filters and training about sustainable WASH practices. While at Wine To Water, she built the foundation of their emergency response training modules that will be used throughout the organization’s domestic and international offices. She has also interned with USAID Tanzania where she used her background in GIST to help improve implementation partner activity tracking and Covid-19 vaccine distribution tracking throughout the country. At her university, she was president of her student chapter of Wine To Water that focused on fundraising for filter build events, raising awareness about the global water crisis, and organizing domestic emergency response deployments following natural disasters. She was also president of the Texas A&M Geographical Society, a YouthMappers organization that aims to improve data literacy and improve spatial science awareness for students around the globe.

I’m Breeana. I am passionate about people and the environment, and I thrive on making connections with the world around me. Growing up in Houston, I have seen the lasting effects natural and man made hazards can have on the environment, and I am ready to dive in and make a difference. I studied Geographic Information Science and Technology at Texas A&M University and have found my passion for water equity through student organizations and internships with USAID and various nonprofit organizations. Here at EPIC, I strive to further environmental policy and improve accessibility to clean water for all.

breeana@policyinnovation.org

Kavita Kapur Macleod, Conservation & Environmental Markets Fellow

Becca Madsen, Director Restoration Economy Center

Jessie Mahr, Director of Technology

Kavita

Kavita Kapur Macleod

Conservation & Environmental Markets Fellow

Kavita has over a decade of environmental consulting experience conducting analysis around environmental policy issues and integrating economic, scientific, and policy considerations for public, private, and NGO institutions both domestically and internationally. Kavita has managed and conducted regulatory, economic, and technical analysis and support for a variety of clients, including the World Bank, the Jane Goodall Foundation, the US EPA, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the US Coast Guard. Kavita holds a BA in International Relations/Minor in Art History from Tufts University and an MPP from Harvard University, where she studied environmental economics, science, and policy.

I developed a love for the outdoors and protected places through a childhood spent around the mountains and coasts of New England. My degrees (and my Red Sox allegiance) come from Boston, studying international development and environmental economics. I have worked across environmental sectors: endangered species conservation, pollution prevention and regulation, water economics and regulation, and forestry conservation and policy. I focus on all things related to data tech and economics and how they can speed the pace and efficacy of conservation. Swimmer. Sailor. I love the ocean and jump in whenever I can. I can't be around horses enough.

kavita@policyinnovation.org

becca

Becca Madsen

Director, Restoration Economy Center

Becca Madsen has over 15 years of experience analyzing issues at the intersection of natural resources and economics. She has analyzed and written on topics ranging from data science applications to environmental issues, to global biodiversity offset policies, to feasibility of water quality trading in the Chesapeake Bay. Prior to joining EPIC, she spent nine years managing and conducting research on a wide range of topics related to natural resources at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Prior to EPRI, Ms. Madsen worked for Ecosystem Marketplace, the US Forest Service, local government in North Texas, and the Peace Corps. Ms. Madsen holds a B.A in business administration from the University of South Carolina Honors College and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University. Ms. Madsen was a Doris Duke Conservation Fellow, a Presidential Management Fellow, and a PERC Enviropreneur Fellow.

Hi, I’m Becca. I grew up watching David Attenborough documentaries and thought that someday I too would emerge from the ocean in scuba gear to talk about stromatolites and life on earth. But my career path turned when I encountered what my professor called “groovy economics” (environmental economics). It all turned out well because I love the intersection of natural resources and economics. I’ve worked for small government, big government, nonprofits, business, and myself. One of my favorite career projects was tracking the use of biodiversity offset and compensation programs around the world. More recently, I’ve been intrigued by opportunities to tap into data science to solve environmental issues. I like trail running even though I’m super slow. Do-er, connector, learner, borderline ENTJ/INTJ. Love great science communication - give me a book or podcast recommendation!

becca@policyinnovation.org

Jessie

Jessie Mahr

Director of Technology

Jessie is the Director of Technology at EPIC. Prior to joining EPIC, she led business development and strategy for Upstream Tech, a technology start-up that uses satellite imagery to monitor and evaluate natural resources. She has also worked on programs related to regional planning for wetlands restoration and urban climate change resilience for the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration and Stantec. Jessie holds a Master of Science in Water Resource Engineering and Environmental Policy from Tufts University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from The University of Texas.

I was raised in Texas with an early appreciation of how vital water was to beat the heat and to support all the critters we would find in lakes and rivers we grew up swimming in. Water remained a central theme in my studies and career as I worked on payment for ecosystem services programs in Costa Rica and Colombia, water access and sanitation in Palestinian refugee camps and monitoring watershed health through satellites across the world.

jessie@policyinnovation.org

Tim Male, Executive Director

Jeremiah Muhammad, Manager of Leadership and Engagement

Janet Pritchard, Senior Water Law and Policy Analyst

Tracee Smith, Southern Funding Navigator Manager

Tim

Tim Male

Executive Director

Tim founded the Environmental Policy Innovation Center in 2017. Prior to launching this startup, he served as an Associate Director at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Vice President for Conservation Policy at Defenders of Wildlife, Director at National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Co-Director of agriculture policy at Environmental Defense Fund. He holds degrees in science from Yale University and the University of Hawaii. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Science magazine and a diversity of peer-reviewed journals. He has received a Marshall Memorial Fellowship and AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (declined). He also ran for office and won, serving three terms as a city councilmember and leading the successful effort for that city to become the first in the country to lower its voting age to 16.

Son of an Army veteran-turned-engineer who never went to college and a hospice nurse who put herself through college after getting me through it. Four brothers. Yale University. Science PhD. German Marshall Memorial Fellow. Former staff at White House CEQ. Former elected city official who led passage of the first 16 years and upvoting age in America. Thirteen years at conservation non-profits and convinced there are new and more effective ways to help save the planet. I’m a practical optimist, an ENFP on the Myers Briggs test, and always willing to help if you ask or just cheer you on.

tmale@policyinnovation.org

Jeremiah

Jeremiah Muhammad

Manager of Leadership and Engagement

Jeremiah works to expand the role that EPIC can play in supporting local leaders and CBOs and building trust between utilities and communities through existing and new programs. In his role as Manager of Water Leadership and Engagement for EPIC, he explores how EPIC can build programs that lift local leadership, capacity building, and skills development through our Lead-Free Water and Funding Navigator community engagements, in addition to our network of advocates in the SRF policy forum. Jeremiah has a background in Environmental and Environmental Justice movements, first in the Center for Science and Democracy (CSD) with the Union of Concerned Scientists and then the Environmental Justice Health Alliance (EJHA), and most recently with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), where he served as the Program Manager for LVEJO’s Water Justice Program. During his tenure at LVEJO, he oversaw the program’s research, advocacy, and outreach efforts that impact water-related issues throughout Chicago, Illinois, the broader Midwest region, and nationally. Jeremiah also led the Water Justice program in developing and maintaining a broad and diverse network of partners from other community-based organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions. Jeremiah holds a bachelor’s in Communication Studies from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and a master’s in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in Security, Safety, and Risk Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Jeremiah is also pursuing his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where his dissertation focuses on the politics of crises (environmental, economic, public health) and their impact on Black political behavior. His additional research seeks to better understand the conditions under which positive explicit racial appeals successfully garner political candidates' support from black voters.

Born in Alton, IL, and raised in Chicago, IL, and Memphis, TN, my passion for water and environmental justice was instilled in me before I formally knew what EJ was. It started during what is known as the “Great Flood of 1993,” where my family and countless others were displaced and left without water due to the flooding causing Alton’s water supply to be cut off. My experiences only increased my curiosity when I began to question why the water in my home looked and tasted differently, or why certain communities were more exposed to environmental and economic injustices than others. Those types of questions are what motivated me to seek justice and advocate for communities and people who come from similar backgrounds as myself. When I’m not being one of the only Green Bay Packers fans from Chicago, or rooting for the Michigan Wolverines, Chicago Bulls, and White Sox, I’m being followed by my five-year-old shadow and best friend, and son, Zaire.

jeremiah@policyinnovation.org

Janet

Janet Pritchard

Senior Water Law and Policy Analyst

Janet supports EPIC’s work on the state policy frameworks governing state revolving funds for water infrastructure. As norms and tools for defining and addressing environmental justice concerns are evolved and prioritized, Janet works to fill a critical link by exploring how these norms and tools can be incorporated into the state policy frameworks that determine which communities and water infrastructure projects receive state and federal funding.

Janet’s career has focused on the intersection of equity concerns and regulatory policy. She initiated and led the Climate & Forest Program for ClientEarth, Europe’s premier public interest environmental law organization. This program advocates EU laws to regulate global commodities driving global deforestation, supports civil society organizations in Central and West Africa to secure land and forest rights, and ensures European and Chinese regulation of forest-risk commodities are aligned with the rights and interests of forest-dependent communities. Upon returning to her native state of Wisconsin, Janet shifted to freshwater policies of critical concern in the Great Lakes region, including green infrastructure, water affordability, and lead in drinking water. Janet was appointed to the Milwaukee City-County Task Force on Climate & Economic Equity and Chairs its Finance Work Group. She is also active in Milwaukee’s Coalition on Lead Emergency (COLE). Janet graduated with high honors from the New York University School of Law, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Review of Law and Social Change.

Thirty years ago, at law school, I anticipated working on civil rights, democracy, or public benefits issues. During an extended break when my three children were young, I became increasingly concerned about climate change and biodiversity loss. This led me to instead take up environmental law when I resumed my career. By focusing on questions of equity, public trust, and good governance within environmental policy, I integrate democracy, civil rights, and public benefits issues into my environmental work. My appreciation for how nature affects our well-being has only grown through the years. My Wisconsin childhood was enriched by the exuberance of sailing and snowman-building as well as the quietude of campfires and canoeing. More recently, my fascination with how trees affect mental and physical health undergirds my advocacy to expand Milwaukee’s urban canopy, and I’ve gotten much better at pausing work and other demands to prioritize daily walks to Lake Michigan or bike rides along the Milwaukee River -- the two shores that bound the community where I live.

janet@policyinnovation.org

tracee

Tracee Smith

Manager, Southern Funding Navigator

Tracee works to build partnerships that support underserved communities in need of securing state and federal funding for improved water infrastructures in the Southern region. Over the past 30 years, Tracee has built strong relationships in academia, healthcare and communities. She has a passion for improved health for all people. She is focused on advancing public health in marginalized communities and has a strong desire to improve water equity in her home region. Tracee has decades of management, community relations, and marketing experience. Prior to joining EPIC, she was the Registrar and Director of Student Records at Alcorn State University. “Dr. Tracee” as her students call her, continues to serve as an adjunct professor at Alcorn. She teaches Multicultural and Global Health, School and Community Health, Health and Wellness, and Organizational Health. Tracee has degrees in Public Health, Business and Workforce Development.

I am Tracee, a Mississippi native and the daughter of two beautiful community-driven people. Although they are no longer with me, I am carrying the torch with the hopes of building strong communities. Working at EPIC grants me the opportunity to help improve the water infrastructures in underserved areas, which is vitally important because many of these small towns are comprised of my former students, colleagues, friends and relatives. I wholeheartedly believe in offering a helping hand whether in a boardroom or at a community event. Representing EPIC in the Southern region feels like a personal obligation. Everyone is deserving of clean accessible water.

tracee@policyinnovation.org

Denise Schmidt, Funding Navigator Director

Leanne Spaulding, Wildlife Connectivity Program Manager

Reed Van Beveren, Senior Manager Technology Policy

Stephanie Vo, Senior Water Policy Associate

denise

Denise Schmidt

Director, Funding Navigator

Denise Schmidt is Director of EPIC’s Funding Navigator, a program to ensure many more water utilities that serve overburdened communities receive state and federal funds for water infrastructure. Denise has over 30 years of experience working with utilities, local, state, and federal agencies, technical assistance providers, and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, Denise was the Administrator of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s Division of Water Utility Regulation and Analysis. Her work on outreach to financially troubled utilities, lead service line replacement, conservation and efficiency, utility staff and stakeholder training, workforce diversity, and other programs helped ensure that the state’s public water utilities have the capacity to provide safe, reliable, affordable, equitable, and environmentally responsible service. Denise has served in various professional and volunteer roles, including staff member and decision maker at the local and regional level, private consultant, instructor at Michigan State University’s Institute of Public Utilities, and leadership positions in state and national water industry organizations. She has a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University.

I am the daughter of two retired Milwaukee Public School teachers who instilled in me a love for nature and a dedication to public service. My undergraduate science degree and graduate degree in public policy cemented these core values and fueled my curiosity about governance structures, policies, and processes and how to make them work better for the people and ecosystems they’re intended to serve. I believe in the power of robust and equitable civic engagement, data, possibility, and transparency to drive better decisions that ultimately transform communities. I also believe in the restorative properties of playing outside in all the glorious seasons and places Wisconsin has to offer, especially the lakes, streams, and forests of my beloved Northwoods.

denise@policyinnovation.org

leanne

Leanne Spaulding

Manager, Wildlife Connectivity Program

Leanne Spaulding has over 12 years of experience in environmental policy and government affairs. Prior to joining EPIC, she was a Senior Policy Advisor at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ). During her time there, she launched a micro-climate monitoring network, created an expansive climate health policy agenda, lead evaluation research on climate adaptation interventions, and operationalized key Citywide emergency response and sustainability initiatives. Before joining City government, she researched forest and watershed conservation policy in Central America and served as a Community Development volunteer with the Peace Corps, in Southeast Asia. She holds a Master’s of Environmental Management from Duke University and a Bachelor’s in Public Policy from SUNY Albany.

From the first time I dug my toes into the freshly tilled soil of my grandmother’s garden and joined my grandfather in the fields of our family farm, I knew nature was a part of me and I was a part of nature. My commitment to the environment has traversed many diverse landscapes since - from indigenous ancestral forests in rural Guatemala to the dense urban streets of East Harlem and South Bronx in New York City. Working and learning alongside urban and rural communities that bear the greatest burden of climate risks has reshaped the way I approach environmental policy work. I look forward to applying these real-world lessons while helping advance EPIC’s goals.

leanne@policyinnovation.org

reed

Reed Van Beveren

Senior Manager, Technology Policy

Prior to joining EPIC as a Senior Manager, Reed spent 8 years at the U.S. Government Accountability Office reviewing federal government programs as part of the Natural Resources and Environment team. His work has included reviews of EPA's air quality monitoring program and technology transfer at multiple agencies, and efforts to make better use of data and build capacity at GAO. As a graduate student, he helped NGOs in Tanzania and Indonesia refine strategies for tackling human-wildlife conflict around a national park and improving urban water sources. Reed holds a Masters of Public Administration from Cornell University, where he focused on science, technology, and infrastructure policy, and BA in International Political Economy from Georgetown University.

Growing up in Oregon, I developed a deep appreciation for the many diverse landscapes of the state from the wide open beaches to the snow capped mountains of the Cascades. My love of the outdoors and passion for data and analysis has translated into a strong commitment to better understand and manage natural resources through better use of technology. I'm eager to use all my experience and skills to accelerate progress in the areas of conservation and environmental protection.

reed@policyinnovation.org

stephanie

Stephanie Vo

Senior Water Policy Associate

Having joined EPIC in 2022 as a Senior Water Policy Associate, Stephanie centers her work primarily around ensuring a more equitable allocation of federal funding for water infrastructure. Prior to EPIC, she completed a joint international master’s program in Sustainable Development at Leipzig University (Germany) and Utrecht University (the Netherlands), focusing on global equity issues, resilience, and adaptive capacity within the context of climate change. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Oklahoma, where she led her senior capstone project in promoting green stormwater infrastructure and low-impact development on a municipal level.

My fascination with nature and the environment started on the elementary school playground as my friends and I collected and examined ladybugs, roly polies, and earthworms. It grew as I took camping trips, worked on a conservation corps, visited national parks, and delved into the breadth and complexity of environmental issues. I find that environmentalism is related to all aspects of life – from the not-so-obvious artwork on your wall to the food and drink on your table. The environment is a source of inspiration, as well as a life source. I want to promote it as both and help people realize how truly valuable it is.

stephanie@policyinnovation.org

Gabriel Watson, Manager of Data Science & Applications

Palencia Mobley, Midwest Funding Navigator Manager

Jack Ding, Environmental Justice Technology Fellow

Nasya Dodson, Senior Technology Policy Analyst

gabe

Gabriel Watson

Manager, Data Science and Applications

Gabriel Watson joined the Environmental Policy Innovation Center in the Fall of 2022. As the Data Science & Applications Manager, his work focuses on evaluating environmental data and technology, developing analysis and applications, and assisting his EPIC team members with data support. He has a passion for racial justice and increasing access to, and stewardship of, the natural world. His professional focus is using data, visualizations, and narrative to tackle environmental justice issues. He enjoys building maps, discovering novel environmental and social data sources, and journalism. Previously, he spent three years at The Commons as a data scientist, supporting watershed organizations and conservation groups like Blue Water Baltimore, Environmental Integrity Project, and Chesapeake Legal Alliance with technology to manage, visualize, and analyze data. He graduated in 2018 from Occidental College with a B.A. in Economics and Urban and Environmental Policy.

Hey, Gabe here! I hail from Baltimore, Maryland, (but currently reside in Brooklyn, New York). I spent my childhood competing and teaching sailing throughout the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Currently, I spend my free time adventuring into wild places. I am an avid cyclist of all disciplines and enjoy backpacking, fly fishing, photography, tinkering, and spending time with my dog, BMO. I am always excited to chat about maps (digital and physical), data, and efforts to create more just and equitable communities.

gabe@policyinnovation.org

Jeremia

Palencia Mobley

Midwest Funding Navigator Manager

Palencia Mobley, P.E. is EPIC’s Midwest Funding Navigator Manager. Palencia has built an extensive career in planning, designing and constructing drinking, waste and stormwater infrastructure. A graduate of Detroit Public Schools, the University of Michigan (Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering), and Wayne State University (Master of Science Civil Engineering), Palencia was one of the youngest minority women to ever attain licensure as a Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan in 2006. In 2016, she was appointed by Mayor Mike Duggan and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners as the Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) where she was responsible for the field service operations, engineering, facilities, fleet, capital construction, and regulatory affairs of the department. Under her leadership, DWSD increased investment in green stormwater infrastructure from $2 million from 2010-2016 to more than $21 million by 2020. She also increased the renewal of water and sewer infrastructure fivefold, meeting industry standards of 1% infrastructure renewal annually and previously led negotiations on behalf of the city to establish the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). Prior to her municipal experience, she worked as Project Manager for Tetra Tech and Project Engineer for Arcadis.In her 20 years of experience, she has worked diligently to change the way we manage stormwater and improve water and sewer infrastructure across the country and is a dedicated change agent for the way infrastructure renewal can create economic opportunity in underserved communities. In addition to serving on multiple national, regional, and statewide task councils and boards, Palencia has received a variety of professional accolades including Crain’s Detroit Business notable woman in STEM and 40 Under 40 Award in 2019. She is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Alpha Rho Omega Chapter.

I am a Detroiter through and through. In addition to being in love with all things water, I am an avid cook and gardener. I often have friends and family over for dinner. My biggest feat is cooking a Thanksgiving Dinner that serves thirty all by myself. One of my favorite things to make is homemade custard ice cream from my mama’s recipe. My mama, who rarely gave compliments, told me “your ice cream tastes better than mine.” I am committed to sharing my mama’s ice cream custard with the world and launching a brand that celebrates the legacy of my mama, Ollie.

pmobley@policyinnovation.org

Jack

Jack Ding

Environmental Justice Technology Fellow

Jack is the Environmental Justice Technology Fellow at EPIC. Together with Anthropocene Alliance, he leverages technology and data analytical tools to help the frontline communities who are facing environmental injustice and other challenges dissect their issues and help develop solutions. Prior to joining EPIC, he worked as an Environmental Scientist at IB Environmental on water affordability and water justice issues. He was a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences at Iowa State University. Jack got his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

My name is Jack Ding and I love doing research, or getting into the weeds. I grew up drinking water from the Yangtze River. I appreciate clean water in the US because I was told not to drink tap water if the water was not boiled. It takes generations to build the law and infrastructure to provide safe drinking water to everyone. But it only takes maybe just one person to destroy generations of good efforts. It is not just water, the same concept applies to everything else in the environment, air, land, and so forth. I hope through my work at EPIC and my actions in daily life, I can make the world a better place.

jding@policyinnovation.org

nasya

Nasya Dodson

Senior Technology Policy Analyst

Nasya is the Senior Technology Policy Analyst at EPIC. In her role, she helps to create, advocate, collaborate, and advance projects related to digital infrastructure and technology in environmental agencies. Prior to joining EPIC, Nasya worked at both Howard University’s Environmental Justice Center and the Environmental Defense Fund tracking equitable climate adaptation legislation in the United States. Nasya holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, Law and Society from the American University of Paris and a Juris Doctorate degree from Howard University School of Law with a specialization in environmental and climate law.

My name is Nasya (nuh-see-ya) and I was born and raised in North Carolina. I love being outdoors, television and film, film photography, hot yoga, my dogs, and video games. I am passionate about environmental justice for Black and Brown communities, drafting legislation in layman’s terms, and advancing equitable climate adaptation measures.

ndodson@policyinnovation.org

Sapna Mulki, Senior Water Policy Analyst

Sapna

Sapna Mulki

Senior Water Policy Analyst

Sapna joined Epic in 2023 as a senior analyst, water policy. She works to expand and build EPIC’s focus on embedding equity and justice in federal water infrastructure funding practices, lead service line replacement strategies, and providing technical assistance to disadvantaged communities. She holds a B.A. in environmental studies and international relations from Eckerd College and an M.A. in sustainable international development from Brandeis University. In addition, Sapna brings a passion for ensuring local communities have equitable access to water services and over ten years of experience in the water sector. Some of her experiences include founding Water Savvy Solutions, a company that partners with water and environmental sector organizations to deepen their knowledge about water equity; advising and developing community outreach campaigns to increase appreciation for the value of water and water infrastructure while the Director as Hahn Public Communications in Austin, TX; and serving as Abengoa Water’s community liaison for the $3.4 billion Vista Ridge Pipeline Project that sought to deliver drinking water to San Antonio, TX. In addition, Sapna has worked internationally with various environmental organizations in Kenya and India and has written articles in multiple water sector publications. She is certified in facilitation and International Association for Public Participation.

My passion for water and the environment developed while being raised in Kenya. A watershed moment occurred when I witnessed Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai protesting an illegal land grab of a public park and other green spaces thereafter. In addition, experiencing frequent neighborhood water shortages due to droughts and local policies prioritizing wealthier neighborhoods fueled my passion for equitably water access and participation in the decision-making process. Beyond water equity, I enjoy bird watching, hiking, trying different cuisines, checking out botanical gardens as I travel, and trying to make my infant daughter laugh out loud.

sapna@policyinnovation.org

Kevin

Kevin Brophy

Mid-Atlantic Funding Navigator Manager

Kevin’s career focus has been to ensure that communities have access to the provision of adequate, affordable and equitable water, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure services regardless of the community’s demographic makeup, income levels, or water system age. Prior to joining EPIC in 2023, Kevin served in previous roles as a Director for Wind River Environmental, LLC, founder and manager of KBX Golden, LLC and Director for Essential Utilities (formerly “Aqua”), where he began his career and learned the day to day operational aspects of utility management and the importance of ensuring that communities, whether private or publicly owned and operated, have access to clean and safe drinking water and properly functioning drinking water and wastewater systems. Kevin has also served on the boards of directors of numerous emerging water technology companies including RedZone Robotics, Inc., Environmental Operating Solutions, LLC, ANDAlyze, Inc., Liberty Hydro LLC among others, and has been a long term supporter of local community organizations including the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, Mighty Writers, Kennett Area Community Service, and others. Kevin received his BS from Villanova University, his Masters from the University of Texas at Austin and management training at the London Business School. He is a DEP-licensed drinking water (Classes A, E; subclasses 1, 8, 10, 11) and wastewater (Classes B, E; subclasses 1, 3, 4) plant, distribution and collection system operator, a NASSCO PACP, LACP and MACP water/sewer/storm inspector, a licensed Sewage Enforcement Officer (“SEO”) of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a Grade 2 Collections Operator in North Carolina.

In his spare time, Kevin likes to read, run, ski and swim in the ocean when his two young sons aren’t climbing on his back (and sometimes when they are). A former (and recovering) ironman triathlete, Kevin was born in Media, PA, spent time as a kid in Ventura, California, came back to PA, spent part of the the 2000’s in Austin, Texas, and has since been back in the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs building companies and doing his part to advance the provision of safe and clean water for all.

kevin@policyinnovation.org

Kevin Brophy,
Mid-Atlantic Funding Navigator Manager

 Advisory Board

The Innovation Center is privileged to have the expertise and support of our Advisory Board, made up of individuals with enormous and diverse expertise in conservation, finance, business, and law.

  • Scott Bryan

    Scott is President of Imagine H2O, a global nonprofit organization that empowers people to develop and deploy innovation to solve water challenges globally. The organization’s water innovation accelerator program alumni have collectively raised over $590 million in early-stage capital. Scott previously developed ESG and cleantech investment strategies for institutional clients at Royal Bank of Canada and Piper Jaffray.

  • Hope Cupit

    Hope Cupit is the President & CEO of Southeast RCAP, a nonprofit focused on improving the quality of life for low-income individuals by promoting affordable water and wastewater facilities, community development, environmental health, and economic self-sufficiency. Hope has been actively involved with community economic development efforts for over 22 years. Hope is also a Certified Public Accountant and professor at Virginia Western Community College.

  • Adam Davis

    Adam serves as managing partner of Ecosystem Investment Partners and has over thirty years experience in owning and running businesses that align economic incentives with environmental outcomes. He has focused specifically on mechanisms that enable land-based offsets and the financial value of natural systems since the late 1990s and is one of the national leaders in this investment space.

  • Natalie Hubbard

    Natalie Hubbard, PhD, is VP of Regulatory and Stewardship with Pivot Bio, a company born out of an ambition to replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer with a more sustainable and safer tool for farmers. Natalie leads their regulatory program, ensuring compliance with requirements and stewardship practices. Natalie previously worked at DuPont for nearly 30 years and held roles including technical, biotechnology affairs, and product registration.

  • Linda Hwang

    Linda Hwang is the Senior Director of Strategy & Innovation for the Research & Innovation group at The Trust for Public Land, where she leads a team of data analytics experts that build interactive decision support tools used by communities, policy makers and planners to help them understand the location, values, and uses of parks and open space, and to support informed decisions on access and protection.

  • Kevin McAleese

    Kevin is President of the Sand County Foundation, an entrepreneurial non-profit supporting voluntary conservation on working lands through ethics, science, and incentives. He led a 10-year program to enhance regeneration of eastern forests and founded the Cooperative Sagebrush Initiative.

  • Luis Montestruque

    Luis Montestruque, PhD, is a Senior Advisor for Digital Solutions at Xylem and Principal of HydroDigital, LLC, a consulting company helping utilities adopt digital solutions for managing the urban water cycle. Luis has worked for nearly two decades on the development and commercialization of real time decision support systems for water management, a digital framework that integrates internet or things, big data, and artificial intelligence to optimize water systems.

  • Steve Quarles

    Steve is a Partner at Nossaman LLP specializing on federal wildlife law, including the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Steve has served as counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, as Deputy Under Secretary of the Department of the Interior, and represented the Ford Foundation in Brazil.

  • Leigh Whelpton

    Leigh leads the Conservation Finance Network’s (CFN) effort to expand the use of innovative funding and financing strategies. Leigh has spearheaded the development of new trainings and workshops supporting a growing number of public, private, and nonprofit professionals focused on conservation finance.

 

Interns

Haley Clapper, Environmental Technology Policy Intern