Staff and Board of Directors
WTC Staff and Board of Directors
Washington Toxics Coalition Staff
Maureen Judge, Executive Director, joined the staff of WTC in 2009. A Seattle native, Maureen Judge is a Bishop Blanchet High School and Boston University graduate. She worked as a Product Manager at RealNetworks in its early stages and later at Expedia.com before stepping out of the corporate world to spend more time with her 12 year-old daughter Katie. In 2007 she ran for Mercer Island City Council winning in the primary, but losing in the general election. Maureen currently serves on the Board of the King County Conservation Voters and is President of the Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Board of Directors as well as the Alumni Board member of the Starlight Children's Foundation. She is a member of the WA State Women's Political Caucus, the Cascade Bicycle Club, and the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys entertaining family and friends, hiking, yoga, and playing almost any sport with her daughter. Contact: mjudge@watoxics.org or ext. 116.
Debbie Carlsen, Development Coordinator, joined the WTC staff in April 2010. For the previous three years she worked in the labor movement as the Staff Organizer for Washington State Jobs with Justice and then as Field Director of the King County Labor Council. She’s worked in electoral politics as a campaign manager, on legislative issues as the Lead Organizer for Discrimination Free Washington (an LGBTQ organization) and as a Project Coordinator for the Washington Women’s Voter’s Project. Through all of her non-profit experiences she’s combined smart organizing with fundraising. Before she tumbled into non-profit work Debbie taught English as a Second language for 6 years in the Seattle area. Currently she’s on the board of Allyship, a non-profit LGBTQ social justice organization, and a founding member of The Producer’s Collective a production company showcasing LGBTQ artists. She is a performing artist, filmmaker and a passionate dog owner to a Rottweiler named Dakota. Contact Debbie at dcarlsen@watoxics.org, or (206)632-1545 ext 115.
Anna Davis, Field Organizer, joined the staff of WTC in 2008. Before she started at WTC, Anna worked at "Faith in Place" in Chicago, IL organizing faith communities around environmental issues. Anna holds a B.S. in Geology and a minor in Studio Art from Hope College. She graduated in 2007. As a passionate environmentalist, she is excited to be working to make our communities safer and healthier places to live, work and play. Anna will be working to develop and support WTC grassroots field campaigns. Contact: adavis@watoxics.org or ext. 118.
Holly Ellis-Brown, Office Manager, Joined the WTC staff in 2008. Contact: hellis-brown@watoxics.org or ext. 123.
Gylan Green, Finance and Administration Director, joined the WTC staff in 2007. Gylan has nearly 20 years experience in nonprofit leadership, fund development and marketing. His past service includes director of In Touch, a community-based AIDS service organization; executive director of Lambert House, Seattle’s sexual minority youth center; director of stewardship and development for St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral; and director of stewardship and communications for the Center for Ethical Leadership. Gylan holds a B.A. in theater from the University of Washington with a focus in directing and technical theater. He brings his talent for organizing many moving parts to managing WTC’s finances and operations. Contact: ggreen@watoxics.org or ext. 110.
Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, Campaign Director, joined the WTC staff in March 2005. Previously, she developed and ran campaigns to eliminate persistent toxic chemicals for the Washington Public Interest Research Group and People For Puget Sound. Ivy has also worked as a legislative attorney for the Wisconsin Legislature. She has a law degree from The American University's Washington College of Law and a B.A. in International Relations and a Certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin. Ivy works on the campaign to eliminate persistent toxic pollution. Contact: isager-rosenthal@watoxics.org or ext. 122
Josh Schramm, Communications Manager, joined the WTC staff in November 2007. Josh comes to us from another Seattle based non-profit, People For Puget Sound, where he worked as a graphic and web designer. He has been working as a graphic designer for environmental consulting firms, law firms, and freelance clients since 2001. Josh brings his various talents as an artist, writer, musician, and designer to WTC, where he is responsible for creating and designing newsletters, postcards, websites, and many other communications pieces. Josh holds a B.A. in Theater Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a certificate in Audio Production from the University of Washington, Seattle. In his spare time he enjoys playing with his band, Westerly. Contact: jschramm@watoxics.org or ext. 125.
Erika Schreder, Staff Scientist, has worked on the Washington Toxics Coalition staff since 1997. Currently, she is leading the Coalition’s research on toxic chemicals in children’s products. In 2005 and 2006, she led the research for the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition’s Pollution in People study. In the past, she has led WTC’s efforts to secure protections for salmon from pesticides and to advocate for greater support for organic and sustainable agriculture. She obtained a Masters in Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in molecular biology from MIT. Prior to joining the Toxics Coalition staff, she worked as a stream and wetland ecologist. Contact: eschreder@watoxics.org or ext. 119
Laurie Valeriano, Policy Director, has worked for Washington Toxics Coalition since 1995. She has worked to pass strong environmental health policies at the state level for more than 15 years. During those years she has led successful campaigns to make Washington the first state in the nation to ban the toxic flame retardant, deca (PBDE), and adopt the strongest standards in the nation for toxic chemicals in toys and children's products. Laurie received her B.A in Political Science from the State University at Albany in 1991. She lives in Seattle with her husband and three children and loves to go camping and practice yoga. Contact: lvaleriano@watoxics.org or ext. 114
Jeannie Wells, Development Assistant, a former Development Associate for Ryther Child Center, joined WTC as our Development Assistant. At Ryther, she managed the donor database, was responsible for donor stewardship, assisted in the annual fundraiser luncheon, and supported the Development Director in public relations and marketing endeavors. She has a strong interest in environmental advocacy and children’s welfare. Jeannie earned a BA in Spanish and French at Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, Louisiana. She currently volunteers at her daughter’s elementary school and at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. Contact: jwells@watoxics.org or ext. 121.
Washington Toxics Coalition Board of Directors
Don Bollinger is an energy consultant at Braco Energy services and has worked as a chemist for 12 years, including two years working on environmental mutagens with Barry Commoner. He is the past board president of the Coalition for the Environment (St. Louis), and has four years experience as an anti-nuclear activist. Don joined the WTC Board in 1994, has served as Treasurer and currently serves on our Finance Committee.
Jesseca Brand is the Program Director for King County Conservation Voters, the King County chapter of Washington Conservation Voters, where she handles the county endorsement process, fundraising and strategic campaign involvement; previously she served on the KCCV Board. Jesseca has a background in growth management and transportation advocacy, working for Futurewise as Outreach Director. Jesseca left Futurewise to pursue her Masters in Public Administration at Seattle University, where she also holds a BA. She has also worked on several campaigns at the State Legislative and City Council level. Jesseca grew up in Kennewick, WA and has made her home in Seattle since 1998. She joined the WTC Board in 2010.
Janette Brimmer is a staff attorney for the non-profit environmental law firm Earthjustice in their Seattle office. Prior to coming to Seattle, Janette was the Legal Director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy from 2000-2008 where she worked on a variety of environmental legal and policy issues including clean water, pesticides, wetlands protection, and clean air. Even while she was in Minnesota, Janette was aware of WTC and an admirer of its work. Before her work in the nonprofit world, Janette worked for the Attorneys' General of Minnesota and Wisconsin. A “life-time” environmental advocate, Janette joined the WTC Board in 2010 and serves on the Development Committee.
Arti Chandra is a family practice physician with a master's degree in public health in the area of maternal and child health. She takes care of an economically and ethnically diverse patient population in the central area of Seattle. Her clinical practice uses a Functional Medicine approach to caring for patients: an integrative, wellness-oriented health model that is patient-centered and addresses the unique interactions among lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that influence both health and chronic symptoms and disease. She joined the WTC Board in 2007 and serves on the Development Committee.
Katherine S. Davies is the Director of the Center for Creative Change at Antioch University in Seattle. She holds a B.Sc., Sheffield University; an M.A., California Institute of Integral Studies; and a D.Phil., Somerville College, Oxford University. Originally trained as a biochemist, Kate also holds a graduate degree in cultural anthropology and social transformation. Her interests include social change and social movements, sustainability, environmental health, social justice and public policy. She has more than 25 years of environmental experience as a program manager, consultant and senior government adviser in Canada and internationally. She has taught at the University of Toronto and the Queen's University. Kate joined the WTC Board in 2008 and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee.
Jennifer Dold, is an environmental attorney with Bricklin Newman Dold LLC, an environmental law firm in Seattle. She brings to the Toxics Coalition legal expertise complemented by many years of experience as an activist. Jennifer joined the WTC Board in 1996 and has served as President. Jennifer is the former chair of our Legal Affairs Committee, and serves on our Event Committee and Personnel Committee.
Steven G. Gilbert, Treasurer is director and founder of the non-profit Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND), and is an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington. He has a Ph.D. in Toxicology, and is a Diplomate of American Board of Toxicology (D.A.B.T.). His primary research interests are in the effects of lead and mercury on the developing nervous system. His current work is focused on how knowledge is used to address urgent policy issues. Steve recently authored a book entitled ">A Small Dose of Toxicology" and manages a wiki based website Toxipedia designed to connect science and people around the health effects of people. He recently started a new effort Healthy World Theater to couple the arts and sciences to forage a more healthy and peaceful world. Steve joined the WTC Board in 2002, chairs the Finance Committee and serves on the Executive Committee.
Jan Hasselman is an environmental attorney with the non-profit law firm Earthjustice. Since 1998, Jan has litigated salmon, forestry, pesticide, and clean water protection lawsuits on behalf of environmental groups, fishermen, and Indian tribes. He joined the WTC Board in 2004 and serves on the Governance Committee.
Janice Jackson-Haley is a business owner, community leader, and human resources consultant. Currently serving as the principal for Employee Essential LLC, she leads a team of virtual professionals dedicated to providing human resources consultation and online training. Janice is committed to civic engagement and community stewardship through her roles as a Precinct Coordinating Officer and member of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce and Nathan Hale PTA , an alum of Leadership Tomorrow and Project Lead, and prior service as a National Coalition Building Institute Board Member and a Seattle Women’s Commissioner. Janice joined the WTC Board in 2009, and serves on the Finance Committee.
Janna Rolland, President, is an organizational consultant to nonprofits and philanthropies with more than 20 years of experience in the sector. After starting her career in Washington, DC, working on nuclear arms control, Janna moved west and served as executive director of two environmental health nonprofits. Janna settled in Seattle in 1996, trained as a Master Home Environmentalist, served as a longtime board member of the Institute for Children’s Environmental Health, and earned a mid career MPA at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She joined the WTC Board in 2007 and serves on our Executive, Finance and Strategic Planning Committees.
Jon Stier is a lawyer and mediator who has been a Senior Deputy Ombudsman for King County, Wash., since 2004. Previously, Jon was an environmental and consumer rights lobbyist, and practiced in the areas of plaintiffs' environmental law and indigent criminal appellate defense. He also has helped litigate nuclear whistleblower cases. In addition to his service on the WTC board, Jon has been a mentor mediator for the Dispute Resolution Center of King County and has mediated for the Inter local Conflict Resolution Group. Jon joined the WTC Board in 1999 and has served as Board President. He currently chairs the Development Committee, and serves on the Executive Committee and Governance Committee. Jon and his wife are the parents of two small children, a girl and a boy.
David Stitzhal, Secretary, is President of Full Circle Environmental Inc., which specializes in recycling, waste prevention, and producer responsibility. He has served as co-chair of the mayor-appointed Seattle Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and was the former project director for waste reduction and recycling programs at Washington Citizens for Recycling. He also currently serves on the Board of the Product Policy Institute. David has authored numerous articles and speaks nationally on waste-policy issues. David joined the WTC Board in 1993, has served as Board President, currently serves as Board Secretary, and is on the Executive Committee and Development Committee.
Gwen Vernon is currently a Senior Associate at Cascadia Consulting Group in Seattle. Gwen has a long history of providing education and outreach to residents and businesses on natural yard care, hazardous products and waste, and resource stewardship. She has a masters in education and a bachelors degree in Spanish and international studies. Gwen speaks fluent Spanish and is a certified Master Gardener. She joined the WTC Board in 2009 and chairs the Governance Committee.
