Sheila Jacobs
Sheila Jacobs MFT has first-hand experience of living in two worlds. Growing up using American Sign Language (ASL) at home, Sheila was the only hearing person in a large Deaf family. Her parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and some cousins are deaf. Many of her deaf relatives were active and well known in the national Deaf Community for several generations. Her experiences juggling her two worlds, the Deaf world, and the Hearing world, and her studies in intercultural communication and cross-cultural psychology educated her extensively about the issues deaf and other multi-cultural groups face daily.
She worked for fifteen years as a freelance interpreter with a national reputation, and taught ASL and interpreting for ten years at the prestigious Vista College in Berkeley, California. In the mid-’80s, Sheila was highly active in the international Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) movement, helping to plan the first CODA Conference and then serving on the first national CODA Advisory Board.
Warren Linney
Kendall Macrostie
Chief Lawyer Advocate at Legalucy, Inc.
Damian Mason
Damian has studied regeneration, natural systems and ecological design for over 20 years. He has extensive knowledge of & certification in Permaculture Design. He assists local & regional agencies to develop strategies and solutions which address Climate Change and build resilience.
For the past 2 years, Damian has worked with the City of Alameda, as a member of an oversight & advisory group called “The Green Team”, to create the City’s new Climate Action and Resiliency Plan through his work with Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA). He was part of a small set of CASA members that met with Mayor Ashcraft, Vice Mayor White & Council Member Oddie to promote adoption of a Climate Emergency Declaration which was passed unanimously on 3/19/2019 and sets a citywide goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Damian has recently become an active member of the SF Bay Climate Restoration Circle working to restore a healthy climate by scaling up methods to draw down carbon dioxide to less than 300 ppm in the next 30 years via ocean restoration, regenerative agriculture, and carbon-negative concrete.
Mark Perlin
About me: I am a specialist in automation engineering and product development.
I have broad experience developing technology solutions for industrial manufacturers and start-up companies in industries including: semiconductor, cleantech, agriculture, food processing, packaging, recycling, biotech, life sciences, and medical devices.
I’m fluent in these engineering disciplines:
· Robotics
· Design and process improvement
· Manufacturing Automation System Solutions
· HMI (Human-Machine Interface) Touchscreen design
· Controls software for automation of equipment, machines, tools, work-cells, hardware products.
· Sensor integrator for: inspection, measuremen,, machine vision, quality control software.
· Sensor integration with multi-axis motion and motion control software
· Data logging and analysis
· Connected device communication protocols:
· System Integration
· New Product Commercialization and business development
· Automation Project Management
· Advanced manufacturing and process automation design
· All aspects of solar photovoltaics from product design, development and manufacturing: of High efficiency solar-electric photovoltaic modules ( High Concentration Photovoltaics (HCPV). Concentration Photovoltaics (CPV), using two-axis sun-tracking mechanisms, tiny (micro-cells, microcells) PV cell packaging, mirror fabrication from polycarbonate, PC/ABS, glass, material deposition, coating, and history of sunlight concentration by mirrors and lenses, history of solar companies and technologies 1950-Present.
Orkid Sassouni
Iris Davidson
Iris Hope Davison has been a television and feature development consultant since 2006, working with creators to help them build their story from concept to sale, specializing in development and in-depth analysis, as well as pitch coaching and submission materials.
Prior to consulting, Davison was at Showtime Networks in Original Programming hearing pitches, reading spec scripts, as well as working in current on the team that brought WEEDS and THE L WORD to air. Davison grew up on Long Island and received a Bachelor of Science in film and television at Emerson College in Boston. Before landing in development, Davison worked in production and post production on commercials, features, and television shows, as well as at Fox Television Studios in Business and Legal Affairs. Davison was also an adjunct professor at Marywood University in the Communication Arts Department teaching classes such as Screenwriting and Media Programming. Currently residing in Scranton, PA, Davison currently consults on a variety of projects and makes it back to L.A. when The Office jokes get too old or the weather gets too cold.
Laura Stokes
Education: Bachelor of Science, Architectural Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1978
Professional Engineer Licenses: Washington and Florida
Engineering Experience 1978 to 2009: Practice in project management, design of structures, and review of project and construction document sets for residential, commercial, government, marine, and aviation projects. Working experience in the states of Washington, Maine, Virginia, and Florida.
Environmental Activism, December 2019 to present: Personal research and collaboration pursuing reversal of global warming trends through environmentally focused Citizen’s Initiatives and legislation.
Diedre Tanenberg
Eric Nooker
Kevin Lister
Nancy Louise McCormick
Suzanne Reed
Suzanne Reed’s career in environmental, transportation, and energy policy in the public, private, and non-profit sectors spans 50 years. She served 14 years as Chief of Staff to California State Assembly Member and then Senator Carol Liu. Between terms, she was California Policy Director for the Washington DC based Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP). Suzanne was Senior Energy Advisor in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research during Governor Jerry Brown’s first administration. In 1977, he appointed her Commissioner on the California Energy Commission where she served four years and presided over development of the nation’s first residential energy conservation standards (Title 24). Before relocating to California in 1976, Suzanne was a professional staff member on the US Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee (now Energy and Natural Resources) and a Legislative Aide to Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). She holds a BA from Smith College and a Master of Forest Science from Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (now School of the Environment).
Suzanne assisted the UC, Berkeley Goldman School, Center for Environmental Public Policy (CEPP in conducting the Environmental Justice and Climate Policy Solutions Dialogue in 2017. She is co-author of the final report: Advancing Environmental Justice: A New State Regulatory Framework to Abate Community-Level Air Pollution Hotspots and Improve Health Outcomes (https://gspp.berkeley.edu/assets/uploads/page/CEPP_Report_09.7.17.pdf).
Our Advisors and Consultants
Eckhart Beatty
As a marketing/business strategist and business writer, Beatty focuses on renewable energy and ecological resilience through the lens of design thinking. His work falls into the following categories:
marketing
business development
design/ innovation strategy
the shared economy
solar (PV and thermal) innovations with unique applications
public and private education
carbon drawdown using rock powder and biochar in urban, organic, and modern agriculture
user research
He have played consulting roles to optimize solar charging for electric vehicles lacking an accessible grid. Results have included powering the world’s fastest motorcycle to victory at Laguna Seca in 2012. He won 1st place in an 11th Hour Award (E. Schmidt Foundation) in 2014. He provided insights for McKinsey & Company on EV charging in 2017.
Beatty has been guiding award-winning Sollector Systems with its dual-axis tracking solar systems for approaching 9 years. In 2019, he introduced his services to a startup comprising development projects in Africa based on a novel financing mechanism it is pioneering.
In the domain of energy efficiency, Beatty has conducted market research and strategy for the founder of Indow Windows, 2nd place-holder in the national Cleantech Open (2011). Indow is famous for its radically simplified design paradigm.
As a seasoned editor in the social innovation space, he has consulted to Darian R. Heyman on the manuscript of Nonprofit Management 101, the acclaimed title by John Wiley & Sons.
Beatty’s editorial experience is grounded in diverse industries, including publishing, high technology, biotech, and health care.
His role in the shared economy has been covered in the New York Times.
Specialties:
Marketing collateral–including white papers
Research reports
Blogs
Ghost-written narratives
Reviews, blogs, and copy
Handbooks (Careers in Health Care, Taleo [WetFeet Press], 2006)
Competitive analysis, business plans, marketing, development, and research
Technical documentation
Design and usability studies for clients ranging from Frog Design to AT&T, Chase, Earthlink (Omnisky), Google Earth, Landrider, and TechSoup.
Lyna Deschambault
Lynda Deschambault, Environmental Scientist, Educator and Former Mayor Moraga, CA.
www.ccccclimateleaders.org; and follow at
www.facebook.com/
Carol Drake
Carol grew up in a small town Brentwood, CA where there was a sense of community.
Ryan Funchess
My name is Ryan Funchess, and I am a mechanical engineering student at Cal Poly SLO seeking to concentrate in mechatronics. Through my experience as an Academic Skills Center Leader, interning at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and my time collaborating with others, I have learned the value of working cooperatively to reach a common goal. I greatly enjoy spending time in the outdoors and learning more about the beautiful world that we live in.
Marc Garman
Marc Garman is a videographer, editor, documentary filmmaker and political media consultant specializing in TV and social media copy, content and tactics for grassroots political efforts. His clients have included numerous school board, city council, mayoral, county and state level political candidates. He has also produced TV and video content for groups such as Veterans for Peace. S.H.A.R.K. (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness) and various other environmental groups in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Felix Kramer
Francis Phiri
Shamsa Rafay
Shamsa Rafay came to United States in 1996 with a MA degree in Economics and 3 years of international banking experience from Pakistan. Shamsa and Rafay Khawaja are proud parents of 3 wonderful children.
In these past 24 years, though she has not worked in corporate world, but, volunteered with various non-profit organizations such as New Haven Schools Foundation (Board member), Tri-City Interfaith Council (Board Member), Eastin Elementary School (PTC President 2015-2017), Spiritual Care Volunteer at Kaiser Permanente, Drivers For Survivors (Companion Driver); to name a few. Shamsa is currently serving as Human Relations Commissioner for the city of Union City. She has been awarded “Excellence in Human Relations” award in 2016 by Alameda County Human Relations Commission, “Volunteer of the Month” award, thrice in a row by Drivers For Survivors, and other volunteer appreciation awards.
Cres Vellucci
Cres Vellucci is a longtime reporter and editor for a number of daily newspapers, including the Sacramento Bee, and a former wire service bureau chief at the State Capitol, covering the CA legislature and Governor. Currently, Cres is the Sacramento bureau chief for the Vanguard, which covers courthouse and justice news in Northern California.
Cres also provides media consulting for candidate and issue campaigns primarily in California, but also for progressive organizations across the U.S.
Cres is a founding member of the Sacramento ACLU chapter, and the chapter of the National Lawyers Guild in Sacramento. He is also a former assistant Dean at the Patino Law School in Sacramento.
Permanente, Drivers For Survivors (Companion Driver); to name a few. Shamsa is currently serving as Human Relations Commissioner for the city of Union City. She has been awarded “Excellence in Human Relations” award in 2016 by Alameda County Human Relations Commission, “Volunteer of the Month” award, thrice in a row by Drivers For Survivors, and other volunteer appreciation awards.