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Staff
Elenor Hodges has been EcoAction Arlington’s executive director since 2000. Her previous experience includes environmental consulting with DynCorp, developing the Animal Tracks environmental education program for Wal-Mart and program management in the education department at National Wildlife Federation. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Education from George Mason University. She lives in Arlington with her husband and two daughters.
Michele Bianchi joined EcoAction Arlington in April 2019 as the program and outreach assistant. She has worked as an ESL teacher with the NYC Department of Education and became interested in green initiatives and sustainable living after having her son and becoming a SAHM. Michele has a BA in English Language Arts and a Masters in TESOL, both from CUNY Hunter College. Michele moved to Arlington with her husband and son in 2016 and began volunteering at cleanups with EcoAction Arlington. She is excited to be a part of promoting sustainability in Arlington.
William Earl “Bill” Campbell joined EcoActionArlington and the Virginia Cooperative Extension in May of 2023 as the part-time Energy Masters coordinator. He was a civilian employee for thirty-three years with the Department of Defense as a Design and Project engineer and also a Project and Program Manager. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University and a Masters Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Georgetown University. A father of three adult children, Bill also served on the Alexandria City Public School Board. He lives in Alexandria with his wife of thirty-nine years, Ruby and their two grand dogs, Noah, and Michael Jackson!
Heather Jeff joined EcoAction Arlington in 2022 as the Fundraising and Development Manager. Her experience includes teaching in Fairfax County Schools and managing running events for Pacers Running. Heather is a Hokie, earning a Degree in Fine and Studio Arts from Virginia Tech and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Loyola University in Baltimore. You might see her out enjoying the robust trail network in Arlington County with her husband, two children, and puppy.
Kara Simon joined EcoAction Arlington in October 2023 as the Outreach Assistant. Before joining EcoAction, Kara owned and operated Loving Heart Holistic Wellness, a small LLC for seven years. In the nonprofit sector, she has served on several board of directors and steering committees over the last ten years, in which she assisted with event planning, community outreach, and engagement. She is passionate about the environment, plants, and cultivating community. In her spare time, she loves photography, painting, and taking care of her 31 houseplants. She has hopes to return to school with a focus in Horticulture and Environmental Science in the near future. Kara moved to Arlington in 2020, and lives with her husband and adopted dog, Mando.
Kisha Sogunro joined EcoAction Arlington in November 2022 to work with the Tree Canopy Equity Program. Kisha is a dynamic and innovative public-sector leader that has garnered 12 national, state and local awards for her successful projects. Her body of work includes introducing Family Search, the largest genealogical database in the world, to local NAACP chapters to connect families across generations. Additionally, having recruited over 10,000 volunteers, she is internationally recognized for her leadership in community and volunteer engagements. One of her proudest moments came in 2011, when she was invited to participate at the White House as part of the President’s “Champions of Change” program. Kisha earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications and Leadership from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Brigham Young University.
Jennie Swisher joined the EcoAction Arlington development office part-time in October 2022 after working full-time in Arlington Food Assistance Center’s development office. She was a regular substitute teacher in Arlington County Public Schools and has twelve years combined project management experience with Freddie Mac and KPMG. Jennie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Rhetoric & Communications Studies from the University of Virginia. She lives in Arlington with her husband and has three adult sons.
Ting Waymouth joined as Program Manager for EcoAction Arlington in the fall of 2023. She has a B.A. in English from Vassar College, an M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from UMass Amherst, and is a Climatebase Fellow. Ting moved to northern Virginia in 2021 and has been actively involved in local volunteering and organizing for climate since then. She lives with her spouse, two young children, and a dog. Ting is enthusiastic about a broad range of environmental solutions, from composting to building electrification.
Board of Directors
Officers
Chair:
Vice Chair:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Jenn Yates
Michael Lowe
Joseph Testa
open
Board Members
Elizabeth Elee
Some of my most memorable childhood moments outdoors involve gardening and composting with my family, and running along rivers and trails with friends and school teams in my native northeast Ohio. I love the outdoors; I embrace being a caretaker for nature, the environment, and our collective footprint. Volunteering with EcoAction Energy Masters is an outgrowth of that love. Teaching computer skills to new learners is an outgrowth of that embrace. Sculpting computer code to facilitate community-building online and offline is a personal mission I take seriously. EcoAction Arlington’s mission of practical solutions and sustainable lifestyles is teachable and attainable. I hope to leverage my technical and organizing expertise in service of this shared mission.
David Forney
I am a 20+ year resident of Northern Virginia having recently retired from Accenture Federal Service, an IT consulting organization. At AFS, I was responsible for the company’s real estate and sustainability operations with a focus on reducing AFS’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions, waste reduction and employee sustainability engagement. My goal is to enjoy retirement through a lot of outdoor activities while also giving back to the community in an eco-centric manner. As such, I see a wonderful opportunity to leverage my professional experiences to further the goals of EcoAction, particularly in the areas of Advocacy, Governance and Finance.
Sampak Garg
I grew up primarily in Northern California but have called Arlington home for the past 12 years. As a husband and father, I cherish Arlington’s livability and community. Our natural resources are a big part of what makes Arlington a great place to live, and I want to be part of an organization that helps preserve them. I currently work as a lawyer for a large technology company.
Eliza Gromada (Student board member)
I have lived in Arlington, Virginia my entire life. Inspired by the many years of enjoying the trails and parks in my neighborhood near Donaldson Run, I am passionate about sustainability and efforts to conserve our natural resources for future generations. Arlington is strongly committed to environmental activism, and I have been exposed to these important values throughout my experience in Arlington Public Schools from elementary school through high school. I look forward to providing a student perspective at the EcoAction Arlington meetings and to lead efforts to communicate and activate initiatives of EcoAction Arlington at Yorktown High School as well as in various other organizations that am involved in. I am looking forward to bridging EcoAction Arlington’s mission and activities with young people in the community.
Aisha Husain
For the past 12 years I have been working on Federal energy efficiency regulations for appliances. Seeking ways outside of work to engage in climate change solutions, I was fortunate enough to find EcoAction Arlington as well as the Energy Masters program. As a volunteer I have been continually impressed with EcoAction Arlington’s commitment and effectiveness. Arlington has made some good progress and has the potential to be a leader as a climate solution community. As a board member I hope to assist EcoAction Arlington in its holistic approach to addressing climate change in Arlington – through education, advocacy, and implementation of technological, social, and behavioral solutions.
Angelo Ioffreda
I am an independent strategic communication and management consultant, leadership coach, and adjunct professor at American University and George Washington University. I am a long-time Arlington resident in the Barcroft neighborhood, and I enjoy the nearby WO&D trail as an avid cyclist and walker. I studied biology and environmental sciences in college and have long enjoyed the outdoors. I want to apply my organizational, communication, and leadership skills to help EcoAction Arlington create a more sustainable and enjoyable environment in Arlington as well as a more diverse and inclusive organization able to expand engagement within the Arlington community and beyond.
Ruth Ivory-Moore
I am passionate about working to ensure the resiliency of ecological and social systems to protect the planet for future generations. As Program Director, Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), I manage climate change, ESG, sustainability, agriculture, and energy policy coordination. I also consult with companies addressing business growth matters, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Before joining the ELCA, I held senior positions in the chemical and energy sectors. I have degrees in chemical engineering from Howard University and Ohio State University and a law degree from Rutgers University. I am excited to use my advocacy and policy analyses skills to contribute to EcoAction Arlington’s goals.
Mike Lowe
My environmental consciousness was formed during a high-school semester on an organic farm in Vermont. Ever since, I have aspired to be a suburban homesteader and live a lower-impact life. Professionally, I am a management consultant and have worked with companies, government agencies, and law firms to strategize, solve difficult problems, and implement change programs. I am thrilled about the opportunity to contribute my professional skills and passion to support EcoAction Arlington’s mission. Moreover, I am eager to engage with and learn from a diverse community of Arlingtonians who share a commitment to making our county a model of sustainability.
Jim Lyon
I have lived in Arlington for 40+ years, and recently retired after 45 years in environmental policy/advocacy for several national organizations. I spent the last 25 years with National Wildlife Federation, as Vice President for Policy guiding policy/advocacy campaigns on a host of conservation issues – Climate change; rivers and coastal restoration (incl. BP oil spill); protecting America’s public lands (incl. Arctic Refuge); threatened wildlife populations (incl. bison, wolves, butterflies); defending keystone laws like the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Throughout, I’ve been privileged to work with many citizen organizations across the country facing environmental impacts. Now retired, I’m interested in volunteering locally to enhance community conservation, advance climate solutions, and help youth connect with nature to lead us forward.
Melody Mobley
After graduating from the University of Washington in 1979 as the first African American woman with a BS in forest management, I had a 28-year career with the USDA Forest Service as the agency’s first Black female forester. I held a wide variety of positions from public affairs specialist to deputy forest supervisor all over the US and overseas. I retired in 2005 and now lives in Arlington, Virginia. My goals for being a member of the EcoAction Arlington Board are to increase its overall diversity, equity and inclusiveness in plans, programs and membership, to ensure service to all Arlington County residents, and to use the best science available.
Levi Novey
I started my career as a park ranger and worked in many of our country’s amazing national parks. After meeting my wife, we lived with our family throughout Peru for several years and worked on environmental conservation and sustainability there. Since moving to Arlington in 2010, we realized that we want to create deeper roots in our community. Impressed by the positive and tangible impacts of EcoAction Arlington, I am excited to offer my career experience and skills to help the organization achieve its goals. As more people acknowledge the interconnectedness between nature, climate change, human well-being, and strong economies, it’s a terrific time to galvanize new and diverse champions within Arlington who think globally, and act locally.
Andrea Reese
I’ve spent more than 17 years working in land conservation, including about eight years in roles specific to Northern Virginia, with both nonprofits and public agencies. I come to EcoAction Arlington looking for new ways to engage locally as a volunteer while bringing my professional experience and training to bear. What excites me about EcoAction Arlington are its service across many walks of life in Arlington and its results-oriented, approachable style. I was raised in Idaho, with plenty of camping and backyard birding. I’ve lived in Arlington for over 10 years, and I especially love visiting local parks with my family and friends.
Joseph Testa
I am a 25+ year resident of Northern Virginia and relative newcomer to Arlington. My professional background is lobbying and government relations in state capitals. I have served as an Arlington election officer, board member of the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures and volunteer with CASA of Fairfax. I earned my master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota. I enjoy living a low carbon lifestyle, jogging and cycling on area trails and shopping for fresh local produce at the Courthouse Farmers Market.
Laura Vickers
In January 2019, I volunteered to work with the EcoExtravaganza Committee, and that experience inspired me. My goal is to assist EcoAction Arlington to promote environmental awareness further. My expertise includes Marketing and Advertising for The Washington Post. I have also worked as a realtor for almost twenty years, focusing on properties along the Metro corridor. I have a master’s degree in Telecommunications from George Mason University. As a lifelong resident of Arlington, I love living in the Nation’s first Leed Platinum Certified community that promotes environmental stewardship and sustainability. I enjoy living in the walkable neighborhood of Clarendon with my husband.
Jenn Yates
My earliest memories are camping and hiking with my dad in the Southern California mountains. Imbued with a love of nature from that young age, I have spent my career working to improve federal environmental policies while taking action on a personal level to minimize my footprint. But as progress on federal environmental policy becomes more and more challenging, EcoAction Arlington is demonstrating locally the change we want to see globally and making a tangible impact. I’m excited to be leveraging my advocacy and environmental science background to continue to build on EcoAction Arlington’s impressive accomplishments to date and extend the reputation of Arlington as an innovative and conscientious community well into the future.