Our Team
Elenor Hodges
Executive Director
elenor@ecoactionarlington.org
Elenor 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
Communications Coordinator
michele@ecoactionarlington.org
Michele began as a volunteer with EcoAction Arlington after moving to Arlington in 2016. She joined EcoAction Arlington in April 2019 as the program and outreach assistant and is now the Communications Coordinator. She is excited to be a part of promoting sustainability in Arlington.
William Earl “Bill” Campbell
Energy Masters Coordinator
bill@ecoactionarlington.org
Bill 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!
Mackenzie Faust
Tree Canopy Administrative Assistant
mackenzie@ecoactionarlington.org
Mackenzie joined EcoAction Arlington in October 2024 as the Administration Assistant for our Tree Canopy Program. Prior to joining EcoAction Arlington, Mackenzie wore many hats working as Executive Assistants for CEO’s of various tech startups. Mackenzie earned her degree in Nonprofit Management from Webster University in Saint Louis, MO. She currently resides in Knoxville TN, with her husband and two daughters. On the weekends you can find her enjoying Knoxville’s diverse mountain biking trails.
Adrienne Gaither
Communications Manager
adrienne@ecoactionarlington.org
Adrienne joined EcoAction Arlington in January 2024 as Communications Manager.
Heather Jeff
Fundraising and Development Manager
heather@ecoactionarlington.org
Heather 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
Program Manager
kara@ecoactionarlington.org
Kara joined EcoAction Arlington in October 2023 as the Outreach Assistant. As of June 2024, she is serving as the Program Manager. 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, hiking, and taking care of her many houseplants. Kara moved to Arlington in 2020, and lives with her husband and adopted dog, Mando.
Kisha Sogunro
Tree Canopy Equity Program
treeequity@ecoactionarlington.org
Kisha 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
Development
jennie@ecoactionarlington.org
Jennie 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.
Emy Yamamoto
Outreach Assistant
emy@ecoactionarlington.org
Emy joined EcoAction Arlington in September 2024 as the Outreach Assistant. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Enterprise Management and Psychology from Wake Forest University. Before joining EcoAction, Emy was an intern at Wake Forest’s Office of Sustainability where she volunteered at schools and created workshops for student clubs for sustainable event planning. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Emy brings a global perspective and an open-minded approach to every challenge. Passionate about sustainability, she is dedicated to making a positive impact in her community and beyond.
Tree Ambassadors
- Juan Bustamante
- Ana Cisneros
- Fitsum
- Sarah Foard
- Sydney Molaver
Board Members
Norman Barth
Dr. Norman Barth is a retired U.S. Foreign Service officer. His twenty years at the U.S. State Department included serving on delegations to the UNFCCC Climate Change negotiations and as the U.S. Liaison to the Buildings and Appliances Task Force of the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate. Prior to joining the State Department, Norman obtained a Ph.D. in physics from UNC-Chapel Hill. He did post-doctoral research at MIT, Harvard, Brown, and Freiburg University in Germany much of it centered on climate and climate modeling. His last academic position was at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Norman lives in Arlington and has two daughters aged 19 and 15.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sirisha Karra
My interest in sustainability and corporate social responsibility stemmed at an early age and really accelerated through college and my early career. I grew up with a love for the outdoors, composting, preserving and beautifying our Mother Earth, and upcycling to create a more sustainable living. I currently work as a Senior Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist at Gartner and am also pursuing a graduate certificate at American University in social innovation. Having been exposed to various nonprofits and organizations in the area, I am so fortunate to have found EcoArlington. I am excited to delve deeper into sustainable practices with the organization, and bring them to light in more ways than one through the local community.
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.
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.
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.
Nina Wurster
Having been raised by one of the founders of the Environmental Defense Fund, I have been an environmentalist (even if unknowingly!) since childhood. Although my career has been mainly in healthcare, I care deeply about the environment and climate change. I have lived in Arlington and the DC area since 1997, and my children and I have been volunteering with EcoAction for years. Their enthusiasm for environmental issues has reignited our families’ activism and commitment to effecting change. I hold an MBA from Georgetown University, and hope to contribute my skills to helping EcoAction have a positive impact in our community and beyond.