MEET THE BOARD

Georgia Conservation Voters Board of Directors

Krista Brewer

PRESIDENT

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Krista Brewer is a life-long resident of Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up as the daughter of an Emory University professor, and part of the progressive South. After getting a Masters in urban planning and working briefly in that field, she turned to a career in journalism and editing before “retiring” to raise her three children.

Krista has served on PTA boards, and the boards of trustees of her children’s schools. Her other philanthropic and volunteer involvement includes women’s empowerment, civic engagement, and voter mobilization. Krista was instrumental in founding ProGeorgia, the civic engagement state table in Georgia, the first in the Deep South and reviving Georgia Conservation Voters, where she serves as President of the Board.

Laura Turner Seydel

TREASURER

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Laura is a director of and works with the Environmental Working Group to limit the toxic chemicals in food, air, water and consumer products. In 2004, she co-founded Mothers and Others for Clean Air and is currently the chair of the board; in 1994, she and her husband co-founded Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

Laura serves on the boards of her family’s foundations: The Turner Foundation, Jane Smith Turner Foundation, the Turner Endangered Species Fund, and Ted’s Montana Grill. She is vice chair of the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and sits on the national boards of the League of Conservation Voters, Defenders of Wildlife, Waterkeeper Alliance and the Carter Center Board of Councilors; she also serves on the advisory board for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Downtown Atlanta.

Laura is the recipient of numerous humanitarian and environmental awards, including the League of Conservation Voters Environmental Hero Award, the SCLC Drum Major for Justice Award, the Healthy Child Healthy World’s Mom on a Mission for Service Award, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta’s Legacy Award, the YWCA Academy of Women Achievement Award, the National Garden Clubs Award of Excellence, the Andrew Young Foundation Pass on Blessings Award, and is a Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Legacy of Leadership Honoree.

Chandra Brown

 

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Chandra is a seasoned advocate, activist, and communications strategist. With over two decades of working in the trenches on conservation and environmental policy, she knows what makes decision-makers and activists tick. As a Riverkeeper in rural Georgia for nearly 10 years, she connected people and policy. In 2011, she began consulting for an array of conservationists, public interest law firms, and foundations. She helps her clients develop strategies to influence policy and shape public discourse. Chandra uses a mix of technological savvy, research skills, and good old-fashioned ground-truthing to develop and implement winning advocacy campaigns. 

Jillian Murphy

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Jillian Murphy is the Senior Program Officer at the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund. She also serves as an advisor to the Democracy Alliance, where she manages the Climate Equity Action Fund.

Since joining the fund in 2016, she has led the Fund’s work with its state partners across the country, grown resources and expanded its state strategies. Prior to joining the Fund, she served as the Associate Director of Climate Communications at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, where she directed CAP Action’s political and electoral engagement on climate change and environmental issues in the 2016 election.

She has also worked in communications and campaign roles with national environmental campaigns like the Climate Action Campaign.  She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Miami University in Oxford, OH, with degrees in botany, environmental science, and Latin American studies.

A native of Atlanta, GA, she lives in Maryland with her husband, two rescue dogs, and cat.

 

Michelle Sanchez

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Michelle Sanchez currently serves as the Latinx Director for the Democratic Party of Georgia. She began her career as a paralegal, worked in public relations, before moving into roles focused on organizing for progressive issues. Prior to her role with the Democratic Party, she served as the District Operations Director for the Progressive Turnout Project. She also served in two roles with the New Georgia Project, first as the Latinx and Faith Organizer, and then as the Quality Control Manager. Michelle is well versed in voting rights and democracy issues having served as a Board Member on the Hall County Board of Elections.

She received a Certificate of Leadership Mastery from the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, and early on in her career was certified as a Supervisor of Asbestos Removal by Occupational Safety and Environmental Education, Inc. 

Michelle is active within the Democratic Party, and previously served as the Executive Vice President of the Young Democrats of Georgia. In 2016 she ran for the Georgia House of Representatives to represent Hall County.

Tamara Jones

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Tamara is the Co-Executive Director of Clean Energy Works. She brings more than fifteen years of managerial experience in the nonprofit and public sectors. She has served as Director of programs and policy for mayoral administrations in Atlanta and Houston, as Chief of Staff to a Houston City Councilmember, as the Executive Director of the Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON), as the founder of the Social Justice Impact Project / Inquiring Systems Inc., and as a consultant guide to dozens of organizations over ten years of independent practice.

In the energy sector, Ms. Jones held positions of Director of Program Development & Government Relations at Southface Energy Institute and Director of Programs and Services for the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA). At SEEA, she administered regional energy efficiency building retrofit programs for which she was designated a White House Champion of Change in 2011. Ms. Jones holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Long Island University Brooklyn Campus and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Yale University.

Ontario Smith

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Ontario Smith is a political and external affairs specialist with more than than 15 years of experience navigating the challenging political and regulatory environments that face projects across the United States.

Ontario has worked for Fortune 200 companies in a variety of capacities within analytical, policy and political organizations. Ontario’s career began at Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Francisco, where he led regulatory efforts related to ratemaking. Ontario transitioned into a role as principal local representative to the City and County of San Francisco where he led outreach and lobbying strategies with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and other City agencies. Ontario also worked at AT&T, in Atlanta, where he led external affairs in the Metro Atlanta region. 

In his current capacity as Managing Principal and Co-Founder at S2 Partners, Ontario works with clients across the country to enhance their relationships with local and state government officials, local stakeholders and organized labor. The S2 Partners team works to facilitate an environment where collaborative zoning, land use and workforce strategies are implemented, ensuring that important projects are designed, approved and constructed in diverse communities. 

Ontario is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Wendy Davis

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A graduate of Berry College, Wendy Davis has spent more than thirty years fostering civic engagement as a political strategist and community activist. Since 2010 she has produced telephone town hall events for VocalFi, helping clients across North America host interactive conversations with thousands of participants simultaneously. 

Committed to building a better Rome – a vibrant, welcoming, and prosperous city that is reaching for the 22 nd Century – Wendy served eight years as a Rome City Commissioner. Her primary goal was to involve more neighbors in the process of everyday governing, and she found innovative ways to share information and gather citizen input.

Determined to ask tough questions and propose new ideas, Wendy also distinguished herself as the city commissioner most responsive to citizens’ concerns. She has also been a leader in protecting greenspaces in Rome and increasing recreational and educational opportunities related to Rome’s rivers. 

During the 2022 election cycle, Wendy was a candidate for Congress in northwest Georgia.  For the last ten years, Wendy has held leadership roles in state and national organizations of municipal officials and within the Democratic Party. In addition, Wendy has been an active participant in a broad range of local community activities, including the successful effort to bring minor league baseball to Rome.

Judith Corbett

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Judith has recently established SustainUS365, a consulting business that focuses on preservation and utilization of the land to feed humanity long-term.  Her career focus has been on the health and well-being of mankind from a stellar career with Merck and Co., to Southwest Georgia Projects working with Minority and women farmers to Serving on the Albany Utilities Board for six years. 

From 2003 to 2019 she was a political consultant working with local, state, and federal democratic candidates including Congressman Sanford Bishop.  While at Merck she served as Government and Public Affairs Manager for 2002-2007.

She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Fenn College of Engineering at Cleveland State University in Ohio.

Daniela Rodriguez

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Daniela Rodriguez is a Mexican immigrant rights activist and community organizer. At the age of 13, she immigrated to the U.S. with her mother seeking a better life. In 2013, during her first year of college at GSU, she became a co-founder of Savannah Undocumented Youth Alliance, a grassroots org that advocated for the rights of undocumented college students in GA. In her work as an advocate for education equity and immigration reform in the south, she has shared her personal story and has used her voice to speak up for those who are not always heard. Daniela has been featured in various local, state, and  international newspapers and has spoken at various panels & radio shows.

She is a former ProGeorgia fellow & a Border Angels intern. She is recipient of several awards from organizations such as 9to5 working Georgia Working Women, Step Up Savannah, and for four consecutive years, she was selected as one of the 50 most influential latinas in the state of Georgia. In 2021 the ATL Magazine featured Daniela as one of 60 Georgians doing important work for the future of Georgia and in 2022 Voyage Savannah Magazine included Daniela in their rising stars section. She is a member of Savannah’s Hispanic Task Force & the Racial Equity Taskforce, & serves on the board for the Savannah Morning News. In honor of International Migrants Day, the City of Savannah inducted Daniela to the Municipal Archives, making her officially part of history.

Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Migrant Equity Southeast -an immigration justice organization in South GA.  Because of her resilience, she has inspired other students with similar backgrounds and stories. She believes that education is a human right and that immigrants are Here To Stay. When she is not busy managing her various roles, she enjoys exploring coffee shops, reading and watching documentaries.

Jen Jordan

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Jen Jordan has spent her legal career fighting for Georgians all over the state. She is a former Georgia State Senator and candidate for Georgia Attorney General. Jen’s small-town background informs her approach to the law and public service. Put simply, she believes in helping people when they need it the most. Jen has put those beliefs into practice throughout her career, such as fighting to prevent plants from polluting Georgia’s air and water with cancer-causing chemicals. She strongly upholds the belief that every person in this state deserves clean water and clear air, regardless of where they live, who they know, or how much money they have.

Tim Denson

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Tim Denson is a community organizer and public transit/affordable housing advocate who lives with his family in Athens, Georgia. Tim worked alongside grassroots organization 100% Athens to pass a 100% Renewable Energy resolution & Plan for Athens. As an Athens-Clarke County Commissioner, Tim worked to secure progressive victories such as transitioning Athens Transit to a zero-fare transit system and creating an Inclusionary Housing Policy. Tim currently serves on the Clarke County School Board, as the Chair of the Athens-Clarke County Democrats, and on the board of Envision Athens. After years of working as the Organization Coordinator of Athens for Everyone and as an organizer with the United Campus Workers of Georgia, Tim currently is a Housing Specialist at the Athens Homeless Day Service Center. Tim believes that, by uniting & empowering the people, we can make sustainable communities that work for everyone!

GCV Education Fund Board of Directors

Jason Rooks

PRESIDENT

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Jason Rooks is a Georgia native with more than a decade of experience lobbying the Georgia General Assembly and consulting on political campaigns in Georgia. He served as Director of Government Affairs for GaSEIA from 2012-2018. Mr. Rooks also directed Taxpayers for Energy Efficiency, a successful statewide ballot initiative campaign in 2010. As a well-respected voice on renewable energy and energy efficiency, he has helped create numerous clean energy incentives through legislation and regulatory actions at the Georgia PSC. From 2002 to 2008, he served as Executive Director of Georgia Conservation Voters. Prior to that, founded a start-up company in Silicon Valley, and he started his professional career as a practicing attorney in Gainesville, Georgia. Mr. Rooks received a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a law degree from the University of Georgia. Mr. Rooks and his wife, Amy, have two children and live in an Earthcraft house with a 4 kW solar system on the roof.

James Reilly

 

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James is a renewable energy investor and advocate based in Atlanta. He has 7+ years of experience in the clean energy / clean tech investment space. Recently he worked as a policy analyst with CleanCapital, a leading investment platform for distributed solar and storage with more than 200 MW across the US.

James is particularly interested in expanding access to solar for schools and non-profits. In partnership with Southface Institute and Creative Solar USA, James helped finance and develop a 126 kW solar + storage project for a K-12 school in Atlanta, helping it become the first school in the state to go 100% solar.

James serves on the boards of Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund, Georgia Solar Energy Association, and the Altamaha Riverkeeper. He has a BA and MA degree from Emory University and a MSc in Carbon Finance from University of Edinburgh. He and his wife live in Atlanta with their cat and dog. 

Jen Hilburn

 

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Jen was born and raised in Oregon and spent much of her childhood outdoors skiing, hiking, climbing, canoeing, kayaking and rafting the Pacific Northwest. She studied at Portland State University (OR), University of Copenhagen (Denmark) and recently completed her Master’s degree through a National Science Foundation-funded program at Miami University.

She has worked as an ornithologist in Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Italy, and San Clemente Island (San Diego). Before becoming Altamaha Riverkeeper, her last decade was spent on St. Catherines Island working primarily with shorebirds.

Jen says, “For many years, even working on the front-lines of conservation, I felt I wasn’t working at a big-picture level and I wanted to accomplish more. Now, protecting the largest watershed in Georgia, working in advocacy from Atlanta and Athens, through middle Georgia and to our unique Golden Isles, I go home satisfied and exhausted.”

Policy and Legislation changes often have the most reaching impact, and Jen believes it is an honor to serve on the GCVEF and support the Executive Director, Brionté, in her execution of our mission.

Ontario Smith

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Ontario Smith is a political and external affairs specialist with more than than 15 years of experience navigating the challenging political and regulatory environments that face projects across the United States.

Ontario has worked for Fortune 200 companies in a variety of capacities within analytical, policy and political organizations. Ontario’s career began at Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Francisco, where he led regulatory efforts related to ratemaking. Ontario transitioned into a role as principal local representative to the City and County of San Francisco where he led outreach and lobbying strategies with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and other City agencies. Ontario also worked at AT&T, in Atlanta, where he led external affairs in the Metro Atlanta region. 

In his current capacity as Managing Principal and Co-Founder at S2 Partners, Ontario works with clients across the country to enhance their relationships with local and state government officials, local stakeholders and organized labor. The S2 Partners team works to facilitate an environment where collaborative zoning, land use and workforce strategies are implemented, ensuring that important projects are designed, approved and constructed in diverse communities. 

Ontario is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Dr. Treva Gear 

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Dr. Treva Gear is the founder and chair of the Concerned Citizens of Cook County, a community grassroots organization in Adel, Georgia.  She is also the Georgia State Manager for Dogwood Alliance, an environmental organization that focuses on protecting southern forests and communities from industrial logging.  Dr. Gear is an Army veteran, an educator of 17 years, and a community organizer. She has run for political office in two election cycles. Dr. Gear ran for GA State House District 175 in 2018 and GA State Senate in 2020. She believes in being the change that she wants to see in the world and doesn’t mind “getting into good trouble.” Dr. Gear holds a doctorate in Adult and Career Education from Valdosta State University. 

Aliegha Brigham Kemp

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A native of Burke County, Aliegha Kemp was born and raised in the Augusta area. Prior to her career as a Realtor she worked for the Richmond County Tax Commissioner’s Office as a Project Manager. Aliegha has a deep-rooted interest in the betterment of our community. As a locally grown individual, Aliegha has a vested interest in our youth, and for the past five years she has served as the administrator of the Youth Leadership Augusta program, a Board Member of Leadership Augusta and the YMCA. She believes in staying humble and grounded always reminding those she meets that she is just a country girl looking to make an impact on the world around her. Aliegha is also an affiliate of Georgia WAND and a member of the Burke Archway Housing Committee.