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 About CHEJ > Our Staff
Our Staff
Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director
In 1978, Lois founded the Love Canal Homeowners' Association, and CHEJ in 1981. Her vision has guided our efforts to provide critical organizing and technical assistance to communities engaged in their own environmental struggles. Lois sits on numerous Boards and Advisory Committees. She is the recipient of an honorary Doctorate from SUNY at Cortland, New York, the 1990 Goldman Environmental Prize, the 1998 Heinz Award, and the 1999 John Gardner Leadership Award from Independent Sector. [read more]
Renee’ Blanchard, Child Proofing our Communities Program Coordinator
Renee came to CHEJ in 2008 from Greenpeace US, where she helped organize a 400 person photo art instillation on the beaches of south Florida to highlight the impacts of Global Warming, encouraged teachers, students, and parents to make their school district ancient forest friendly. While at Greenpeace, Renee’ also worked on the Toxic Tech campaign, challenging electronics companies to go green. Ms. Blanchard hails from Florida, where she studied International Political Science and organized students around the Burma democracy movement, leading students and teachers to the Thai-Burma border on learning expeditions. Her activism around healthy communities has seen her engaged in phone banking for city council elections, trekking to the mountainous refugee camps of Southeast Asia and settling within CHEJ to work on children’s health issues.
Suzie Brindle, Fundraising Manger
Suzie Brindle joined from Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, where she previously worked as its development associate. Prior to that, she spent four years as a community organizer with Clean Water Action in Pittsburgh, PA. Suzie earned her bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Pittsburgh. She is excited to be back in the environmental justice movement and looks forward to building relationships with fellow CHEJ supporters.
Ron Davis, Grassroots Organizer
Ron is responsible for community organizing with a focus on racial and economic justice. He has been a founding member of local grassroots groups such as The Oliver Torch Foundation; Men N Black, Citizens for Police Review (CPR) and the Community Arts and Culture Alliance (CA2) as well as the North American Alliance for Popular and Adult Education. He has received leadership recognition from local and state NAACP bodies; he has also participated in the Non-Governmental Organizations’ Social Forum on Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark; organized a Hemispheric Consultation on Caribbeans and Africans in the American Diaspora in Nassau, Bahamas, and a North/South Consultation on Popular Education with the International Council for Adult Education in Santiago, Chile. He has served on the Boards of Deep Dish TV, Solutions and Sincere 7 and served as a member of the Southern Partners Fund. He has worked on the staff of the historic Highlander Center, the Commission on Religion in Appalachia
(CORA) and as an independent consultant. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Psychology from Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky, respectively.
Sharon Franklin, Finance/Administration Director
Sharon has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Her experience includes being the Director of Corporate Relations with an international children's organization, Executive Director of the Links Foundation, an international African American women's organization, and Chief Operating Officer of the Montessori Accrediting Commission for Teachers Education. Sharon's civic service includes being the President of the Historic Battery Heights Condominium Association and Board Member for the City of Manassas Housing Trust Fund. She is also a member of Women in Philanthropy and the Cultural Alliance of Washington, DC.
Jo A Kim, Membership Manager
Jo A joined CHEJ in August of 2008. She graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Religious Studies, Philosophy and Business Administration. Jo A worked in several financial institutions before realizing she wanted to work for the non-profit sector. She started her new career path at an association management firm, working as the membership manager for a professional women’s association. There, Jo A introduced new social media networking tools and increased membership.
Hae-Young Kang, Bookkeeper
Hae-Young
has been working for CHEJ since 1993. She is in charge of all accounting work - A/R, A/P, G/L, P/R and bank reconciliation. She produces monthly reports for financial planning meetings and prepares financial information requested by the CPA firm that conducts CHEJ's yearly audit.
Maryll Kleibrink, Director of Development
Maryll has been fundraising for progressive nonprofits for 19 years, including the Children's Defense Fund and the Izaak Walton League of America. She joined CHEJ in 1996, where she manages grant-writing and foundation relations.
Stephen Lester, Science Director
Stephen received his first Master's of Science, in Toxicology, from Harvard University, and his second Master's of Science, in Environmental Health, from New York University. He received his Bachelor's of Science in Biology from American University. Stephen has served on numerous scientific advisory committees including the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers, the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and the Natural Resource Council of the National Academy of Sciences.
Oludamilare Olugbuyi, IT Coordinator / Media Designer
Oludamilare comes to CHEJ from Wilberforce University, in Ohio, where he worked for the University's IT
Department. Oludamilare brings his passion for business to CHEJ, as he combines his love for technology and environmental justice. “Damilare” has designed various web products and graphic design pieces for non profit organizations and volunteers his time working with area youth. In addition to his many other duties, a chief focus for Oludamilare at CHEJ will be to redesign and oversee the organization’s technological infrastructure. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems from Wilberforce University.
Anne Rabe, BE SAFE Campaign Coordinator
Anne has 25 years of organizing experi ence on environmental and social justice issues. From 1990 to 2003, she was Director and co-founder of Citizens's Environmental Coalition, a statewide grassroots organization in NYS helping communities harmed by toxic pollution and organizing campaigns on State Superfund, radioactive waste disposal, Kodak's dioxin pollution, and other issues. She also co-founded the NYS Labor & Environment Network, a coalition of over 30 labor and environmental groups working on corporate accountability, and Don't Waste New York, a statewide radioactive waste advocacy organization. In the 1980's, she was Director of the NY Environmental Institute and Senior Legislative Assistant to Assemblyman R. Gottfried. From 1980 to today, she has organized a commun ity/labor campaign on the NL Industries uranium waste dump in Colonie, NY. She has received eight state and national awards for her work. Anne works in a satellite CHEJ office in Castleton, NY, near Albany.
Michael Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator
Mike coordinates CHEJ’s national PVC campaign and has coordinated numerous community, marketplace, and policy campaigns resulting in substantial victories for environmental health and justice in New York State over the past eight years. Prior to working for CHEJ, Mike was the Western New York Director of Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC) for four years. Mike has been an active participant in local, statewide, and national PVC campaigns. He is a graduate of the State University of NY at Buffalo with a degree in Environmental Studies.
Dianna S. Wentz, Media Officer/Communications Director
Dianna, a seasoned public affairs strategist, brings over fifteen years of experience working for non-profit organizations, political and issues-based campaigns, training institutions and the media. Dianna ran her own strategic communications business in Pittsburgh, PA where she also served as on air analyst for several local television and radio stations. She has served as adjunct faculty at the Coro Center for Civic Leadership and has led communications and political workshops and courses for the University of Pittsburgh, the League of Women Voters, the Wellstone Training Institute and more. Dianna has completed half of her doctoral program at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Urban Ministry, she is a graduate of the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary and is a rostered minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; her bachelor’s degree in Political Science was earned at the University of Pittsburgh. Dianna has served on several ministerial boards and committees and continues to supply preach as often as she can.
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