Home > About Us > Staff

Staff

Greenbelt Alliance staff work to protect the Bay Area's open space and make the region's communities better places to live, from offices in San Francisco, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Walnut Creek, and San Jose.

Jeremy Madsen, Executive Director

As Executive Director, Jeremy Madsen sets and implements the organization's strategic goals and manages its operations. He is the leader of Greenbelt Alliance's policy and advocacy efforts to protect the Bay Area's open spaces and promote the creation of vibrant urban places.

Jeremy comes to Greenbelt Alliance from The San Francisco Foundation, where he helped to launch the Great Communities Collaborative and supported social equity, affordable housing, and smart growth efforts around the Bay Area. From 2001 to 2005, Jeremy was Greenbelt Alliance's Field Director, leading the organization's policy campaigns and supervising the work of all its field offices. Previously, Jeremy served as Field Director for Washington state’s Transportation Choices Coalition, coordinated fair trade campaigns for the Washington, DC-based Citizens Trade Campaign, and ran get-out-the-vote efforts for candidate and ballot measure campaigns. B.A., George Washington University. M.S., Environmental Studies, University of Oregon. email Jeremy

Janeen Jackson, Executive Assistant
Responsible for comprehensive administrative support for the Executive Director and programmatic support as needed. Serves as a point of contact for those needing to reach the Executive Director. Coursework in Computer Sciences, Chabot College and Theater Arts at Shenandoah University. email Janeen

Program

Amanda Brown-Stevens, Director of Programs
Responsible for directing the coordination of local and regional efforts to protect open space and create livable communities throughout the nine-county Bay Area. Works with citizens, elected officials, and diverse groups through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing and advocacy. B.A., Latin American Studies, Wesleyan University. M.P.P., Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley. email Amanda

Melissa Hippard, Campaigns Director
Responsible for working with field staff to coordinate citizen efforts to protect open space and create livable communities throughout the Bay Area. Works with citizens, elected officials, and diverse groups to protect the greenbelt of open space and improve the livability of existing communities through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing and local advocacy. B.A., Politics, University of California at Santa Cruz. M.A., Political Science, Colorado State University. Ph.D., Sociology, Colorado State University. email Melissa

Stephanie Reyes, Policy Director
Responsible for coordinating efforts to protect open space and create livable communities on a regional and state level. Works with citizens, elected officials, and diverse groups to protect the greenbelt of open space and improve the livability of existing communities through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing and local advocacy. B.S., Computer Science, Brown University. email Stephanie

Jennifer Gennari, Communications Director
Responsible for media relations, policy communications, publications, reports, and website. B.A., English, Vassar College. M.A., Rhetoric and Communication Studies, University of Virginia. M.F.A., Writing, Vermont College. email Jennifer

Michele Beasley, Senior Field Representative
Responsible for coordinating citizen efforts to protect open space and create livable communities in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Works with citizens, elected officials, and diverse groups to protect the greenbelt of open space and improve the livability of existing communities through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing, and local advocacy. B.S., Business Administration, Saint Mary's College of California. email Michele

Matt Vander Sluis, Senior Field Representative
Responsible for coordinating citizen efforts to protect open space and create livable communities in Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Works with citizens, elected officials, and diverse groups to protect the greenbelt of open space and improve the livability of existing communities through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing, and local advocacy. B.A. American Studies, Stanford University. email Matt

Amanda Bornstein, Field Representative
Responsible for coordinating citizen efforts to protect open space and create livable communities in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Works with citizens, elected officials, and diverse groups to protect the greenbelt of open space and improve the livability of existing communities through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing, and local advocacy. B.A., American Studies. B.F.A., Studio Arts, School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University. M.A., Urban Planning, UCLA. email Amanda

Whitney Merchant, Field Representative
Responsible for coordinating citizen efforts to protect open space and create livable communities in Sonoma and Marin Counties. Works with citizens, elected officials, and diverse groups to protect the greenbelt of open space and improve the livability of existing communities through grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy analysis, political strategizing, and local advocacy. B.A., English Literature, UCLA. Graduate of The Environmental Forum of Marin. email Whitney

Ellie Casson, Campaign Organizer
Responsible for developing a new Greenbelt Alliance toolkit for integrating climate considerations into local land-use planning campaigns.  Leads advocacy efforts to incorporate climate-friendly land-use policies into the city of Mountain View’s General Plan update and will engage in other land-use campaigns in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties as needed. University of Toronto coursework in Urban Studies, Environmental Ethics and Political Science. B.A., Sustainable Community Planning, Hampshire College. email Ellie

Marla Wilson, Sustainable Development Associate
Responsible for coordinating the Compact Development Endorsement Program and the Livable Communities Outreach Program. These programs advocate for individual developments and plans that create livable communities and educate residents and decision-makers about the benefits of creating livable communities. Works with local residents, elected officials, and diverse groups through grassroots organizing, outreach, and advocacy. B.A., Sociology, Political Communication and Women's Studies Minors, James Madison University. M.P.A., San Francisco State University. email Marla

Adam Garcia, Policy Researcher
Responsible for implementing Greenbelt Alliance’s agenda-setting research projects, as well as conducting research, public policy analysis, and mapping services to support Greenbelt Alliance’s land-use advocacy campaigns. B.S, Environmental Studies, UC Santa Barbara. M.A., Urban Planning, UCLA. email Adam

Sara Barz, Communications Associate
Responsible for Greenbelt Alliance’s online and new media presence and promoting Greenbelt Alliance’s message. Supports field representatives by sending targeted emails, creating support material, and maintaining website. B.A., Smith College. email Sara

Development

Ernest Notar, Development Director
Directs the Development department of Greenbelt Alliance, overseeing major donor, foundation, and membership programs. Previously directed development efforts for programs at educational institutions including the University of Maryland and the University of California at Berkeley. B.A., English, Dartmouth College. M.A. & Ph.D., Asian Studies and Political Science, University of California at Berkeley. email Ernie

Betsy York, Development Officer
Responsible for fundraising from major donors and foundations. B.A., Sociology, Pomona College. M.B.A., Graduate School of Management, Simmons College. Certified Fundraising Executive. email Betsy

Lopamudra Pal, Donor Relations Officer
Manages the daily operations of Greenbelt Alliance's major donor program. B.A., Art History, University of California at Santa Cruz. M.A., Art History, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. email Lopa

Andrew Alvarez, Membership & Database Manager
Manages and directs all membership activities including membership recruitment and retention strategy, coordination of outreach to diverse member groups, maintenance of the donor database, and assistance in leading successful fundraising events. B.A., Art History, Open University. M.A., Museum Studies, Leicester University. email Andrew

Ken Lavin, Outings and Volunteer Coordinator
Responsible for volunteer outreach and coordination, coordination of Greenbelt Outings to introduce the public to the greenbelt, and general support of the membership outreach program. B.A., Economics, UCLA. email Ken

Administration

Miriam Kronberg, Chief Operating Officer
Responsible for overseeing financial, personnel, administrative and computer systems, as well as Board relations. Previously a nonprofit financial consultant with clients including TransForm, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Breast Cancer Action, and Center for Young Women's Development. B.A., Psychology, Oberlin College. M.B.A., Sustainable Management, Presidio School of Management (anticipated graduation 2011). email Miriam

Chuck Binckley, Systems Administrator
Responsible for overseeing and maintaining computer systems and technical support services. email Chuck

Daniel Margolis, Staff Accountant
Responsible for financial records, bookkeeping, and accounting. California Polytechnic State University, coursework. email Daniel

Alexis Amann, Administrative Manager
Responsible for general administrative support for the San Francisco and field offices. B.A., Drawing/Painting/Printmaking, Portland State University. M.F.A., Painting, San Francisco Art Institute. email Alexis