Climate Solutions Staff

Gregg Small

Executive Director (Seattle)

Gregg brings more than 16 years of experience working on environmental and public policy issues, including 13 as an Executive Director. Prior to coming to Climate Solutions, Gregg served as the Executive Director of the Washington Toxics Coalition for 7 years and as the Executive Director of the California-based Pesticide Watch for 5 years.

He has extensive experience bringing together diverse constituencies working on local, state, and national issues. For the past seven years, he has been a leader in Priorities for a Healthy Washington, a collaborative of more than 25 of the leading environmental organizations in Washington working together to pass strong statewide environmental policies. Before his work at Climate Solutions, Gregg played a leadership role in creating and developing a number of leading coalitions working on environmental health issues, including the Toxic Free Legacy Coalition, Californians for Pesticide Reform, and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Bodies.

At Climate Solutions, Gregg oversees a staff of twenty policy experts, campaigners, innovators, and researchers across four Northwest offices, providing strategic direction for one of the most effective regional climate and clean energy organizations in the nation.

Gregg began his professional career as an organizer for Green Corps, working in Washington, DC, Vermont, and California. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Dickinson College.

gregg (at) climatesolutions.org

Lisa Adatto

Oregon Director (Portland)

As the Oregon Director for Climate Solutions, Lisa works to promote realistic and sensible climate policy in Oregon. 

Lisa is a business professional with over 20 years experience in marketing and public policy. She was a founder, owner and senior executive of a company that grew from zero to $100 million in annual revenue. Her interest in climate issues led to her joining a leading business group in Oregon, the Oregon Business Association (OBA) as Environment and Economic Development Director. In that position she was responsible for working with members to develop a business, economic development and environmental policy agenda. She represented the only mainstream group in Oregon lobbying in favor of renewable energy legislation and climate change legislation. She also worked to inform the business community about climate issues through conferences and an economic study that looked at the policy implications of various climate policies.  

lisa (at) climatesolutions.org

Owen Atkins

Grants Manager (Seattle)

Owen comes to Climate Solutions with a background in nonprofit administration and state-level advocacy on education and children’s issues. For six years, he worked for the Washington State PTA in a variety of roles, most recently as the interim Executive Director. Prior to entering the nonprofit field, he worked in the publishing business and spent ten years in the music industry.

Owen earned an interdisciplinary BA from University of Washington-Tacoma. He is a member of Seattle University’s 2008 graduating cohort in the Master of Nonprofit Leadership program. He is a Tacoma native, an avid urban hiker, and a lover of urban wildlife (including the people).

owen (at) climatesolutions.org

Beth Berlin

Montana Representative (Missoula)

Beth brings over 20 years experience addressing energy, environmental, socioeconomic, and community development issues for federal, state, tribal and local governments and nonprofit organizations.

Prior to joining Climate Solutions, she served as the Program Director for Women’s Voices for the Earth, a national nonprofit, where she oversaw various environmental justice campaigns. She has also served as the Brownfield Coordinator for the City of Missoula and as the Coordinator for the City’s nationally recognized transportation options program. As the Development Associate for the NW Energy Coalition, Beth initiated planning and helped to coordinate funding for renewable energy, low income, and energy efficiency programs.

Beth is an active member on a number of local advisory panels and boards in Missoula that address climate change and air quality. In her spare time Beth enjoys managing her family’s outdoor gear store with her husband, cross country skiing, floating and fishing on the local rivers, biking around town, and spending time with her husband and two golden retrievers.

bethberlin (at) climatesolutions.org

 Beth Doglio

Campaign Director (Olympia)

 Beth oversees legislative campaigns, ensures campaign strategy is integrated into planning of Climate Solution’s flagship programs, and sustains and builds a network of organizations and businesses to advocate for responsible climate policy, clean energy and transportation solutions. She most recently served as a campaign organizer and then development director for Audubon Washington. In 1996 she was a field organizer for National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), and, in the early-to-mid 90s, she was Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters (WCV). During her tenure with WCV she created Washington Environmental Alliance for Voter Education (WEAVE).

A mom of two young boys, she enjoys the outdoors, cycling, yoga, fiddling and traveling.

beth (at ) climatesolutions.org

Jessica Finn-Coven

Policy Specialist (Seattle)

 Jessica joined the Climate Solutions team in 2007 to serve as the policy associate, working to ensure strong policies are passed and implemented to protect the climate. Prior to joining Climate Solutions, Jessica worked for several years at the U.S. Climate Action Network and was a global warming campaigner for Greenpeace in Washington DC, where her work focused on pressuring the U.S. to rejoin the international community in finding solutions to climate change.

Jessica received her MA in economics and energy policy from the Johns Hopkins University and her BA from Barnard College, Columbia University. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and worked on global warming policy for Greenpeace China in Beijing.

jessica (at) climatesolutions.org

Bonnie Frye Hemphill

Fellow in Business Partnerships (Seattle)

As the Fellow in Business Partnerships, Bonnie brings research, communications and administrative support to the Business Leaders for Climate Solutions program.

Bonnie is a native of North Carolina and recent graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont. Her activist work there spanned numerous campaigns, from changing light bulbs to organizing marches across New Hampshire. Research into the macroeconomic implications of federal clean-energy investment enticed her from activism to economic policy.

Bonnie recently followed her love of adventure and climate politics to Seattle. When she’s not coordinating the Business Leaders for Climate Solutions program, she’s out pursuing shenanigans in the North Cascades, tossing a Frisbee, quilting, or jumping into cold bodies of water.

bonnie (at) climatesolutions.org

Pat Gibbon

Harvesting Clean Energy Program Manager

 Pat manages Climate Solutions’ Harvesting Clean Energy program. She brings over 20 years of experience designing and managing residential, commercial, and industrial energy efficiency programs. She has worked as a consultant, as a program manager at the former Washington State Energy Office, and at the City of Seattle.

She pursed her interest in plants and soils by attending the University of Minnesota College of Agriculture where she earned a BS in agricultural economics and soil science. She also earned her MS in Urban and Regional Planning from University of Wisconsin at Madison and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington.

Pat spends her free time doing habitat restoration work, biking, and pulling weeds in her garden.

pat (at) climatesolutions.org

KC Golden

Policy Director (Seattle)

In addition to serving as Policy Director, K.C. Golden oversees the NW Climate Connections program. From 1999 to 2002, KC was a special assistant to the Mayor of Seattle for clean energy and climate protection initiatives. In that capacity he helped to engineer Seattle City Light’s commitment to become the nation’s first climate neutral electric power utility and the City’s commitment to exceed the goals of the Kyoto protocol. KC was formerly Assistant Director of Washington’s Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, where he directed the Energy Division and the state’s energy policy office. From 1989 to 1995, he was Executive Director of the Northwest Energy Coalition, a regional alliance working for a clean, affordable energy future.

kcgolden (at) climatesolutions.org

Andy Grow

Communications Director (Seattle)

Andy has more than 25 years in politics and policy, communications strategy, media relations, community relations and public affairs. He has consulted to political and public education campaigns, public officials, non-profits, labor unions and governments. Andy also served on the staff of a Seattle City Council member and a member of Congress, worked as an account executive for communications consulting firms, and on statewide political campaigns as a communications director or campaign manager.

andy (at) climatesolutions.org

Jamie Hogue

Oregon Field Representative (Portland)

Before joining the Climate Solutions team, Jamie worked as the Oregon Representative for the Pew Environment Group. She has also worked as a legislative aide and as a field organizer on the successful Measure 49 Campaign, which protects Oregon’s land use laws. While in college she worked on several progressive issues as Chair of Portland State University’s OSPIRG chapter. When she’s not lobbying members of Congress or building coalitions, she enjoys camping, surfing, snowboarding and reading.

jamie (at) climatesolutions.org

Ross Macfarlane

Senior Advisor, Business Partnerships (Seattle)

 Ross brings more than 25 years of experience working on public policy and environmental issues. He was a partner at Preston Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates) where he managed the environmental law practice and represented a wide range of public and private clients. He has been recognized as a “Superlawyer” in the areas of Environmental, Transportation and Public law. He also served on the management team for an agency working to build urban mass transit. He has served on numerous boards, including Washington Conservation Voters.

At Climate Solutions, Ross works to forge partnerships with businesses that are seeking to build the clean energy economy in the Pacific Northwest and helps promote strong climate and energy policy.  Ross was one of the lead drafters and advocates for the Washington Climate Action and Green Jobs bill passed by the legislature in 2008, which made Washington the fourth state to establish binding limits on global warming pollution, and the first to establish a specific program to train workers for jobs in the clean economy.

A Northwest native, Ross is a graduate of Pomona College and University of Washington School of Law. He is passionate about hiking, skiing, and traveling..

ross (at) climatesolutions.org

Suzanne Malakoff

Communications Associate (Olympia)

Suzanne designs, edits and produces Climate Solutions’ electronic and printed bulletins, updates, announcements, newsletters, postcards and other communications pieces. She is also responsible for developing and maintaining the Climate Solutions and Harvesting Clean Energy websites.

Following her daughter’s lead, Suzanne has become a volunteer for HorsePower! and enjoys the kids, the other volunteers and the equine therapists. In her spare time she writes, gardens and gets outside as much as possible, regardless of the weather.

suzanne (at) climatesolutions.org

Patrick Mazza

Research Director (Seattle)

Patrick has written on ecological sustainability issues for nearly three decades as an environmental journalist and technology policy analyst. A founding member of the Climate Solutions team, Mazza has written a number of papers aimed at improving public understanding of climate change science and accelerating clean energy development. Patrick’s key papers on emerging clean energy systems include The Smart Energy Network: Electricity’s Third Great Revolution; Powering Up the Smart Grid;Carrying the Energy Future: Comparing Hydrogen and Electricity for Transmission, Storage and Transportation, and The New Harvest: Biofuels and Wind Power for Rural Revitalization and National Energy Security. Patrick is co-author with Guy Dauncey of Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change (New Society, 2001).

patrick (at) climatesolutions.org

Teresa Myers

Events Director (Olympia)

Teresa oversees Climate Solutions' fundraising events. From 1999 to 2009 she served as the Development Director for Climate Solutions. Over the last 10 years she has played an integral role in developing the fundraising program and growing the revenue stream for the organization. Prior to joining Climate Solutions, she worked in the financial industry as an independent financial advisor. An avid cyclist, Teresa spent 1 1/2 years cycle touring around the world. She also enjoys hiking, traveling, and playing with her two young boys.

teresa (at) climatesolutions.org

Savitha Reddy Pathi

Development Director (Seattle)

Savitha joined Climate Solutions in 2010, bringing nearly 15 years experience in the nonprofit sector, including philanthropic advising, grant-making, fundraising and fundraising consultation. In her previous role as Program & Donor Services Officer for the Seattle Foundation, she served as a philanthropic advisor and lead staff person to over 100 donor advised funds, providing strategy and structure to families’ grant-making and overall philanthropic goals. As a Program Officer, she reviewed proposals, facilitated funder-collaboratives, and was a contributing strategist to the 2009 report A Healthy Community: Strategies for Effective Giving.

She has also worked with The Collins Group, providing fundraising counsel for feasibility studies and capital campaigns, at The Women's Funding Alliance in a fundraising and grant-making role, and as a private consultant on philanthropic advising and fundraising. 

In 2009 Savitha was awarded a Brainerd Foundation Fellowship to Social Venture Partners (SVP). She is a member of the 2010 SVP Environmental Grant Committee and is on the Board of the Wing Luke Asian Museum.

Born in Hyderabad, India, Savitha was raised in Bath, Ohio and received a BA with Honors in Government and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College.  An avid world traveler, Savitha's resolutions for the new decade are to master yoga, snowboarding and Spanish.

savitha (at) climatesolutions.org

Joelle Robinson

Field Director (Seattle)

Joelle Robinson rejoined Climate Solutions as the Field Director at for Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.  Prior to that she was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation (NWF), where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. Her first chapter with Climate Solutions was as the NW Climate Connections Coordinator serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard which passed in April 2006. She is a board member of Earth Ministry and previously served on the Solar Washington board and Sierra Club Executive Committee.

Joelle is a Northwest native who loves to hike, bike, dance, swim and travel.  Her favorite quote is “Hope is borne of participating in hopeful solutions.”  — Marianne Williamson

joelle (at) climatesolutions.org

Rhys Roth

Director of Strategic Innovation (Olympia)

Rhys co-founded  Climate Solutions in 1998. He has pioneered its innovative clean energy programs and partnerships which have been instrumental in positioning clean energy at the top of the economic development agenda throughout the Northwest.

In 2000 he created Climate Solutions’ Harvesting Clean Energy program to bring together the energy and agriculture communities around a shared goal: advance rural economic development through clean energy in the Northwest. Rhys has since helped replicate this groundbreaking model in other regions of the country.
 
He also led Climate Solutions’ program to engage the Northwest high-tech community in building a world-class “clean tech” industry. He coordinated the Poised for Profit partnership of top economic development, technology and energy agencies to design strategies to create thousands of clean energy jobs in the region. In 2007 he helped create Business Leaders for Climate Solutions, a vehicle for executives to make the job creation and business case to policymakers for adopting a strong clean energy and climate policy framework.

Rhys received his Masters Degree in Environmental Studies in 1990 from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

rhys (at) climatesolutions.org

Shannon Sedgwick

Bookkeeper (Olympia)

 Shannon is responsible for maintaining Climate Solutions’ financial systems, managing services for both offices, and providing clerical and office administration services to all staff. She also maintains the organization’s central databse.

Before joining Climate Solutions, Shannon worked for several local businesses helping them them set up efficient bookkeeping and business systems.

shannon (at) climatesolutions.org

Conner Sharpe

Administrative Director (Seattle)

Conner has worked in various non profit environments (agency, government, and faith-based) for 15 years in multiple capacities including direct services, training, program management, policy, and organizational administration. His volunteer time is spent as a trainer for a local anti-oppression organization. His leftover spare time is spent with his pound puppy and kitties and watching nature consume his backyard. 

conner (at) climatesolutions.org