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Staff
Jennifer Krill, Executive Director
Extracting social and environmental justice from corporate boardrooms since 1995, Jennifer Krill joined EARTHWORKS as the Executive Director in January 2010, where she supports the organization’s national and international programs on mining and fossil fuel extraction.
Prior to EARTHWORKS, Jennifer directed campaigns at Rainforest Action Network (RAN), where she helped negotiate a landmark policy from Boise Cascade to protect old growth forests, managed RAN’s program to convince Japanese paper companies to stop buying old growth pulp from Tasmania, led the grassroots organizing campaign resulting in Home Depot ending its purchases of endangered wood products, directed the successful campaign to jumpstart Ford Motor Company, co-designed RAN’s innovative effort to spur the nation’s largest banks to stop financing climate change-causing industries, and helped found RAN’s ambitious Rainforest Agribusiness Campaign working to get big agribusiness out of rainforest regions.
During her fifteen years of advocacy and organizing, Jennifer has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post, Fortune Magazine, the Ecologist, and many others. She has delivered dozens of presentations at venues including the Forbes Executive Women’s Forum, the University of Michigan Erb School of Business and the Environment, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business, University of California-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
Jennifer currently serves on the board of Plug-in America and is a former board member of Dogwood Alliance. She holds a B.A. and a B.L.A. from Ball State University.
Contact Jennifer –
Email: jkrill [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×103
Location: Berkeley, CA
Bruce Baizel, Senior Staff Attorney
Based in Durango, Colorado, Bruce has worked on oil and gas issues throughout North America, at local, state, national and international levels. He has testified before Congress, drafted federal, state and county legislation and ordinances related to oil and gas and advised numerous local governments on regulation of natural gas. He most recently served on the STRONGER review team, which evaluated the state of Louisiana’s hydraulic fracturing regulations.
Prior to joining EARTHWORKS and the Oil & Gas Accountability Project in 2003, Bruce practiced law in Colorado, was a co-founder of Round River Conservation Studies and was legal counsel for Diné CARE, on the Navajo Nation.
He has authored or co-authored numerous reports and has published works on exporting hazardous waste in Transferring Hazardous Technologies and Substances: the International Legal Challenge, G. Handl and R. Lutz, eds., Martinus Nijhoff, 1990 and in the Denver Journal of Int’l Law & Policy Vol.17(1): 155-206 [selected for inclusion in Vol. 21 of Land Use and Environment Law Review (1990)].
Bruce received his BA in Biology from Earlham College and his M.A. in International Relations and J.D. from the University of Denver.
Contact Bruce –
Email: bruce [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×113
Location: Durango, CO
Ann Corbett, Development Director
Ann manages all aspects of EARTHWORKS’ fundraising, from foundation grants to individual giving to the membership program.
Ann joined EARTHWORKS in August 2010, bringing with her prior experience at Women Thrive Worldwide, the Global Fund for Children and Pathfinder International. In addition to her development work, Ann has been a human rights advocate with Amnesty International USA for nearly ten years, currently serving in leadership roles as Kenya Country Specialist and with the mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Group.
Ann earned a master’s degree in African history from the Johns Hopkins University and graduated summa cum laude from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts.
An avid world traveler who has visited numerous countries including Kenya, Russia, China, India, Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia, Ann lives in Washington, D.C.
Contact Ann –
Email: acorbett [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×106
Location: Washington, D.C.
Bonnie Gestring, Northwest Circuit Rider
Bonnie began work with EARTHWORKS in May 2001. For the previous 5 years, Bonnie worked as a Community Organizer at Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) in Helena, Montana. She was a leader in campaigns to stop gold mining on the Blackfoot River and to pass the citizen’s initiative banning open pit cyanide process mining in Montana. She has also provided critical support to residents in Libby, Montana dealing with illness and death caused by the W.R. Grace operation there. Bonnie is an effective strategist with a demonstrated commitment to local communities.
Prior to working with MEIC, Bonnie has been a Peace Corps Volunteer in Belize and a park ranger in several national parks across the West. Bonnie received a B.S. in biology from Montana State University in 1987 and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana in 1999.
Contact Bonnie –
Email: bgestring [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 406-549-7361
Location: Missoula, MT
Gwen Lachelt, Oil & Gas Accountability Project Director
Gwen Lachelt (“Lak-ult”) is a native New Mexican and was raised in Alaska and Colorado. She is the director and co-founder of EARTHWORKS’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project (OGAP).
Gwen has worked on oil and gas issues since 1988 when Amoco, now BP, announced plans to drill a thousand gas wells in her community. Lachelt’s work to prevent and reduce the impacts caused by oil and gas development spans the globe. She has dedicated her career to protecting landowner rights, air and water quality threatened by energy development.
Her work has resulted in numerous policy reforms and new laws at the federal, state and local level throughout the United States and Canada.
Lachelt began her non-profit career as a community organizer for Western Colorado Congress, later serving as its executive director. She served as the first executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance and was a visiting Sociology instructor at Fort Lewis College. In 2005 the Ford Foundation selected Gwen as a national finalist for the prestigious Leadership for a Changing World award.
Lachelt’s work has been covered in media outlets such as The Durango Herald, Time Magazine, Newsweek, People, ProPublica, Mother Jones, CNN, The Denver Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, The Dallas Morning New, Vancouver Sun, Anchorage Daily Times, National Public Radio, PBS, CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News.
Gwen has a B.A. in Political Science and pursued graduate studies in Environment & Community at Antioch University. She is a founding board member of Durango Community Access Television and BearSMART Durango.
Contact Gwen –
Email: gwen [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×114
Location: Durango, CO
Hilary Lewis, Development and Program Associate
Hilary joined EARTHWORKS in July 2011 as the International Mining Campaign Fellow. In January 2012 she became the Development and Program Associate.
Hilary first became interested in the mining industry while researching environmental policy in the United States and Europe for ZAG International, a substitute raw materials provider for the cement industry. Her broader commitment to protecting the environment has led her in a variety of directions, most notably to found her own organization, Composting Toilets International, which seeks to spread the critical, inexpensive technology around the world.
Originally from San Francisco, Hilary moved east to attend Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. She graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and International Relations and a minor in Latin American Studies.
Contact Hilary –
Email: hlewis [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×117
Location: Washington, D.C.
Nick Magel, International Program Coordinator
Nick Magel is brand spanking new, joining EARTHWORKS in spring of 2011. Nick has dedicated his career to effectively challenging some of the world’s largest corporations to improve their environmental and human rights practices.
As a campaigner at Rainforest Action Network, Nick used cutting-edge strategies to influence Chevron’s irresponsible practices around the globe. In his role as Amazon Watch’s Communications Manager, Nick provided direct support to Indigenous communities in Peru and Ecuador fighting oil extraction and pollution. While working as a Campaign Director at Global Exchange, he developed a successful campaign to push the US
auto industry towards greater fuel efficiency.
Nick holds an B.S in Environmental Science and an M.S. in Environmental Education.
Contact Nick –
Email: nmagel [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×102
Location: Washington, D.C.
Aaron Mintzes, Policy Advocate
Aaron joined EARTHWORKS in August of 2011 after spending nearly five years as a professional environmentalist.
First with Clean Water Action, and later as the Legislative and Political Manager for the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Aaron has researched and lobbied at all levels of government on a variety of environmental issues. After tours with the green groups, Aaron joined the public affairs firm of Robert M. Brandon and Associates where he worked on health care and tax policy reform.
Now pleased to rejoin the ranks of the conservation movement, Aaron assists the policy team with developing and advocating for sustainable hard rock mining as well as oil and gas issues. Aaron was graduated from Vassar College in 2000 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 2003.
Aaron lives in Baltimore with his wife Corinne where he volunteers for local environmental groups and cheers for the Orioles.
Contact Aaron –
Email: amintzes [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×116
Location: Washington, D.C.
Lorraine Osinski, Finance & Admin Manager
Lorraine joined EARTHWORKS in the spring of 2010. She has spent over 10 years in non-profit finance ensuring that theater and advocacy groups pay their bills and balance their budgets.
She moved to Washington, D.C. from Philadelphia in 2007 where she was a long-time Business Manager for Arden Theatre Company. Other organizations she has been proud to work for have been Justice at Stake and the Capital Fringe Festival.
Lorraine grew up outside of Pittsburgh and holds a BFA in Theatre, from Point Park University, in her beloved hometown. She follows the Pittsburgh Penguins, and all hockey (but particularly the Penguins), with fierce devotion.
Contact Lorraine –
Email: losinski [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×104
Location: Washington, D.C.
Lauren Pagel, Policy Director
Lauren joined EARTHWORKS in August 2002 from the Union of Concerned Scientists where she helped organize their campaign to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock. Before her time at UCS, Lauren was a part of the legislative team at Friends of the Earth, working on a variety of issues ranging from the Farm Bill to trade issues.
Lauren previously assisted with Mineral Policy Center’s Stop the Rollbacks Campaign and worked on the field team at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
Lauren graduated from Vassar College in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Contact Lauren –
Email: lpagel [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×107
Location: Washington, D.C.
Payal Sampat, International Campaigns Director
Payal Sampat currently leads our award-winning No Dirty Gold corporate/markets campaign. She heads up our global efforts to monitor and reform the mining industry, working with communities affected by mining and local organizations from around the world.
She joined EARTHWORKS in 2002 from the Worldwatch Institute where she remains a Senior Fellow. At Worldwatch, Payal researched and wrote about mining, materials, freshwater, and natural resources issues. Payal is the author or co-author of several books, article and reports, including ‘Mind Over Matter: Recasting the Role of Materials in Our Lives,’ ‘Forging a Sustainable Materials Economy,’ ‘Deep Trouble: The Hidden Threat of Groundwater Pollution,’ and ‘Scrapping Mining Dependence.’
Payal began her environmental career as an organizer for the Bombay Environmental Action Group, in Bombay, India, where she worked on campaigns to protect coastal areas and public lands. She holds degrees from Tufts University, MA, and St. Xavier¹s College, Bombay.
Contact Payal –
Email: psampat [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×110
Location: Berkeley, CA
Alan Septoff, Research and Information Systems Director
Alan joined EARTHWORKS in July 1997 as Program Coordinator. He came to EARTHWORKS from the National Academy of Sciences.
Alan became legislative director of EARTHWORKS in January of 1998. As legislative director, he played a key role in orchestrating the millsite agreement which prevents future mines from using unlimited public land for toxic waste dumping, and led the legislative and regulatory effort to enact stronger mining regulations. Alan became Research and Info Systems Director in June of 2001.
He earned masters degrees in Environmental Science and Public Affairs in 1996 from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Contact Alan –
Email: aseptoff [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×105
Location: Cumberland, MD
Nadia Steinzor, Marcellus Shale Organizer
Nadia joined EARTHWORKS in 2010. She has worked for over 15 years in communications, writing and editing, and research on environmental and social issues for progressive non-profit organizations and has held positions at Zero Population Growth, the International Center for Research on Women, and most recently as Director of Communications at the Mohonk Preserve.
Nadia has worked to promote action and policies on land and natural resource protection, endangered species policy and recovery, the impacts of population growth, and international human rights. As a volunteer, she has served on the executive committee of the Washington, DC chapter of the Sierra Club and is currently a board member of the Woodstock Land Conservancy.
Nadia holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy from Bard College and an M.A. in Peace and Development Studies and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. She lives in Willow, New York, in the eastern Catskills.
Contact Nadia –
Email: nsteinzor [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×109
Location: Willow, NY
Sharon Wilson, Gulf Regional Organizer
Sharon Wilson is considered the leading citizen expert in the Barnett Shale and the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., major national news networks and national environmental organizations wanting an educational tour, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards. Her drilling focused blog, Bluedaze, has been regularly rated #1 of the aggregated Texas blogs.
Sharon spent years educating others about environmental damage caused from weak regulation and lax enforcement before joining forces with the Oil and Gas Accountability Project. She worked with the Texas OGAP steering committee for several months to write Drill-Right Texas: Best Oil and Gas Accountability Practices for Texas. In January, Sharon became the organizer for Texas OGAP. Twelve years spent working in industry gives Sharon the unique perspective of knowing the industry from both sides.
In addition to her knowledge of oil and gas issues, Sharon is certified to serve as a court appointed mediator and has a vast and diversified business background.
Contact Sharon –
Email: swilson [at] earthworksaction.org [dot] org
Phone: 202-887-1872 ×115
Location: Decatur, TX
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