Staff

As Vice President of Public Affairs for the OEC, Emily Bacha leads the organization’s strategic communications and local advocacy efforts to secure healthy air, clean water, vibrant public lands, and a strong democracy for all who call Ohio home. She is passionate about working with community members, partners, and leaders across the state to advance strong environmental justice and climate action policies. Emily earned her B.S. in Environmental Geography from Ohio University and Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia. She previously worked for Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Youth Opportunities Unlimited, and serves on Cleveland VOTES Advisory Board and as College Now mentor. A resident of Cleveland, Emily enjoys exploring the region’s incredible parks as well as the shores of Lake Erie with family and friends.

As Chief of Staff with the OEC and OEC Action Fund, Pete oversees local, state, and federal advocacy strategies to secure a healthy air, land, water, and democracy for all who call Ohio home. This entails policy development and then public and decision-maker education to improve or implement laws across the state. Pete is from Central Ohio and he has a B.S. in Environmental Policy from the Ohio State University with a focus on water quality. Prior to joining the OEC Pete served as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives and as a consultant for various agricultural associations, labor coalitions and political campaigns. Pete lives in Worthington, OH and he’s currently serving in his second term on Worthington City Council and on the board of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA).

Kobe was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, staying active with all sorts of outdoor hobbies. Exploring nature became a necessity in life, even leading into college where he attended The Ohio State University to study Strategic Communications and Professional Writing. Following school, his skillset was honed through various positions in the social media, marketing, and communications industry.

Currently, he supports the OEC through creative and concise communications practices. Being a strong supporter of local non-profit leadership, Kobe also serves as a Board Director for At Home By High and does freelance writing and marketing consulting. In his free time, he loves to hike, camp, read, and travel as much as possible.

Hailing from Youngstown, Ohio, with cultural roots traced back to the Taíno people of Puerto Rico and immigrants from the Welsh countryside, Chris has always thrived to connect people and places. For over 17 years, he worked as a social worker, counselor, and business development professional in the healthcare industry of the Mahoning Valley. After seeing the therapeutic healing effects of nature on his clients and in his own life, and a healing trip through several national parks, he devoted himself to environmental advocacy. In addition to his current role as Northeast Ohio Regional Director for the Ohio Environmental Council, Chris is a certified volunteer naturalist and the co-founding director of Thrive Mahoning Valley. He sits on the Boards of Directors of Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, The Gloria & Roger Jones Science Center for Children, and Friends of the Mahoning River. He is also a proud husband and father of two boys. For self-care, he enjoys tinkering with recipes, exploring parks and green spaces, and being a tried and true member of Raider Nation…

Franklin Davis is a proud native of Washington DC, and a graduate of The Ohio State University. He is a fan of all things DC or Ohio State sports. Go Bucks! He is an avid outdoorsman, coach, athlete, seeker of knowledge, and self-described “policy nut”. He has a wide range of policy interests and is ecstatic to be able to work in the environmental justice space and combine some of his passions. Franklin is the Director of Climate and Democracy Organizing for the OEC, overseeing the Reynoldsburg Climate Campaign, as well as supporting the efforts of the Democracy Team.

He is passionate about preserving the right to vote, and has spent over a decade actively working to defend that ideal. He is currently a Voting Location Manager for the Licking County Board of Elections. Franklin is an active member of his community. He currently coaches youth about 17 months a year, and is a member of various Central Ohio organizations including Central Ohio Young Black Democrats, Young Democrats, and the Columbus Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He currently resides in Reynoldsburg, with his amazing wife Tenile, their children Christian, Franklin, Madison, and Kingston, as well as their dog, Buckeye.

Riley was born and raised in Waterville, Ohio, and recently graduated from the Ohio State University with degrees in Economics and Public Policy Analysis. During her time at Ohio State, Riley was the political director of OSU’s College Democrat chapter and completed internships with Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Nucor Public Affairs, and Columbus City Councilmember Rob Dorans. She is excited to join the OEC to increase the power of the environment in Ohio politics. Outside of work, Riley enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring different restaurants around Columbus.

Katie supports the OEC’s operations and finance as Operations Director. Previously, she supported the Grange Insurance Audubon Center’s operations, finance, and community outreach. She also served as the Service Site Coordinator for Green Columbus’ Earth Day in 2018. Katie graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Natural Resources. While growing up in Fremont, OH, Katie spent most of her childhood on the shores of Lake Erie which fostered her love of the outdoors and her stewardship for the environment. Katie enjoys traveling, hiking, swimming, trying new food and taking her two dogs on adventures.

A native Ohioan and first-generation American, Spencer Dirrig was born and raised in Delaware County, just north of Columbus. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Economics in 2019. An experienced political organizer, Spencer founded Breakthrough Advising LLC in 2019 and managed numerous campaigns throughout Central Ohio on the local, state, and federal levels. Spencer joined the Ohio Environmental Council in 2021 to help build the political power of the environment in Ohio. Spencer now serves as Managing Director of Democracy Policy for the OEC and Director of the OEC Action Fund.

Spencer serves as the Vice President for the Midwest of the Young Democrats of America, Vice President of the Franklin County Young Democrats, and a Member of the Board of Directors for the Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation. Before moving into management, Spencer served as the President of Workers United Local 2843. Spencer is a USSF Soccer Referee and enjoys hiking with his rescue dog, Saoirse.

Serving as the OEC’s Chief People Officer, Dante leads the organization’s human resource efforts and talent functions. He also works alongside the “People Operations” team to provide all staff with accessible, innovative processes, tools, and resources that streamline the employee experience. Dante grew up in Akron, Ohio and has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years with various roles in Operations, Human Resources, Finance, and Project Management. Dante is passionate about helping organizations improve their human capital processes as well as working on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He resides in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Ashley and their daughter, Ella.

Melanie Houston is the Managing Director of Water Policy & Chief of Organizational Planning for the Ohio Environmental Council. In this role, she is responsible for leading, managing, and growing the organization’s water advocacy programs. Melanie works alongside partners to achieve policies that advance clean, safe and affordable water for all Ohioans. She leads OEC’s federal advocacy work on water and supports our regional team in advancing local water policy goals. Melanie also leads the organization’s strategic planning and annual planning efforts across departments.

Over the last decade, Melanie has led numerous climate and water campaigns for the OEC, including work to secure a landmark bill in 2016 to better protect Ohioans’ drinking water from lead contamination. Melanie has briefed congressional and state lawmakers, advised the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and testified in front of committees of the Ohio General Assembly. She has been quoted in numerous newspaper, radio and TV outlets including National PBS.

Melanie graduated with honors from Denison University and earned a Master of Science degree from The Ohio State University. She is an active member of her community, serving her second term as a Grandview Heights city council member. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys getting out into nature with her husband and two children.

Susie grew up exploring nature on her grandparents’ farm in northeast Indiana. She fell in love with Appalachia while living in North Carolina, and has called Southeast Ohio home since 2018. She holds an MFA in Writing and Poetics from Naropa University and an MS in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College, and is the author and illustrator of A Year on Turtle Hill, a field guide for Southwest Michigan.

Passionate about working for a world where humans and the ecosystem we depend on can all thrive, Susie is excited to apply her writing background in support of the OEC’s mission in her role as Director of Grants Management. Prior to joining the OEC team, she worked with the Athens-based nonprofit Community Food Initiatives as Director of Outreach, and also served on the Athens Farmers Market Executive Committee. Outside of work she loves spending as much time as possible outside with her two dogs and any other creatures, making and sharing food, painting, listening to music, and reading and writing.

As Regional Director, Kylie builds power, presence, and relationships in Southwest Ohio, focusing primarily on the Cincinnati community. She organizes citizens to get involved to make protection of Ohio’s land, air, and water a priority of local and state leaders. Kylie began her career with the national nonprofit Alliance for Climate Education, where she educated students about the science, consequences, and solutions of climate change and guided them in taking local and national action. Most recently, Kylie managed the Green Learning Station – a LEED Platinum certified environmental education center, considered one of the top ten “greenest” buildings in Cincinnati.

Kylie is certified through the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) and is a Certified Interpretive Guide. She earned her B.S. in Conservation Science from Muskingum University and M.S. in Environmental Studies from Ohio University, where she was funded by the USDA Forest Service and Georgetown University to conduct urban composting research in Edinburgh, Scotland.

As the OEC’s Senior Attorney for Land and Water, Nathan focuses on administrative agency actions that impact our public lands and waterways. He advocates and litigates for the protection of special places, increased access to public lands, and clean water for people and wildlife. Nathan resides in the Columbus area with his wife, two children, and numerous pets. He enjoys gardening, the aquarium hobby, and going on outdoor adventures with his family.

An Ohio-licensed attorney, Nathan received his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law and a dual B.A. in History and Philosophy from Denison University. Nathan is admitted to the Ohio Bar, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

As Executive Director for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC), Carol Kauffman is responsible for providing vision and strategic direction for both organizations. She leads by investing in community and coalition, motivating others, and inspiring both internal and external stakeholders to support the OEC’s mission of securing healthy air, land, water, and democracy for all Ohioans.

Kauffman brings more than two decades of nonprofit and corporate experience advocating for environmental, community, and social justice issues as well as directing sustainability programs and strategies. From 2013 to 2017, Kauffman worked in the nonprofit sector in Cambodia where she designed development projects, helped businesses develop more responsible practices, and responded to natural disasters in the region. Since 2017, Kauffman led environmental and social responsibility efforts within the corporate sector at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, and most recently, at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Within these positions, she devised sustainability strategies, led philanthropic efforts, and engaged with a diverse array of stakeholders — including a nationwide network of environmental partners.

Kauffman earned her B.A. in English from Taylor University (1999) and Masters of International Development from Eastern University (2012).

She is a member of the board of directors for the Alliance for Water Efficiency and as a member of the board of commissioners for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

Kauffman serves as President of the OEC’s 501(c)(4) sibling organization, the OEC Action Fund.

Emily is the OEC’s Agriculture and Water Coordinator, leading the water team’s nutrient pollution reduction policy work. She also advocates for wetland protection and restoration, stream protection, and mitigating water pollutants like PFAS. Emily has a B.S. in Biology from Bowling Green State University and a M.S. in Environmental Science from Unity College. She brings experience working as a natural resource technician for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and as a certified Climate Reality Leader from training with Al Gore. Emily also has experience working for the Lake Erie Foundation where she found her passion for protecting the health of Lake Erie and other waterways to enhance water quality for residential communities. In her spare time, she enjoys Ohio’s waterways year round through kayaking and ice skating.

Rafe Lewis joined the OEC in 2021. Rafe serves as our Engagement and Advocacy Strategy Director, supporting strong and diverse external partnerships and internal advocacy strategy.

Rafe comes to the OEC after spending more than 30 years serving a variety of organizations to advance ideas in government. He has spent his career navigating political systems on behalf of minority businesses, grassroots organizations, and healthcare issues. His specialty is building coalitions for progress; fundraising for issues and candidates as well as amplifying unconventional and often ignored voices. Rafe is certified in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace. He is a proud Alumni of the Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College.

As Managing Director of Individual Giving, Alaina deepens and grows donor support of the organization through cultivating relationships with our most dedicated supporters. She builds relationships across the state and elevates the Ohio Environmental Council as a resource and an outlet for generous people, organizations, businesses, and others interested in contributing to a mission that matters. She is a co-founder of the OEC Emerging Leaders Program and a founding member and first steward of the staff union, OEC Workers United. Previously Alaina worked for CleaResult where she grew and managed contractor participation in residential energy efficiency programs. Before that Alaina worked as a Canvass Director leading grassroots fundraising campaigns for environmental and social justice issues. Alaina graduated from the Ohio State University with a double major in International Relations and Diplomacy and French. Alaina is also a proud alum of the New Leaders Council Columbus and the Anne Braden Anti-Racist Organizer Training Program.

Karin Nordstrom (she, her, hers) is the OEC’s Clean Energy Attorney. In this role, Ms. Nordstrom represents the OEC before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Power Siting Board to work towards a more reliable and equitable renewable energy system in Ohio. Prior to joining the OEC, Karin worked as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Columbus where she focused on administrative law. Her practice included public benefits, education law, and military discharge upgrades. Karin earned her law degree from the Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. Prior to law school, Karin worked as a preventive health volunteer with the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. Karin has her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Ohio State University.

Justice and Transition Lawyering Institute Fellow, 2023-2024 cohort
Equal Justice Works Fellow, 2017-2019 cohort

Annalisa graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Economics and Management. While at Michigan State, she served as president of a student group focused on sustainability projects, which received a $25,000 grant to install solar-powered bus stop lights around campus to increase safety while raising awareness of renewable energy. She also worked for the university’s Office of Sustainability. There, she piloted their intern program and helped the university receive its first gold rating from The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

Nolan Rutschilling is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Decision Making from The Ohio State University, and a Graduate Certificate in Public and NonProfit Leadership from the Glenn College of The Ohio State University. Nolan has experience guiding climate and energy policy at the Ohio Legislature, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and local government work. He also has worked in corporate sustainability and carbon footprint analysis. Most recently, Nolan worked as the Energy and Sustainability Program Director of the Ohio Hospital Association, guiding all energy and environmental efforts related to Ohio’s healthcare systems. Nolan is a founding member of New Leaders Council of Columbus. Nolan is passionate about preventing and mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly as they impact marginalized populations.

Born and raised in Oxford, Ohio, Caitlin holds a degree in Public Health and Environmental Science from Miami University, where she gained a deep understanding of the importance of sustainable practices and environmental conservation. She’s delighted to be combining this knowledge and passion for creating a greener future with her background in office administration!Outside of work, Caitlin enjoys spending quality time with friends, family, and her two cats, thrifting, and indulging in her unique hobby of tending to her 30+ aquatic snails (ask her about them sometime).

As Vice President of Advancement, Dena is responsible for ensuring the OEC has the resources needed to advance our critical mission. She develops and implements short and long term fundraising plans, oversees membership engagement, donor stewardship and solicitation, and grantseeking programs. Dena also supports organizational budgeting and strategic planning. Dena is passionate about engaging everyday Ohioans in meaningful ways that build civic engagement and result in making progress towards a clean and healthier Ohio. Dena currently sits on the Board of Directors at the Stratford Ecological Center, and is the Co-Chair of the Parent Organizing Committee for the All In for Ohio Kids campaign. Previously, Dena served as the Regional Development Manager for The National Kidney Foundation. She also served as the Development Director for New Directions Career Center, has worked for The Ohio State University Annual Giving Campaigns, and has served as an AmeriCorps Vista for Habitat for Humanity.

Brian D. Siggers serves as the OEC’s Cleveland Metro Advocacy Director. Brian joins the OEC after years of experience in political consulting, with extensive work in working on political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels. His background is in grassroots organizing and advocacy, where he has helped increase voter education, turnout, and participation. Brian is a proud graduate of Ohio University where he earned his degree in Political Science. Brian is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, and the NAACP of Cleveland.

As the Southeast Ohio Regional Director, Molly Jo Stanley focuses on the just transition away from a history of extraction that has left scars on our ecosystems and communities. Instead working toward an inclusive, equitable future where deeply connected communities thrive in relationship with the places we depend on.

A lifetime student of place-based teaching and learning, ecology, ethnobotany, and Land stewardship based in the Forests, Meadows, and Wetlands of Appalachia, Jo is a gardener, writer, and musician committed to connecting, strengthening, and uplifting stories and practices that rekindle reverence for our miraculous existence.

As General Counsel, Chris Tavenor leads the OEC’s Law Center while providing essential legal support to the entire organization. They also coordinate the annual Ohio Public Interest Environmental Law Conference and our legal internship program.

Over their time with the OEC, Chris has represented the organization before the Ohio Supreme Court, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Power Siting Board, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Review Appeals Commission, and beyond. They have drafted numerous regulatory comments, testimony, and other publications in pursuit of a healthy environment for all who call Ohio home. In working toward a healthy democracy, they led the OEC’s fight for a fair redistricting process in 2021 as a member of the Ohio Citizens’ Redistricting Commission.

Chris studied Philosophy and English at the Ohio State University and graduated from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in May 2017. Beyond their work as an attorney and advocate at the OEC, they are also a science fiction and fantasy author, publishing works under the name “C.D. Tavenor.” Their most recent project includes a climate fiction anthology titled “The World’s Revolution,” developed in collaboration with fifteen other authors.

As Climate Justice Manager for the Ohio Environmental Council, Jesse works to bring recognition for inequitable social conditions exacerbated by climate change and help advocate for equitable solutions that empower marginalized communities. Jesse worked for years in retail management before his passion for environmental justice and climate action led him to pursue an education and career path to better impact his community.

Jesse earned a BA in Sustainability and the Environment from Florida International University and is a resident of Cincinnati, OH, where he also spent his childhood. Jesse interned with Green Umbrella and Greater Cincinnati’s Regional Climate Collaborative to work on equitable climate action locally. Jesse is an avid hiker and is working towards completing the Buckeye Trail to see Ohio at the pace of 3 miles per hour.

Karlena Wallace is the Communications Director leading the OEC Collective’s brand management, strategic, digital, media, and content communications programs. She is a communications executive with over 20 years of leadership experience. Karlena has been the head of public relations and communications for both corporate and nonprofit entities, leading impactful campaigns and driving organizational growth. Recognized by Forbes, she has demonstrated a keen ability to navigate the ever-evolving media landscape, earning a reputation for excellence and innovation.

While serving in executive capacities on boards to advance meaningful causes, Karlena also guided a grassroots creative nonprofit, blending strategic vision with a passion for community and the arts. Her work has aired on major networks such as NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, Spectrum TV, Radio One, and iHeart Media. She’s been highlighted by The Lakeland Ledger Newspaper, WCMH-TV, City of Upper Arlington, Polk County TV, Forbes, and more.

Karlena holds a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Ohio University and regularly sharpens her mastery of skills in leadership, communications, and organizational strategy.