Linda Bilsens — Project Manager, Composting for Community Project and Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Program

Linda is the Project Manager for ILSR’s Composting for Community project and Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders community composter training program. Her role is dedicated to fostering a skilled, collaborative network of composters who are regenerating their communities, both socially and ecologically.

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Scott Carlson — Research Associate, Community Broadband Networks Initiative

Scott has spent most of his career as a journalist working for among others, the St. Paul Pioneer Press as an award-winning business reporter and local editor for AOL’s Patch.com.  An honors graduate in journalism from the University of Minnesota and holder of a juris doctor’s degree from William Mitchell College of Law, Scott has a deep interest in public affairs and current events.  He is researching and writing on a variety of issues for ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative.

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Joshua Etim — Cultivating Community Composting Forum Coordinator

Josh is ILSR’s 2016 Cultivating Community Composting Forum coordinator.  He participated in our 2015 Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Composter training program. He is currently conducting a project exploring how a Food Waste Recovery collection station impacts an urban farmers’ market. From this study he aims to assist other farmers’ markets in recovering food waste for composting.

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John Farrell — Director, Energy Democracy Initiative

John Farrell is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and directs its work on energy democracy.  John is best known for his vivid illustrations of the economic and environmental benefits of local ownership of decentralized renewable energy.

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Jen Foy — Development Director

Jen Foy’s primary focus is fundraising for ILSR. Prior to joining ILSR, Jen worked as an independent consultant working with nonprofits to help grow their grant writing, fundraising and outreach programs.

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Lisa Gonzalez — Senior Researcher, Community Broadband Networks Initiative

Lisa Gonzalez researches and reports on telecommunications and how those networks impact life on the local level. Her background includes experience in state politics, law, writing, and freelance journalism.

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Linda Knapp — Director, MACREDO Project

Linda Knapp is a Senior Program Manager for ILSR, overseeing the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Recycling and Economic Development Officials, a recycling market development group funded by US EPA Region 3. Her current work focuses on increasing on-farm composting.

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Olivia LaVecchia — Research Associate, Community-Scaled Economy Initiative

Olivia LaVecchia is a Research Associate with ILSR’s Community-Scaled Economy Initiative, where she produces reports and articles that reach wide audiences, spur grassroots action, and influence policy-making.

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Christopher Mitchell — Director, Community Broadband Networks Initiative

Christopher’s work focuses on telecommunications — helping communities ensure the networks upon which they depend, are accountable to the community.  He has published several reports, articles, and interviews while also offering technical assistance to communities around the country.

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Stacy Mitchell — Co-Director & Director, Community-Scaled Economy Initiative

Stacy Mitchell directs ILSR’s Community-Scaled Economy Initiative, which produces research and analysis, and partners with a range of allies to design and implement policies that curb economic consolidation and strengthen community-rooted enterprise.

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David Morris — Director, Defending the Public Good Initiative

Dr. David Morris is co-founder of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. He directs its initiative on The Public Good.  He has served as an adviser or consultant to local, state and national governments and to private businesses large and small.

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Brenda Platt — Co-Director & Director, Waste to Wealth Initiative, Director of Composting Makes $en$e Project

Brenda Platt is a recycling expert and composting advocate, and co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). She directs ILSR’s Composting Makes $en$e and Composting for Community projects.

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Neil Seldman — Senior Staff, Waste to Wealth Initiative, Director of Recycling-Based Economic Development Program

Neil Seldman, Ph.D., co-founded the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in 1974. An economic development planner and former manufacturer, Dr. Seldman specializes in approaches to municipal and commercial solid waste management that emphasize environmental quality and create economic development opportunities for small businesses, community organizations, and other targeted populations.

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Nick Stumo-Langer — Communications Manager

Nick Stumo-Langer is the head of communications for all of ILSR’s initiatives. He creates images for many of ILSR’s posts and assists in the marketing of projects including videos, podcasts, reports, and blog posts. A native of White Bear Lake, MN, Nick has a bachelors degree from St. Olaf College. Contact Nick for media inquiries.

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Hannah Trostle – Research Associate, Community Broadband Networks Initiative

Hannah Trostle is a Research Associate with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. After graduating Macalester College with a degree in Political Science, she is excited to put her studies to use, working on issues of Internet access in rural communities.

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Karlee Weinmann — Research Associate, Energy Democracy Initiative

Karlee Weinmann is a research associate for ILSR’s Energy Democracy initiative. She produces reports that spotlight best practices and spur meaningful action in an evolving energy economy. Before joining ILSR, she worked as a journalist focused primarily on the intersection of policy, community and business.

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Nora Goldstein

Nora Goldstein is the Editor of BioCycle, the magazine and website authority on composting and anaerobic digestion, where she oversees such projects as “www.findacomposter.com” and manages conferences related to composting and zero waste. She received the U.S. Composting Council’s “Hi Kellogg Award” in January 2014, and the American Biogas Council’s “Biogas Visionary Award” in October 2013.

Jolie Jones

Jolie Jones is the founder of the Take It Back Foundation, which has worked to encourage recycling efforts.  Her varied career spans art, modeling, and music.

Chris Lewis

Christopher Lewis is Vice President for Government Affairs at Public Knowledge and he leads their federal advocacy efforts. Prior to joining Public Knowledge in 2012, Chris served at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as Deputy Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs and advised the FCC Chairman on legislative and political strategy. He is a former U.S. Senate Staffer for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and has over a decade of organizing and campaign experience. Chris graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelors degree in Government. He lives in Alexandria, VA where he loves working on local civic issues and is elected to the Alexandria City Public School Board.

Kirk Marckwald

Kirk Marckwald, the Chairman of the Board, helms California Environmental Associates, a consulting firm that works with a wide range of businesses, nonprofits, foundations, and public institutions to promote conservation. Marckwald has extensive experience with energy and environmental regulation, and prior to founding CEA in 1984, worked as the Under Secretary of California’s Natural Resources Agency, and as a consultant with the Environmental Defense Fund.

David Morris

Dr. David Morris is co-founder of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. He directs its initiative on The Public Good.  He has served as an adviser or consultant to local, state and national governments and to private businesses large and small.

Roy Priest

Roy Priest is the Executive Director and CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Alexandria, Va., and additionally, provides consultancy to the Ford Foundation. Priest has worked in community economic development and finance over his 40-year career, and prior to his current positions, served seven years as the President and CEO of the National Congress for Community Economic Development, and 17 years with the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development, including as the Director of the Office of Economic Development.

Andrew Reicher

Andrew Reicher is Executive Director of the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, where he started in 1978 and which he has led since 1981. Over his tenure, UHAB’s base of tenant-run and tenant-owned housing cooperatives has grown from several dozen to more than 1,500 in New York City and beyond. He is the 2003 recipient of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives’ highest honor, the “Jerry Voorhis Award.”

Credit: Carol J. Ott

Gina Schaefer

Gina Schaefer is the Founder & CEO of nine Ace Hardware stores in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Md. She manages operations for the $20 million company, oversees 210 employees, and chairs the Retail Committee for the Ace Hardware Corporation Board of Directors. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of Think Local First D.C., a group focused on transforming D.C.’s economy by strengthening the local business community, Vice Chair of the Board for House of Ruth, and a member of the Advisory Board of Jubilee Jobs.

Neil Seldman

Neil Seldman, Ph.D., co-founded the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in 1974. An economic development planner and former manufacturer, Dr. Seldman specializes in approaches to municipal and commercial solid waste management that emphasize environmental quality and create economic development opportunities for small businesses, community organizations, and other targeted populations.