Staff
Sara Patton
Executive Director
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Sara Patton has led the NW Energy Coalition as its Executive Director since November 1993. Sara has worked on clean energy for over twenty-five years. Before coming to the Coalition she worked on conservation policy and planning at Seattle City Light. Sara earned her law degree from Antioch School of Law. Sara has been on the Board of Directors of Save our Wild Salmon since 1995, is a board member for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and is a member of the Pike Place Market Historical Commission.
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Nancy Hirsh
Policy Director
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Nancy Hirsh is Policy Director for the NW Energy Coalition. Nancy directs the Coalition’s efforts to enhance investments in energy efficiency, renewable resources, and low income energy services through work with utilities, commissioners, regulators, and legislators. Prior to joining the Coalition in 1996, she spent twelve years in Washington, DC working on national energy policy issues for the Environmental Action Foundation and the National Wildlife Federation.
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Marc Krasnowsky
Communications Director
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Marc is Communications Director for the NW Energy Coalition. A Seattle native, he spent many years in the Midwest as a daily newspaper environment and utilities reporter and science writer/editor before coming to the Coalition in Winter of 2003. Marc is the architect of the Coalition’s various publications including: The Energy Activist, The Transformer and the Energy Matters Update.
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Cy Berryman
Outreach Director
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Cy joined the Coalition in 2004 and directs the Coalition’s outreach efforts and coordinates work among member groups to advocate for clean and affordable energy. In 2006, Cy was the Statewide Field Director for the successful campaign to pass Initiative 937. Prior to joining the Energy Coalition, he was a lead organizer for the healthcare union, SEIU 1199NW. When not working for a clean energy future, Cy can be found enjoying the great outdoors of the Northwest.
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Lynne Dial
Policy Associate
Phone: 206-621-0094
Lynne is a Policy Associate with the Coalition, supporting its efforts primarily in Washington state. Before joining the Coalition, she spent four years delivering community outreach & education programs for Puget Sound Energy’s energy efficiency services group. She holds a BA in Environmental Planning & Policy from Huxley College at Western Washington University, and is a masters candidate at Bainbridge Graduate Institute for an MBA in Sustainable Business with a concentration in Sustainable Energy Solutions. In her spare time she is a volunteer naturalist with the Seattle Aquarium and Friends of the Cedar River Watershed and loves spending time outdoors.
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Danielle Dixon
Senior Policy Associate
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Danielle is Senior Policy Associate for the NW Energy Coalition. Danielle leads the Coalition’s policy efforts in Washington state to promote a clean and affordable energy future. She is a member of multiple utility advisory committees. In addition to her energy experience, she has worked on habitat policy and solid waste issues. When not abosorbed with her work on energy policy Danielle can be found taking care of her lovely daughters, Hannah and Haily.
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Kim Drury
Senior Policy Associate
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Kim Drury’s experience in energy efficiency policy and implementation includes several years managing and marketing conservation programs for Seattle City Light, the City of Seattle and the Washington State Energy Office. She also managed Seattle’s water conservation program for several years and served as as project manager for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels’ climate protection initiative. She holds a master’s in public administration. Fun for Kim includes playing outside at home on Whidbey, cooking, reading and ranting about politics.
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Wendy Gerlitz
Senior Policy Associate
Phone: (503) 449-0009
Wendy is Senior Policy Associate for the NW Energy Coalition, leading its efforts in Oregon state. Prior to joining the Coalition, Wendy worked as a policy analyst for Sustainable Northwest focusing on federal land management and rural economic development issues. She has also worked for Portland General Electric in the areas of greenhouse gas reporting and corporate footprint monitoring. Her work with the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission provided her with a deep appreciation for the importance of water, salmon and clean energy in our region. For fun, Wendy enjoys hiking, biking and exploring Portland’s wonderful farmers markets with her family.
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Gwen Heisterkamp
Utility Outreach Project Coordinator / Administrative Associate
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Gwen coordinates the Coalition’s utility outreach project. Gwen’s prior work has focused on the wildlands of Washington with water, salmon, forests and people as central themes. Her job adventures have included teaching estuarine education, coordinating salmon habitat restoration efforts, teaching salmon-based environmental education, salmon recovery planning, outreach and organizing. She holds a B.A. In environmental studies/environmental education from Huxley College at Western Washington University. In her spare time, Gwen enjoys exploring the outdoors by foot and bicycle.
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Fred Heutte
Senior Policy Associate
Phone: (503) 757-6222
Fred came on board in February 2011, and is very pleased to be involved with the Coalition again after being a co-founder and board member in the 1980s. He has a background in energy and climate policy and worked at several firms involved with energy efficiency program evaluation in the Northwest and nationally. He later formed a database services business assisting nonprofit groups around the country. He has been active in the Sierra Club’s national energy and climate effort and leads their delegation at the UN climate conferences, and currently serves on the board of the Citizens Utility Board of Oregon.
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Amy Peterson
Outreach Associate
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Amy Peterson works to mobilize and coordinate the Coalition’s member groups, especially those in Idaho and Montana. Prior to joining the Coalition, Amy worked on fundraising and development events at the Museum of History & Industry in Seattle. For three years, she was an organizer for Environment Washington, a long-time Coalition member and was the point person for their efforts on I-937. Amy did her undergraduate work at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.
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Diego Rivas
Montana Policy Associate
Phone: (406) 461-6632
Diego joined the Coalition team in January 2010 after working on climate change issues at the federal level with Montanans for a Healthy Climate. Diego is also the owner of Play On Soccer, a soccer retail store in downtown Helena.
He enjoys spending his free time in Montana’s beautiful backcountry, traveling in Latin America, or playing any sport remotely competitive.
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Jesse Stanley
Outreach & Technology Associate
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Jesse provides outreach and support to Coalition members, manages the webpage and is the graphic designer for Coalition publications. Before coming to the Coalition, Jesse served in the field as a Student Conservation Association Intern with the BLM, NPS and US Fish & Wildlife Service as well as a staff member at SCA’s New Hampshire Headquarters. When not at work Jesse can be found hiking, skiing, honing his photography skills or volunteering on a variety of service projects around town. He serves as Chair of Earthshare of Washington’s Membership Committee.
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Lilah Steece
Development Associate
Phone: (206) 621-0094
Lilah is thrilled to join the Coalition where she works with supporters, members, donors, sponsors, and foundations on resource development to advance the Coalition’s energy policy work. Prior to joining the Coalition Lilah worked with non-profit organizations including CityClub, Worldchanging, and the E.O.S. Alliance, among others, on programming and development. She is a candidate for the Certificate in Fundraising Management at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs, expected June 2012. Lilah enjoys everything about living in the Pacific Northwest including forward-thinking policy work, the arts community as a modern dancer with Sapience Dance Collective, and the lush, wild hiking opportunities, which she explores as much as possible.
