People at EcoMom Alliance

We are very grateful for the amazing people who have come to be a part of the EcoMom Alliance thus far.

Learn more about our EcoMom Experts

OUR TEAM

Kimberly Danek Pinkson, Founder & President
In this age of all things green, Kimberly is an authentic voice with a background in sustainability that began over 25 years ago. She went on her first Native American based Vision Quest at the age of thirteen, and through her work with indigenous elders, came to believe that by looking to the natural systems and our role within the web of life, we can find a way to live in a more balanced way on our Earth. Her practical approach and genuine nature resonates across cultures and demographics as a realistic yet inspiring role model who just loves bringing together people and ideas that would not otherwise meet.

Kimberly is a longtime social entrepreneur, having co-founded two socially and environmentally conscious youth outreach dance companies, and a graduate of the Environmental Forum of Marin Saturday program. She is a popular media guest, speaks regularly at events around the world, writes for websites and parenting magazines including iVillage and The Cradle’s Ask EcoMom column, sits on on the Advisory Board for the Be EcoChic public awareness campaign, and has recently appeared on the TODAY Show, 20/20, ABC News, CBS News, and View from the Bay. She has been a contributing editor for Los Angeles Dance and Fitness, Tahoe Quarterly and Generation X, authored one book and, before becoming a mom and founding the EcoMom Alliance, worked across a myriad of industries in production, editorial, marketing, cross cultural communications and health and wellness.

All of Kimberly’s work has been deeply imbued with the principles of Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) and being a single mom has not slowed her commitment to making a difference. Indeed, she is motivated every day by her son Corbin and a commitment to giving him, and all the world’s children, the chance to connect with nature, and understand our shared responsibility in, and gift of, the web of life.

Christienne de Tournay Birkhahn, Executive Director
Before joining Ecomom Alliance, Chrise worked extensively in communications, marketing and product development. Her exposure to what we, as a society, manufacture, consume and discard has significantly shaped her environmental awareness and life’s path. Chrise currently works within EMA and with community and national “partners” to provide education and outreach programming consistent with both EMA’s mission and the needs of the many women who count on us for support and information.

Raised in Los Angeles, she is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, and has lived in Europe several times. Chrise is on the Marin County/Joint Powers Authority Zero Waste Compost Subcommittee, sits on the Board of Directors for the Environmental Forum of Marin(Publications Chair), the City of San Rafael’s Green Ribbon Commission, the SR Public Education Foundation Board, and is a founding member of the Green Committee for Marin Primary & Middle School. She lives with her husband and 12 year-old son in Northern California, her nest half-empty while her daughter attends college in Boston.

Nicole MacNaughton, Director of Special Projects
Growing up as sisters, Kimberly and Nicole have a close relationship that frequently finds them finishing one another’s sentences and crediting each other as “the wind beneath my wings.” In a tradition begun at childhood lemonade stands, they’ve always shared entrepreneurial ideas and from the moment Kimberly shared her vision for EMA, Nicole has been an integral part of the organization.

Before becoming a mother, Nicole worked in television and film, studying at The Loft, as National Sales Manager for Billabong Girls and as consultant to JMA. Her commitment to children and the environment imbues all of her lifestyle choices, and she is an inspiring role model to many. Nicole lives with her husband in California, and in addition to her work with EMA, volunteers regularly in her community and enjoys every moment with sons, Luke (5) and Sebastian (2).

Sherry McConkey, Community Leadership Coordinator
Born and raised in South Africa, Sherry was inspired early on to fight against racial injustice and social inequity. With a degree in business and marketing, she spent many years in the ski and snowboard industry before founding a home based business before joining the EcoMom team. She lives with her husband Shane and daughter Aayla in Lake Tahoe, California and is a an avid rock climber, snowboarder and mountain biker.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jennifer Mazzullo Harrison, Secretary of the Board
Jennifer Mazzullo Harrison is a West coast transplant from New York.  After living in Spain, Greece, and Colorado, she moved to San Francisco 15 years ago.  She wanted to live in a city that was close to the ocean and the mountains for skiing.  Working at Global Exchange began began her experience  working in the areas of social, economic and environmental justice around the world as pertaining to product manufacturing. She continued at Banana Republic, Moonstone Mountain Equipment, Zoot Sports, and Zoic. Jennifer left her career to be a full time mom and is the proud mother of two, Zoe (5) and Miles (2).  Besides cherishing every moment with her family, she is a lover of the great outdoors, world traveler, a localvore (people committed to eating foods grown within their local food shed. Some people keep a Kosher home, Jennifer keeps an organic one.  She shops exclusively at the local farmer’s markets, is a member of a grain CSA and a CSK. One of her favorite things to do with her kids is to stop and the smell the flowers and watch the water ripple after throwing sticks into their nearby creek.

Cindy Flaherty, Treasurer of the Board

Dr. Marcelo Carvalho de Andrade, a leader in sustainable community development, has dedicated his career to conserving biodiversity and improving the quality of life of local communities throughout the world. As founder and Chairman of Pro-Natura International (PNI), he created the first international, nongovernmental organization based in the Southern Hemisphere to specialize in sustainable development over 20 years ago. Active in 36 countries across all continents, PNI is instrumental in developing innovative solutions to local economic problems while preserving the environment. A testament to his dedication and vision, Dr. de Andrade was the 1997 recipient of the George and Cynthia Mitchell International Prize for Sustainable Development, often referred to as the Nobel Prize for sustainable development.

Brenda Ekwurzel works on the national climate program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). She is leading UCS’s climate science education work aimed at strengthening support for strong federal climate legislation and sound U.S. climate policies. Prior to joining UCS, Dr. Ekwurzel was on the faculty of the University of Arizona Department of Hydrology and Water Resources with a joint appointment in the Geosciences Department. Her specialty is isotope geochemistry, a tool she has used to study climate variability in places as disparate as the Arctic Ocean and the desert Southwest. She has published on topics that include climate variability and fire, isotopic dating of groundwater, Arctic Ocean tracer oceanography, paleohydrology, and coastal sediment erosion. She has also worked as a hydrologist with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, working with communities to protect groundwater sources. Dr. Ekwurzel completed her doctorate work at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and post-doctoral research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

Liz Held
Liz Held is a native of Northern California and the mother of two girls, ages 4 and 2. She enjoys connecting with people in a positive way and worked as the Director of Employee Relations for a major international retail organization for four years prior to stepping down to spend more time with her children. She graduated from the University of San Diego and currently works part-time (but very full time), balancing motherhood, her “day job” and managing the EcoMom Alliance’s community outreach for the past two years.

An avid naturalist, Liz and her husband Steve summited Mt. Shasta, and her hobbies include biking, enjoying the outdoors, reading and gardening. Her biggest joy is spending time with family.  She was inspired to join the EMA team because she firmly believes that if many people find the courage to individually take small steps, together they will make a difference.  Liz feels humbled and inspired by the many caring, smart, independent and assertive women who have joined our organization from across the globe.

Julie Cullinane Smith
Julie has nearly 15 years of experience consulting to Fortune 1000 companies in a variety of industries including biotechnology, high technology, health care, financial services, insurance and consumer packaged goods. Her consulting work has included business and marketing strategy, organization effectiveness, communication and change management, among other areas. Julie has also worked extensively as an advisor to nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Julie holds an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA and a BA from Revelle College at UC San Diego, whose founder, Roger Revelle, was one of the early pioneers of climate change research.

Julie is a California native and the mother of twin five-year old girls, who are the inspiration for her commitment to helping ensure a sustainable future for all the earth’s children. Julie and her husband, Brandon, are avid runners and hikers and have traveled extensively together in North and Central America and Europe.

Justin MacNaughton, Board of Directors
Veronica Arthur, Board of Directors

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Robin Wright Penn

Jenny Orser, Co-Founder and Director of Development, EcoMom, Inc.
Jenny’s first foray into environmental activism was skate boarding home from school with a friend who dropped his soda can along the way. Having thought he had accidentally dropped the empty can she graciously returned it to him. Having thought her to be annoying, he threw it behind a fence that was too high to hop. Outraged and driven by the impulse of youth, she kicked his skateboard into oncoming traffic. The soda can did not survive but the skateboard, and thus the friendship did. A native New Yorker, Jenny experienced first hand the impact of urban sprawl on the environment. Becoming a mother reinforced Jenny’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The more she learned about the safety and regulation (or lack there of) for consumer products, the more she felt compelled to share her newfound knowledge.

From her auction days at Sotheby’s and Butterfield & Bonham’s to her hand in maverick boutique Annies, to her sought after, color drenched paintings, Jenny has made a career of seamlessly traversing the iconic worlds of art and fashion. Her conviction that we can all be responsible consumers without having to sacrifice beauty, aesthetic, or function puts her again on the cutting edge of the style industry. Inspired by her mother, Suki, and daughters, Honey and Chase, Jenny is committed to the EcoMom mission because she knows together, women can move mountains.

Angela Lindvall, Special Advisor
As the host of Planet Green’s Alter Eco, Angela is one of the most recognizable models in the fashion industry today (think Luis Vuitton, Ferragamo, Sports Illustrated etc.). Her healthy and distinctive look has graced the cover of countless magazines including, among others, W, Elle, Glamour , and Vogue. Angela is committed to utilizing her celebrity to help propel a sustainable future.

Together with her sister Audrey, Angela founded the Collage Foundation to help young people realize they have real choices about their role in the world, and the power to make a difference in a variety of ways. Collage provides the information, tools, and support required for an engaged alternative to apathy about today’s complex environmental and social issues. Angela is also on the Advisory Board for the Be EcoChic™ Campaign, and the mother of two young sons, Dakota and Sebastian.

Trathen Heckman www.daily-acts.org

Sarah Haynes www.spitfireagency.com

Jamie Pardi www.seabridgeinc.com

Glen Jannsens www.emotionstudios.com

John Shurtz www.greenbuildersofmarin.com

Jaime DuPont www.thedupontgroup.net

Brandon Smith www.sfcounsel.com