Ellen is an authority on environmental, energy, and transportation issues.  Government agencies, private companies, foundations, and legislators have placed their confidence in her to consistently be at the forefront of these critical and controversial issues.  As a consultant, Ellen provides her clients with a combination of regulatory experience, technical expertise, and forward thinking.  Ellen’s practice focuses on influencing California and national public policy, and implementing new regulations.  She advises clients on energy and transportation issues as they relate to the environment.  In addition, she presents ahead of the curve thinking and planning methods, helping clients adapt to changing laws and requirements.

 

Ellen’s passion for environmental stewardship took her to San Francisco, where she was the Executive Director for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for 6 years.  During her tenure, she led the agency in a regional effort to balance economic growth with sound environmental principles.  She was appointed by Governor Davis as an air quaity advisor on his “Clean Energy Team”, where she helped develop laws allowing for quick permitting of new power plants while still maintaining strong environmental standards.  She was elected President of the National Association of Air Directors for 2002-2003, and led their national effort to influence federal policy regarding clean energy alternatives and clean-fueled transportation.

 

Ellen is a rare balance of technical “know how” and political savvy.  As Director of the Air District’s Technical Division from 1993-1996, she guided the agency through several technical partnerships with the Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission.  As a senior engineer from 1981 – 93, she led the effort to permit refineries and power plants in compliance with new regulations.  Ellen developed the first ambient air monitoring system in New Jersey in 1979, which provided her with a technical understanding of the quality of the air we all breathe every day.

 

In her spare time, Ellen participates in volunteer programs such as Habitat for Humanity.  She enjoys hiking and spending her time with friends and her cantankerous cat.  She has a degree in Engineering from Penn State University and is also a graduate of UC Berkeley, graduating “with distinction” in 2000 in the Business Administration certificate program.