Tree Huggers

Chuck Tremper brings a broad range of experience and expertise to Ecology Action that he utilizes to oversee accounting, human resources, information technology, communications, compliance, risk management, facilities, governance and strategic planning for the organization. Over the past 30 years, Chuck has helped launch the AmeriCorps national service program, been a professor of both Law and Psychology, served as Chief Information Officer for large nonprofit organizations, held administrative, marketing and technical positions for software companies, provided management consulting services and conducted a variety of policy research and evaluation projects. However, his greatest fulfillment is in helping individuals and businesses take actions that benefit themselves, their businesses and the planet.

Chuck is best known as the author of As the Oceans Rise: Meeting the Challenges of Global Warming, playing doubles beach volleyball, and entertaining the staff at all-hands meetings.

Heather Henricks is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of Ecology Action’s marketing strategies, marketing communications, and public relations activities. She also oversees the development and implementation of support materials in the service areas of energy, transportation, and water conservation. Heather leverages her expertise in hands-on digital project management, accountable for leading the ‘big idea’ development, execution, and management of innovative, results-oriented, cross-channel digital marketing campaigns.

Jim Murphy leads Ecology Action as Executive Director and CEO, overseeing the implementation and delivery of all of the organization’s programs. Jim has led Ecology Action through extensive and successful growth since 2012, using his ability to hold the long-term vision while also providing immediate practical solutions. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director/CEO, Jim served as Vice President of Energy, a role in which he grew Ecology Action’s energy division contracts to more than $50 million in a single year. Before joining Ecology Action, Jim spent more than 20 years marketing, managing and developing strategic growth products and services for businesses and organizations across California. Jim has also provided management consulting services to energy efficiency, renewable energy and green building businesses.

Jim is best known for marathon meetings, tracking radio tagged venomous snakes at night in the jungles of Costa Rica and spending his limited free time coaching young people in swimming and soccer.

As a Program Manager for Ecology Action’s Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Program, Kira works closely with EA’s Development staff on strategic development and planning, ensures successful implementation of grant program deliverables, partners with the SRTS Program Staff Manager, prepares financial analysis and quarterly reports, and maintains relationships with key community partners. Kira graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Environmental Studies.

Kirsten Liske directs the development, fundraising and implementation of Ecology Action’s community programs. Since joining the organization in 1999, Kirsten has propelled Ecology Action to become the go-to-partner for environmental programs serving communities across California. Prior to joining Ecology Action in 1999, she was a leader in the development of household hazardous waste (HHW) programs across the State of California. Driven by her personal mission to make California’s communities healthier and more sustainable places to live and work, Kirsten is dedicated to creating programs that help communities thrive. Kirsten earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies with Honors from UC Santa Cruz.

As Director of Utility Programs, Lore is responsible for managing a wide range of operations projects and ensuring that operations deliverables are completed consistently and on time, and that they meet quality standards and the client’s requirements. Lore consistently strives to improve business operations and process efficiency for Ecology Action. Lore earned her MA in Urban Planning with an environmental focus from San Jose State University, and her BA in Horticulture and Botany from Chico State University.

Mahlon Aldridge heads Ecology Action’s strategic road-mapping and product development initiatives. He also leads development of strategic partnerships with top firms from across the energy and finance industries as well as with public agencies and foundations. With Ecology Action since 1993, Mahlon founded Ecology Action’s energy efficiency consulting practice and led the team through its start-up and early rapid growth stages, building to a team of 35 professionals and $6M in revenue per year in three years. Prior to working with Ecology Action, Mahlon ran an independent consulting practice designing and establishing multiple community-based initiatives focusing on ocean protection and solid/hazardous waste reduction. Mahlon earned a BA in Environmental Policy from UC Santa Cruz, and sits on the Board of the California Energy Efficiency Industry Council.

Pete started his career as an Industrial Engineer after graduating from Penn State University. He moved to California to start the Green MBA program at Dominican University, where he graduated in 2009. While attending school, he put his resource efficiency and analytical skills to use helping to develop business opportunities around recycling for Native American tribes in Northern Nevada and developing a business plan for a waste and recycling transfer station for the La Jolla Indian Reservation. While at Ecology Action, Pete has worked in Zero Waste for multifamily residences and for the tourism industry in the Monterey Bay area as both a program coordinator and an operations analyst. He then worked on the Energy Upgrade California program as an operations analyst, tracking program metrics and expenditures. He currently serves as a Business Operations Analyst, where he builds processes, tracks metrics and forecasts budgets for Ecology Action’s energy efficiency programs.