Ryan Mooney-Bullock, Executive Director
ryan@greenumbrella.org

Ryan Mooney-Bullock has spent the last 20 years working in science and environmental education and environmental policy. A seasoned program manager, educator and communicator, Ryan is most energized when she is helping people make connections between their passions and what is going on in the natural and human worlds around them. While studying Environmental Studies at the University of Chicago and researching at the Center for Neighborhood Technology, she focused on environmental policy, economics and urban sustainability. At Antioch University New England she deepened her understanding of natural systems and how to educate about them, and earned a MS in Environmental Science. She developed and managed the Green Learning Station at the Civic Garden Center during its formative years.  She has a lifelong commitment to environmental sustainability and Cincinnati’s green hillsides, waterways and vibrant community.

Erin Rothfuss, Operations Director
erin@greenumbrella.org

Erin Rothfuss has 20+ years experience as an operations executive in the healthcare space and is excited to pivot to the environmental sector. She is passionate about strategy, quality improvement and efficiency. Driven to collaborate, organize and work towards a common vision. Erin earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Evansville and her Master's Degree from Xavier University.

Charlie Gonzalez, Member Relations & Events Manager
charlie@greenumbrella.org

Charlie Gonzalez is an activist and community organizer with over 20 years of transformative leadership experience in facilitating, educating and empowering individuals to become more engaged in their community. Charlie holds an MIT degree in Mechanical Engineering, a master’s in Urban Sustainability & Resilience from Xavier University and a business certificate in Sustainable Agriculture Management from Cincinnati State. He moved to Cincinnati in 2014 after four years as the founder and director of an innovative mobile community evolution project in NYC on a converted school bus. He is passionate about building relationships, creative placemaking and effective collaborations that cultivate regenerative cities and food systems.

Kat Schlenker, Finance Manager
kat@greenumbrella.org

As of 2020 Kat is happily a full-timer at Green Umbrella after working with the organization in various roles since 2012. Over the years you may have contacted her about the newsletter, website, membership, bookkeeping or met her at a GU event. She has also been a landlord, property manager and real estate agent since 2006. A favorite job from the past was as the assistant to the Recycling Coordinator for Cincinnati’s Office of Environment & Sustainability during the roll out of the big green carts! Kat is enjoying working from home in Walnut Hills but does look forward to getting back to the free-wheeling days of moving cans and bottles from public trash bins over to recycling bins at breweries, concerts and festivals.

Anna Parnigoni, Communications Lead 
anna@greenumbrella.org

Anna Parnigoni is a communications and project management specialist with over a decade of experience across commercial and nonprofit sectors. Originally from Cincinnati, she holds a BA from the University of Pittsburgh in Media Communications and a Masters of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Prior to returning to Cincinnati, Anna worked as a content and event producer, writer, and strategic project manager for initiatives in Los Angeles, New York, Columbus, and Seattle. Anna is passionate about community-driven storytelling and is inspired by projects that create positive change for people and the environment. She is excited to share Green Umbrella’s story and to find creative and engaging ways to promote the important sustainability work happening across the Greater Cincinnati region.

Savannah Sullivan, Climate Policy Director
savannah@greenumbrella.org

Savannah brings more than a decade of experience to launch Green Umbrella's Policy Impact Area. Most recently she was a Climate and Community Resilience Analyst for the City of Cincinnati, where she led climate, equity and community engagement efforts. Savannah worked with Indiana University's Environmental Resilience Institute, Rural Action, ACS Green Chemistry Institute, US EPA and City of Oberlin to lead sustainability programs in urban-to-rural and local-to-international settings. She is a proud alum of Public Allies Cincinnati, AmeriCorps VISTA-Ohio and Turner Farm's Apprenticeship. She received her Master of Public Affairs and Master of Science in Environmental Science from Indiana University's O'Neill School for Public and Environmental Affairs, and Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Environmental Studies from Oberlin College. Savannah grew up in Clermont County and is excited to work with communities across Greater Cincinnati!

Tyeisha Cole, Climate Policy Coordinator 

tyeisha@greenumbrella.org

Tyeisha Cole grew up as a frontline community member in the Cincinnati neighborhoods of Bond Hill and Millvale. Growing up in historically marginalized communities inspired her to complete an AmeriCorps VISTA with the local nonprofit, Working In Neighborhoods, to combat food access and walkability issues. Her experiences led her to earn a Master of Science in Environmental Policy with a concentration on Fish & Wildlife Management from the American Public University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning and Environmental Principles & Practices from Miami University. Tyeisha has conducted independent qualitative environmental policy research in East Africa and several U.S cities. Most recently, she completed a NOAA-funded feasibility study for the University of Connecticut to pilot an oyster shell recycling program. 

Wade Johnston, AICP, Director, Tri-State Trails
wade@tristatetrails.org

Wade is an avid commuter cyclist and outdoor enthusiast, Wade is working to change people's everyday interaction with the built environment and the outdoors.  Under Wade's leadership, Tri-State Trails has grown from a grassroots coalition to the leading advocacy organization for active transportation issues in Greater Cincinnati.  Wade earned his Bachelor of Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.  Prior to joining Green Umbrella, Wade worked for several years as a planning and zoning consultant in the private sector.

Rachel Culley, GIS Analyst & Planner, Tri-State Trails
rachel@tristatetrails.org

Rachel is a recent Bachelor of Urban Planning graduate from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning. Throughout her educational and professional career she has had the opportunity to work with local public and non-profit entities. Just before completing AmeriCorps service in Cincinnati’s Mill Creek Valley neighborhoods, Rachel was Tri-State Trails' Trail Monitoring and GIS Intern. As the Trail and Bikeway Coordinator, Rachel supports the work of Tri-State Trails through technical assistance, communications, and data management. Rachel is passionate about the power active transportation has to improve economic vitality, public health, and civic equity. Her ultimate goal is to foster a community that is more connected, not just to improve the environment, but to improve the health of the region’s people.

Caitlin Sparks, Communications & Events Manager, Tri-State Trails
caitlin@tristatetrails.org

Caitlin is an advocate for social justice, cycling, and the environment. She believes safely connecting people to their community and the greater outdoors is not just good recreational fun but the future of how we travel and thrive. Caitlin came to Tri-State Trails from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth where she worked as the Visual Communications Manager helping build campaigns advancing voting rights, clean energy, and a fair democracy across the state. Early in her non-profit career, she served as an Americorps VISTA with Children, Inc. where she helped market and communicate about early-learning education for all children. Caitlin grew up in Boone County, Kentucky where she attended Northern Kentucky University graduating with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. When Caitlin's not working she enjoys riding bikes with friends, hanging out with her two cats Yin and Mons, and listening to podcasts at home in Dayton, Kentucky.

Maddie Chera, Director, Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council
maddie@greenumbrella.org

Maddie Chera convenes partners across the Greater Cincinnati region to collaborate and advocate for healthier and more sustainable communities. Maddie leads the Food Policy Council's initiatives and leverages data, communications, and funding in order to direct and monitor the program's collective impact toward the vision of a food secure community. She brings over a decade of domestic and international experience as an educator, researcher, and nonprofit team member to her work, along with a PhD in Anthropology from Indiana University Bloomington, with a focus on food, the environment, and culture. Maddie served as the Food Policy Council's Food Systems Analyst prior to taking on the role of Director in 2022.

Elizabeth Rojas, Director, Cincinnati 2030 District
elizabeth@greenumbrella.org

Elizabeth started with the Cincinnati 2030 District as an active member of the Working Group during its inception in 2017, before transitioning to the Director role. Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience to this role, including more than 25 years in the integrated building design and construction realm. She spent more than a decade as a design director for a national engineering/architectural firm. More recently, she was founder and president of Rojas Design. She has been a Board member with BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) and a variety of community organizations. As an early adopter of sustainability and healthy building strategies, she became LEED Accredited in 2004, and was co-chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment. Elizabeth enjoys energizing thought leaders to help coalesce around sustainability strategies.

Thomas Schultz, Data and Program Manager, Cincinnati 2030 District
tom@greenumbrella.org

Tom is a proud Cincinnati native thrilled to be pursuing his diverse sustainability interests, including energy, reporting and entrepreneurship, in his hometown. He earned a BA in Environmental Studies and East Asian Studies from Denison University, a Masters of Public Affairs with concentrations in sustainability and sustainable development, and a business certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from Indiana University. Before joining Green Umbrella, Tom worked as an Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Consultant in DC supporting several federal contracts, including the EPA's ENERGY STAR labeled products program. Tom served as an environmental education and conservation Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay from 2011-2013 and is an alumnus of the Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellowship program, having worked with City of Cincinnati officials to implement various energy efficiency initiatives detailed in the City's Green Cincinnati Plan.

Chris Smyth, Director, Common Orchard Project
chris@greenumbrella.org

Chris is a regenerative designer, facilitator, and comedic improvisor. After studying Permaculture Design with experts across North America he now teaches with the Cincinnati Permaculture Institute. Core to that teaching craft is a practice; as the cofounder of the Southern Ohio Chestnut Company and the Director of the Common Orchard Project, Chris creates containers for mutual medicine between human and plant communities. Transforming agriculture may be the focus, yet his core roots itself in soul and community, because without each other, why grow a forest?

Cynthia Walters, Green Schoolyards Coordinator
cynthia@greenumbrella.org

Cynthia is set on transforming the educational system through experiential learning, outdoor education, and by establishing policies focused on improving the health and wellness of school children. After two decades as a public school teacher and fifteen years managing school-garden programs on a local and national level, Cynthia has joined the Green Umbrella staff as the Green Schoolyards Coordinator. Over the years, Cynthia has cultivated relationships with community partners and provided professional development to produce a collaborative model in connecting children to nature. Cynthia continues to work with organizations and institutions to create experiential-based curriculum and guide policies to ensure the longevity of initiatives emphasizing the whole child. Cynthia aims to incorporate student voices in the process of transforming schoolyards where young people are empowered to be the stewards of social and environmental justice within their communities.