ECOS strives to create a safe space for everyone to participate in our mission to achieve regional and community sustainability and a healthy environment for existing and future residents.
Executive Committee
President
Ralph Propper
rpropper [at] jps [dot] net
Ralph Propper has represented Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails on the ECOS Board for several years. He retired in 2016 from the Air Resources Board’s Air Quality and Climate Science Research Section. Since then, he has been an adjunct chemistry professor for the Los Rios Community College District.
Immediate Past President
Brandon Rose
brandondrose [at] hotmail [dot] com
Brandon Rose holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from UC Davis. Brandon serves on the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District board and the Sacramento County Treasury Oversight Committee. In addition, he works for the California Air Resources Board, reducing air pollution emissions from the transportation sector.
Treasurer
Earl Withycombe
earlwithycombe [at] gmail [dot] com
Earl Withycombe is a consulting air pollution engineer, community activist and recovering elected official. Earl’s direct participation in ECOS’ work began in 1992 with advocacy and testimony on the 1993 county general plan update. He has been an indispensable leader on the ECOS board of directors ever since.
Secretary
Andy Sawyer
andysawyer [at] aol [dot] com
Andy Sawyer is a past president of ECOS, a former chair of Sierra Club California, and chair of the Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter. An environmental lawyer, Andy has served as chair of the California State Bar Environmental Law Section and the Sacramento County Bar Association Environmental Law Section.
Habitat 2020 Committee
Co-Chair
Robert Burness
rmburness [at] comcast [dot] net
Rob Burness graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Biological Sciences. Rob served as a land use planner for the Sacramento County Planning Department, where he focused on compact, efficient urban growth that minimizes impact on natural habitat. Rob is also involved with the Sierra Club.
Co-Chair
Sean Wirth
wirthsoscranes [at] yahoo [dot] com
After retiring from a career in real estate investing, Sean has dedicated his life to saving habitat in our region. He is currently the conservation chair for the Motherlode Chapter of the Sierra Club, co -chair of Habitat 2020, on the board and ex com of ECOS and a founding member of Save Our Sandhill Cranes.
Transportation, Air Quality and Climate Change Committee
Chair
John Deeter
jdeeter [at] gmail [dot] com
John Deeter has been a board member of ECOS since 2005, and has served as Treasurer (2007-14), and as Chair/Co-Chair of the Transportation, Air Quality & Climate Change Committee since 2015. He is a passionate advocate of non-auto modes of transportation and rides his bicycle frequently. He is retired, after 30 years of astronomical research at the University of Washington.
Organizational Development Committee
Co-Chair
Craig Segall
csegall [at] gmail [dot] com
Craig Segall joined the ECOS board in 2018. He is a former Sierra Club lawyer, and now is Assistant Chief Counsel for the California Air Resources Board (though he serves ECOS in his private, non-legal, capacity). Craig is focused on issues of environmental justice and organizational inclusion.
Co-Chair
Jonathan Ellison
jellison [at] surewest [dot] net
Jon is an attorney in private practice in the Sacramento area with expertise in disabled peoples’ rights, elder law, Social Security, housing law and a passion for preserving the environment. Jon joined the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) board of directors in 2006 and became President of the Board for 2011- 2012.
Land Use Committee
Co-Chair
Alex Kelter, MD
akmd [at] mac [dot] com
Alex Kelter, MD is retired from the California Department of Health Services (DHS) where he headed its injury and violence prevention branch. The New Partners for Smart Growth propelled him toward a relationship with ECOS upon his retirement. Since then, Alex has been on the Board of Directors of ECOS, and served as President in 2009 and 2010.
Co-Chair
Robert Meagher
RMeagher [at] SureWest [dot] net
Robert Meagher has tirelessly kept up the project list for ECOS, which includes all new relevant proposed developments in the region. He has also managed to consolidate and organize the countless PDF documents that often make up long CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) documents, and their corresponding attachments, into a single database categorized by region, priority and timing. Making these documents easier to use and refer to cuts down on the time it takes ECOS committees to digest and comment on environmental documents, effectively making it simpler for us to engage in the CEQA process.
At-Large Director Representative
Ron Maertz
ronmaertz [at] surewest [dot] net
Ron Maertz spent his entire career working in environmental public service. Since his retirement, Ron has become actively involved in ECOS, serving as one of ECOS’s representatives to the Smart Growth Leadership Recognition Program Committee and as its Land Use Chair / Co-Chair for the past five years. Ron was selected as Environmentalist of the Year in 2012.
At-Large Director Representative
Beilul Naizghi
beilul [dot] naizghi [at] gmail [dot] com
Beilul Naizghi came to Sacramento as an Americorp VISTA at NeighborWorks Sacramento in August 2017. She currently works as a Project Assistant at Mercy Housing and is most interested in encouraging infill, transit oriented affordable housing in Sacramento. Beilul has a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University in Public Policy.
At-Large Directors
Lynne Goldsmith lausmith2again [at] gmail [dot] com
Neil Matouka neil [dot] matouka [at] gmail [dot] com
Ron Maertz ronmaertz [at] surewest [dot] net
Spencer Marshall srmarshall23 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Beilul Naizghi bnaizghi [at] nwsac [dot] org
Sophie Wenzlan Sophie [dot] Wenzlau [at] bbklaw [dot] com
Member Organization Representatives
350 Sacramento
Laurie Litman
llitman [at] pacbell [dot] net
Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails
–
Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) Sacramento Chapter
–
Friends of Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
–
International Dark-Sky Association
Jack E. Sales
jesales [at] surewest [dot] net
Los Rios College Federation of Teachers
Amy Brinkley
amyebrinkley [at] gmail [dot] com
Mutual Housing California
Bryan Dove
Bryan [at] mutualhousing [dot] com
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Sacramento Chapter
Bill Durston
billdurston [at] gmail [dot] com
Resources for Independent Living, Inc. (RIL)
Monica Gracechild
rilofficemanager [at] ril-sacramento [dot] org
Sacramento Audubon Society
Larry Hickey
larryhickey1 [at] gmail [dot] com
Sacramento Electric Vehicle Association
Guy Hall
guy [dot] t [dot] hall [at] gmail [dot] com
Sacramento Green Democrats (Green Dems)
Rachelanne (Rae) Vander Werf
rvanderwerf09 [at] alumni [dot] unity [dot] edu
Sacramento Housing Alliance (SHA)
Veronica Beaty
veronica [at] sachousingalliance [dot] org
Sacramento Natural Foods Coop
Michael O’Sullivan
mosullivan [at] sacfoodcoop [dot] com
Sacramento Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (Sac CNPS)
Chris Lewis
cnpschris [at] gmail [dot] com
Sacramento Vegetarian Society
Glenn Destatte
sacveggie [at] gmail [dot] com
Save Our Sandhill Cranes (SOS Cranes)
Tina Suarez-Murias
csuarezm [at] arb [dot] ca [dot] gov
Save the American River Association (SARA)
Betsy Weiland
flweiland [at] yahoo [dot] com
SEIU Local 1000 Environmental Committee
–
Sierra Club Sacramento Group
Barbara Leary
barbaraleary [at] comcast [dot] net