Valerie Quinto is the Executive Director of the Sonoma Resource Conservation District, a local agency that addresses natural resource issues by empowering landowners to be part of the solution. Over the past decade, Valerie has been instrumental in launching the regional LandSmart® program, promoting productive lands and thriving streams through on-farm management practices, including those … Read more
Cathy Taylor is a founding member of WeAct, a local citizens’ group dedicated to environmental issues, including combating climate change. Cathy was a founding member of Wasteless Windsor, a Town-sanctioned group helping to reduce waste in the Town of Windsor. A Human Resources consulting professional by trade, her passionate hobby is creating sustainable landscapes. She … Read more
Colin West has 10 years of experience as a SCUBA diver and is a certified PADI Dive Master. With a decade of experience as the Owner, Director and Executive Producer (EP) of a film & television production company, he has managed overseas operations, including project logistics, documentation, & personnel from 5 to 30 people on … Read more
The Regional Climate Protection Authority, RCPA, was formed in 2009 to coordinate countywide climate protection efforts among Sonoma County’s nine cities and multiple agencies. The RCPA fosters collaboration, helps to set goals, pools resources, formalizes partnerships, and works across silos. The RCPA aims to create local solutions to complement State, Federal, and private sector actions … Read more
Anna spent much of her early youth playing in Santa Monica storm drains, beaches, and her backyard compost pile, experiences that sparked her interest in the land-sea connection. Anna Cummins received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and her Masters in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute for International Studies. She has spent the … Read more
Marcus Eriksen received his Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Southern California in 2003, months before embarking on a 2000-mile, 5-month journey down the Mississippi River on a homemade raft. His experience on the river led to a career studying the ecological impacts of plastic marine pollution, which has included expeditions sailing 35,000 … Read more
Dawna Mirante is the co-founder of Refill Mercantile, a thoughtfully curated low waste shop and refillery in downtown Petaluma, California. Refill Mercantile started online in March of 2021 as a way to provide low-waste everyday essentials all in one spot without having to scour the internet. In November of 2021, Dawna and Rob opened the … Read more
Jana Kania Wang is the Co-owner and Chief Refill Officer of Refill Madness in Sonoma, California. Motivated by the need for more low-waste shopping options in Sonoma Valley, Jana takes pride in offering eco-friendly and refillable products that are affordable and convenient. As a small business owner and parent, her goals include raising awareness about … Read more
After spending 3 years living in the Fiji Islands and witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of single-use plastics in the ocean environment, I vowed to make a difference somehow. I started Sonoma County Trading Company as an online site in October of 2021 offering more sustainable options for everyday products. Four months later, I was … Read more
Debora Fudge has been a Councilmember for the Town of Windsor since 1996. She is the only 6-time Mayor of Windsor. She has worked hard to change Windsor from an exit on the highway to a town with a heart, being one of the key people that helped create Windsor’s Town Green and Downtown. Windsor … Read more