In this section
Jump to staff organized by departments:
Administration & Finance
Development
Research
Communications
Healthy Kids
Border Environmental Justice
Green Energy/Green Jobs
Toxic-Free Neighborhoods
(Click here for an alphabetical contact directory)
Administration & Finance
Diane Takvorian
Executive Director
Diane is one of the founders of EHC and has been its Executive Director since 1982. She holds a Masters degree in Social Work with an emphasis on public policy and community organizing. As a major force behind the environmental justice movement, Diane has served on international, national, state, and regional advisory boards. In 2009, President Obama appointed her to the Joint Public Advisory Committee for the NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation. In July 2008 Diane received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for her "creative and inspirational leadership benefiting the people of California."
Diane and her husband Bob enjoy adventure travel, working on the native plant landscaping in their yard, and Diane's cooking specialty is vegetarian soups.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 112; Mobile: (619) 992-0805
Tony Pettina
Chief Financial Officer
Tony was one of the founding members of EHC and has been with the organization since its inception in 1980. He has been involved in the financial operations of EHC since that time. He served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors until 2006. Tony holds a M.A. degree in Philosophy from San Diego State University, and B.A.s Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. He has worked in the Human Service Network in San Diego since 1978. He is the owner of Fiscal Design & Management. Systems, providing financial services to non-profit organizations in the San Diego area since 1983.
Tony and his wife Twili enjoy world travel, family, music, golf, and the beauty of San Diego.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 134; Office Direct (619) 773-2124
Aurora Zabish
Associate Director of Administration
Aurora has been the Associate Director of Administration for Environmental Health Coalition since March of 2013. Previously, she spent approximately six years as Business & HR Director for the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park where she chaired the organization's committee for the Casa de Balboa. She attended San Diego State University and majored in business administration. Aurora speaks fluent Spanish and some French.
A native San Diegan, she loves to hike and enjoys photography, re-finishing furniture and yoga. Her biggest passion in life is travel, and and is looking forward to the next adventure.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(619) 474-0220 ext. 123
Lilia Escalante
Fiscal Manager
Lilia joined EHC in 2000 with an AA degree in accounting and business management, and is completing a degree in international business. She is bilingual and is a certified translator/interpreter. In addition to her fiscal responsibilities, Lilia translates EHC publications and provides oral interpretation for events.
Lilia and her three children live next to Chollas Creek, the focus of EHC's urban watershed protection efforts. She and her family volunteer for watershed cleanup events.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(619) 474-0220 ext. 120
María Segura
Executive Assistant
María joined EHC in 2011. She holds a B.A in psychology and a minor in public administration from San Diego State University. She is a graduate of EHC's SALTA leadership training program, and she is currently working on a coaching certification while pursuing an M.A in Human Behavior.
María enjoys being part of the EHC team and its commitment to environmental and social justice. She volunteers at her daughter's elementary school and is a mentor for the MAAC Chula Vista project. She enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her family.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 124
David Urzúa
Database/IT Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. David Urzúa has a B.S. in Computer Science and joined EHC in October 2005 to provide in-house IT management at our San Diego and Tijuana offices, and oversee development of our organizational data base. David has over 15 years experience as a network administrator and data base trainer and is bilingual.
He likes working for an organization that makes a difference in the community. He enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, traveling, camping, jogging, biking and soccer.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 161; Mobile: (619) 417-3815
Development
Seamus Kennedy
Senior Development Associate
Seamus has spent his career fundraising for various causes and candidates. He's spent time working with congressional and senatorial candidates and nonprofit organizations, like the Democracy Alliance and Jacobs Center for Nonprofit Innovation. He graduated from San Diego State University in 2006 with degrees in Political Science and History. He will soon graduate from the University of Notre Dame with a Masters in Nonprofit Administration.
Seamus and his fiancé enjoy exploring his home town and are always looking for the next great eatery. He enjoys volunteering at San Diego's Comic Con, which he has done every year since he was 14 years old. And no, he cannot help you get in.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 166
Amelia Simpson
Grant Writer
Amelia was Director of EHC's Border Environmental Justice Campaign from 2002 to 2010 when she transitioned to grant writing. She has a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature and Culture and an M.A. in Latin American Studies. Amelia has published on a variety of issues including environmental justice and globalization. She was an Amnesty International Mexico Specialist from 2000 to 2008 and has been Board President of the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras since 2008.
Amelia enjoys being part of an organization that defends human rights in communities on both sides of the border. Personal pleasures include hiking, gardening, and making art.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 116
Sarah Vega
Fund Development Associate
Sarah came to EHC in 2006. She has over ten years of experience working in the non-profit world. Prior to joining EHC's Development Team in 2009, Sarah worked as Executive Assistant and Human Resources Associate at EHC. She received a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and was a student at San Diego City College in Chicano Studies.
Sarah was born and raised in San Diego and enjoys the culture and diversity of the people and communities with which EHC works. She loves spending time with her husband, three young daughters and three Chihuahuas in and around our town.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext, 114
Sarah Fuhrmann
Leadership Development Director
Sarah joined EHC in 2011. She has a B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Conflict Transformation. Her experience includes designing and implementing training curricula and workshops for the San Diego County Welfare to Work Program, educating indigenous communities in Guatemala with the Peace Corps, teaching school and establishing a tutoring program in Alaska, and coordinating programs in San Diego with immigrant communities. Sarah is a board member of the San Diego Peace Corps Association.
Sarah enjoys working for an organization and with a staff that are closely aligned with her personal beliefs. She spends time hiking, camping, cooking, and volunteering at the New Roots Community Garden in City Heights.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext, 166; Mobile: (619) 240-6075
Research
Joy Williams
Research Director
Joy received a Master of Public Health degree, with an emphasis in Environmental and Occupational Health, in 1986. She worked as a Hazardous Waste Specialist for the San Diego County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. Joy interned with EHC in 1984 and began working at EHC in 1987. She specializes in the health effects of toxic chemicals, pollution prevention, community right-to-know, toxic use reduction and safe substitute programs, and community health.
Joy lives with her husband, daughter, and cat. Her enjoys reading, gardening, kayaking, and listening to her daughter play the French horn.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 10; Mobile: (858) 382-9448
Communications
Jamie Ortiz
Communications Consultant
Jamie joined EHC in the spring of 2012 as a communications consultant. For nearly a decade, she honed her digital marketing and media relations talents at public relations agencies in California and Oregon before moving to an in-house role with an environmental organization. She now owns her own business working as a part-time communications consultant for environmental organizations throughout San Diego. She's best reached by email or cell phone.
Jamie lives with her husband, dog, two cats and eight bikes in Ocean Beach.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (858) 337-7466
Healthy Kids Campaign
Leticia Ayala
Associate Director, Healthy Kids Campaign
Leticia received a B.A. in Business Administration in 1994, became a certified Lead Hazard Control Specialist in 2000, and was Home Energy Rating System certified in 2010. She joined EHC as Office Manager in 1995, became Membership Associate in 1997, Coordinator of EHC's pilot lead poisoning prevention project in 1998, and Campaign Director in 2002. In high school, Leticia was the Youth Representative for the Los Angeles Mayor's Committee on Children, Youth and Families. She is a member of the San Diego Citizen Advisory Committee for Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, the Southern California Healthy Homes Collaborative, Smoke-Free Housing Taskforce and the California Healthy Housing Coalition. Leticia is a 2010 graduate of the Rockwood Leadership Institute.
Leticia enjoys working for justice and is passionate about protecting children rights. She enjoys nature, traveling, photography, camping, feng shui, and dancing Rueda de Casino with her husband Pablo.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 121; Mobile: (619) 952-3632
Luz Palomino
Community Organizer, Healthy Kids Campaign
Luz joined EHC in 1997 after completing EHC's inaugural SALTA leadership training program. She is an Environmental Protection Agency certified Lead Sampling Technician. Luz participated in the Community Environmental Health Resource Center's project that pilot tested and created the community-based assessment tools for the Healthy Homes program.
Luz likes working with the diversity of people in the community, especially helping to protect children's health. She enjoys walking around her Sherman Heights neighborhood with her grandchildren and seeing the changes we have made to improve it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 141; Mobile: (619) 307-1696
Silvia León
Community Organizer, Healthy Kids Campaign
Silvia joined EHC in 2009 as receptionist/office assistant and was promoted to Community Organizer in the Healthy Kids Campaign in 2010. Silvia holds certificates as a Lead Technician and in Home Energy Rating System. She is a member of the California Healthy Housing Coalition.
Silvia learned about lead poisoning through EHC and enjoys raising community awareness about healthy living. She loves spending time outdoors camping with her husband and two boys.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 163; Mobile: (619) 342-6824
Border Environmental Justice Campaign
Magdalena Cerda
Campaign Director, Border Environmental Justice Campaign
Magdalena joined EHC in 2000. She was technical coordinator for the Mexican government agency INEA (Instituto Nacional de Educación para los Adultos), where she worked with adult literacy programs in the border region. She served as president of a community group in Colonia Guadalupe Victoria in Tijuana that secured land rights and infrastructure from the Mexican Government. In 2009, she received the Grass Roots Organizer award from the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries.
Magdalena likes EHC's environmental and social justice efforts to create a world where many worlds can co-exist. Her family and friends are her joy, strength, and inspiration; dancing is her therapy. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, dancing, gardening, traditional Mexican cooking, sewing, and arts and crafts.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 117; Mobile: (619) 307-1695
Aníbal Méndez
Community Organizer, Border Environmental Justice Campaign
Aníbal joined EHC in 2008 as the Youth Group Coordinator for our Tijuana Community Action Team. He has a degree in psychology, is a graphic and webpage designer, a musician and composer, and has been a teacher, therapist, radio spokesperson, and video performer.
Aníbal enjoys seeing the Tijuana Youth Group members develop, learn, and increase their commitment to each other and to improving the quality of life in their community. His personal interests include music, psychology, reading, and sewing.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 119; Mobile: (619) 884-0166
Green Energy/Green Jobs Campaign
Nicole Capretz
Associate Director, Green Energy/Green Jobs Campaign
Nicole served as EHC's Policy Advocate on the Clean Bay Campaign from 1997 to 2001. She rejoined EHC in 2008 and launched our Green Energy/Green Jobs Campaign. Nicole has a law degree from Vermont Law School, a Masters in Environmental Law, and has been active in social justice and politics for over 15 years. She is the Chair of the City of San Diego's Environmental and Economic Sustainability Task Force and serves as Secretary of the City Heights Community Development Corporation Board of Directors.
Nicole enjoys the opportunity to merge her passion with her career and make a positive difference in the community. She loves hiking, biking, walking with her dog, going to concerts and talking politics.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 105; Mobile: (619) 490-6248
Kayla Race
Policy Advocate, Green Energy/Green Jobs Campaign
Kayla joined EHC in 2011. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Kayla worked as a policy research analyst for the Massachusetts House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change and as a market researcher for a local environmental remediation government contractor.
Kayla enjoys running, bicycling, and dabbling in various artistic endeavors.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 133;
José Franco García
Community Organizer
Franco joined EHC in 2010. He has a B.A in Political Science from the University of California at San Diego. He directed the Community Building Department at the Coalition of Neighborhood Councils in San Diego and worked with the United Domestic Workers of America and SEIU 2028.
Franco likes working for environmental justice to secure a safe and healthy environment for the community. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext, 164; Mobile: (619) 794-5694
Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Georgette Gómez
Associate Director, Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Georgette received a B.A. in Environmental and Natural Resource Geography Analysis in 2004 and joined EHC that fall as Community Organizer for the Clean Bay Campaign. In 2008 she became the Policy Advocate for the Barrio Logan Toxic Free Neighborhoods Campaign and was promoted to Associate Director for all TFN activities in Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, City Heights and National City in 2011. Georgette is Vice President of the Historic Barrio District Community Development Corporation Board of Directors, where she chairs the Community and Economic Development Committee. She is a co-founder of Sustainable San Diego.
Georgette enjoys meeting people from all ethnicities, cultures and walks of life, traveling, biking, camping, and appreciating nature.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 104; Mobile: (619) 952-4589
Laura Hunter
Senior Policy Advocate, Clean Ports Campaign
Working for EHC since 1990, Laura has been instrumental in securing passage of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, the removal of the South Bay Power Plant, the creation of the 2,000-acre South San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, securing environmental justice commitments in the three local General Plans, remediation of multiple toxic sediment sites in the Bay, creation of early watershed protection programs, and warning systems for communities adjacent to military sites in San Diego. She is currently the Chair of the South Bay Wildlife Advisory and a Boardmember of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mobile: (619) 997-9983
Maria Moya
Community Organizer, Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Maria Moya joined EHC in the fall of 1994 as Community Organizer and Coordinator of EHC's original SALTA Leadership Training program. María has led many of EHC's voter empowerment efforts.
Maria enjoys working at EHC because she identifies with EHC's mission and social justice values. She loves spending time with her family, cooking their favorite foods, and spoiling her grandchildren.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 122; Mobile: (619) 993-6716
Carolina Martínez
Policy Advocate, Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Carolina joined EHC in 2010 as the Policy Advocate for the Toxic-Free Neighborhood Campaign's efforts in National City. She has M.A.s in Urban Planning and in Latin American Studies. Her experience includes environmental justice policy advocacy in Oxnard, California, collaborating with community groups in Orange County on cultural and social justice campaigns, and researching international labor rights.
Carolina enjoys working at the intersection of race, culture, gender, civic engagement, environmental issues, health, and city planning in the struggle for environmental justice. She spends her free time playing Son Jarocho and learning to play Bomba.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext. 131
Monserrat Hernández
Community Organizer, Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Monserrat learned about the opportunity to participate with EHC at her children's school and then served on EHC's Barrio Logan Community Action Team for five years. During that time, she was involved in the effort to change truck routes in the community. Monserrat began working at EHC in 2007.
Monserrat likes meeting people in the community, working with them to improve the quality of life for families and learn about social and environmental justice.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (619) 474-0220 ext, 103; Mobile: (619) 952-3656