STAFF & BOARD

 Meet the Solana Center team and board of directors! Our staff bring their passion for the planet to every position. Are you interested in joining the Solana Center team? Check out our careers page for current opportunities.

STAFF

Leadership Team

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Jessica Toth
(she/her/hers)

Executive DIrector

  • As Executive Director, Jessica leads overall strategy and future planning for the Solana Center organization. Under Jessica’s leadership, Solana Center has become an award-winning nonprofit that influences policy and impacts communities throughout San Diego County. 

    Jessica is driving change with her vision of landfills free of edible and compostable material and oceans free of plastics. She has been honored with 2024 Clare Rose Sabbatical provided by the Fieldstone Leadership Network, 2024 San Diego Woman Who Inspires Award by California State Senator Catherine Blakespear, and 50 Most Influential Women Over 50 by the San Diego Business Journal in 2022. Though always passionate about the environment, Jessica took a circuitous route to get here. After completing an engineering degree at Cornell and a master's degree in business from MIT, Jessica began her career on Wall Street. She then held positions in corporate research, marketing, and business process improvement at various companies, including HP, Texas Instruments, the World Bank, Kyocera, SDG&E, and the San Diego Zoo. She has contributed her expertise at other regional nonprofits, including Rob Machado Foundation and San Diego Coastkeepers.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 713

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Mallika Sen
(she/her/hers)

Director of Program Services

  • As Director of Program Services, Mallika is in charge of ensuring Solana Center's environmental services are addressing the needs of the community and our local government. Mallika has built the Environmental Solutions team into a highly-regarded resource known throughout California.

    Under her leadership, Solana Center serves more than 80% of the jurisdictions in San Diego County, providing consulting, training and business analysis, and compliance enforcement guidance on legislative issues. Mallika and her staff developed Solana Center’s innovative statewide virtual education, Food Recovery Inspection Training: California SB 1383 Compliance, launched in 2024 in partnership with California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) and Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). 

    Mallika serves on the executive committee of the edible food recovery technical council at the CRRA. Mallika holds a Sustainable Business Certificate from UCSD Extension as well as Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. She enjoys driving change to make the world more sustainable.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 724

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Robin Fator
(she/her/hers)

Marketing and Development Manager

  • Robin is Solana Center's Marketing and Development Manager, leading PR, brand identity, digital communications strategy, fundraising, and design projects. 

    With the support of her team and in collaboration with executive staff and board members, Robin manages partnerships and philanthropic relationships for corporate sponsors and major donors. Robin’s prior work included founding and leading a 501(c)(3) fashion non-profit in Northern California. As Executive Director, she brought textile waste reduction, small batch manufacturing, and sustainable fashion practices to underserved communities. Living sustainably has always been important to Robin. Combining her love for the natural world with storytelling, she increases the visibility of Solana Center in the San Diego community and beyond. Robin holds a degree in Multimedia Art from San Diego State University. In 2024-25, Robin served on the City of Encinitas Arts Commission, volunteering her time to strengthen culture and public art in her local community.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 719

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Kayleigh Dearstyne-Hulin
(she/her/hers)

Associate Director of Financial Operations

  • Kayleigh is the Associate Director of Financial Operations. In this role, she manages business development, client and staff time, and all of the organization’s contracts. She also supports in an operational capacity the development of new programming and services, strategic planning, and financial management. She works to ensure the organization is making an effective impact in the community while staying on-time and within budget. 

    Kayleigh holds a degree in International Relations and Sustainable Development from the University of St. Andrews (UK). She enjoys using her expertise in nonprofits and efficient organization techniques to help Solana Center achieve its goals and build a more sustainable world.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 716

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Erin Stone
(she/her/hers)

Education & Community Engagement Manager

  • Erin is the Education & Community Engagement Manager at Solana Center, leading strategy for educational initiatives throughout the community. 

    Erin graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies from Earlham College. She leads Solana Center’s Education team in reaching the diverse audiences of the San Diego area, including farmers and ranchers, teachers, students, families, and more. She is passionate about making climate solutions easy to adopt, and removing barriers to make sustainability accessible. 

    After graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies from Earlham College, Erin returned to the San Diego area. Solana Center’s Education team to supports programs such as the California Healthy Soils Program, environmental education in schools, and Master Composter courses. She loves encouraging and educating people of all ages about accessible ways to reduce food waste and to be gentle to our beautiful planet.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 711

Education & Outreach

Please contact (760) 436-7986 ex. 711 for education inquiries.

  • Jennifer is a Senior Environmental Educator on Solana Center's Education team and the lead on all things relating to soil - from growing healthy plants to creating nutrient-rich compost.

    Jennifer is an East Coast native from Pittsburgh, PA and holds a degree in Psychology from St. Mary's of Notre Dame and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. As Senior Environmental Educator, Jennifer develops education strategy and presents at schools, community events, and workshops on a variety of topics including a variety of composting techniques, organic gardening, water conservation, grey water, recycling, and waste diversion.

  • [email protected]

    760 436-7986 × 702

Jennifer Galey

Senior Environmental Educator

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Sarah Van Horn (she/her/hers)
Education & Outreach Specialist, Rain Barrel Lead

  • As Solana Center's Education & Outreach Specialist and Rain Barrel Lead, Sarah is the point person for City of San Diego educational programs and all jurisdictions' rain barrel subsidy & education programs.

    Sarah grew up gardening, camping, and kayaking in the underrated outdoors of her home state of New Jersey and moved to San Diego in 2014 to pursue a degree in Environmental Systems at UC San Diego. At Solana Center, Sarah advocates for a more interactive approach to education that emphasizes asking questions and building on what students already know.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ext. 709

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Liz Davis
(she/her/hers)

Educator and Volunteer Programs Coordinator

  • As Solana Center's Educator and Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Liz is the lead for volunteer and on-site programming. 

    Liz’s passion for environmentalism began in her childhood, where she spent summer vacations hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains. At Solana Center, Liz manages the volunteer program and sustainability store, engaging the community in impactful, uplifting environmental action. Liz took a particular interest in how our homes, and the way we live in them, can come into better harmony with our natural world.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ext. 707

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Deanna Milton
(she/her/hers)

Farm and Soil Health Educator

  • Deanna is an environmental educator for Solana Center, and leads Solana Center's manure composting, watershed protection, and on-farm composting offerings.

    Deanna is a San Diego native living in East County with her husband and three children. In 2014 she and her family welcomed the gateway animal into their lives...chickens. Her journey since has been one of learning and loving gardening, raising livestock (pigs, chickens, and quail), studying permaculture, composting, homesteading, and animal husbandry. Deanna is an FFA (Future Farmers of America) mom who is thrilled to keep learning and sharing ideas about waste diversion and soil regeneration.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ext. 708

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Lisa Wood (she/her/hers)

Senior Environmental Educator

  • Lisa Wood is a Senior Environmental Educator at Solana Center, with a focus on manure composting, and developing and monitoring these operations at farms and ranches. 

    Lisa earned her BA in Biology at UC Berkeley, graduating in 1983, and her MS in Biology from SDSU, before working for a short time in the private sector and then starting a more than three decades-long career with the City of San Diego that started as a CEQA planner, but soon moved to encompass environmental policy, sustainability, regulatory issues, and especially solid waste management. As an elected member of the Solid Waste Association of North America's Legislative Task Force, she also advocated for sound state policies, such as the statewide plastic bag ordinance. She retired from the City in 2020, but then began some part time consulting. In her private life, she has managed a small horse ranch in Lakeside for more than two decades, where, of course, she composts all of her horse manure and manages it onsite. She has published two award winning books about her horses and her travels with them, and is working on her third.

  • [email protected]

Environmental Solutions

Please contact (760) 436-7986 ex. 724 for programming inquiries.

Leia Berube
(she/her/hers)

Manager, Environmental Solutions

  • Leia Berube is the Environmental Solutions Manager at Solana Center and is the senior consultant to cities, and local and regional businesses to decrease their waste streams. She leads multiple city contracts in their SB1383 edible food recovery compliance efforts and manages all new staff. Leia plays a key role in developing and delivering local and statewide training to help city governments in their edible food recovery and waste diversion programming.  

    Leia grew up in Maine, where she found a passion for sustainability and environmental science at a young age. Following her passion, Leia received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with minors in Chemistry and Sustainability from Saint Joseph's College of Maine. She also completed her Master's of Sustainable Business Administration degree at Unity College. Leia enjoys working with local organizations and businesses to improve their sustainability practices.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 701

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Larissa Amaral
(she/her/hers)

Associate Manager of Environmental Solutions

  • Larissa is the Associate Manager of Environmental Solutions at Solana Center, working with cities, and local businesses to audit and decrease their waste streams. She leads multiple city contracts in their SB1383 edible food recovery programming and is one of the senior consultants in the team. Larissa provides training in waste diversion, food waste prevention and food recovery to businesses both in-person and virtually.

    Larissa started at Solana Center as a high school intern, becoming an Environmental Educator while attending San Diego State University for a Bachelors of Art Degree in Sustainability. She enjoys supporting programs that help fight food insecurity and prevent food waste by connecting businesses to food recovery organizations and organics recycling information.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 718

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Jess Bombar
(she/her/hers)

Environmental Solutions Operations Specialist

  • Jess works as the Environmental Solutions Operations Specialist on the Solana Center team where she assists with strategic content and development of environmental resources and educational programs. 

    Jess graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Advertising and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Jess is passionate about inspiring curiosity around the natural world, helping others take environmental action, and soil regeneration. She is thrilled to combine her passion for telling stories and utilizing strategic project management to support the resource conservation and environmental stewardship work at Solana Center.

  • [email protected]

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Ava Rauterkus (she/her/hers)

Environmental Solutions Project Lead

  • Ava is a San Diego local that has had a lifelong passion for the environment. She graduated with a B.S in Environmental Management and Protection at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she also worked with an environmental center to launch tree-planting efforts and promote green business initiatives. Her background includes a focus on natural resource management and environmental science. She is overjoyed to advance her efforts in climate action and environmental management. 

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 704

Marketing & Development

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Jack Mittemeyer
(he/him/his)

Marketing Specialist

  • Jack is Solana Center's Marketing Specialist, promoting workshops and educational opportunities and producing photos, graphics, and videos.

    Jack was born and raised in San Diego. He graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism and received an MA in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. In his free time, Jack loves surfing, biking, and making short nature-related videos.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ext. 705

Operations Management

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Nicolle Selby-Thomas
(she/her/hers)

Partnerships & Strategic Support

  • Nicolle is Solana Center's Partnerships and Strategic Support contributor. She is responsible for various aspects of Solana Center's grants and programs.

    Nicolle's passion continues to be focused on the outdoors and the environment. Nicolle holds a Master's degree from USC in Systems Management. She is the past chair of the Board of Directors for the Nature Collective and a graduate of the UC Master Gardener Program. Nicolle enjoys bringing her diverse background and experiences to contribute to Solana Center's positive impact on the environment.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 722

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Geny Hill
(she/her/hers)

Internal Operations Lead

  • Geny supports Solana Center’s internal operations, including contract management.

    A native of Chula Vista (and Tijuana), Geny has always been passionate about making an impact in her communities. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a Master’s in International Relations and Nonprofit Management from UC San Diego. She enjoys working to improve business operations, processes, and forecasting, especially through data management and analytical tools such as Salesforce.

  • [email protected]

    (760) 436-7986 ex. 726

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

An older man with glasses and a suit jacket smiling while speaking at a podium with a microphone. A banner with an environmental logo and text is in the background.

  • (he/him/his)

    Board President

    Although retired Russell is far from done when it comes to working for the environment!
    A lifelong student and advocate of environmental issues he has approached his advocacy from a grassroots perspective. He's driven to design environmental programs that make being environmentally friendly "easier and more convenient" for the "less environmentally enthusiastic" members of society! Over the past 50+ years, some of the experiences that have had significant influences in forming Russell's environmental background include multiple outdoor programs: Yosemite Institute, Sierra Institute, Boojum, NOLS (Student and instructor), and working on an organic farm in Oregon. Studying Environmental Studies and Geography in College didn't hurt either! These influences and more formed the basis of Russell's adult life work. 

    Russell took the Solana Center Master Composters class over 20 years ago. It led to his getting a job at the Solana Center working for the Recycled Products Cooperative, a program started at Solana Recyclers. 

    In the past, Russell enjoyed working on a variety of programs. He helped set up the modern recycling program for the Encinitas Union School District, built a garden program at Paul Ecke Central School, and taught educators how to build and maintain school gardens with the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego. He attended countless meetings and events to help improve recycling efforts in the City of Encinitas including working on the plastic bag ban in Encinitas and the state and even occasionally donned the "bag monster" outfit at local events! One last favorite passion is advocating for and actually planting a LOT of trees. 

    Russell currently volunteers for Lumbercycle in San Diego. He's trying to keep the memory of our local old-growth trees alive by using their wood after they are cut down and returning the end products back to the community where they originated. Working with sawyers and craftspeople to make all types of useful and artistic products (benches, tables, sculptures) Russell hopes to perpetuate the legacy of our local urban forest.

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  • (She/Her/Hers)

    Board Member

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  • (she/her/hers)

    Board Vice President

    Kristin Larson, AICP and PMP, has over fifteen years of experience in the sustainability field and in developing climate solutions, both in public and private sectors and across the country. She is currently a Energy Technical Program Manager at Frontier Energy. Previously, she worked as the Director of Energy and Sustainability at San Diego State University making the campus more energy efficient and as a Senior Manager for the Center for Sustainable Energy, where she led electric vehicle infrastructure projects. Prior to that, she was the first sustainability planner for the City of Bowie, Maryland. While working there, one of her favorite past projects was creating a pilot food waste collection program. She holds a master's degree in environmental sciences and policy from Johns Hopkins University. In her free time, she enjoys native gardening, wildlife watching, and hiking.

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  • (she/her/hers)

    Board Treasurer

    Mary Ann has a B.A. in Economics from the College of Wooster and an MBA from the University of Michigan. She first put these skills to work during her 10+ years at Hewlett Packard where she worked in Finance/Accounting and Production Management. She volunteered for over 20 years at a local non-profit school where she worked on obtaining non-profit status and use permits, tax returns, bookkeeping, budgeting and financial reporting, and served as Board Treasurer. It was easy to convince her to serve a similar role for Solana Center due to her life-long interest in environmental causes and organic gardening. Her favorite activities include gardening (native plant and organic), backpacking, reading, playing bridge, knitting, and spending time with her husband and two adult children.

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  • (he/him/his)

    Board Member

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  • (he/him/his)

    Board Secretary

    David Levy contributes to all IT needs at the Solana Center and loves solving technical challenges. Before joining the Board, he was familiar with the Solana Center and was inspired to support its mission when a fellow Board member and previous co-worker at Kashi asked him to get involved. He is currently employed as an IT Business Partner at a local Health and Technology company, and has an Associate's Degree in Electronics Engineering and extensive and diverse experience in the technology field. David traveled the world testing and deploying wireless communication systems for many years, along with doing some "can you hear me now" testing on cell phones. Among many "MacGyver-type" skills, he once fixed a remote control for a ceiling-mounted overhead projector at a local elementary school...with a paperclip. The teacher was thrilled. David strives to live by Tikkun Olam (tee-KOON, oh-LUHM), a Jewish concept defined by acts of kindness and performed to repair the world. He likes to leave things better than they were. David loves the outdoors and recycling, and dabbles in planting and growing food at home, composting, and worms.

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  • (she/her/hers)

    Board Member

    Angela Wuerth earned her J.D., cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law, along with a Certificate in Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law (magna cum laude). She also holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.

    Angela has built her career as an environmental and regulatory attorney. She currently works for the California Public Utilities Commission, where she advises on complex regulatory and public interest matters affecting critical infrastructure. She previously worked for the California Department of Transportation, the California Energy Commission, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

    She has a long-standing commitment to public service, community engagement, and serving nonprofit organizations, including prior experience as a nonprofit board treasurer and leading advocacy efforts for mission-driven organizations. Angela was drawn to Solana Center’s mission due to her deep interest in environmental protection and sustainable systems.

    In her free time, Angela enjoys hiking, yoga, reading, volunteering, and exploring national parks. She lives in North County San Diego with her partner and their two cats.

Interested in joining our Board?

Contact [email protected] with details on your background, relevant community involvement and how you see yourself fitting within our organization!