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
Jessica Toth
(she/her/hers)
Executive DIrector
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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.
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jessica@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 713
Mallika Sen
(she/her/hers)
Director of Environmental Solutions
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As Environmental Solutions Director, 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.
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(760) 436-7986 ex. 724
Angela L. Calderon
(she/her/hers)
Accounting and HR Manager
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Angela is the Accounting and HR Manager at Solana Center. Her expertise includes financial management, human resources, compliance, and strategic planning. She develops tools and implements internal programs to ensure Solana Center’s long-term success. She excels at building community relationships and streamlining operational processes to drive impactful outcomes.
With a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), summa cum laude, and a strong foundation in accounting and project management, Angela consistently demonstrates her ability to align organizational strategies with operational excellence. Angela implements systems and processes that promote efficiency, growth, and long-term sustainability. Known for her exceptional communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, Angela is dedicated to delivering results while cultivating collaborative and productive work environments.
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angela.calderon@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 703
Robin Fator
(she/her/hers)
Marketing and Development Manager
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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.
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(760) 436-7986 ex. 719
Kayleigh Dearstyne-Hulin
(she/her/hers)
Contracts Manager
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Kayleigh is the Contracts Manager at Solana Center. 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.
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kayleigh.dearstyne@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 716
Erin Stone
(she/her/hers)
Education & Community Engagement Manager
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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.
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(760) 436-7986 ex. 711
Education & Outreach
Please contact (760) 436-7986 ex. 711 for education inquiries.
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Jennifer is the 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.
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760 436-7986 × 702
Jennifer Galey
Senior Environmental Educator
Sarah Van Horn (she/her/hers)
Education & Outreach Specialist, Rain Barrel Lead
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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.
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sarah.vanhorn@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ext. 709
Liz Davis
(she/her/hers)
Volunteer & Community Engagement Specialist
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As Solana Center's Volunteer & Community Engagement Specialist, 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.
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(760) 436-7986 ext. 707
Deanna Milton
(she/her/hers)
Environmental Educator
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Deanna is an environmental educator for Solana Center, leading interactive workshops and webinars on composting, food waste prevention, water wise gardening, and more.
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.
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deanna.milton@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ext. 708
Environmental Solutions
Please contact (760) 436-7986 ex. 724 for programming inquiries.
Leia Berube
(she/her/hers)
Manager, Environmental Solutions
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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.
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leia.berube@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 701
Larissa Amaral
(she/her/hers)
Associate Manager of Environmental Solutions
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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.
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larissa.amaral@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 718
Megan Phelps
(she/her/hers)
Environmental and Business Solutions Specialist (Bilingual)
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Megan Phelps is the Bilingual Environmental and Business Solutions Specialist at Solana Center. She works with multiple cities and businesses on their edible food recovery programming. Additionally, she leads the team’s data management and analysis efforts to make the data more interpretable and accessible to our clients.
Megan has had a lifelong passion for the environment, growing up in a multigenerational household of advocates for sustainable agriculture, bikeable cities, green buildings, and climate action. Born and raised in San Diego, Megan graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management. She’s thrilled to be part of a like-minded team working to realize her childhood dream of a zero waste San Diego.
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megan.phelps@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 721
Jess Bombar
(she/her/hers)
Environmental Solutions Operations Specialist
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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.
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Lia Quinn
(she/her/hers)
Environmental Solutions Operations Support
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Lia works as the Environmental Solutions Operations Support on the Solana Center team. She assists the team in outreach to businesses, scheduling training and consultations, and data management of SB1383 implementation records.
Lia’s passion for sustainability and the environment developed while growing up in San Diego, where she frequented the many local trails and beaches. She pursued her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a minor in Geography at California State University at San Marcos. Lia brings a passion in being able to share sustainability with people through marketing and community outreach to the team and is grateful to be a part of a purpose-driven and impactful organization.
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Marketing & Development
Jack Mittemeyer
(he/him/his)
Marketing Specialist
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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.
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jack.mittemeyer@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ext. 705
Maddie Sackor
(she/her/hers)
Donor Relations & Fundraising Lead
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As our Donor Relations and Fundraising Lead, Maddie collaborates with the Marketing and Development Manager to develop relationships with our giving community and oversee fundraising administration.
Maddie holds a degree in sociology from Virginia Tech and is passionate about environmental stewardship. On her days off, she enjoys hiking, camping, and weekend adventures around Southern California.
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maddie.sackor@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ext. 715
Operations Management
Nicolle Selby-Thomas
(she/her/hers)
Partnerships & Strategic Support
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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.
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(760) 436-7986 ex. 722
Michael Murphy
(he/him/his)
Facility Manager
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Mike is the Facility Manager at Solana Center where he supports onsite programming including the Tool Lending Library and the Sustainability Shop.
Mike is a native Californian and enjoys volunteering in the community for a variety of environmental causes. At the Solana Center office, you can typically find him in the garden, working to make the green spaces as educational and enjoyable as possible.
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Geny Hill
(she/her/hers)
Internal Operations Lead
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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.
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(760) 436-7986 ex. 726
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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(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 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 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
Connie Adams’ passion for conservation began during her childhood in Salem, Oregon. Money was tight in her family, so her mother Sharon instilled her with an understanding that we humans are wasteful, we create too much garbage — and it’s not only costly to dispose, but harmful to the earth.
Salem did not provide free trash pickup, and it cost hardworking families dearly to pay per can. What to do? Connie’s mom made a deal to split the cost of a single can with a next-door neighbor. To get Connie and her siblings actively involved, Sharon had to make recycling fun. She created a family game to see how little garbage they would end up with at the end of week. They reused, donated, recycled, and composted to minimize trash. This fostered a deeper connection to the earth and one another by working together as neighbors to reduce and conserve. It was a great lesson.
Connie moved to sunny San Diego in 1999, attracted to its abundance of outdoor activities like biking, hiking, boogie boarding, beach walks, and beautiful sunsets. But she recalls a shocking moment that shook her to her conservationist core: amidst all this natural beauty, she witnessed a driver roll down his window and brazenly throw an oversized cup with a lid and a straw out onto the road. (If only he’d had a mother like Sharon Adams!) These two experiences planted a seed in Connie that would grow to a desire to take an active role in recycling and conservation — leading her to the Solana Center.
In business, Connie has a background in “Employer Best Practices” for a multitude of topics involving employee benefits, HR, and insurance. Connie earned a bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance-law from Portland State University. She continued her path as a life learner and educator by earning the CEBS designation from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as well as the Professional in Human Resources – California® (PHRca®) through the Human Resource Standards Institute. Connie enjoys public speaking which she calls “Edu-tainment” - speaking to educate, inform and inspire. She has a special aptitude for breaking down complicated legal-speak into training components that are digestible in small bites.
For fun, Connie loves organic vegetable and fruit gardening, cycling, walks on the beach, singing and playing ukulele, and has performed in several North County entertainment venues with her partner Martin. Connie wants to give back to this wonderful community. She believes the Solana Center is the perfect investment in the future — an outlet to give back today in hopes of many more beautiful tomorrows.
Interested in joining our Board?
Contact director@solanacenter.org with details on your background, relevant community involvement and how you see yourself fitting within our organization!