Meet our team.

 Staff

Sigrid Wright brings over 30 years of experience in nonprofit environmental management and has built multiple programs for climate, energy, and food-related issues. Under her leadership, CEC has grown its impact and stature. In 2020, the Community Environmental Council was recognized as a California Nonprofit of the Year by then-District 37 Assemblywoman Monique Limón. In 2022, Sigrid was honored with a Congressional Woman of the Year Award by U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal.

Wright is a co-founder and steering committee member of the Central Coast Climate Justice Network, a co-founder of the Central Coast Climate Collaborative, and a co-founder of the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network. She is the co-author or editor of more than a dozen policy and planning documents. Prior to becoming the organization’s first female CEO in 2015, she led the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival production team for more than 15 years.

In addition, Wright sits on the board of Leading From Within. She is an alum of the Santa Barbara Foundation’s Katherine Harvey Fellows program and the Courage to Lead program for non-profit leaders. Her achievements led her to receive the 2015 Women of Achievement Award from the Association of Women in Communications, Santa Barbara. Wright holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in communications design from the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts at the University of Baltimore.

Learn more about Sigrid in this Bluedot Living Santa Barbara feature.

Karina joined CEC in 2024 as a Climate Programs Associate. Before this role, she served as a sustainability producer, organizing events highlighting the diverse array of sustainable practices available to communities. Leading her team in sustainability efforts led her to adopt eco-friendly alternatives in her own life, sparking her passion for the environment. She is excited to work at CEC and invest herself in environmental work.

Karina was born and raised in Los Angeles and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geography and environmental studies and double minors in sustainability and gender and women's studies from California State University, Northridge. In her free time, Karina enjoys walking, reading, thrifting and spending time with friends and family.

Dominique Aranda joined CEC in 2023 as a Climate Programs Associate, where she supports outreach efforts and the implementation of the Climate Resilience team’s ongoing projects. Prior to CEC, Dominique worked as a policy analysis intern at a nonprofit dedicated to providing support and guidance for individuals navigating society with a criminal record.

Born and raised in Santa Maria, Dominique is passionate about equity and climate justice. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political economy from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting, reading and spending time with family. 

Alhan Diaz-Correa joined CEC in 2020 and since then has built trust as a Community Ambassador. He leads CEC’s outreach and community organization in the North County region of Santa Barbara. He hopes to reduce human and ecological risk through strategic planning and conduct academic research in service of vulnerable communities in the future. As a result, he strives to build understanding and provide equitable solutions through research to solve real-world problems.

Alhan earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Montana in Missoula in 2019. He values solidarity and is actively working in the areas of racial, economic and environmental justice. Alhan is excited to help CEC and his community form strong bonds and connections.

Katie Hershfelt joined CEC in 2014 and is currently Director of Communications and Marketing. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of equitable, inclusive, and effective communications to engage and activate community members across all of our programs. Previously, she served as a Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival production partner and communications consultant. Katie also played an integral role in establishing the communications and marketing plan for the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network, a sustainable, local food system initiative that CEC helped establish.

Katie earned her bachelor’s degree in international studies at the University of California, Irvine. She has lived in Santa Barbara for almost 20 years and has deep ties to the California Central Coast community. In addition to her work with CEC, Katie enjoys spending endless hours at farmers’ markets, cooking and eating regionally grown food and inspiring others to do the same.

Em Johnson joined CEC in 2022 and directs the Climate Resilience program. She plays a lead role in enacting CEC’s programs that help our Central Coast communities better respond, recover, adapt, and thrive in the face of climate change-related disruptions. Em has worked alongside frontline communities to design, plan, and implement community projects aimed at enhancing local socio-economic resilience. During her five years as Executive Director of the Blue Sky Center, she helped energize creativity, innovation, and investment in the Cuyama Valley in Central California, worked to depoliticize climate change, and bridged the divide between urban and rural communities. She led efforts to connect people to resources and to develop new entrepreneurial initiatives and grassroots efforts to reclaim the power of rural resiliency.

Em earned her MBA in social entrepreneurship and strategic planning at Antioch University in Santa Barbara. She currently is a Board Member for the Santa Barbara Food Action Network, a sustainable, local food system initiative that CEC helped establish. Outside of work, you can most often find Em hosting dinner parties in her high desert home or exploring our abundant Central Coastline.

Kathi King joined the Community Environmental Council (CEC) in 2008 and is currently the Director of Outreach and Education, overseeing outreach and education activities. She also manages the CEC’s waste reduction program, including the successful Rethink the Drink bottled water reduction program in local schools and public spaces. In 2021, she began teaching CEC’s Climate Stewards course through a partnership with the University of California, a certification program that works to build a committed corps of local climate activists. Kathi is co-director of CEC’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival and recently joined the Santa Barbara Sierra Club Group board. She spent seven years on the Montecito Association board, serving on the Village Fourth, Beautification Day, and Executive Committees. 

Kathi holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and film from San Diego State University and did post-graduate work in environmental studies at Santa Barbara City College, where she contributed to the ultimate success of the City of Santa Barbara’s single-use plastic bag ban. In her free time, she enjoys reading, thrifting, hiking, and beach walks with family and friends.

Tia joined the CEC Communications team in 2023 as the Communications Project Manager. In this role, she manages the communications initiatives across CEC’s program areas. Prior to working at the CEC, Tia was a project manager at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she managed research spanning various environmental issue areas, including the benefits of marine protected areas, land-based climate solutions and California’s equitable energy transition. Tia believes in the power of storytelling to bring about bold climate action and has also worked in various communications roles in non-profit and academic institutions.

Tia received dual bachelor’s degrees in journalism and ecology, conservation and environmental biology from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and holds a master’s degree in environmental science and management from the Bren School at UCSB. Originally from Pennsylvania, she currently resides in Santa Barbara and enjoys painting and drawing wildlife, spending time in nature and going for walks with her dog, Demi.

Camila Leon joined CEC in 2024 as a Climate Programs Associate, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, wildfire resilience, and energy projects. With a background in agriculture and outdoor education, she collaborates with farmers, ranchers, and community members to create a more resilient food system and improve environmental sustainability. Before joining CEC, Leon worked in research-based field technician roles and environmental education jobs across the U.S., including in Florida, Iowa, South Carolina, Tennessee, Hawaii (Maui and Kauai), and California. Her last position was as the outdoor education coordinator at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, where she connected with locals, tourists, and curious people of all ages and cultures, exercising her passion for environmental education.

Born in Quito, Ecuador, and raised in South Florida to a half-Ecuadorian and half-Peruvian family, Leon is passionate about conservation, environmental education, language access, diversity, equity, and accessibility. She holds a Bachelor of Science in wildlife ecology and conservation, with a minor in sustainability studies, from the University of Florida. Recently, she became a certified environmental educator with the California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education. Leon enjoys exploring new cultures, mainly through food and music and traveling whenever possible. She strives to stay curious, engage with the community and spend time outdoors.

Sean McArthur joined the CEC Climate Mitigation Team in 2023 as the Energy & Transportation Associate, supporting access to electric vehicles and the implementation of tri-county electric vehicle infrastructure projects. Before joining CEC he worked with a nonprofit on environmental policy, organizing campaigns to reduce plastic pollution, increasing electric vehicle infrastructure, and speeding up California's transition to 100% renewable electricity.

Sean was born and raised in Roseville, CA, and holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In his spare time he loves to travel, play sports and spend time with friends.

Natalie McGuire joined CEC in 2021 as Executive Assistant and Board Liaison where she facilitates close ties with CEC Board members. Prior to CEC, she worked as an executive assistant in a tech start-up, but her relationship to nature and passion for living mindfully brought her into environmental work. In her free time, Natalie likes to be outside with her son and dog. She also enjoys cycling, yoga, surfing, hiking, camping and photography.

Kat Orellana joined CEC in 2024 to support climate justice outreach and community engagement. Before joining CEC, Kat worked on endangered species conservation projects and researched the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the tourism industry on communities and the environment. She is passionate about environmental conservation and climate justice, and seeks to empower local communities to implement climate solutions that benefit both people and the planet. Kat holds a dual Bachelor of Science in biology and environmental sciences from Duke University and a master’s degree in environmental science and management from the Bren School at UCSB. She is from New York, but has lived and worked in Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, South Africa, and Australia. In her free time, she likes to go to the beach, go backpacking, travel and spend time with family and friends.

Bre Sliker is the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program Manager at the Community Environmental Council, working to connect farmers and ranchers with the resources needed for socially, financially and ecologically resilient operations. 

Prior to her work at CEC, Bre worked at White Buffalo Land Trust leading programming and engagement, and has worked passionately at the intersection of agriculture, environmentalism, and food justice in both California and the Northeast. She has a master's degree in sustainable food systems from NYU. Bre is also a trained beekeeper and integrates this level of ecological understanding into all aspects of her work. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, a good book and long hikes with her partner and her Australian Shepherd, Levon. 

Darlene Snow joined CEC as the Director of Development in 2023, bringing over 20 years of experience in non-profit fundraising and environmental communications to the organization. She is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of fundraising efforts, grant writing, annual funds, major gifts and all campaign activities. 

Darlene earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental resource management from Pennsylvania State University and was an undergraduate resident intern at CEC for six months at the Gildea Resource Center. Since then, she’s split her professional career between Washington, D.C. and California. She enjoys the outdoors and when not working to fight the climate crisis can be found hiking, swimming, biking or spending time with her adult children or Yorkshire Terrier, Bella.