About Menlo Spark
Our Mission
Help Menlo Park eliminate all carbon emissions and create a model of carbon neutrality that other cities can follow.
Our Vision
A climate-neutral Menlo Park that serves as a model for sustainability and climate action, demonstrating how communities can thrive while eliminating carbon emissions.
Climate neutrality means having net zero greenhouse gas or carbon emissions in a given year.
Greenhouse gas and carbon emissions stay in our atmosphere, causing our region to overheat dangerously. This leads to:
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Polluted indoor and outdoor air
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Extreme heat
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Wildfires
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Ground water rise
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Water shortages
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Increased flooding
Reaching our goal of climate neutrality will combat the harmful effects of climate change and protect our safety, health, and environment.
How We Drive Impact
As a nonprofit initiative, we collaborate with city government, businesses, and residents to ensure the success of our community's climate and sustainability efforts. Menlo Spark drives impact through six key strategies:
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Community Collaboration and Engagement
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Equitable Clean Energy Access
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Policy Advancement
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Building Electrification Implementation
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Technology Innovation and Demonstration
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Regional Impact and Knowledge Sharing
Our Team
Menlo Spark began when a small group of community members joined together to address the urgent threat of climate change, while promoting long-term economic vitality, equity, and quality of life in Menlo Park.
Brian Schmidt
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Brian is an environmental lawyer with extensive experience in policy research, development, and advocacy, leading environmental protection efforts at Green Foothills and Greenbelt Alliance. He has served on the Santa Clara Valley Water District and Mid-Peninsula Water District boards, and previously represented environmental nonprofits and government agencies at Earthjustice and Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP. He holds degrees from Georgetown University and Stanford Law School.
Angela Evans
DIRECTOR
Angela leads Menlo Spark's building electrification work, including policy advocacy, partnerships, multi-family pilot projects, and workforce development with JobTrain. She also provides strategic guidance to help Menlo Park electrify 95% of existing buildings. She serves on the City's Environmental Quality Commission and the Stanford Professional Women board, bringing experience from Environmental Defense Fund and eBay. She holds a B.S. in Earth Systems and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
Jocelyn Anaya Galvan
MARKETING AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Jocelyn leads community outreach and marketing for Menlo Spark, bringing experience as Community Manager for two city council districts, where she connected residents with city resources and advocated for neighborhood priorities. She holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology from Santa Clara University, where she researched climate change impacts on people with mobility disabilities.
Our Board
Josh Becker
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR
Josh Becker is a recognized clean energy business and policy leader. He currently serves as California State Senator for the 13th District, covering part of Silicon Valley. Sen. Becker has served on California’s Workforce Development Board. He was CEO and later Chairman of Lex Machina for almost ten years. He also founded New Cycle Capital, as a seed investor in cutting-edge companies such as: OPOWER, Renew Financial, People Power, and TerraPass. He started his career at ICF International, a DC-based environmental consulting and engineering firm. There he helped launch the first Clean Air Marketplace conference back in 1992 and consulted on energy strategy for companies like General Electric. Josh co-founded IntraACTIVE a pioneering groupware company in 1994 and was also one of the first employees at EarthWeb/Dice (NYSE:DHX), which went public in 1998. After joint degrees from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Law School, Becker joined Brentwood Venture Capital and then joined Brentwood’s technology partners in founding Redpoint Ventures. Josh was a long time Board Member of the Clean Tech Open. Becker Founded The Full Circle Fund in 2000, and remains on the Board. He also is project lead for the group’s Energy and Environment Circle.
Michael Closson
PRINCIPAL, LOCAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
RETIRED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACTERRA
Michael Closson is an environmental consultant who lives in Menlo Park, CA, with past clients including the Sierra Club, and current work with the Center for Climate Protection. Michael is also Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Peninsula Clean Energy. His previous professional experience includes: Executive Director of Acterra: Action for a Sustainable Earth in Palo Alto, CA (2003-2013), Executive Director of Biodiversity Northwest in Seattle, WA (2000-2003), Programs Director for the Earth Day Network in Seattle, WA (1998-2000), Executive Director of the Center for Economic Conversion in Mountain View, CA (1983-1998), Co-Director of New Ways to Work in Palo Alto, CA (1976-1982), and Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Stanford University in Stanford, CA (1972-1976). He holds a Ph.D. (Sociology) and a M.A. from Cornell University and a B.A. from Middlebury College.
Angela Evans
DIRECTOR
Angela leads Menlo Spark's building electrification work, including policy advocacy, partnerships, multi-family pilot projects, and workforce development with JobTrain. She also provides strategic guidance to help Menlo Park electrify 95% of existing buildings. She serves on the City's Environmental Quality Commission and the Stanford Professional Women board, bringing experience from Environmental Defense Fund and eBay. She holds a B.S. in Earth Systems and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
Katie Ferrick
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PURPOSE, APPLIED MATERIALS
Katie Ferrick is the Managing Director of Purpose at Applied Materials, overseeing the Applied Materials Foundation, Community Impact, and Sustainability Strategy. With three decades of experience in the region, she bring extensive experience in cross-sector collaboration to advance equity and community health, including prior leadership roles at LinkedIn. She's serving her third term on the Menlo Park Planning Commission and is the former Deputy District Director for US Congresswoman Jackie Speier. Katie currently serves on the board of the Housing Trust Silicon Valley and Joint Venture Silicon Valley. She holds degrees from San Francisco State University and University of Oregon.
Kristin Kuntz-Duriseti
FORMER MENLO PARK ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSIONER
Kristin is transitioning to a new career as a math and science teacher to prepare our youth to apply their talents and passions to address complex problems, like climate change. Previously, Kristin was Managing Editor of Climatic Change, an international journal publishing interdisciplinary research on the description, causes, and implications of climate change. A former Environmental Quality Commissioner for Menlo Park, she has served as Chair and as the commission representative to the Menlo Park General Plan Advisory Committee. As a consultant on municipal energy policy, Kristin has contributed to the development of the Peninsula Advanced Energy Community (PAEC), which showcases the benefits of advanced energy policies and projects promoting renewable energy and a shift to a low carbon future. Kristin has a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Stanford University.
Nancy Larocca Hedley
BOARD CHAIR
MENLO PARK ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSIONER
LEADERSHIP COACH & TEAM DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Nancy holds a deep respect for the richness of life’s interconnections, creates an atmosphere of collaboration, and aims to evoke each person’s unique genius in service of the greater good. She was appointed to Menlo Park’s Environmental Quality Commission in 2022, serving as its Chair in ’23-’24, and its Vice Chair the year prior. She is actively involved with the Menlo Park Climate Team at 350 Silicon Valley and co-founded a local speaker series called Green, Blue, and You, which aims to engage the community on environmental topics. Beyond her environmental work, Nancy serves as a coach and consultant to leaders and teams through her organization, Illumine Coaching & Consulting.
Jan Pepper
VISITING SCHOLAR, PRECOURT INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY
FORMER CEO, PENINSULA CLEAN ENERGY
Jan Pepper retired in June 2023 after spending over 30 years in the energy and utility industry, with a focus on renewable energy development and financing. Most recently, from 2016 to 2023, she was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Clean Energy, the community choice energy program serving the unincorporated county and all 20 cities in San Mateo County. She formerly worked at Silicon Valley Power, and has founded four energy-related start-ups. At APX, she developed and pioneered the first use of renewable energy credits, which are now the standard currency for trading and tracking renewable power. At Clean Power Markets, her company designed and implemented the successful Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program for the State of New Jersey. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University. She is co-teaching a course on Energy during the fall quarter. Jan was elected to the city council of Los Altos in 2012 and served two terms, from 2012 to 2020 and as Mayor in 2015 and 2020. She served on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District from 2013 to February 2017. She earned a BS in civil engineering and an MBA, both from Stanford University. Jan is a registered professional engineer in California and a native of the Bay Area.
Ryann Price
DIRECTOR OF PATHFINDER, STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Ryann Price is the Director of Pathfinder at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she leads an initiative that connects Stanford University undergraduate and coterminal master’s students with GSB courses, faculty, and programming. During more than a decade at the GSB, Ryann has designed and led programs that expand access to the school’s ideas and community. She began her work in the Stanford Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, supporting the Startup Garage course, and later redesigned and directed the Stanford Executive Program. Most recently, she oversaw the GSB’s Centennial celebrations and guided the launch of Pathfinder. Prior to Stanford, Ryann was an early employee at HubSpot. She previously chaired the Environmental Quality Commission for the City of Menlo Park. Ryann graduated with honors from Wellesley College and lives in Menlo Park with her family.
Eric Rodríguez
DECARBONIZATION AND COMMUNITY STRATEGIES LEAD, SILICON VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY
Eric is a community organizer, policy expert, and public servant who has dedicated his career to bringing people together to address climate change and make energy affordable for all. He believes that building long-term progress towards change requires deep, collaborative problem-solving, working with all impacted stakeholders in the process. This ability to build coalitions has led to successes leading public campaigns in public transportation, community health, and the 2020 Census, where his canvassing leadership contributed to the City of San Jose having the highest census count among major U.S. cities. Eric currently serves as the Decarbonization and Community Strategies Lead at Silicon Valley Clean Energy, where he works with local leaders and community groups to prepare for a transition towards a sustainable energy future. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Philosophy and Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Juan Salazar
DIRECTOR OF LOCAL POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, META
Juan travels around the country to provide state and local government officials with tips and best practices on how to use Facebook to communicate more effectively with the public. Juan also works with the Meta Diversity Team to encourage women and people of color into careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Prior to joining Meta, Juan was a Program Manager for Growth Sector, Inc. where he developed education/workforce development pathway programs across various California community colleges. Juan focused on increasing the participation, support, and success of Latinx and African American students in the field of Engineering and STEM education.
Mitch Slomiak, Board Vice-Chair
FORMER MENLO PARK ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSIONER,
CONSULTING CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mitch Slomiak was a founding leader and long-time Co-Chair of Menlo Park’s Green Ribbon Citizens’ Committee in 2007, supporting the research and creation of a substantial set of climate action recommendations to the City Council that involved over 130 participants. Mitch also served on Menlo Park’s Environmental Quality Commission from 2008 to 2015, including two terms as Chairman, with primary focus on developing and supporting the city’s Climate Action Plan. In his professional career, Mitch was CFO for two emerging companies and has served as a Consulting CFO for numerous growth companies over the past 18 years, including several cleantech startups. Mitch also recently served as President of the Board of Directors for the Congregation Etz Chayim in Palo Alto.
Violet Wulf-Saena
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CLIMATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
Violet has served as an international climate change expert for over 10 years, and has worked with various groups in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island States (SIDS) to protect communities from the impacts of climate change. Violet’s dedication to elevating community leadership and response to environmental justice is rooted from her lived experiences in the South-Pacific. She now works in the Bay Area in partnership with the government sector, research institutions, and community-based organizations, building community capacity to respond to climate change and sea-level rise. Violet has a Master’s degree from Duke University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. She also has several Postgraduate Diplomas.
Emeritus Board Members
Hilary Bates
ARCHITECT, HILARY BATES ARCHITECTURE
Hilary is a CA licensed architect with over 25 years of of experience working on solo and collaborative design projects in the Bay Area. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Yale University and upon graduation moved to Lilongwe, Malawi where she worked as an architect with the United States Peace Corps. Hilary returned to the U.S. to attend the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned a Masters of Architecture.
Hilary Bates Architecture was founded in 1998 and has had as its primary focus the development of high-end residential projects. In 2015, to address issues of sustainability in building, she became a credentialed LEED Green Associate through the US Green Building Council and then later completed a professional program in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies through Stanford University. In 2021 Hilary was selected to serve on the Town of Woodside’s Architectural and Site Review Board, and volunteers on the San Mateo County AIA Committee on the Environment.
Susan Bell
PRINCIPAL, SUSAN BELL AND ASSOCIATES
Susan Bell provides strategic counsel to private philanthropies and nonprofit organizations to address environmental and social issues. She is also Managing Director of the Water Funder Initiative, a collaborative effort to activate promising water solutions through strategic philanthropic investments in the U.S., starting in the West. Susan served as Vice President of The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for over twelve years. Her career includes work in strategic planning, development, and communications at Stanford University, the Sierra Club, and Northwestern University. Susan is Chair of the National Audubon Society, board member of the McCall MacBain Foundation, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Water Foundation.
Chris DeCardy
PRESIDENT, HEINZ ENDOWMENTS
Chris DeCardy completed two terms on the Menlo Park Environmental Quality Commission, where he focused on climate change and water management issues. He also served on the City of Menlo Park’s Planning Commission, and has been active in his community for several decades. Chris has worked on climate change issues throughout his professional career in running an environmental policy and advocacy non-profit in Washington, DC and as Vice President and Director of Programs at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
Brent Harris
DIRECTOR, HEAD OF GOVERNANCE, META
Brent helped author the Redstone Strategies Report for Menlo Spark. In the process, he became a major supporter of Menlo Spark, donating significant personal time. After moving to the Willows neighborhood of Menlo Park with his wife and two dogs, he joined our Advisory Board. Before joining Meta, Brent led the California office of Redstone Strategy Group, where he provided guidance on strategy and policy advocacy to several of the nation’s leading foundations and philanthropists. Brent was also the vice president for operations at ClimateWorks Foundation. Prior to ClimateWorks, Brent served as counsel to the Presidential Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. Earlier in his career, he was a fellow at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Matt James
SENIOR COUNSELOR, GMMB
Matt James is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of leadership, deal-making and project management for high-level for-profit and non-profit organizations. Responsible for many high-impact communications and media projects, highly effective fundraiser, and known for high-leverage partnerships. Founder of successful non-profit and for-profit organizations and initiatives, experienced board member, published author and public speaker.
As co-founder of Next Generation, Matt oversaw a team of professionals who promoted solutions to two of the biggest challenges confronting the next generation of Americans: the risk of dangerous climate change, and the threat of diminished prospects for children and families. Prior to co-founding Next Generation, Matt was an integral part of the Menlo Park-based Kaiser Family Foundation’s leadership team for 20 years.