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Meet our Team

Annie Leonard, Co-Director

Annie has dedicated nearly two decades to investigating and organizing on environmental health and justice issues. Prior to creating and releasing The Story of Stuff in December 2007, she worked with the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption, GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives), Health Care Without Harm, Essential Action and Greenpeace International. She currently serves on the boards of GAIA and Public Citizen, and has previously served on the boards of the Public Citizen, Grassroots Recycling Network, Environmental Health Fund, Global Greengrants India and Greenpeace India. Annie’s first book—The Story of Stuff—was published by Free Press (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) in March 2010. Please contact Renée Shade (below) for booking or appointment information.

Read more about Annie’s story here.

Michael O’Heaney, Co-Director

Michael brings over fifteen years experience as an advocate, fundraiser and consultant to his role as Co-Director. As the Project’s lead program developer and fundraiser, Michael focuses on providing the over 300,000 members of the Story of Stuff community with the tailored content and tools they need to engage in collective learning and social change efforts. Prior to joining The Story of Stuff Project, Michael developed fundraising and communications strategies for environmental, civil rights, reproductive justice and media reform organizations as the principal of Channing Way Consulting. He also served as the Development Director of two San Francisco Bay Area-based advocacy organizations—Global Exchange and Pacific Environment. He can be reached at michael@storyofstuff.org

Christina M. Samala, Director of Online Strategy & Media

Before joining the team at The Story of Stuff Project, Christina spent nearly a decade as a creative and marketing consultant for social-impact organizations. At the project, Christina utilizes her diverse background in business, entrepreneurship, technology and visual arts to develop and manage the project’s web properties and craft our online strategies. Christina’s strong and unique skills have facilitated the rapid growth of our online communities and social media networks. Oh, and did we mention she’s a world-class DJ? You can reach her at christina@storyofstuff.org.

Allison Cook, Director of Special Projects

Allison designs the media, outreach and advocacy strategies for all our movies, most recently for The Story of Citizens United v. FEC and The Story of Broke. The Project’s longest serving staff person, Allison managed the production of several successful offline learning tools, including a curriculum for high school students and a study guide for faith communities. Prior to joining the Story of Stuff Project team, Allison worked with the Sustainability Funders workgroup and the Funders Network on Transforming the Global Economy. She also currently volunteers as a medic with the Berkeley Free Clinic.  Allison can be reached at allison@storyofstuff.org.

Renée Shade, Director of Operations

Renée joined our staff in 2010 following a successful two years at RE-AMP, a network of non-profits and foundations working on climate change and energy policy in the upper Midwest. Prior to RE-AMP, Renée worked in the mortgage industry in New York City. Though lucrative, Renée decided to move west to pursue her long-held desire to work in the sustainability movement. She brings her tremendous organization and office management skills to the project’s Berkeley office. She can be reached at renee@storyofstuff.org.

Naomi Sultana Young, Development Associate

The newest member of our team, Naomi is a lifelong environmentalist, Appalachian Trail through-hiker and former actor. Since 2003 Naomi has raised funds from a variety of sources for Bay Area non-profits ranging from the San Francisco Conservation Corps and the Jack London Aquatic Center to the Mind Body Awareness Project and Solar Richmond. At the Story of Stuff, Naomi will design and implement fund raising strategies that nurture relationships with prospective and current donors and funders while furthering our mission. She can be reached at naomi@storyofstuff.org.

Bill Walker, Communications Director

In Bill’s first career he was a roving correspondent for newspapers including The Denver Post and The Sacramento Bee. He joined the environmental movement as a press officer for Greenpeace in San Francisco, later heading the organization’s national news bureau in Washington, DC. He served as communications director for the California League of Conservation Voters before opening the California office of Environmental Working Group, where he became vice president for the West Coast. Since 2009 he has been a strategist for a number of organizations including Earthworks and the Breast Cancer Fund. At the Story of Stuff Project, Bill handles media relations, including interview requests, and produces our monthly podcast series, The Good Stuff. He can be reached at bill@storyofstuff.org.

 

In addition to this core team, the Project is supported by our creative partners at Free Range Studios and technology consultants at Groundwire. Jodi Solomon Speakers manages Annie Leonard’s public appearances. Our podcast, The Good Stuff, is produced in the studios of YouthRadio in Oakland, CA. Our faith-based study program was developed with GreenFaith and our educational curriculum for high school students was created by Facing the Future. The Story of Stuff Project is fiscally-sponsored by San Francisco’s Tides Center.

Our Project is supported and guided by Advisory and Community Boards composed of respected experts on various aspects of the materials economy.

» Advisory Board

» Community Board