To contact a staff member by phone, dial 515-244-1194 and the individual's extension, listed below. You may also e-mail a member of the staff by using the format lastname@iaenvironment.org.
Ralph Rosenberg, Executive Director (ext. 201)
Ralph Rosenberg became the Iowa Environmental Council’s executive director in August, 2012. Prior to joining the Council, Rosenberg led the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, a state agency, as it expanded its outreach activities, established a new legal clinic, and successfully secured significant new federal funding. Prior to that, Rosenberg directed the Coalition for Family and Children’s Services in Iowa, a membership association of 32 public and private agencies serving at-risk children and families. He also co-founded a statewide nonpartisan institute for emerging leaders in all three branches of Iowa’s government.
As a member of the Iowa legislature, Rosenberg was a leader in a bipartisan group of lawmakers who successfully enacted a series of landmark bills, including Iowa’s Groundwater Protection Act and a major energy efficiency law, both of which served as models for other states.
His work on energy and environmental issues earned him accolades from the National Center for Policy Alternatives. He has been recognized by the Council of State Governments for his work establishing innovative state and local partnerships, and received legislator of the year honors from the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Izaak Walton League, and the Wildlife Society.
Susan Heathcote, Water Program Director (ext. 205)
Since 1996 Susan has provided the technical leadership on many of the Council's issues, including water quality, water monitoring, agricultural drainage wells, livestock manure management, and Iowa's hazardous site program. Before joining the Council, she worked 11 years as a petroleum geophysicist for Mobil Oil Corporation in California, Alaska, and Norway, and six years as an environmental consultant for the Howard R. Green Company in Iowa. She received her undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Arkansas and her master's degree in geology and geophysics from the University of Iowa.
Nathaniel Baer , Energy Program Director (ext. 206)
Nathaniel joined the Council, in July 2007, from Environment Iowa, an extension of Iowa PIRG—Public Interest Research Group. There he successfully advocated for new policies in Iowa to address global warming, boost clean energy, and improve energy efficiency programs.
Nathaniel has a JD from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he graduated with high honors and was awarded the Michelle Bennett Client Representation Award and the Public Interest Law Foundation Grant. During law school, he represented nonprofit organizations on formation and management and won asylum cases for several clients from east Africa. Prior to law school, Nathaniel managed a large organic farm in southern Minnesota and worked as a policy advocate and organizer on affordable housing issues.
John Crotty, Water Program Assistant (ext. 211)
John Crotty is a lifelong Iowan and a recent graduate of Drake University Law School. As a law student, John focused his academic work on environmental law and gained experience with the legislative and regulatory processes by interning at the state capitol and working as a legal clerk at the Department of Natural Resources. At the Council, John works for the adoption and implementation of appropriate rules, legislation, and voluntary actions to meet water quality standards and to ensure the health and safety of Iowa’s water resources.
Barbra Jotzke, Development Director (ext. 202)
Barbra returned to her hometown of Des Moines in August of 2007 to direct the fundraising efforts for the Iowa Environmental Council.
She received her M.A. in philosophy from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in June 1998. For the last four years she has worked for the Chicago Foundation for Women where she coordinated outreach, special events and the annual fund. Prior to the Foundation she spent five years in the annual fund department at Lake Forest College. Barbra has extensive experience in securing diverse funding sources and developing a broad base of supporters.
Her passion for fundraising for advocacy rises from a belief in the importance of working for true solutions rather than short term fixes. Barbra brings her skills, vision and leadership to create a sustainable funding base for the Iowa Environmental Council.
Vicki is from Des Moines and came to the Iowa Environmental Council in May of 2007, with 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, payroll, bookkeeping, and customer service. She holds a business administration bachelor’s degree with financial emphasis from Morningside College, in Sioux City, Iowa. Vicki juggles taking care of her one-year old son with her work at the Council. You can find her at the Council on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Matt Hauge, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH (ext. 210)
Matt Hauge joined the Council full time in November, 2011, after serving as an intern during the summer of 2010 and coordinating the Council's annual conference in fall 2011. Matt earned his BA in journalism and American studies from the University of Iowa in 2008 and a master's degree in public affairs (with a nonprofit management specialization) from the University of Missouri in 2011.
At the Council, Matt's role is to develop positive relationships with the organization's many partners, including its members and member organizations. He also works to build public awareness of the Council's mission by planning special events and working with the media.
_____________________________________
INTERNS
Erica Blair
Erica Blair is a recent graduate from the University of Iowa with a BFA in intermedia, certificate in sustainability, and minor in Spanish. For her thesis project, she completed a short documentary exploring the complex relationships between industrial agriculture and water. Erica's work with the Council involves raising awareness about Iowa's water quality problems by highlighting the stories of local Iowans.
Sheila Knoploh-Odole
Sheila Knoploh-Odole is a 3rd year law student at Drake University who will be graduating in May with a focus on Environmental Law, Sustainability, Agricultural Law and Legislative Practices. Prior to moving to Des Moines for school, Sheila lived in Iowa City where she received a Master's in Urban & Regional Planning. Sheila's guiding vision is to make Iowa as sustainable and resiliant as humanly possible in light of climate change and the challenges we face in the decades ahead. As a single mom of two active children, Sheila finds balancing school and home life reponsibilities to be challenging, but also a source of motivation for taking action to create a cleaner environment and better world. Her hope is to find a position in state or local government that would make working on that goal possible.
Kim Scherber
Kim Scherber is an undergraduate student at Iowa State University pursing a BS in Civil Engineering with an environmental emphasis. Kim compiles research articles about coal pile leachate infiltration and runoff reports for the Council.
APRIL SIGMUND
April Sigmund is currently a senior at Simpson College majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications and minoring in graphic design. April is also a member of Simpson’s track and field team, and is the head designer of The Simpsonian, the school’s student newspaper. April’s main project with the council this semester will be her contributions to a clean water advocacy campaign.
The Iowa Environmental Council offers internships on a rolling basis (i.e. we don't have formal application deadlines, and we set the terms internships on a case-by-case basis). We encourage students who are committed to environmental protection to contact us at iecmail@iaenvironment.org with a resume and cover letter explaining their interest in our work. If we have a project matching your interest that is a good fit, we will offer you the opportunity to work with us. Internships are unpaid, but you will gain real-world job experience working with leaders in Iowa's environmental community.
Since 1996 Susan has provided the technical leadership on many of the Council's issues, including water quality, water monitoring, agricultural drainage wells, livestock manure management, and Iowa's hazardous site program. Before joining the Council, she worked 11 years as a petroleum geophysicist for Mobil Oil Corporation in California, Alaska, and Norway, and six years as an environmental consultant for the Howard R. Green Company in Iowa. She received her undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Arkansas and her master's degree in geology and geophysics from the University of Iowa.
Nathaniel joined the Council, in July 2007, from Environment Iowa, an extension of Iowa PIRG—Public Interest Research Group. There he successfully advocated for new policies in Iowa to address global warming, boost clean energy, and improve energy efficiency programs.
John Crotty is a lifelong Iowan and a recent graduate of Drake University Law School. As a law student, John focused his academic work on environmental law and gained experience with the legislative and regulatory processes by interning at the state capitol and working as a legal clerk at the Department of Natural Resources. At the Council, John works for the adoption and implementation of appropriate rules, legislation, and voluntary actions to meet water quality standards and to ensure the health and safety of Iowa’s water resources.
Barbra returned to her hometown of Des Moines in August of 2007 to direct the fundraising efforts for the Iowa Environmental Council.
Vicki is from Des Moines and came to the Iowa Environmental Council in May of 2007, with 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, payroll, bookkeeping, and customer service. She holds a business administration bachelor’s degree with financial emphasis from Morningside College, in Sioux City, Iowa. Vicki juggles taking care of her one-year old son with her work at the Council. You can find her at the Council on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Kim Scherber