The Iowa Environmental Council was pleased to announce Marian Riggs Gelb as the new Executive Director, in May 2007. Marian quickly began learning about the Council and making her mark, including being appointed to represent the Council on the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council.
"Public awareness of environmental issues has grown considerably in Iowa in the last few years; more and more people want to know what their community leaders are going to do to protect our precious natural resources. The Iowa Environmental Council works with leaders to find non-partisan policy solutions that clean up and protect our air, soil and water. And now—with the public looking for solutions to the most pressing issue of our time: global warming—the Council is particularly poised to successfully advocate for non-partisan energy solutions," says Marian.
In the late 1970s, Marian Riggs Gelb worked as an analyst in the Iowa Legislative Fiscal Bureau. In the early 1980’s, she moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue her MBA in Finance at George Washington University. During that time she worked on the staff of Senator Alan Dixon. From 1985 to 1991, Marian served as Vice President of the commercial loan department, of Bank 2000, in McLean, Virginia. More recently, she has been a consultant to Growing Green Communities, the REAP Alliance and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Marian also serves as Vice-Chair of the Des Moines Park and Recreation Board, of which she has been a member since 2001. She is a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Energy Conservation and Environmental Enhancement, and Chairperson, Urban Conservation Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of the Des Moines Park and Recreation Board. In 2006, she was appointed to sit on the North River Basin Study Steering Committee and appointed to the Downtown Des Moines Planning Project Steering Committee. Ms. Gelb is a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Board for the outreach program of the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center at the University of Iowa. In 2007, Ms. Gelb was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council and elected by the Council to serve as secretary.
Susan Heathcote, Water Program Director
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
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.
Annie Beaman , Water Program Assistant
Annie Beaman recently moved home to Iowa and joined the Council after completing her legal studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. As a law student, Annie focused her academic work on environmental law, while also distinguishing herself as a community leader and coalition builder in issues of economic justice--particularly foreclosure and unemployment. In recognition of this work, Annie received the Bernard Berk Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Helping the Economically Disadvantaged. She also brings a lifetime of agricultural experience and a passion for land stewardship, as she was born and raised on a cattle farm in Madison County.
Barbra Jotzke, Development Director
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 Hoogeveen, Bookkeeper/Office Manager
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
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.
The Iowa Environmental Council was pleased to announce Marian Riggs Gelb as the new Executive Director, in May 2007. Marian quickly began learning about the Council and making her mark, including being appointed to represent the Council on the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council. 
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.
Annie Beaman recently moved home to Iowa and joined the Council after completing her legal studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. As a law student, Annie focused her academic work on environmental law, while also distinguishing herself as a community leader and coalition builder in issues of economic justice--particularly foreclosure and unemployment. In recognition of this work, Annie received the Bernard Berk Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Helping the Economically Disadvantaged. She also brings a lifetime of agricultural experience and a passion for land stewardship, as she was born and raised on a cattle farm in Madison County.
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.
