Staff

From our talented and hardworking staff, to our dedicated board and passionate volunteers, the Iowa Environmental Council’s greatest asset is its people.

Board of Directors

View our Board of Directors 

Staff

Contact info for staff may be found in their individual profiles.

Passionate about protecting Iowa’s environment? Join our team. 

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  Nathaniel Baer

  Energy Program Specialist

  Nathaniel joined the Council in 2007. He researches and advocates for policies to expand solar, wind, transmission and energy efficiency, and coordinates the Council’s coalition of allies on e...

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  Angelisa Belden

  Director of Communications

  Angelisa has returned to her native Iowa to join the Council after 10 years in Chicago, where she most recently worked in membership and marketing for WTTW, Chicago’s PBS station. Angelisa gre...

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  Jordan Bles

  Director of Fundraising and Development

  Jordan Bles joins IEC from his most recent position as the Director of Development for the National Benevolent Association, supporting its mission to “create communities of compassion and care...

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  Ingrid Gronstal Anderson

  Water Program Director

  Ingrid Gronstal Anderson is Water Program Director with the Iowa Environmental Council. She has many years of experience in water policy, most recently serving as the Compliance Specialist at the Un...

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  Steve Guyer

  Energy and Climate Policy Specialist

  Steve Guyer joins IEC as the Energy and Climate Policy Specialist, bringing years of experience and leadership in the energy field. Since 2008 Steve has owned and lead GWA International, a solar ins...

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  Kitty Jacobson

  Finance and Operations Administrator

  Kitty joined the council in October 2016, and oversees the organization’s financial accounting and reporting, including budgets, grants and payroll. Her position also includes the management o...

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  Kerri Johannsen

  Energy Program Director

  Kerri Johannsen is Energy Program Director with the Iowa Environmental Council. She has over a decade of experience in energy policy, most recently serving as the Council’s Manager of Governme...

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  Megan McDowell

  Communications and Advocacy Assistant

  Megan joined IEC as the Communications Assistant in April 2020, and is now in a Communications and Advocacy Assistant role, working with the water program. Megan is a Navy veteran who, thanks to the...

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  Jordan Oster

  Energy Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator

  Jordan Oster is the Energy Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator with the Iowa Environmental Council. He joined the council in 2019 after previously consulting for the organization. Jordan is an e...

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  Paige Penningroth

  Clean Energy Field Organizer

  Paige joined IEC at the start of 2020 as a Clean Energy Field Organizer. A Des Moines native and current Drake University student, she is working towards a B.A. in Environmental Sustainability...

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  Raihan Amir Rashidi

  Clean Energy Field Organizer

  Raihan joined the Council in 2019 as the Clean Energy Field Organizer. Born and raised in Malaysia, she has traveled to many places and moved to California for college before residing in Des Moines,...

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  Michael Schmidt

  Staff Attorney

  Michael Schmidt returned to Iowa and joined the Council in 2019. He most recently worked as a staff attorney for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, where he focused on clean water and mining is...

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  Jennifer Terry

  Executive Director

  Jennifer joined the Council in 2017. She returned to the Iowa Environmental Council, having previously led the Council’s agricultural water policy efforts. While previously at the Council, she...

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  Alicia Vasto

  Water Policy and Advocacy Specialist

  Alicia joined the Council in 2019. She grew up in Adel, Iowa. She previously worked as the director of the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition, where she supported environmental educators and adva...

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• Kristen Weaverling

  Clean Energy Field Organizer

  Kristen Weaverling joined the Iowa Environmental Council in 2020 as a Clean Energy Field Organizer. In her prior role, she spent several years implementing energy efficiency programs for small busin...

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