We’re reframing the narrative around energy and equipping people to take effective, meaningful action in their homes and communities.

Generation180’s founding was prompted by a growing realization that we are at a tipping pointin America's transition to clean energy. The convergence of macro trends across the power, commercial, finance, and political sectors, as well as the arrival of rooftop solar power and electric vehicles to the mass market, have made it possible for our generation to fundamentally change our direction. We can now dramatically accelerate the arrival of a 100% clean energy future. Generation180 has a Joint Plan of Work with Virginia Organizing, a 501c3 non-profit organization that accepts grants and donations on behalf of Generation180.

The Team

  • Bri Graves

    Bri Graves

    Designer

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    Bri uses design to envision a better and cleaner future. Her background in design thinking, communication, and illustration enables her to create projects with a purpose. At the end of the day, she often trades in her computer and mouse for a canvas and paintbrush.

  • David Hawkins

    David Hawkins

    Director of Philanthropy

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    Driven by curiosity, with a passion for art, education, and culture, David is delighted to be part of accelerating the local, national, and global transition to clean energy at Generation180. Outside of the office, you’ll find him in his printmaking/painting studio, foraging for mushrooms in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and taking a swim with family and friends.

  • Esteban Gast

    Esteban Gast

    Comedian-in-residence

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    Esteban Gast is a former educator turned entertainer and comedian. He is Colombian, was raised in Puerto Rico and Illinois, and lives in LA. He is co-creator and co-host of Identity at Play, a Spotify Original podcast. He was the host of Hyundai Highways, a travel series using only an electric car. He was the star of Jungletown, a TV show airing on VICELAND. He has been profiled in WBEZ, Huffington Post, and VoyageLA.

  • Jessica Lass

    Jessica Lass

    Sr. Communications Advisor

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    Jessica is a communications professional dedicated to uplifting issues that affect human and planetary health. She brings 20 years of experience working with government, corporate, tech start-up, and non-profit teams in the climate and clean energy fields across the U.S. You can usually find her enjoying the Northern California great outdoors.

  • Jamie Wertz

    Jamie Wertz

    Communications Manager

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    Jamie is excited to work with the team towards a just and equitable future for her generation. She holds a B.A. in Global Sustainability and Foreign Affairs from UVA and has a strong passion for both social and environmental justice issues. She currently resides in Lander, Wyoming, and spends her free time rock climbing and baking.

  • Tish Tablan

    Tish Tablan

    Program Director

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    Tish is passionate about maintaining a healthy planet for all of us. For the past two decades, she has developed sustainability solutions for the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. As a parent and former public school teacher, she enjoys helping schools leverage clean energy as a tool for improving education.

  • Kay Campbell

    Kay Campbell

    Director of Communications

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    Kay has more than 20 years’ experience using communications to drive social change, with deep expertise in media outreach and strategic communications. She’s worked on a range of issues – from environmental sustainability to public health and health equity – in the nonprofit, corporate, and federal government sectors.

  • Bristal Upchurch

    Bristal Upchurch

    Assistant Designer

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    Bristal is excited to make a difference through design. With a background in graphic design and an interest in biology, she aims to create visual experiences that bring purpose to her creativity. In her free time you can find her at your nearest concert venue or geocaching with her dog.

  • Julie Jones

    Julie Jones

    Director of Operations

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    Julie has extensive experience as a leader in innovative nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. She specializes in building unique coalitions to advance solutions to today’s environmental challenges. Born and raised on her family’s farm on the Moormans River, Julie loves being outside and eating veggies straight from the garden.

  • Kristen Keim

    Kristen Keim

    Program Manager

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    An avid humanitarian and environmentalist, Kristen uses her passions and experiences as a 7th grade science teacher and nonprofit leader to work towards a vision of a healthier and more sustainable K-12 school system for all. She enjoys working with passionate individuals and spending her time outdoors with her two dogs.

  • Nessa Stoltzfus Barge

    Nessa Stoltzfus Barge

    Director of Engagement

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    Nessa specializes in engaging and supporting the US Public to take action and inspiring volunteers to get their community involved. She is a strong believer in the power of people to build movements and make change and enjoys enabling others to learn and grow. Nessa lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and loves exploring its parks, mountains, and cities.

  • Shakaya Cooper

    Shakaya Cooper

    Program Associate

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    Shakaya is excited to grow Generation180's network of EV Ambassadors by organizing engaging activities. Her background in outreach and recruitment enables her to develop effective relationships with a diverse mix of stakeholders. Shakaya enjoys spending time with her family, baking desserts, and traveling.

  • Jeremy Chang

    Jeremy Chang

    Sr. Marketing Manager

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    Jeremy is a proud father and husband who is passionate about working towards a cleaner, sustainable, and more equitable future. He has 20 years of digital marketing experience working in the music, fashion, luxury and nonprofit industries. When he’s not working, you’ll find him spending time with his family, reading, and enjoying nature.

  • Shannon Crooker

    Shannon Crooker

    Pennsylvania Director

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    Shannon has focused on restoring the health of our communities and the earth since separating from the military in 2007. She has fully immersed herself in sustainability, from green building consulting, brownfield remediation to energy finance in Pennsylvania. She’s always looking for opportunities to get outdoors and exploring all the beautiful waterfalls across the Northeast with her family.

  • Stuart Gardner

    Stuart Gardner

    Program Director

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    Stuart is a car guy who is passionate about creating sustainable and healthy communities. Prior to joining Generation180 he led go-to-market strategy, product development, and launch campaign planning for both EV and ICE vehicles in the automotive industry. With a name like "Gardner" - it's no surprise he has a green thumb, and can be found on most weekends tending his garden, bees, chickens, and backyard vineyard.

  • Wendy Philleo

    Wendy Philleo

    Executive Director

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    Wendy is a nonprofit leader, philanthropic advisor, and social entrepreneur with a deep interest in social change and innovation. She brings over 20 years of experience in sustainability and conservation both domestically and internationally. She can often be found out enjoying nature and exploring new places with her husband, two children, and German shepherd.

  • Kerrie Carfagno

    Kerrie Carfagno

    Senior Fellow

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    Professor Carfagno teaches management communication, with an emphasis on communication strategy, business writing, public speaking, and communication skills in relation to leadership, ethics, and corporate social responsibility. She is particularly interested in studying the impact of social media and other technologies on crisis communications and leadership, which is the focus of her research and the subject of her most recent national and international academic presentations.

Advisors

  • Bevin Etienne

    Bevin Etienne

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    Bevin Etienne is a professor at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. Dr. Etienne is an expert in the areas of sustainability, entrepreneurship, energy, social innovation and ESG (environment, social, and corporate governance). He conducts research to identify industry trends and technological advancements that present business opportunities that satisfies the social, environmental and economic requirements for sustainable development. He has over 17 years of experience in the development of renewable and clean energy technologies and their deployment.

  • Cale Jaffe

    Cale Jaffe

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    Cale Jaffe is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, and Director of the School’s Environmental and Regulatory Law Clinic. Prior to his appointment at the UVA, Jaffe directed the Virginia office of the Southern Environmental Law Center where he was part of the team that won a unanimous victory before the Supreme Court of the US in Environmental Defense v. Duke Energy, a Clean Air Act case.

  • Jason Halbert

    Jason Halbert

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    Jason is the Deputy Director at The Oak Hill Fund in Charlottesville, VA, where he manages the foundation and grant programs focused on climate change, renewable energy, and other issue areas. Prior to joining The Oak Hill Fund, Jason managed grassroots grantmaking at the W. Alton Jones Foundation. He is former Chairman of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority and once directed the Appalachian Restoration Campaign.

  • John Haydock

    John Haydock

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    John is a strategic marketing consultant and active angel investor. He was previously President of Plow & Hearth and held senior marketing roles with Burt’s Bees, Cadbury Schweppes, and Unilever. He is the Board Chair of the nation’s leading river conservation group, American Rivers. As a Generation180 volunteer, John authored a clean energy resolution passed by the Albemarle Virginia Board of Supervisors in 2018.

  • Jonathan Baker

    Jonathan Baker

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    Jonathan has been involved in the renewable energy space for over a decade as a co-founder of HelioSage and a lead investor in Greenlight Energy. Prior to getting involved in energy, he was the Vice President and Managing Director at the Advisory Board Company and its spin-off, the Corporate Executive Board Company. Jonathan is also active in child welfare issues in the former Soviet Union as a co-founder of the Firefly Children’s Network.

  • Julia Verville

    Julia Verville

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    Julia is Program Director of the Tilia Fund which is a partnership of private donors who focus their grantmaking on reducing the threat of global climate change, advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy. She is an ecologist with experience in academia, philanthropy, and the non-profit sector. Her work has focused on global environmental change, the interface between science and public policy, and science education.

  • Rhea Suh

    Rhea Suh

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    Rhea is President & CEO of the Marin Community Foundation. Suh is former President of NRDC, former Assistant Secretary for policy, management, and budget at the US Dept of Interior under Obama with a career in environmental grantmaking. Suh is an expert in environmental and public health solutions with a passion for clean energy. She is a media commentator making frequent appearances in the NYT, LA Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, NPR, and other outlets.

  • Sandy Reisky

    Sandy Reisky

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    After spending nearly two decades in the clean energy business creating several successful companies commercializing utility-scale wind, solar, and wave energy, Sandy founded Generation180 to inspire and equip individuals to join in the transition to clean energy.

  • Sergio Knaebel

    Sergio Knaebel

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    Sergio is Vice President of the Sandler Foundation. He served previously as program officer for the Gulf of California program at the Packard Foundation. He is also vice-chair of the Biodiversity Funders Group. He has a Masters in Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management.

  • Val Newcomb

    Val Newcomb

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    Val is AVP of Marketing and Communications at Urban Grid Solar. Val has a 20-year background activating marketing programs for top brands and global non-profits in the public education space. Her passion for startups and doing good work for good causes (with fine folks) is what led her to Generation180.