Over the last 25 years, Vanessa has worked on policy, education, and community engagement in international organizations, private corporations, and scrappy nonprofits. In 2020, while retrofitting her own home to net zero, Vanessa realized the importance and challenge of decarbonizing our buildings. With the professionals she met on that journey, Vanessa co-founded Electrify DC as Executive Director.

Vanessa has a law degree from Université de Lausanne, a master’s of laws from University College London, and a master's in business administration from INSEAD. She is quoted in publications such as The Washington Post and The Atlantic. Vanessa lives in DC with her husband and three children. You can find her weeding in Rock Creek Park or on building sites, which are her happy places.

A graduate of McKinley Tech and Howard University, Donna has served the people of the District of Columbia for 38 years, most recently at the DC Department of Health. In 2010, she earned her mark in history as the first medical recipient of the Cafritz Award for Distinguished DC Government Employees. Donna is also the CFO and Vice President of RJ Electric Works, a DC Certified Business Enterprise. She is passionate about leading a workforce that has both technical competence and moral integrity.

Along with her B.S. in nursing, Donna has a master in business administration from Walden University. She considers her greatest accomplishments to be her three awesome and beautiful adult children, and serving as a minister in her DC neighborhood church. 

Julie brings to Electrify DC her comprehensive knowledge of sales and marketing strategy, advertising, and partnership management. Julie led teams at The Washington Post, Watermark Communities, and Yankee Publishing where she launched partnerships with third-party clients including Russia Beyond the Headlines, China Daily, Media Planet, Super Lawyers, Thompson Reuters, Workplace Dynamics, American Law Media, C3, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and served as executive producer of video products for mobile ventures. Clients included Shell Oil, Lincoln, UPS, and the Dairy Management Institute.

A journalism graduate of CU Boulder, her favorite science credit was a course entitled “Man, Nature and Energy” igniting her passion for all things nature and the environment. Julie enjoys skiing, hiking, and cooking for her family and friends and has resided in DC for more than 30 years.

With more than 20 years of experience building impactful digital products, Natasha has worked in technology in the public and private sectors.

She leads strategic efforts that expand, inform, and educate diverse communities at scale. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from UCLA and lives in the District of Columbia with her husband and four children. You can find her traversing Rock Creek Park with their dog while devising ways to minimize our collective carbon footprint.

Christie is a certified project manager with more than 25 years of business analysis, process improvement, and program management experience at top consulting firms. She advised U.S Department of Energy Federal and National Laboratory officials on DOE’s Sustainability Performance Programs.

She earned an Industrial and Systems Engineering degree from Virginia Tech and is certified as a PMP and a LEED Green Associate. Christie lives with her husband and four children in D.C.. She volunteers for DC’s FoodPrints program and enjoys yoga, gardening, hiking, and tennis.

With more years of experience than you have fingers and toes, Jon has a background in technology, process optimisation, automation, problem-solving, and building custom solutions. Having previously helped large corporations, he is now focussed on supporting climate and social organisations to maximize their impact. He makes things work at Electrify DC, while sneaking in British spelling and humour whenever possible.

Jon originates from and lives in Europe.

Robert Shalett leads Electrify DC’s external communications.

Robert's career in marketing and communications includes work at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Psychiatric Association. He has led advocacy and awareness for organizations to advance their visibility and promote their missions.

Robert also worked with several foundations and grantmakers supporting and promoting their programs. He’s held leadership roles at the Council on Foundations and the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. There, he helped launch The Foundation Review, the first peer-reviewed journal of philanthropy.

A published author, Robert graduated from Southern Methodist University with degrees in Advertising and English.

A long-time DC resident, Robert and his wife and kids enjoy hiking, running, swimming, cooking, music, reading for pleasure, and tending to their dog and cat.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Najma's passion lies at the intersection of environmental advocacy and maternal health. Her sustainability journey began during her undergraduate studies where she worked for the Minneapolis Health Department's Environmental Justice Team.

Having recently graduated from her Master’s in Public Health in the Global Health program at George Washington University's Milken Institute of Public Health, Najma is dedicated to expanding her knowledge and skillset. Her current interests lie in addressing the U.S. housing crisis and advocating for the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices.

Born and raised in Northeast DC, Ricardo is an NYU MLK Scholar and Tandon Engineering GLASS Scholar and holds a BS in Sustainable Urban Environments.

He aims to combat urban environmental injustice and socioeconomic issues through local advocacy, community-engaged scholarship, and sustainable urban planning. Ricardo has researched environmental injustice and urban development in NYC's coastal communities, partnering with South Bronx Unite and Columbia University to address flood risks, heat islands, and pollution. He also volunteers with the Bronx River Alliance and worked as a Housing Policy Research and Analysis Intern at NYC's Department of Housing Preservation & Development. He plans to pursue an MUP with a focus on City and Sustainability Planning.