Chapter Office Staff
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Gretchen Waddell Barwick (she/her) Gretchen is a native-Missourian, feminist, parent, tree-hugger, voracious reader, animal lover, and terrible knitter. Gretchen has a Master of Social Work from Washington University and has been working as an advocate for progressive action for more than a decade in Missouri. Gretchen started as a Grassroots Organizer with the Sierra Club, Missouri Chapter and now serves as the Chapter Director. Gretchen oversees all the work of the Sierra Club, Missouri Chapter in our state and works with our local groups, volunteer leaders, staff, and national team members to explore, enjoy, and protect our state. |
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Billy Davies Billy serves as a Senior Field Organizer for the Missouri Chapter based in the Kansas City Office. He has been a lead in supporting Chapter volunteers' efforts to help cities transition to 100% clean energy and expand parks and greenspace for future generations. He also works closely with the Beyond Coal Campaign and community partners to win coal plant closures and lead canvassing initiatives to build connections and power between neighbors. After law school in the nation's capital, Billy helped organize resistance to proposed fracked-gas pipelines with Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter and Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, and he has been involved in community advocacy since 2010. A native Midwesterner and avid outdoorsperson, Billy enjoys exploring state and national parks with his wife, Megan, daughter, Maeve, and puppy, Ponto, which further inspires his commitment to the movement protecting them. |
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Marisa Frazier Marisa is based in Springfield and leads grassroots advocacy efforts to protect public lands and clean air, water and wildlife throughout Missouri and progress us towards our goal of protecting 30% of lands by 2030. Her work has led to the protection of 4 new state parks as well as mobilizing thousands of members to support a more protective management plan at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Eleven Point Scenic River, and Mark Twain National Forest, and better protections for communities from concentrated animal feeding operations. When she’s not working, you’ll find her on (or in) one of our Ozark streams, trail running, teaching yoga, or volunteering at regenerative organic farms. |
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Mahala Pruett-Pittman Mahala Pruett-Pittman was born and raised in Festus, Missouri. She has been working in organizing since 2019, doing movement work in a variety of roles for multiple progressive non-profit organizations. Mahala studied at Southeast Missouri State University, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies including areas of Musical Theatre, Multimedia Journalism, Guitar Performance, and Fashion Entrepreneurship. Outside of work, Mahala enjoys singing and writing music, creating multimedia art, reading, and hanging with her cats Marnie and Fang! |
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Ashton Kuehnel Ashton Kuehnel is a STL Metro live-long resident (minus a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain). She studied Social Work at Saint Louis University, graduating and completing her macro-level practicum with the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter in May 2019. She was hired as a grassroots organizer for the Chapter shortly after she graduated-- coordinating our state's democracy program and regional clean energy and environmental justice programs until May 2023. Now, Ashton supports our team's operational, digital, and administrative needs as the Missouri Chapter Coordinator. In her free time, she is enjoying the STL food and drink scene with friends. |
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National Staff in Missouri
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Jenn DeRose (she/her) Jenn DeRose is an equity-focused climate activist, sustainability enthusiast, outdoor adventurer, music lover, cyclist, gardener, and proud St. Louisian. She resides in the Bevo neighborhood of South St. Louis. |
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Andy Heaslet (he/him/his) Andy has been an activist, organizer, and entrepreneur and takes to heart the Sierra Club's missions to Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the planet as he hikes, bikes, pedals, and paddles his way throughout the St Louis region and beyond. Andy runs the Sierra Club's intranet, the Campfire Community, and helps with other communications tools and projects for the national club. Andy is also a steward and the secretary for the Progressive Workers Union, which supports and represents Sierra Club staff. |
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Andy Knott Andy is a self-described “policy wonk” committed to protecting the planet and the people living on it. He started at Sierra Club in 2013 and currently leads the Beyond Coal Campaign in the Central Region. Andy previously worked as an environmental scientist at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, as air and energy policy director at the Hoosier Environmental Council, as environmental stewardship director at the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and as executive director of the Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay. He enjoys hiking in the awe-inspiring Missouri Ozarks, star gazing, and live music. |
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Brian Smith I came to movement organizing through my volunteer work with Missouri Jobs with Justice. I knew that I had to make it my full-time calling during the fight to get the Affordable Care Act passed in 2009-10. I joined Missouri Rural Crisis Center in 2013 as a Healthcare Organizer and then moved into fighting factory farms for them. This really opened my eyes to the environmental threats posed by large industries and my passion for climate and environmental deepened and motivated me to join the wonderful team at the Sierra Club! |
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Ed Smith |