Please see below the biographies for the ten people running for the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter. Their biographies and accompanying photographs are presented in alphabetical order by last name. The six people who are successful will begin their term in 2022.
If you are a member of the Sierra Club, live in Indiana, and are eligible to vote in this election, you will receive a link to the ballot either by email or by mail. Please do take the opportunity to vote and make your voice heard.
If you have any questions, please contact hoosier.chapter@sierraclub.org.
Roxanna Caldwell
Hi. I’m Roxanna Caldwell. I’m a lifelong Hoosier from northern Indiana and I’ve lived in Indianapolis for over 20 years. I currently reside in Garfield Park where I’m expanding my knowledge of growing native flowers. I’ve worked in Non-profit media for over 20 years and recently decided to go back to school to study Environmental Sustainability Policy & Management. The work of the Sierra Club to improve air quality in Indianapolis has been an inspiration for me to pursue the knowledge to do more to support environmental efforts in my own backyard. I want to use the skills I’ve acquired with my work in media communications, events, and fundraising to support the organizations and people doing the good work tackling issues I’m concerned about like, equity, clean energy, air & water. The work of the Sierra Club is making a real difference and to support the purpose mission and strategy as an Executive Committee member is a thrilling opportunity I had to pursue.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
I’m inspired to be an ExCom volunteer by the scope of work and impact I’ve experienced and witnessed coming out of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter. I’m concerned about the consequences from Indiana legislative decisions that threaten environmental conservation of our forests and wetlands, supports the shipping of hazardous coal ash from other states into Indiana, and the lack of investment to encourage converting fossil fuel use to renewable energy sources. The Sierra Club is leading the way to protect our natural resources and I want to help amplify the voice and promote the critical work necessary to make a difference. I will work to support the Indiana Chapter Team and the mission of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter by sharing my time, passion, and community connections to educate and take action to drive meaningful change to protect the beautiful landscapes of our beloved state from the Dunes of Northern Indiana to the Forests of Southern Indiana, and all the unique flora and fauna in between.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
I’m interested in serving on Committees for Communications, Equity, and Political Legislation. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Jeff Chinn
From youth in the Lafayette area, I have enjoyed the outdoors, nature and have been able to blend this interest with my professional career. My youth was filled with the ability to walk the fields and woods surrounding my home and experience the creeks and meadows with friends. In these early days, I built a foundation of the importance of caretaking the environment.
My professional career has allowed me to continue my care for the world into my daily life. During my 30-year career in the engineering and construction industry I have been able to put in place the physical structures that insure a heathy environment. I have been fortunate to lead many critical water and wastewater construction projects that protect the waters of Indiana, the Great Lakes and the Gulf Coast. I have also been involved with air quality projects in many of the power generation faculties in the Midwest, Gulf Coast and along the Eastern Seaboard. My current endeavor is in the development of renewable natural gas from animal waste by use of anerobic digestion.
I believe that I have a unique position in that I have a deep and everlasting care for the environment and have been able to work to enact commercially viable solutions to the environmental challenges. I have been effective in bridging the gap between the desire we have for a healthy future and the commercial needs of today. I hope to bring people from all walks together to actively move toward a brighter future.
I am married to my wife Debbie for over 33 years and am a father of 3 adult ladies who are productive member of the world. I have many hobbies including, golf, history and competitive BBQ. We have been fortunate to have lived in Wisconsin, Texas and have visited throughout the United States. This travel has exposed me to various cultures and lifestyles, and I have grown to see that we have more in common than we often understand.
Please allow me to serve.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
The environment inspires me, and I hope to share this positive experience with future generations.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
As an Executive Committee member, I would be interested in participating and leading Conservation, Energy or Legislative Committees. I feel my background and experiences have positioned me to be productive in these areas.
Paul Fuchs
My name is Paul Fuchs, I’m a young professional living in downtown Indianapolis that graduated from Purdue University in May of 2020 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. I currently work as a Systems Engineer for Rolls-Royce North America, where I’m developing a set of professional skills that can be applied within and outside of the engineering world.
Outside of work, I spend as much time as possible staying active in the outdoors. During the week, I spend plenty of time running, cycling, or bouldering. On weekends, I often find myself rock climbing at Kentucky’s Red River Gorge or other nearby climbing hotspots, hiking & camping at Indiana State Parks, or spending quality time with friends and family. Throughout the year, my girlfriend and I work towards our goal of visiting all 63 US National Parks, a goal that I have achieved one third of. These natural havens are something I have sworn to help protect from human development and climate change, so that future generations may be inspired by them the same way I have.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
My passion for the outdoors has driven my desire to be an ExCom volunteer. While I enjoy my current job, I feel unfulfilled in the amount of work I do to combat social & environmental injustice. Serving as an ExCom volunteer would allow me to pursue that passion more meaningfully. As an ExCom volunteer, I would further Sierra Club’s goals of protecting our natural resources, advocating for pro-environmental policies and lawmaking, and getting people outside to enjoy nature. I’d also work to increase engagement among people with similar passion in Indiana, especially the younger population.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
I would be interested in joining the conservation, political, and outings committees.
David G. Henry
David G. Henry is a government affairs specialist, focusing on improving information sharing among governmental partners. As a government consultant, David has worked with six Federal Cabinet Departments over the years in project management roles. David is also on the teaching faculty at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs - Bloomington, where he developed the security studies minor for the University and teaches courses on Emergency Management and security policy.
David worked in non-governmental associations in Washington, DC. He was the senior policy analyst for homeland security and public safety at the bipartisan National Governors Association during national crises such as H1N1, Hurricane Sandy, and Sandy Hook. David also represented the governors on boards at the National Academies of Science. David began his career in public health for Monroe County, Indiana, serving as the county’s principal public health planner for pandemic influenza, bioterrorism, and preparedness. Concurrently, he was director of the county’s Medical Reserve Corps. He has also been a senior program analyst for pandemic preparedness at the National Association of County and City Health Officials. He was also a Capital City Management Fellow with the Government of the District of Columbia.
Mr. Henry earned a master's degree in public affairs from Indiana University, a bachelor of arts from Baldwin Wallace University and a certifications from the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. He currently serves on the Monroe County Affordable Housing Advisory Commission and is service chair for Bloomington Sunrise Rotary. He is the vice chair of the Monroe County Democratic Party, and frequent visitor to our National Parks with his wife and three boys.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
I like the "doers." Those with the "doer" bug want to know that every hour they give has a meaningful impact. Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter has raised the bar on advocacy for our state. In its embrace of the intersectionality of climate and racial justice, Sierra Club is one of the rare 100-year old organizations in our culture that has evolved and remained relevant in the debate. As a policy wonk, public advocate and parent, my objective is to bring my professional public policy experience in Washington, strategic planning and government consulting experience, and leadership in local politics here in Indiana to the ExCom to do the work with fellow "doers." Specifically, as a denizen of Southern Indiana, I am keenly interested in protecting our water, air and forests in the Hoosier Uplands, to counter the efforts of our officials who seek to plunder instead of protect.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
I feel my background is well-suited to Political and Legislative committee work, having worked in drafting policy briefs and guides for our nation's governors while working in Washington. However, in my role leading my county political party, I direct our communications and public messaging. That, and my experience on the teaching faculty at the IU O'Neill School communicating complex emergency management policy would serve the Communications committee well.
Richard Hill
Richard has been intensely involved in environmental issues since the 1970’s. After a period in the U.S. Navy, where he was an electrician in the engineering department of a nuclear
submarine, he moved back home to Madison, Indiana. His experience in the Navy gave him a deep respect for the importance of the concerns involved with the design,
construction, and operation of nuclear power plants. Upon coming back to Indiana three things happened that sparked him to get active. These were the highly publicized pollution at Love Canal, the construction problems at the Marble Hill nuclear plant near Madison, and the accident at Three Mile Island nuclear plant. Since then, he has worked on a great variety of projects centered mainly in southeastern Indiana and northern Kentucky.
His most important achievements include the parts that he played in the abandonment of the Marble Hill plant, the establishment of the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge at the former Jefferson Proving Ground, and a federal court victory against IDEM and the EPA regarding the lack of enforcement of the Clean Water Act relating to Confined Feeding Operations in Indiana. He was also The Community Co-chair of the Jefferson Proving Ground Restoration Advisory Board and continually challenged the Army in efforts to clean up the depleted uranium at JPG. He was also active in a case involving Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corporation’s coal waste landfill at their Clifty Creek power plant in Madison which led to the Indiana Supreme Court confirmation of associational standing for citizens groups in Indiana. He was President of Save the Valley for many years and served a couple of terms on the Hoosier Environmental Council Board.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
After working with several different environmental organizations in Indiana Richard was inspired to join the Hoosier Chapter because they were at the forefront of working on climate change issues.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
He currently serves on the Hoosier Chapter’s Finance and Energy committees and is the Chapter representative for Beyond Coal’s Duke campaign. He looks forward to serving the Chapter again for the next two years by serving on these committees and working to make the Hoosier Chapter a financially sustainable organization.
Julie Lowe
As a child I loved being outdoors playing in the woods and streams and now I enjoy kayaking, camping and hiking in southern Indiana forests. My love of Indiana forests is what brought me to the Sierra Club where I found a path to advocate for the protection of Indiana State and Hoosier National Forests. I became a Sierra Club member in 2011 and a few years later became active in the Winding Waters Group in southeast Indiana. I am currently the Executive Committee Chair of the Hoosier Chapter and of the Winding Waters Group. As Chapter Chair, I have worked with staff and volunteer leaders in conservation issues such as protecting Indiana waters, consistently contributing public comments to state and federal government agencies to stop logging and burning our public lands, and I have supported communities that reach out for help against industrial pollution. I have worked on energy issues promoting clean energy for all to help end the climate crisis. I called voters in key districts to ask how they felt about the Wetlands bill and gave them contact information to legislators to voice their opposition. Nationally I am a volunteer leader in Sierra Club Military Outdoors, the Council for Club Leaders and the Grassroots Network Food & Agriculture Team where I work on issues such as pollinator protection, growing healthier foods, improving food equity and I support organic farming practices that will save our soil and our planet from global warming by sequestering carbon in the soil. I have participated in and helped to lead our Chapter in training to better understand equity, racial injustice and the importance of diversity and inclusion. If elected to the Hoosier Chapter ExCom I will continue to work on initiatives and legislation to protect forests, water, soil and air. I will continue to support food equity and better farming practices that significantly sequester carbon, clean efficient energy solutions and equity and justice for all.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
10 years ago I was angered and inspired by logging issues in Indiana and now I am inspired by other issues that are just as important and urgent. I plan to continue work on the climate crisis and the need for Indiana to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy. I will continue to work on conservation issues that includes fighting to stop fossil fuel power station waste and industry pollution and other toxins to our land, water and air. I value equity, anti-racism and diversity and I hope to help our Chapter work towards this shared goal. One goal that I have had as Chapter Chair that I have not yet accomplished and continue to work on is to build up our Chapter Outings Committee and offer more hikes around the state of Indiana.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
As Chapter Chair, I try to attend most committee calls each month but the committees that I work with the most are the Conservation Committee of which I chair, the Legislative Committee and the Energy Committee. I hope to join the Outings Committee once we find a committee chair and get it going again!
Carol Mullins
I am a lifelong environmental steward and nature enthusiast. I currently do consulting, outreach and volunteer work for initiatives focused on placemaking, sustainability, neighborhoods and youth. I've worked with the Natural Resource and Horticulture Division at Newfields, Co-Chair for FFA's Days of Service, managed projects and green space with Downtown Indy. Currently I write for the Pike Pulse Newspaper, serve as a volunteer liaison for transit with IndyGo, Resilient Pike, Reconnecting to our Waterways & RAFT. I make calls monthly for the Citizens Climate Lobby. I have a bachelor of science in Environmental Affairs and Public Management &P Policy with graduate certification in Philanthropic Studies and nonprofits.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
My values align with those of the Sierra Club. Utilizing the strength in numbers to share the importance of our natural resources. I am interested in building awareness, engagement and enjoyment from the community to increase capacity for environmental care.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
Communications, Development, and Policy/Legislation.
Lisa Pellegrino
Born and raised in the CA Bay Area where as a elementary student visiting the home of Sierra Club founder, John Muir, was a school field trip! My family was immersed in the outdoors year round, exploring all the wonderful ecosystems around us. Summers would consist of cross country road trips visiting National Parks, abandoned mines, camping and viewing America’s beautiful landscapes through the van window in between.
I moved to the Midwest 20 years ago and have lived in Indianapolis area for the past 10. My career spanned from studying Arts&Design, working in event planning for Silicon Valley clients, as a Sales Analyst in consumer products sales organization and as a Brand Consultant for Fortune 500 companies. After my children were born, I shifted my focus to family life, being very active in the kids schools and local volunteer efforts. I continued my passion for outdoors through adding many trees/plants to my homes/schools kids have attended and exploring parks near and far. I enjoy gardening, hiking, skiing, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
The recent fires and current events have moved environmental issues to the forefront, for me and for my children. We have always tried to make good environmental choices for our family, but now it’s time to do more. I hope to become a part of Sierra Club to help make a difference in preserving as much of Indiana’s land and protecting it for future generations. I would also like to help increase awareness and opportunities for people to stay connected to the natural world around them.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
Specific areas of interest are Communications, Conservation and Outings Committee.
William Schenher
Born and raised in northwest Indiana, William Schenher has enjoyed a distinguished career in banking and corporate treasury. After beginning with residential construction lending at Banc One in Indianapolis, he relocated to Silicon Valley, where he worked in various roles in corporate treasury. He rose through the ranks of various companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Brocade, and Fujitsu America, before ultimately building and leading his own treasury departments. Mr. Schenher helped manage the HP-Compaq integration and guide treasuries through the economic turmoil of 2001 and 2008.
After 20 years in corporate treasury, he returned to Indiana to focus on family and turn his attentions to his local community, where he enjoyed working to enrich the experiences of the adaptive members of his local community center. In 2019, Mr. Schenher was accepted into the University of Notre Dame’s Inspired Leadership Initiative, a year long, immersive program for those looking to start the next chapter of their lives. During his time in the Inspired Leadership Initiative at Notre Dame, Mr. Schenher chose to focus his studies in various undergraduate and graduate courses in climate change and the environment. It is his hope that he spends the next chapter of his life on this issue, the most critical issue of our time.
Following the program, Mr. Schenher founded, along with four other program cohort members, Imago Dei, a Notre Dame sponsored non-profit dedicated to helping end human trafficking in all its forms. He also joined the Board of the Rusalia Resource Foundation that helps provide fully subsidized education to promising young women in rural Kenya. Additionally, he lends his time to mentoring those from financially disadvantaged communities as they work to start their own small businesses.
Mr. Schenher received his B.A. in government and economics from the University of Notre Dame and his M.B.A. from Purdue University.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
Growing up in suburban Indiana, I had plenty of occasions to interact with my natural environment. It seemed everywhere I looked there was life: frogs, fish, turtles, snakes, butterflies, birds of all kinds, deer, badger, raccoon. We also had dogs, and I loved riding a horse every chance I had. Climate was the backdrop for all this. Something that happened unnoticed. As I grew I began to become aware of changes around me. Sometimes it would be unusually hot or wet or Christmas would be warm like Easter. Other times, I remember being deeply disturbed, for example, when a major oil spill in Alaska destroyed the environment of Prince William Sound and the wildlife in it. The awareness of the environment and of its fragility was only heightened when I moved to California and got to see the majesty of Muir Woods firsthand and also the tragic effects of epic drought and forest fires. It became clear to me as the years went on that climate change and its effects on our environment was the sole issue of our time, the one issue that took precedence above all others. This is what inspires me to plan my part and volunteer for the Executive Committee of the Indiana Chapter of the Sierra Club.
In my mind, there are three avenues through which future success is predicated and on which I would like to focus if elected. First, involving and activating the next generation in environmental conservation is key. The next generations have more at stake in this fight as it is they who will inherit the environment we live to them. Engaging more in high schools and colleges around the state is critical if we are to win this fight. Second, we need to involve in the conversation those communities around the state that have suffered the most from climate change effects but who simultaneously remain skeptical of it and of how its remedies may affect them economically. We can show them that joining this fight is good for them and for the planet. Case in point is the recent announcement of the largest solar farm in the country to be built in Starke and Pulaski counties. This is but one way that we win their support. Finally, we need to collaborate with all the environmental groups around the state. If each organization remains in its own vertical silo, then we risk duplicating efforts at a time we can least afford to do so. As a group, all environmental groups together would all also have a much stronger voice within the state in how laws are passed and policy develops. In all these ways, the Sierra Club, one of the most storied environmental organizations in the country, can lead the way, and I would help to do so if elected. I ask for your vote.
If you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
Based on the three objectives I outlined in the previous question, I believe there is much overlap with many of the committees. From a personal perspective, the Conservation Committee would likely be of great interest. However, I can see myself serving on Development, Equity, Communications, Political/Legislative, and Energy. If none of those cover outreach to schools and universities or small, disadvantaged communities, then I would likely recommend starting one. Ultimately, there is much work to be done in all of committees. I look forward to having the chance to get started if I am elected.
Jean Webb
I've been active in my local community for about the past 15 years advocating for clean air and action on climate. I'm now serving on a board to develop the Vanderburgh County Solar Ordinance. I'm on the Leadership Team of the Southwestern Indiana Sierra Club Network. I hold a B.S. in Chemistry/Business Administration, and retired from the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2019 after a 35 year career. I've been active with Sierra Club Beyond Coal for about 11 years. I've served on the Energy Committee about 3 years, and I am currently serving as the Chair. I've been a member of the Executive Committee for the past two years.
What inspires you to be an ExCom volunteer and what would be your objectives in this role?
I was able to travel to D.C. with the Beyond Coal team for a Lobby Day. While there, I was able to meet, and train with other Sierra Club members from all over the country. Their dedication was inspiring. I learned two important messages on that trip. First, "You are the expert you've been waiting for." And second, "Sierra Club is a volunteer-led organization". So, I need to tackle learning all I can about the issues I'm concerned about, and I need to be at the table and help lead. Fortunately, Sierra Club finds and hires amazingly talented staff so that I can help without it being a full time job for me.
f you are elected on ExCom, what committees would you be interested in joining?
I would stay with the Energy Committee if I'm elected. I feel it is my niche, but I really appreciate the talented people filling the other roles.