The Piedmont Group Executive Committee (EXCOM) is composed of volunteer leaders who make decisions for the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club. These people are elected for two year terms by the general membership of the Piedmont Group. EXCOM members are listed below.
Audrey Dannenberg
A life member of Sierra Club since joining in 1978, Audrey was elected to the Piedmont Group ExCom in 1985, served as a Chair for 16 years and Fundraising Chair for over 15 years. She provides historical knowledge to the Group and a never ending stream of ideas, suggestions & quips on assorted topics. Audrey's passion is outrigger canoeing & kayaking, and she has participated in many National Sierra Club Outings.
Kirk Bowers
Native of Roanoke County, Virginia. Resident of Albemarle County, VA for over 30 years. Kirk is a retired Civil Engineer. His second career is environmental activism. After serving five years on staff, he retired from the Virginia Chapter, Sierra Club as Lead Pipeline Campaign Organizer. Kirk is also co-founder of the Mountain Valley Watch, an organization of volunteers created to observe and monitor construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
John Cruickshank
John Cruickshank is a retired public school educator who worked as a teacher and principal. He has served as Chair of the Piedmont Group and the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club. He is currently the Secretary and Community Outreach Coordinator of the Piedmont Group and a delegate to the Virginia Chapter Executive Committee.
Beth Hodsdon
Beth Hodsdon has been a member of the Sierra Club since 1981, and now with retirement from legal practice in higher education and health care law, has time to become more involved in the Club and environmental issues. She is finding that the Piedmont Group’s energetic and experienced ExCom is a great setting for learning and activism.
Lena Jovancevic
Lena is a second-year student at UVA, and has brought new energy and dedication to our small band of nature-lovers. She is a double-major in politics and sociology, and is very interested in social justice and environmental rights.
Alexandra Kwiatkoski
I am very excited to be joining the Executive Committee of the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club! Activism and volunteerism have always been very important to me, and I have a lot of experience in the nonprofit world, specifically with environmental organizations. So when the opportunity to become an Executive Committee member arose, I felt like it would be a great fit. I'm happy to be able to create some positive change in our community and to be part of such a wonderful group of people!
In addition to being an advocate for the environment and sustainability, I am also an animal rights activist; I'm happy to chat if you are interested in learning more about veganism and/or you want to learn about more ways that you can help animals. In my free time, you'll probably catch me with my husband and our dog putzing around Charlottesville, enjoying thrift stores or drinks (or ideally both).
Wren Olivier
Wren is a retired clinical social worker who continues to volunteer there as well as with the Democratic Party and other environmental groups. She and her husband live and raise sheep on a farm that has been in her family since 1856.
Michael Pillow
Michael Pillow is a UVa alumnus who moved back to the Cville area to be near his roots. He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and kayaking, and serves as a classical and folk announcer at WTJU. Michael recently retired from working as a lawyer on energy contracts. Now he hopes to spend more time communing with nature and defending our planet.
Donna Shaunesey
Donna is the Chair of the Group and when she’s not wrangling this herd of cats she’s hiking, paddling or camping. She has a Master’s in Planning from UVA and spent many years working in local government.
Roxanne White
Roxanne White recently joined the Sierra Club as Treasurer, after serving 20 years with the Albemarle County Executive’s Office overseeing the County’s Human Services and General Operations. She has been involved in other community organizations, including FOCUS, SARA, the Charlottesville Tree Commission and most recently, ReLeaf Cville, a newly formed program focused on planting trees in low-canopy neighborhoods.
Scott Zeimer
Scott has been a Sierra Club member since 1983. He is a passionate outdoor adventure enthusiast who has led trips into the wilds of Virginia and beyond; including backpacking, canoeing, caving, rock climbing and sailing. Scott says "my time on the EXCOM has been rewarding and educational. I love being part of a group with such reverence and energy for restoring the Earth to a more balanced and healthy state of being."