Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s Governing Board

Or visit the Citizens’ Climate Education Governing Board.

Zaurie Zimmerman M.Arch (Board Chair)

Zaurie is an architect and businesswoman from Kentucky. Her passion for a low-carbon future started early, focusing on renewable energy in the built environment. In the 1980’s she co-authored a book on passive solar design and land development. In the 1990’s she founded a Boston-based design and construction management business that has prioritized energy-conservation and renewable energy strategies, from geothermal to net zero, for hundreds of millions of dollars of institutional real estate projects. In the 2000’s, she also became the CEO of a Kentucky-based manufacturing business. But decades of client and customer financial resistance to climate-friendly initiatives made the need for policy support crystal clear. She made a firm commitment to legislative advocacy once she became aware of market-based solutions.

Since 2013, Zaurie has used her conservative perspective to expand business and right of center support for CCL’s preferred policy solution and bipartisan approach, at both the state and federal levels. She serves CCL as a Conservative Caucus Executive Team Member and Florida Conservative State Lead, and has served as Kentucky State Coordinator, a Massachusetts Group Leader, and Congressional Liaison in Massachusetts and Kentucky.

Zaurie also draws on her building industry experience as a partner in the Clean Energy Venture Group through investment in early stage clean energy and climatetech companies. She holds B.S. and M. Arch. degrees from MIT. Kayaking and birding keep her connected to the world she is committed to preserving.

Ross Astoria, J.D./Ph.D (Secretary)

Professor Ross Astoria teaches law and policy at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside, where his colleagues recently recognized him with an outstanding research award for his work on H.R. 763. Ross studies and publishes on the interaction of carbon pricing with utility law, trade law, and the Clean Air Act. Ross has served as a CCL group leader and a CCL liaison and is proud to work with CCL volunteers to create the political will for a livable world.

Alex Bozmoski, M.S.

Alex Bozmoski has been chasing climate solutions for fifteen years through grassroots education, business, technical assistance, and academic research. Prior to DEPLOY/US, he co-founded republicEn.org, a community of EcoRight libertarians and conservatives advancing climate action rooted in free enterprise. He previously developed clean-energy projects in East Africa, consulted for think tanks, authored peer-reviewed articles, worked on several GOP campaigns, and designed and facilitated e-learning courses on environmental economics and policy for World Bank technical assistance programs. He holds a BA summa cum laude from Georgetown University and an MS in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford.

Efaon Cobb, J.D.

Efaon “E-fawn” Cobb is the general partner of Hewgill, Cobb, & Lockard, APC (HCL). HCL is an employment law firm representing workers with Efaon’s emphasis as being a proud #metoo attorney, representing women who face harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Efaon also represents many whistleblowers and workers who face general harassment and discrimination.

Efaon had the pleasure of being the second hire at CCL, after current CCL CFO Olivia Melonas, as an organizer and legislative and policy advisor. Efaon left the position to pursue his legal career and is now grateful to return to CCL in a new capacity. CCL has grown immensely since Efaon’s initial tenure, but he is happy to find the core values and spirit of Marshall Saunders, Efaon’s mentor and dear friend, still lives on within the organization. Efaon lives in San Diego, California with his partner Larissa and their two fur babies.

Jerry Hinkle M.A. (Chair of Governance Committee)

Jerry has given educational presentations to the public on climate change since 2001, has been lobbying Congress for market-based climate solutions since 2006, and has been a leader with CCL since 2011. He started what is now CCL’s Presenters Action Team and the Economics and Science Policy Network Action Teams. He was the Northern California Coordinator for 6 years, has served on CCL’s Governing Board for the last 8 years, as our staff Economic Research Coordinator for 4 years, and is now a Group Leader in Massachusetts.

Jerry holds MA degrees in both Economics and in Environmental/Climate Policy and has published several articles in these areas. He is committed to educating youth on the climate issue and to leaving a sustainable world for his two amazing daughters.

Natalie Orozco Ed.M (Chair of Nominating Committee)

Natalie Orozco is a policy and program consultant who evaluates national programs and provides strategic consulting to foundations, government agencies, and fortune 500 high-tech companies. She provides leaders with accessible ways to make data-driven and emotionally intelligent decisions.

She joined CCL in the summer of 2019, and co-founded the Alameda chapter’s youth engagement team. Natalie embodies Earth Wisdom, a spiritual practice maintained by indigenous people to support us in living in a connected relationship with the Earth and all her children. This is wisdom her ancestors carried and it’s wisdom Natalie is devoted to reclaiming. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an Ed.M. from Harvard University. She resides in Miwok and Nisenan territory, present-day Sacramento, California. She enjoys hiking in nature, creating healing ceremonies, and advocating for our planet and underrepresented communities.

Mary Selkirk M.P.H. (Treasurer)

Mary Selkirk is a retired collaborative environmental policy specialist who has designed, facilitated and mediated natural resources projects throughout California. Before joining the Center for Collaborative Policy as Managing Senior Mediator in 2000, Mary was special assistant to the Executive Director of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, and served on the Federal-state Bay Delta Advisory Council from 1995-1997. She now chairs the board of Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE).

Prior to her career in environmental policy mediation, Mary had a 25-year career as a psychologist and organizational development consultant. She lives in Kensington, California with her husband.

Since the early 1970’s Mary has kayaked or rafted many of the major whitewater rivers in the western United States. She and Lee have also run rivers in Alaska, West Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Zealand.

Neil Chatterjee

Neil Chatterjee is a lawyer, political advisor, and government official. He was a Commissioner and Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and is currently a Senior Advisor at Hogan Lovells. Chatterjee serves on the Boards of DEPLOY/US, BPC Action (Bipartisan Policy Center) and the Audubon Action Fund. He is an Advisor to the Climate Leadership Council and Americans for Carbon Dividends. A frequent public speaker and commentator on national TV, Neil spoke at the CCL Conservative Conference on March 28, 2023.

In his time on the Hill and at FERC, Neil built a reputation as a bipartisan figure who builds alliances with a wide variety of stakeholders.

While at FERC, Neil championed several strategic initiatives, including streamlining and improving FERC’s liquified natural gas application review and approval process, bolstering power grid reliability and resilience, and boosting renewable resources’ ability to compete in regional power markets and for the reduction of carbon emissions. As FERC Chair, he promoted carbon pricing by advancing a bipartisan policy encouraging power grid operators to incorporate state carbon pricing policies into their markets.

Prior to his time at FERC, Neil served 8 years as an advisor to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), worked in government relations for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and served as a staff member on the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Jennifer Burton

Jennifer Burton is the Senior Energy Manager at Lowe’s, leading initiatives in energy management, efficiency, and renewable energy. She played a pivotal role in shaping the Clinton – Gore administration’s inaugural climate policy, championing initiatives to safeguard the environment and public health. Jennifer also supported Vice President Gore’s presidential campaign, emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change throughout the elections.

Jennifer’s research on climate change impacts in low-income neighborhoods reflects her commitment to community well-being. Active in climate advocacy, Jennifer has been engaged in lobbying efforts with Citizens’ Climate Lobby for the past 6 years. She has also testified before the EPA on hazardous air pollutants’ impact on communities of color.

In previous roles, Jennifer cultivated enduring professional and personal connections with members of Congress, facilitating smoother engagement on climate-related issues. Additionally, she has coordinated travel for the Clinton White House and the U.S. Department of State, fostering global experiences. At Lockheed Martin, she played a key role in securing a $3.5 billion contract with the Department of State.

A native of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Jennifer holds two degrees from The University of the District of Columbia and a Yale School of Management certificate. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Urban Leadership to support clean energy initiatives and assist in the enhancement of the grid, while positively impacting the communities she serves.