Kenny Ausubel
CEO & Co-Founder
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Bioneer since 1990

Kenny Ausubel is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author, journalist and filmmaker. He is the Founder and CEO of Bioneers, the internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to disseminating breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. He launched the annual Bioneers Conference in 1990 with his business partner and wife Nina Simons, Bioneers Co-Founder and Chief Relationship Strategist.

Kenny is a writer, filmmaker and media professional. Since 2004, he has served as executive producer and co-writer of the award-winning international radio series The Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature.He acted as a central advisor to Leonardo DiCaprio’s feature documentary, The 11th Hour, and appears in the film.

He has written four books and edited several volumes of the Bioneers anthology book series. His most recent book Dreaming the Future: Reimagining Civilization in the Age of Nature (Chelsea Green 2012) won the Nautilus Grand Gold prize in the Ecology-Environment category.

Kenny co-founded the national company Seeds of Change in 1989 and served as CEO until 1994 to restore “backyard biodiversity” into the food web through marketing organic, biodiverse heirloom seeds to gardeners.

His critically acclaimed feature documentary film Hoxsey: How Healing Becomes a Crime and related reportage were named for the Best Censored Stories award for investigative journalism. The film played in movie theaters and aired on HBO and international TV, and enjoyed a special screening for member of Congress at the Kennedy Center, reported on NPR. He later published the acclaimed book “When Healing Becomes a Crime.”

Apart from his ongoing work with Bioneers, Kenny is currently developing several film projects.

Teo Grossman
President
Location: Boulder, CO
415-660-9299
Teo@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2014

Born and raised in Northern New Mexico, Teo grew up hiking and fishing in the mountains and streams of the southwest. An early interest in Edward Abbey’s writing during a series of family backpacking trips in Utah combined with an odd fascination with renewable energy policy in high school kick-started his trajectory. Teo completed his graduate work at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC-Santa Barbara as a Doris Duke Conservation Fellow. Throughout his career, Teo has engaged in diverse efforts including managing youth and educator outreach efforts, conducting state-level assessments of long-range planning efforts, and has lead research for university labs, consultants and international NGO’s on topics including climate change adaptation, ecosystem services and ecological networks. Combining a clear-eyed approach to problem solving with a knack for identifying cutting edge trends and approaches he strives to work towards the healthy integration of natural systems and human communities at multiple scales.

Read more by Teo Grossman here.

Cara Romero
VP of Indigenous Perspectives
Program Director – Indigeneity
Location: Santa Fe, NM
505-395-2746
Cara@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2011

Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), Director, possesses a background rich in Indigenous cultural studies, fine art and documentary photography and videography, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) workshops, protection of indigenous intellectual property, conservation of indigenous cultural resources, fundraising, grantwriting, marketing, and the formalization of the Bioneers Indigeneity Program. Cara’s earned degrees in Cultural Anthropology (University of Houston), Fine Art Photography (Institute of American Indian Arts) and Photography Technology (Oklahoma State University). Prior to coming on board with Bioneers, Cara served as the first Executive Director of the Chemehuevi Cultural Center. She was an elected member of the Chemehuevi Tribal Council from 2007-2010, and became the Chairman of the Chemehuevi Education Board and Chairman of the Chemehuevi Early Education Policy Council.

Nina Simons

Secretary Board of Directors
Co-Founder and Chief Relationship Officer
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Bioneer since 1990

Nina Simons is co-founder of Bioneers and serves as its Chief Relationship Strategist. She is a social entrepreneur who is passionate about the power of women to transform the world, reaching racial and gender justice, indigeneity and rekindling a sacred relationship to nature, while co-creating a just transition that’s regenerative, loving and peaceful.

She speaks internationally and co-facilitates transformative leadership offerings that integrate Relational Mindfulness, Restoring the Deep Feminine and The Work That Reconnects.

Nina co-edited Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, and recently wrote the award-winning book Nature, Culture & the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership. She was named a recipient of the Goi Peace Award in recognition of her pioneering work through Bioneers to promote nature-inspired innovations for restoring (reciprocal relationships among) the Earth and our human community.

Nikki Spangenburg
Chief Administrative Officer
Location: Santa Fe, NM
505-395-2792
Nikki@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2008

Nikki has worked for Bioneers since 2008 starting with the award winning Dreaming New Mexico project and the Resilient Communities Network that works to build resilience from the ground up at local and regional levels. As Chief Administrative Officer, her work is focused on developing operational systems and processes that supports and delivers Bioneers mission, strategic plan and goals.

Jeffrey Vasterling
VP of Finance
Location: Santa Fe, NM
505-395-2744
JeffreyV@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2000

Jeffrey Vasterling spent his youth in the Midwest and moved to the Southwest in 1987. Naturally drawn to Mathematics, Physics and Business Theory from an early age, he used his years at Luther College to earn degrees in Anthropology and Psychology. He has also been a professional in the alternative health field.

Jeffrey is partnered with his best friend, Susan. He’s a gardening and outdoor enthusiast and is an avid supporter of the film industry.

Kenny Ausubel
CEO & Co-Founder
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Bioneer since 1990

Kenny Ausubel is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author, journalist and filmmaker. He is the Founder and CEO of Bioneers, the internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to disseminating breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. He launched the annual Bioneers Conference in 1990 with his business partner and wife Nina Simons, Bioneers Co-Founder and Chief Relationship Strategist.

Kenny is a writer, filmmaker and media professional. Since 2004, he has served as executive producer and co-writer of the award-winning international radio series The Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature.He acted as a central advisor to Leonardo DiCaprio’s feature documentary, The 11th Hour, and appears in the film.

He has written four books and edited several volumes of the Bioneers anthology book series. His most recent book Dreaming the Future: Reimagining Civilization in the Age of Nature (Chelsea Green 2012) won the Nautilus Grand Gold prize in the Ecology-Environment category.

Kenny co-founded the national company Seeds of Change in 1989 and served as CEO until 1994 to restore “backyard biodiversity” into the food web through marketing organic, biodiverse heirloom seeds to gardeners.

His critically acclaimed feature documentary film Hoxsey: How Healing Becomes a Crime and related reportage were named for the Best Censored Stories award for investigative journalism. The film played in movie theaters and aired on HBO and international TV, and enjoyed a special screening for member of Congress at the Kennedy Center, reported on NPR. He later published the acclaimed book “When Healing Becomes a Crime.”

Apart from his ongoing work with Bioneers, Kenny is currently developing several film projects.

Nina Simons

Secretary Board of Directors
Co-Founder and Chief Relationship Officer
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Bioneer since 1990

Nina Simons is co-founder of Bioneers and serves as its Chief Relationship Strategist. She is a social entrepreneur who is passionate about the power of women to transform the world, reaching racial and gender justice, indigeneity and rekindling a sacred relationship to nature, while co-creating a just transition that’s regenerative, loving and peaceful.

She speaks internationally and co-facilitates transformative leadership offerings that integrate Relational Mindfulness, Restoring the Deep Feminine and The Work That Reconnects.

Nina co-edited Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, and recently wrote the award-winning book Nature, Culture & the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership. She was named a recipient of the Goi Peace Award in recognition of her pioneering work through Bioneers to promote nature-inspired innovations for restoring (reciprocal relationships among) the Earth and our human community.

Sonali Sangeeta Balajee is a proud mother, artist, organizer, facilitator, mindfulness / yoga instructor, and emerging health practitioner who works at the intersection of belonging, equity, and deep transformative change. She is the founder of Our Bodhi Project, a spiritual and political project that supports healthy movement-building and organizing through deepening our critical analyses, centering the health of all living systems, and enlivening the connection between social and collectively spiritual wellness. Her life work has focused on bringing forward ideas and strategies that speak to wholeness, specifically calling for leading with multiple truths and perspectives required for collective health.

Her community organizing background has focused on youth development, environmental justice, and HIV / AIDS-related advocacy and service. Her current advocacy focus is on resource mobilization for projects and initiatives that speak to the social and environmental antidotes our world so desperately needs.

Colette Pichon Battle is an award-winning lawyer and climate justice organizer. She is a trusted voice in the climate justice and Black liberation movements, and her work focuses on creating spaces for frontline communities to gather and advance climate strategies that help us steward the water, energy, and land.

Eriel (she/her) is a Dënesųłiné woman (ts’ékui), member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and mother of two, coming from a family of Indigenous rights advocates fighting for the recognition, sovereignty and autonomy of their Indigenous lands and territory in what is now known as Treaty 8, Canada.

In 2015, Deranger worked with local Indigenous organizers to help build out the foundations of Indigenous Climate Action, becoming one of the core co-founders of the organization. She formally stepped into the role of Executive Director in July of 2017.

Prior to ICA, Deranger worked with her First Nation to build out one of the largest inter-sectional keep it in the ground campaigns: The international Indigenous Tar Sands campaign – challenging the expansion of Alberta’s Tar Sands. As part of her role she brought international recognition to issues in her territory with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Darren Aronofsky, Neil Young, Daryl Hannah, James Cameron and many others, drawing attention across the globe.

Deranger has written for the Guardian, Yellowhead Institute, The National Observer, Red Pepper Magazine, been featured in documentary films including Elemental (2012), interviewed for national and international media outlets including Democracy Now!, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), and CBC.

Ginny McGinn is a mother, artist, and nonprofit leader. Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in the work of social and organizational change and in building partnerships across lines of power and privilege. Ginny has a profound interest in how change happens, from the level of individual transformation through the level of entire communities or systems, and it is this process of change that she seeks to continue to study and facilitate in her leadership at Whole Communities.

Previously, Ginny served as president of Bioneers, a national nonprofit dedicated to disseminating practical and visionary solutions for restoring Earth’s ecosystems and healing human communities. While at Bioneers she and her colleagues greatly expanded the reach of its programs by launching satellite conferences and building partnerships in cities around the country, creating access for many who would not have otherwise had it.

Cultivating practices that support whole communities (lower case intended) and bringing those practices into our daily lives is the focus of her current work. Through “Whole Thinking in Practice” we are able to stay present, make better decisions, and act on behalf of the whole as we go about our work in organizations and movements.

Ginny facilitates and consults on organizational change around the country, using the Whole Thinking Practices and the tools she and her colleagues have helped evolve at Center for Whole Communities.

Dr. Anita Sanchez, Nahua (Aztec) and Mexican American, author, trainer, consultant, is a transformational leadership consultant, trainer, speaker, and coach to Fortune 500 corporations and to global non-profits. She is podcast host of “Two-Legged Experience” and author of seven books including the international award-winning book – The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times (Simon & Schuster). Drawing on her doctorate in Organization Development, she weaves indigenous teachings with the latest science to inspire and equip women and men to enjoy meaningful, empowered lives and careers while caring for the earth and each other. She is a member of the Transformational Leadership Council, Evolutionary Leadership and Board member of Bioneers and the Pachamama Alliance. Anita is a member of the Elders Council of the Wisdom Weavers of the World and of the FireCircle.Earth. Anita leads an annual journey into the sacred headwaters of the Amazon.

Dr. Sanchez is passionate about “inspiring people to discover and trust their gifts so that they become a life-giving connection to people and to the planet”.  Recent awards include 2022 Mogul’s Top 100 DEI Leaders, Conscious Company Media 2020 World Changing Woman and the World Woman Foundation #SheismyHero awards with Jane Goodall and fifty-eight other brilliant, heart-centered women to inspire one million girls to dream and live their leadership. Info www.SanchezTennis.com and www.FourSacredGifts.com

Samantha has nearly 20 years of experience advising dozens of tribal and corporate clients on matters involving federal Indian law and tribal law.  Samantha counsels clients on tribal governance, corporate governance, governmental affairs, corporate transactions, real estate, cultural resources, cannabis, Indian water rights settlements, labor issues and litigation. Her extensive multijurisdictional practice has resulted in successful outcomes for clients participating in the Small Business Administration 8(a) program, corporate retreats, corporate entity formation and reorganization, financing, mergers & acquisitions, tribal code development, minority or woman-owned certifications, labor relations, complex commercial real estate transactions and tribal economic development initiatives.  Samantha also represents clients in federal-tribal consultations and represents clients before members of Congress, congressional committees and agencies through federal lobbying services.

As a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Skenandore previously served as a Tribal Attorney for the Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Justice and clerked for the United States Department of Justice, Indian Resources Section, as well as the State of Colorado Division of Administrative Hearings in Denver, Colorado. Samantha served as an elected Associate Justice to the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court from 2015-2019.

Samantha is a longtime community member of TeeJop (meaning “Four Lakes” in Ho-Chunk), Madison, Wisconsin, where she enjoys family time, local events, non-profit service, visiting parks, gardening, and riding horses.

Driven by a passion for nature, Justin Winters is committed to democratizing climate philanthropy in order to create an inclusive and impactful movement to address the climate crisis from the ground up. She is the Co-founder and Executive Director of One Earth, a nonprofit organization working to galvanize science, advocacy, and philanthropy to drive collective action on climate change. Through One Earth, she is focused on creating a vision for the world that is possible by 2050—one in which humanity and nature coexist and thrive together. This vision is based on three pillars of action: 100% renewable energy, protection and restoration of 50% of the world’s lands and oceans, and a transition to regenerative, carbon-negative agriculture.

Prior to One Earth, Justin served as Executive Director of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation for 13 years, where she built the organization’s grant-making program, which awarded over $100 million in grants across 60 countries and created a series of innovative philanthropic funds, including Oceans 5, Shark Conservation Fund, The Solutions Funds, Lion Recovery Fund, Elephant Crisis Fund, and Quick Response Fund for Nature.

Kenny Ausubel
CEO & Co-Founder
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Bioneer since 1990

Kenny Ausubel is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author, journalist and filmmaker. He is the Founder and CEO of Bioneers, the internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to disseminating breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. He launched the annual Bioneers Conference in 1990 with his business partner and wife Nina Simons, Bioneers Co-Founder and Chief Relationship Strategist.

Kenny is a writer, filmmaker and media professional. Since 2004, he has served as executive producer and co-writer of the award-winning international radio series The Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature.He acted as a central advisor to Leonardo DiCaprio’s feature documentary, The 11th Hour, and appears in the film.

He has written four books and edited several volumes of the Bioneers anthology book series. His most recent book Dreaming the Future: Reimagining Civilization in the Age of Nature (Chelsea Green 2012) won the Nautilus Grand Gold prize in the Ecology-Environment category.

Kenny co-founded the national company Seeds of Change in 1989 and served as CEO until 1994 to restore “backyard biodiversity” into the food web through marketing organic, biodiverse heirloom seeds to gardeners.

His critically acclaimed feature documentary film Hoxsey: How Healing Becomes a Crime and related reportage were named for the Best Censored Stories award for investigative journalism. The film played in movie theaters and aired on HBO and international TV, and enjoyed a special screening for member of Congress at the Kennedy Center, reported on NPR. He later published the acclaimed book “When Healing Becomes a Crime.”

Apart from his ongoing work with Bioneers, Kenny is currently developing several film projects.

Theo Badashi is an ecologist, media strategist, film editor and producer. A former radio host and community organizer with a background in Integral psychology and philosophy, he has a lifelong dedication to justice and a unique evolutionary perspective. He lives in Santa Fe, NM with his dog Mu.

Kelli Barr
National Bioneers Conference Project Manager
Location: Santa Fe, NM
415-660-9304
Kelli@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 1999

Kelli works with the programming team for the Bioneers Conference. She is the communications liaison with all scheduled speakers, and she manages the large work-exchange crew who work with us each year.

Kelli’s previous professional experience was at EcoWorks Multimedia (a nonprofit project of the Tides Center) as assistant to the director, where she was responsible for office management, managing an organizational outreach program, supervising staff and intern schedules and editing manuscripts. Kelli has a B.A. in History from Salem State College, and is a certified dog trainer.

When not in the office, Kelli enjoys cooking healthy meals, backpacking and hiking with her dogs, and playing ice hockey.

Favorite Causes: Wildlife Biodiversity, Organic Food and Farming, Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods, Global Warming.

Nazshonnii Brown-Almaweri
Program Manager – Indigeneity Program
Location: Bay Area, CA
Nazshonnii@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2022

Nazshonnii Brown-Almaweri is a farmer, STEM educator, and Union College Alumna (B.S Mechanical Engineering and Studio Arts, French and Francophone Studies Minor) from West Oakland. She was a STEM tutor, media educator, and youth program assistant for the American Indian Child Resource Center. She is also connected to the Gill Tract Community Farm in Albany, an volunteer-led farm that provides food, medicine, and green spaces to the community. Nazshonnii is passionate about STEAM education and advocates for exposure and opportunities for the historically excluded people, especially Black and Native youth. As an educator, Nazshonnii has provided middle and high school youth with the space to learn about STEAM at the intersection of ancestral knowledge and their lived experiences. Creating space for Oakland youth to thrive in disciplines like engineering. Outside of work, she likes spending time with her nephews on the farm, watching endless youtube with her partner, and cooking for her friends.

Alexis Bunten
Co-Director – Indigeneity Program
Location: San Francisco, CA
Alexis@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2016

Alexis Bunten, (Aleut/Yup’ik) has served as a manager, consultant and applied researcher for Indigenous, social and environmental programming for over 15 years. After receiving a BA in Art History at Dartmouth College, Alexis returned to Alaska, where she worked at the Sealaska Heritage Institute, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center in programming. Subsequently, Alexis earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology at UCLA, and has served as the Project Ethnographer for the Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) project, and as a Senior Researcher at the FrameWorks Institute.

Alexis is an accomplished researcher, writer, media-maker, and curriculum developer. She has published widely about Indigenous and environmental issues, with articles in American Indian Quarterly, the Journal of Museum Education and American Ethnologist. Her 2015 book, “So, how long have you been Native?” Life as an Alaska Native Tour Guide” won the Alaska Library Association Award for its originality, and depth. In addition to writing, Alexis has contributed to several Indigenous-themed productions, including co-producing and writing the script for a documentary nominated for the Native American Film Awards. Alexis has developed educational material for both formal and informal learning environments including university level-courses as well as lifelong learner curriculum.

Read Articles by Alexis Bunten here.

Genie Cartier
Office Manager
Location: San Francisco, CA
415-660-9301
Genie@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2017

Genie Cartier was born and raised in San Francisco. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in English/ Creative Writing and earned an MFA in Creative Writing/ Poetry from SFSU. When not writing in her spare time, she is also a professional performer of 23 years and recently co-created a socially conscious duo show with her sister called Yesterday is Tomorrow, which addresses issues ranging from gentrification, feminism and the dangerous intersection of capitalism and technology (find out more at http://cartiersisters.weebly.com). Genie cares deeply about issues concerning the environment and conservation, to the point where her house is filled with reused and repurposed items she didn’t want to throw away.

Britt Gondolfi
Indigeneity Special Programs Coordinator
Location: New Orleans, LA
Britt@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2017

Britt Gondolfi, born and raised in Southeast Louisiana, is a children’s book author, community organizer, and mother. Since 2017, Britt has worked with the Bioneers Intercultural Conversation Program, facilitating programming for students from Atlanta, Bogalusa, and Houma. While in law school, Britt supported the Bioneers Rights of Nature initiative by researching the intersection of tribal sovereignty and Federal Indian law facilitating workshops on the Rights of Nature at the Ho-Chunk and Mashpee Wampanoag nations. She recently took a stand for women’s rights, running a fierce campaign for State Senate in Louisiana. Her first Children’s book, “Look Up! Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution,” is a hilarious social commentary on digital distraction and Nature’s fight to save us from ourselves.

Teo Grossman
President
Location: Boulder, CO
415-660-9299
Teo@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2014

Born and raised in Northern New Mexico, Teo grew up hiking and fishing in the mountains and streams of the southwest. An early interest in Edward Abbey’s writing during a series of family backpacking trips in Utah combined with an odd fascination with renewable energy policy in high school kick-started his trajectory. Teo completed his graduate work at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC-Santa Barbara as a Doris Duke Conservation Fellow. Throughout his career, Teo has engaged in diverse efforts including managing youth and educator outreach efforts, conducting state-level assessments of long-range planning efforts, and has lead research for university labs, consultants and international NGO’s on topics including climate change adaptation, ecosystem services and ecological networks. Combining a clear-eyed approach to problem solving with a knack for identifying cutting edge trends and approaches he strives to work towards the healthy integration of natural systems and human communities at multiple scales.

Read more by Teo Grossman here.

JP Harpignies
Senior Producer, Conference and Special Projects
Bioneer since 1990

JP is a Brooklyn, NY-based consultant, conference producer, copy-editor and writer. He is the author of four books: Political Ecosystems, Double Helix Hubris, Delusions of Normality, and most recently Animal Encounters; co-author of The Magic Carpet Ride; editor of the collection, Visionary Plant Consciousness; and associate editor of the first two Bioneers books: Ecological Medicine and Nature’s Operating Instructions. A senior review team member for the Buckminster Fuller Challenge from 2009 to 2017, he was formerly a program director at the New York Open Center and founder/co-producer of the Eco-Metropolis conference in NYC. JP also taught t’ai chi chuan in Brooklyn, NY for nearly 25 years.

Emily Harris
Media Producer
Location: San Francisco, CA
Emily@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2014

A sound engineer and music enthusiast, Emily’s love for mixing audio tapestries helps to bring the Bioneers Radio series to life. Emily is also a documentary filmmaker and editor who has worked on productions for Al Jazeera America and PBS.

Patience Kamau
Program Director, Bioneers Learning
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Bioneer Since 2022

Patience Kamau’s passion is for the earth’s “wild” creatures. She is a peacebuilder-conservationist who at heart, sees her role as a conciliatory one between humans and our global environment’s complex ecosystems. Patience is indigenous to East Africa, born and raised in central Kenya.

Asha Kohli
Executive Assistant to Co-Founder and CRO
Location: Sebastopol, CA
505-986-0366
Asha@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2024

Asha Kohli is a multidisciplinary creative and the Founder of Kohlibri Creative – a healing arts project that weaves artistry and ancient ways, to guide others in their journey of self-healing and empowerment through artistic expression and earth-based rituals. She is passionate about cultivating beauty inspired by the natural world through intentionally crafted imagery, language, and design.

With a background in photojournalism and a passion for creative storytelling, she believes that words are sacred spells, which carry the power to transform the way we see the world.

Through rewilding the imagination, communing with joy, & inviting in play – Asha alchemizes lived experiences into poetic inspiration for the world to remember that the possibilities for healing are infinite.

She is currently based in Northern California, though lineages are woven with threads from the Caribbean coast and Andean mountains of Colombia, along with the Himalayan region of North India. She is a movement artist, a spacekeeper, a poet, an educator, and a devoted student to many more-than-human teachers.

In addition to her role as Nina Simon’s Executive Assistant, Asha serves as a Digital Storyteller and Director of Programs for Plant Spirit Talk, a diverse growing community of plant loving, life learners, liberation workers, Pachamama worshippers, truth seekers, dedicated healers, therapists, and artists, who practice deep listening and apprenticing with plants and Nature.

Arty Mangan
Director – Restorative Food Systems
Location: San Francisco, CA
831-337-4900
Arty@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 1998

Arty Mangan, Director of the Restorative Food Systems program, whose first experience in agriculture was as a farm worker picking peaches in West Virginia and tobacco in Ontario, has worked with farmers and agriculture since the 1970’s as a partner in Live Juice, a fresh, local, organic apple juice company in Santa Cruz, CA and later with Odwalla in charge of fruit sourcing, working with farmers in the US, Mexico and Costa Rica.

He joined Bioneers in 1998 as the Project Manager for the Restorative Development Initiative, producing “Wisdom at the End of Hoe” ecological agricultural workshops, collaborated with John Mohawk and the Iroquois White Corn Project and worked with The Federation of Southern Cooperatives and African American farmers in Mississippi and Alabama.

He is a former Board president of the Ecological Farming Association, and was a member of the Santa Cruz GE Subcommittee that led to a Precautionary Moratorium on growing genetically engineered crops in Santa Cruz County. For the Dreaming New Mexico project, he conducted a series of video interviews with Indigenous and Hispano farmers and leaders in New Mexico on biocultural crops and traditional farming that were shown on community TV stations in NM.

Arty’s latest work focuses on how agriculture can be a climate solution. He produced a Carbon Farming media series illustrating the power of soil carbon sequestration to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Mangan is also the Director of the Youth Leadership program.

Cara Romero
VP of Indigenous Perspectives
Program Director – Indigeneity
Location: Santa Fe, NM
505-395-2746
Cara@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2011

Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), Director, possesses a background rich in Indigenous cultural studies, fine art and documentary photography and videography, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) workshops, protection of indigenous intellectual property, conservation of indigenous cultural resources, fundraising, grantwriting, marketing, and the formalization of the Bioneers Indigeneity Program. Cara’s earned degrees in Cultural Anthropology (University of Houston), Fine Art Photography (Institute of American Indian Arts) and Photography Technology (Oklahoma State University). Prior to coming on board with Bioneers, Cara served as the first Executive Director of the Chemehuevi Cultural Center. She was an elected member of the Chemehuevi Tribal Council from 2007-2010, and became the Chairman of the Chemehuevi Education Board and Chairman of the Chemehuevi Early Education Policy Council.

Tyson Russell
IT/Media Administrator
Location: San Francisco, CA
415-660-9303
Tyson@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2013

As the IT/Media Administrator, Tyson is responsible for defining, developing and curating online content for web properties and social media. He is responsible for full cycle content acquisition and website development processes. As well as the ongoing maintenance and management of the digital properties.

Tyson holds a bachelor degree in Business and Technology as well as a minor in History. He is a firm supporter of the Bioneers core mission and is proud to be part of their team.

Tyson is an avid mountain biker, with a deep appreciation for nature. He is a devoted husband and proud father of three beautiful children.

Favorite Causes: Animal Rights, Conservation, Equality and Veganism.

Nina Simons

Secretary Board of Directors
Co-Founder and Chief Relationship Officer
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Bioneer since 1990

Nina Simons is co-founder of Bioneers and serves as its Chief Relationship Strategist. She is a social entrepreneur who is passionate about the power of women to transform the world, reaching racial and gender justice, indigeneity and rekindling a sacred relationship to nature, while co-creating a just transition that’s regenerative, loving and peaceful.

She speaks internationally and co-facilitates transformative leadership offerings that integrate Relational Mindfulness, Restoring the Deep Feminine and The Work That Reconnects.

Nina co-edited Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, and recently wrote the award-winning book Nature, Culture & the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership. She was named a recipient of the Goi Peace Award in recognition of her pioneering work through Bioneers to promote nature-inspired innovations for restoring (reciprocal relationships among) the Earth and our human community.

Nikki Spangenburg
Chief Administrative Officer
Location: Santa Fe, NM
505-395-2792
Nikki@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2008

Nikki has worked for Bioneers since 2008 starting with the award winning Dreaming New Mexico project and the Resilient Communities Network that works to build resilience from the ground up at local and regional levels. As Chief Administrative Officer, her work is focused on developing operational systems and processes that supports and delivers Bioneers mission, strategic plan and goals.

Jeffrey Vasterling
VP of Finance
Location: Santa Fe, NM
505-395-2744
JeffreyV@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2000

Jeffrey Vasterling spent his youth in the Midwest and moved to the Southwest in 1987. Naturally drawn to Mathematics, Physics and Business Theory from an early age, he used his years at Luther College to earn degrees in Anthropology and Psychology. He has also been a professional in the alternative health field.

Jeffrey is partnered with his best friend, Susan. He’s a gardening and outdoor enthusiast and is an avid supporter of the film industry.

Stephanie Welch
Bioneers Radio Producer
Location: San Francisco, CA
505-395-2800
Stephanie@Bioneers.org
Bioneer since 2017

Sharon Zetter is an artist, writer, and mama living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has been working at Bioneers in multiple capacities since 2015 and currently serves as Development Manager.