Staff

Kizzy Charles-Guzman

Chief Executive Officer

Kizzy Charles-Guzman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Environmental Health. Her team protects people from toxic chemicals by working with communities, consumers, workers, government, and the private sector to demand and support business practices that are safe for public health and the environment. Kizzy has dedicated over 18 years of her career to deliver policy work at the intersection of environmental sustainability, public health, and racial equity on behalf of New Yorkers. She led the development of the country’s first strategy to address the public health impacts of rising temperatures and heat waves. She also spearheaded several initiatives aimed at ensuring that NYC residents are ready to withstand and emerge stronger from the effects of climate change, making the city more resilient. Kizzy has advised three New York City Mayors in her career; successfully securing over $4 billion dollars in investments to uplift historically underserved and marginalized neighborhoods. She received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Quality Award and a Champion of Change Award from the U.S. White House under President Obama, in recognition of her policy achievements, her contributions to society, her focus on justice, and her dedication to her community. She is a graduate of Carleton College and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Jose Aguayo

Senior Manager

Jose Aguayo is the Senior Manager, Green & Clean Procurement, at the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) where he engages large institutions in purchasing healthier products for use in the built environment through research, advocacy, and education. He holds a bachelor degree in biology and a masters degree in global health, both from George Mason University. Jose has previously worked at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) where he provided technical assistance to environmental justice grassroots groups, as a contractor for the USEPA, providing research and data analysis work to the Safety and Sustainability Division, and as a research analyst at the Environmental Working Group researching toxic ingredients in food and personal care products. In his free time, Jose enjoys playing the beautiful game (soccer), supporting his favorite soccer team Manchester United, and playing the electric bass.

Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon

Senior Director, Toxic Exposures and Pollution Prevention

Shakoora has over 20 years of experience in directing environmental and public health programs in California. She is committed to environmental health by advancing policies and programs to reduce community exposures to environmental hazards. An environmental scientist, Azimi-Gaylon’s career began with water quality protection roles in regulatory programs at the California EPA- State Water Resources Control Board. Much of her work focused on improving water quality in California, contributing to a healthier environment. She has identified gaps for creating effective solutions and promoting a healthier environment to make positive changes in communities. Shakoora has directed the development of primary prevention strategies to guide public health decisions in California. She has provided leadership to reduce exposure to lead and other toxic pollutants to children. Azimi-Gaylon’s contributions have been recognized by multiple government agencies and non-government organizations. She has received outstanding leadership and superior accomplishment awards highlighting her achievements and contributions to the environment and dedication to communities in California. Azimi-Gaylon holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a Master of Science in environmental science.

Gwen Barrett

Senior Director, Advancement and Philanthropic Partnerships

Gwen Barrett brings over 20 years experience in philanthropy to lead CEH’s Philanthropic Partnerships Team. Throughout her career, she has advanced social justice and environmental justice and firmly believes everyone has a right to a safe living environment and access to safe food. Prior to CEH, she worked at UC Berkeley and The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. She has an M.A and B.A. in Cultural Anthropology Cal State Los Angeles and lives in Richmond, California. When Gwen is not working, she enjoys traveling and cooking with her husband, yoga, and hiking in nature.

Farva Batool

Community Environmental Health Manager

Farva has been committed to working and researching to improve community health since 2015, and has been published with her colleagues in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). Prior to CEH, she worked at Breathe California Sacramento Region on air quality programming, education, and policy. She earned her B.S. in Global Disease Biology from UC Davis and is completing her M.S. in Health Informatics at UC Davis, and lives in Sacramento, California. Outside of work she enjoys tending to her egg-laying backyard chickens.

Kolby Cherry

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Kolby received her undergraduate degree from Pace University in Economics with a minor in Criminal Justice. Upon her graduation, she decided to stay in New York where she traveled. Some of her favorite places she visited were Amsterdam and Paris. She decided to move back to the Bay Area where she pursued a graduate program for premed at CSUEB. During the pandemic she realized she was no longer passionate about the medical field but wanted to be a part of an organization where environmental health was at the forefront. In Kolby’s free time, she is an avid swimmer and loves listening to old school music like Hall & Oates, Anita Baker, and Sade.

Abigail Christensen

Research Coordinator

Abigail graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management & Protection. Abigail has experience in management and regulatory compliance of organic vineyard operations as well as more recent work experience centered around environmental research of oil spills in marine environments and policy analysis targeting systemic injustice in the implementation of landmark environmental laws. In her senior year at Cal Poly, she managed a multidisciplinary team of students to research and advance oil spill recovery technology and presented her team's design to a variety of audiences including representatives of the United Nations, CSU deans & faculty, local business owners, members of the community, and key figures in the engineering industry.

Libby Davis

Science Manager

Libby Davis evaluates and develops scientific approaches to reduce the public’s exposure to toxic chemicals from food, water, air, and consumer products through litigation, compliance testing, policy, and community engagement strategies. Prior to joining CEH, she worked as a faculty member at Butler University, where she taught environmental chemistry coursework and mentored undergraduates in research. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology from Duke University and a B.A. in Chemistry from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. In her spare time, she loves horseback riding and reading.

Emily DiFrisco

Senior Director, Strategic Communications

Emily DiFrisco oversees CEH’s strategic communications, driving awareness and action on toxic chemicals for a safer, healthier world. She has 18 years of experience in communications for nonprofit organizations, including Plastic Pollution Coalition and Environmental Working Group. Passionate about the health of people and the planet, she is a frequent media speaker and has been interviewed by NBC Nightly News, NPR, Reuters, and The Guardian. She has a B.A. from Calvin University in English Literature and Journalism, and lives in Chicago, IL. In her free time, she tries to get her partner and three children to live life with less plastic.

Jael Ellman

Philanthropic Partnerships Coordinator

Jael supports the Philanthropic Partnerships team by writing proposals, reports, and managing grant-related systems. Before joining CEH, Jael worked at The Moth producing live storytelling shows and workshops that amplified diverse voices and promoted social change. She has a B.A. in International Development with a focus in Sustainable Development from Tulane University, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. In her free time, Jael enjoys crocheting, hiking, cooking, and seeing live music.

Sarah Erlich

Policy Advisor

Sarah conducts policy analysis, reviews government regulations, and develops legislative strategies that support CEH’s work. Prior to joining CEH, Sarah worked at the Bureau of Environmental Justice at the District Attorney’s Office where she focused on preventing lead poisoning. Sarah worked as a Senate Fellow for State Senator Loni Hancock, honing in on environmental quality issues and transit development. Sarah graduated from UCLA School of Law with a specialty in public interest law and policy, and currently lives in Los Angeles. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys dancing and leading an intergenerational hiking group.

Bela Garcia

Manager, Green & Clean Procurement

Bela works with the Green & Clean Procurement team to support large institutions purchase healthier products in order to improve the quality of food and reduce toxic exposure. Bela comes to CEH with non-profit experience in the built environment assisting manufacturers in removing harmful chemicals from their products for use in indoor spaces. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Washington and is passionate about working towards solutions for environmental issues. In her free time, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, painting, or reading.

Sara Giretto

Research Assistant

Sara does research to support the CEH consumer protection team’s efforts to reduce the public’s exposure to toxic chemicals in consumer products. Prior to joining CEH, Sara helped educate and empower youth in high-risk climate zones throughout Hayward with the Climate Empowerment Learning Initiative. She also volunteers with the Friends of Sausal Creek to protect native species through habitat restoration and improving community access to green space in Oakland. She graduated from Cal State East Bay with a B.S. degree in Geography and a B.A. degree in Environmental Studies, and lives in San Leandro. In her free time, Sara loves exploring creative outlets like sewing, painting, clay modeling, and playing guitar.

Tom Fox

Senior Legislative Counsel

Tom is CEH’s Senior Legislative Counsel located in Washington, DC, where he works at the intersection of science, law, policy, and justice to defend and strengthen our nation’s bedrock environmental laws, including laws governing toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Tom has decades of experience as an environmental attorney and advocate protecting human health and the environment. He began his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the General Counsel, where he advised USDA agencies on environmental compliance and worked to clean up contaminated sites, including abandoned hardrock mines on National Forest System lands. From 2008 to 2017, Tom served California Senator Barbara Boxer as Senior Democratic Counsel on the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, where he worked to pass environmental laws and prevent rollbacks of important health protections. Tom received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Utah and his law degree from The American University, Washington College of Law. Tom lives in the DC suburbs and in his free time enjoys outdoor recreation, including hiking, skiing, fishing, and softball.

Lakeesha Gage

Senior Director, Healthy Culture and People

Lakeesha has over 10 years of experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, including work at Sustainable Conservation, Back On Track, 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, Trust for Conservation Innovation, and Senior Helpers of the East Bay. A San Francisco native, she is exhilarated to be part of an organization that advocates for healthy communities.

Julia Hendrickson

Donor Relations Coordinator

Julia creates and supports CEH’s fundraising campaigns, donations, donor communications, and the donor database. Before joining CEH, she was a conference coordinator which gave her the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of people and develop her skills in event planning, communication, attention to detail, and radical prioritization all while learning about the values and structure of a non-profit organization. She has a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies and Sociology and lives in Alameda, California. She enjoys traveling and has been to 14 different countries so far.

Joey Lee

Digital Engagement Manager

Joey manages CEH’s email advocacy program and digital communications testing. Joey has 15 years of experience executing innovative digital communications strategies for nonprofits in the food movement like Meatless Monday and the Center for Food Safety. She has a B.A. in Political Studies from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, and lives in Oakland, California. She loves to cook, makes at least one new dish per cooking project, and employs a cookbook rotation to ensure she uses them all!

Judy Levin, MSW

Senior Advisor

Judy Levin, MSW, has spent 14 years advancing CEH’s Procurement and Built Environment programs, collecting more than half a billion dollars of purchasing power for a healthier future. During her tenure she has educated thousands of purchasers big and small, from multinational corporations to private businesses, schools, and healthcare providers. Working in partnership with coalitions, she helped pass two bills to require labeling of flame retardants in children’s products and created countless tools for purchasers to shift the marketplace toward healthier products. Previous to CEH, she worked for 24 years as a social worker building her organizing and advocacy skills. She lives in the Bay Area, where she often can be found hiking with her family.

Tony Martin

Staff Accountant

Anthony (Tony) has over 30 years of experience working in the fields of Accounting, Certified Payroll Reporting & Compliance, Employee Benefits Administration, and 401(k)/Pension Administration. As a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, he has worked at several large Bay Area companies and City/County/State Agencies. Over the last 10 years, Tony has worked for Non-Profit organizations such as Charter Schools, Community Broadcast Radio Stations, and Community Outreach/Service Groups. His Accounting background includes Billing/Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Month End Reconciliations, and Monthly/Quarterly Reporting. Tony has been committed to Social Justice and Community Organizing for most of his adult life and has participated in various projects over the years. When he is not eagerly pouring over accounting reports, Tony enjoys Photography, Poetry, Music and Documentaries.

Caitlin Moher

Research Manager

manages CEH’s legal efforts that utilize California’s Proposition 65 to force companies to eliminate and keep toxic chemicals out of their consumer products. She began working at CEH as a student intern in 2018. In 2019, she joined CEH as a full-time staff member investigating and holding fashion-retailers who failed to remove toxic lead from fashion accessories accountable. She has a B.S. in Environmental Economics and Policy from UC Berkeley and lives in San Francisco, California. She loves to walk around the CEH office in Oakland and explore all the cafes, restaurants, and culture downtown has to offer.

Matt Nevins

Digital Communications Lead

Matt leads CEH’s digital campaigns, social media strategy, and implementation. Matt previously oversaw the purchasing, cataloging, and testing of evidence used in CEH’s litigation to enforce California’s consumer health protection law, thereby protecting people nationwide. He has a B.A. in Film Studies from UC Berkeley and lives in Berkeley, California. His bucket list item is to visit and hike in every U.S. National Park.

Emily Reder

Senior Manager

Emily manages the consumer product testing efforts for CEH’s public interest litigation to rid the marketplace of toxic chemicals. Emily began her time at CEH in the spring of 2017 as a student intern to support the organization's efforts to test for toxic chemicals in canned foods. She joined CEH as a full-time staff member later that year and continues to remain committed to corporate accountability and safeguarding public health. She has a B.S. in Society & Environment from UC Berkeley with a concentration in Environmental Policy & Management, and lives in Oakland, California. She enjoys getting a roll of film developed, finding a new favorite spot in the Bay Area, and connecting with people.

Nikki Santiago

HR & Operations Manager

Nikki focuses on all things HR and people-related to ensure that CEH is functioning at its best operationally. Before coming to CEH, she did her normal HR duties and occasionally subbed in for sick staff members to serve snacks to middle school students. She has a B.S. from UC Santa Cruz in Plant Sciences and lives in Vallejo, California. In her free time, you can find her playing video games, reading, or generally enjoying the wonders of the great indoors.

Ben Schleifer

Coordinator, Green & Clean Procurement

Ben comes to CEH with over six years of experience working as a science educator in public schools and four years of experience working on environmental transformation of schools’ cafeterias. He applies his neuroscience degrees to both understand how to motivate behavior change and also how toxic chemicals can hinder normal childhood development.

Robert Sussman

Legal Advisor

Robert M. Sussman, Esquire is the principal in Sussman and Associates, a law and consulting firm that offers advice and support on energy and environmental policy issues to clients in the non-profit and private sectors. Mr. Sussman serves as counsel to several non-profit environmental and public health groups on TSCA and related issues. Mr. Sussman was Co-Chair of the Obama Transition Team for EPA and then Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator from 2009 to 2013. Mr. Sussman served in the Clinton Administration as the EPA Deputy Administrator during 1993 and 1994. He has been an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, a Guest Lecturer at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a Visiting Lecturer at Yale Law School.

Laura Szabados

Director of Institutional Giving

Laura stewards CEH’s portfolio of institutional funders and foundation partners. She has worked in philanthropic partnerships for over a decade, primarily focusing on institutional resource development for environmental non-profit organizations. She has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and lives in Alameda, California. She is also a hobby apiarist!

Mihir Vohra

Science Lead

Mihir uses current science, research, and data to make sure CEH’s litigation, advocacy, and policy work is driven by the best possible scientific evidence. Mihir previously worked at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) where he helped communities use scientific information to create advocacy campaigns to end their exposures to toxic chemicals. He has a PhD from UC San Francisco and lives in Oakland, California, with his dog named Flapjack.

Founder

Michael Green

Founder

Michael Green is the Founder and CEO of CEH. He has pioneered the groundbreaking legal work that has won landmark victories to protect the public from hazardous consumer products and toxic emissions. Michael has worked in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management, and the U.S. EPA's Working Group on Environmental Equity. Michael designed a solid waste management plan for the Tibetan refugee community in Dharamsala, India, and cared for the sick at Mother Teresa's mission in Calcutta, India. He was awarded the California Wellness Foundation's annual Leadership Award, as well as the prestigious Compassion in Action Award which is presented jointly from the Dalai Lama Foundation and the Committee of 100 for Tibet each year. He has testified in front of Congress, serves on numerous boards of directors, and is frequently quoted in national and international media. His direct supervisors are Dylan Green (born in 2007) and Juliette Green (2008).