Environmental Leadership Chronicles
by AEP
Environmental Leadership Chronicles is brought to you by the California Association of Environmental Professionals. We interview leaders in the environmental industry to share information about their career development beyond the technical work. This podcast is for anyone who is interested in any and all things within the environmental profession.
Episodes
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Understanding Proposition 45: Perspectives, Implications, and Practical Effects
California voters will decide Proposition 45, the Building an Affordable California Act, on November 3, 2026. Prop 45 would establish a new environmental review, permitting, and judicial review process for projects it defines as “essential.” Eligible project applicants could elect to use this new...
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Permitting the Future of Energy Storage ft. Laurel Glass Lees, Hydrostor
Recorded in person at the 2026 AEP State Conference in San Diego, this episode features longtime AEP leader and former Environmental Leadership Chronicles co-host Laurel Glass Lees. She moves to the guest seat to share how her career went from sampling storm drains to leading environmental...
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Navigating San Diego Bay, ft. Sid Voorakkara, Port of San Diego
In this episode, we are joined by Sid Voorakkara, Port of San Diego Board Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Port's Environmental Advisory Committee. Sid shares his experience in advocacy and public service, the power of networks and perseverance, and local outreach efforts that connect students...
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Live from the AEP State Conference: The Abundance Agenda: What Part Does CEQA Really Play, ft. Corinne Lytle Bonine, Mindy Fogg & Matt Klopfenstein
What part does CEQA really play in why we can't have nice things? Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson makes the case that systemic barriers, not lack of resources or will, prevent progress on ambitious projects. Environmental regulations, including CEQA and NEPA, are part of that...
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Protecting California's Wild Places ft. Armando Quintero, California State Parks
In this episode, we are joined by Armando Quintero – Director of California State Parks. Armando spent more than two decades with the National Park Service, serving as a park ranger at Sequoia, Point Reyes, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. He later led the Sierra Nevada Research...
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Expanding Equitable Access to California's Parks ft. Kindley Walsh Lawlor, Parks California
California's state parks belong to all of us, and protecting them, funding them, and making sure everyone feels welcome in them takes intentional leadership. In this episode we're speaking with Kindley Walsh Lawlor, the inaugural President and CEO of Parks California, the nonprofit partner to...
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CEQA Series: Fair Argument Standard, ft. Corinne Lytle Bonine, Kristin Blackson, and Matt Klopfenstein
In this episode, we have a panel of environmental policy and planning experts joining to discuss the CEQA fair argument standard. Corinne Lytle Bonine has over 18 years of environmental permitting experience and serves as the Director of Environmental Permitting for the Western Region and Wind...
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Leading with Kindness and Joy, ft. Florentina Craciun, LSA
Florentina Craciun is an urban planner with over 16 years of experience in environmental compliance. As a Senior Planner at LSA , she guides agencies and private clients through CEQA for projects like housing and commercial developments, historic building adaptive reuse, and public…
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Advancing California's Climate Agenda, ft. Senator Catherine S. Blakespear, California Senate District 38
Senator Catherine Blakespear represents California's 38th Senate District, covering northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. Senator Blakespear is a lawyer and former journalist with local government experience and elected the State Senate 2022. She currently chairs the Senate...
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Championing Coastal Resiliency and Environmental Policy, ft. Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, California District 77
We're honored to welcome Assemblymember Tasha Burner, who represents California's 77th Assembly District, encompassing coastal communities from Carlsbad and Encinitas south through La Jolla to Coronado. Assemblymember Boerner has served in the State Assembly since 2018 and currently chairs both…
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Bridging Sectors for Sustainable Solutions, ft. Anne Middleton, WILDCOAST
In this episode, we feature Anne Middleton, a conservation professional whose career has taken her from Montana to Cameroon and now to California, bridging the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. From investigating international wildlife crime with the Environmental Investigation Agency to...
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Amplifying Student Voices in Environmental Leadership, ft. Xela Brainin Godinez, CSU Channel Islands Student
In this episode, we feature Xela Brainin Godinez, a student at CSU Channel Islands studying Environmental Science and Resource Management with a marine and coastal emphasis. Having served as a AEP Student Council Member and participant on the People & Culture Committee, Xela brings a fresh...
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Connecting People with Nature through Regenerative Design: ft. Andrea Doonan horticulture + design
In this episode, we're excited to feature Andrea Doonan, an ecological landscape designer based in San Diego who is transforming how we think about residential landscapes. Andrea specializes in designing spaces that connect people with nature while incorporating regenerative and sustainable...
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Building Partnerships for Regional Innovation, ft. Josh Metz, Monterey Bay DART
In this episode, we welcome Josh Metz, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Monterey Bay DART Initiative. Josh shares his winding career path from environmental biology and landscape architecture to leading regional economic development at the Fort Ord Reuse Authority and co-founding Monterey...
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Launching a Community-Powered Climate Week ft. Erika Rodriguez, Nadi Marketing + San Diego Climate Week
In this episode, we meet with Erika Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of Nadi Marketing and Chair of the first-ever San Diego Climate Week. Erika shares her life-changing experience surviving a Category 4 cyclone in Fiji, how that moment shifted her career toward climate advocacy, and the story behind...
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Implementing California's Waste Reduction Goals, ft. Steve Weihe, County of San Diego & Lisa Wood, TRC Companies
In this episode, we explore the landscape of solid waste management and CEQA compliance with Lisa Wood, Environmental Planner with TRC Companies, and Steve Weihe, Recycling Specialist II at the County of San Diego. Lisa brings decades of experience and was instrumental in updating CEQA guidelines...
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Building an Employee-Owned Environmental Legacy, ft. Leslie Moulton-Post, Environmental Science Associates (ESA)
In this episode, we’re joined by Leslie Moulton-Post, President and CEO of Environmental Science Associates (ESA). A recognized leader in the environmental industry, Leslie has spent over 40 years at ESA, guiding some of California’s most complex infrastructure and water projects and helping…
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Building Inclusive Environmental Workplaces, ft. Taylor Morgan, Ascent
In this episode, we’re joined by Taylor Morgan, a key member of the People Resources team at Ascent. With over six years of experience in human resources, Taylor brings a thoughtful and strategic approach to building more inclusive workplaces—focusing on DEI programming, employee resource groups,...
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Bridging Science and Strategy, ft. John Dietler, Ph.D., SWCA Environmental Consultants
Welcome to the Environmental Leadership Chronicles podcast, a podcast series from the California Association of Environmental Professionals. In this episode, we are joined by John Dietler, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Operations for the West at SWCA Environmental Consultants. John shares his...
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Elevating Early Career Voices in Planning, ft. Megan Musolf, City of Carpinteria
In this episode, we meet with Megan Musolf (she/her), Assistant Long-Range Planner for the City of Carpinteria. Megan shares her journey from studying Environmental Studies at UC Santa Barbara to building a career as a planner in the public sector, where she works to implement the City's Housing...
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Empowering Planners Through Leadership, ft. Lesley Owning, HELIX Environmental
In this episode, we meet in person with Lesley Owning, a seasoned Principal Planner and Environmental Planning Group Manager at Helix Environmental Planning. With over 13 years of experience, Lesley manages CEQA and NEPA requirements for diverse projects, from infrastructure to renewable energy....
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Seeds of Change, Waves of Progress: 2025 AEP Conference Insights
This episode is a brief 2025 AEP Conference Recap for our podcast listeners and viewers! This year’s gathering brought environmental professionals together at Zachari Dunes in Oxnard, California, in early April. Centered around the theme “Seeds of Change, Waves of Progress,” the conference…
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Protecting California’s Landscapes, ft. Bridget Fithian, Sierra Foothill Conservancy
We’re joined by Bridget Fithian, Executive Director of the Sierra Foothill Conservancy and a leader in land conservation across the Central Sierra. Born and raised in Mariposa, Bridget’s deep connection to open spaces has shaped her career in conservation, where she has helped protect over 30,000...
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Protecting Native Lands: Environmental Sovereignty, ft. Cynthia R. Harris, National Congress of American Indians’ Institute for Environmental Sovereignty
In this episode, we're joined by Cynthia R. Harris, Director of the Institute for Environmental Sovereignty at the National Congress of American Indians. A respected leader in environmental law and tribal sovereignty, Cynthia brings deep expertise in climate adaptation, water conservation, and...
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Mentoring Future Environmental Professionals, ft. Cameron Lukos, GPA Consulting
Welcome to the Environmental Leadership Chronicles, brought to you by the California Association of Environmental Professionals. In this episode, we are thrilled to feature Cameron Lukos, a GIS analyst and biologist at GPA Consulting, who is pioneering the integration of technology and biology in...
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Championing Climate Action Planning, ft. Shelby Rust Busó, City of San Diego
In this episode, we're thrilled to feature Shelby Rust Busó, the Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of San Diego. As a key figure in San Diego's climate action plans, Shelby brings a wealth of experience in sustainable building design, mobility, local food systems, and resiliency planning....
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Shaping Flood Control Policy ft. Joan Valle, Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
In this episode, we feature Joan Valle, the Chief of Regulatory for the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. With over 20 years of experience in environmental planning, Joan shares her expertise in managing teams and programs related to key environmental regulations…
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Expanding the Narrative, ft. Chief Esparza and Claudia Garcia
In this episode, we feature Claudia Garcia, who serves on the state board for AEP and is the director at large, as well as the liaison for the state board's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity committee. Alongside her, we have Chief Esparza, a dedicated DEI consultant working closely with the AEP...
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Cultivating Change in Social & Environmental Justice, ft. Clayton Tschudy, San Diego Canyonlands
We're thrilled to host Clayton Tschudy, the Executive Director of San Diego Canyonlands. Clayton has over twenty years of experience dedicated to restorative landscape design in California. His expertise as a botanist includes native plant ecology of California and drought-tolerant landscaping. A...
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Riding the Winds of Change, ft. Jenny Vick, HDR
Co-host Corinne Lytle Bonine joins the podcast as we feature Jenny Vick, West Coast Offshore Wind Lead for HDR. As an established environmental consultant, Jenny has over 18 years of environmental and project management experience preparing CEQA and NEPA documents for a wide range of marine and...
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CEQA Series: Considerations for Commercial Development, ft. Andrew Saba, Stockdale Capital Partners
This episode is a feature in our CEQA Series where I'm joined by co-host, Corinne Lytle Bonine and we feature Andrew Saba, Managing Director at Stockdale Capital Partners. Andrew is responsible for asset management with a focus on healthcare real estate at Stockdale Capital Partners – a real…
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CEQA Series: VMT Mitigation in California, ft. Tim Haile, Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Meghan Macias, EPD Solutions.
This episode is a feature in our CEQA Series; our host Konnie Dobreva speaks with guests Tim Haile, Executive Director at Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and Meghan Macias, Director of Technical Services at EPD Solutions Konnie, Meghan, and Tim discuss the impacts of SB 743 on VMT...
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Planning for a Sustainable Future, ft. Pedro Peterson, Ph.D., California Air Resources Board (CARB)
In this episode, co-hosts Corinne and Jessa feature Pedro Peterson, Ph.D. - who manages the Local Planning Section at the California Air Resources Board (known as CARB). CARB provides resources and guidance to local governments on how to align land use and mobility policies with the State’s...
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Integrating Generative AI in the Workplace, ft. Gayani R. Weerasinghe, Esq. & Hobson Lane
In this episode, we delve into the world of Generative AI with Gayani Weerasinghe, an intellectual property attorney and Hobson Lane, an AI developer, professor, and social impact entrepreneur. As generative AI continues to evolve and become more integrated into our lives, we wanted to launch a...
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Reimagining Transportation, ft. Cheryl Croshere, Ph.D., Sacramento TMA and 50 Corridor TMA
In this episode. we feature an interview with our guest Dr. Cheryl Croshere. Join us as we dive into the world of sustainable transportation with Cheryl, an advocate, researcher, and consultant. With a diverse academic background spanning women's studies, transportation planning, and cultural...
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Advocating for Mentorship, ft. Jenny Delumo, San Francisco Planning Department
In this episode, I am joined by a guest co-host, Konnie Dobreva and we feature Jenny Delumo. Jenny is a Senior Planner and Transportation Review Team lead at the San Francisco Planning Department where she reviews complex transportation projects for environmental impacts and works on…
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Navigating Your Career Path, ft. Kevin Cunningham, Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District
In this episode, I am joined by a guest co-host, Corinne Lytle Bonine and we feature Kevin Cunningham. Kevin is an environmental practitioner with a strong background in managing the preparation of various CEQA compliant documents for public infrastructure and land development projects. He also…
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Inspiring Leadership for a Sustainable Future, ft. Audrey Zagazeta, Circlepoint
In this episode, I am again joined by co-host, Konnie Dobreva and we feature Audrey Zagazeta, President & CEO of Circlepoint. Audrey has decades of experience in environmental planning, working in both the public and private sectors. She has managed multi-disciplinary projects for local...
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Embracing Synchronicity in Your Career, ft. Michael Brandman, Ph.D.
In this episode, we feature Michael Brandman, former President & CEO of Michael Brandman Associates. Michael is a pioneer in the environmental industry; in 1974, Michael was one of the original founders of the Association of Environmental Professionals and served as the California AEP State...
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Leading the Way in Environmental Stewardship, ft. Julie Regan, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
In this episode, we feature Julie Regan, Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). We recorded this episode onsite at the 2023 AEP State Conference, just a few minutes after Julie stepped off the stage from giving her keynote address. Julie is a seasoned leader in...
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2023 AEP Conference Chronicles: Attendee Wrap Up
In this episode, we hear from attendees at the 2023 AEP Conference: Mountain Vibes & Lake Blues in Lake Tahoe. We've compiled a series of short clips from a variety of conference-goers sharing their experience. Over the course of the conference, we had the opportunity to speak with a variety of...
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AEP Mentoring Program ft. Corinne Lytle Bonine and Konnie Dobreva
Corinne Lytle Bonine and Konnie Dobreva join the podcast to discuss the launch of the new AEP Mentorship Program. The AEP Mentorship Program offers an opportunity to be both mentee and mentor at the same time and has been designed to provide maximum flexibility and opportunities for our members....
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Advocating for Change Using Policy, ft. Mikey Knab, Climate Action Campaign
In this episode, we feature Mikey Knab, Director of Policy at Climate Action Campaign. Mikey is a values-driven professional with over 15 years of leadership level experience in both non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. He’s skilled at building teams, program and operation…
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Balancing Landscape Design with Ecological Function, ft. Julie Johnstone, Great Ecology
In this episode, Corinne Lytle Bonine joins as a guest co-host and we feature Julie Johnstone, Associate Director of Design with Great Ecology. Julie is an accomplished landscape designer with 10 years of experience with a dual Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from...
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CEQA Series: Legislative Review Committee ft. William Halligan, Matt Klopfenstein, and Kristin Blackson
This episode is a panel featuring Bill Halligan, Matt Klopfenstein, and Kristin Blackson discussing their work with the AEP Legislative Review Committee. Bill Halligan is Senior Director and Senior Environmental Counsel with Harris + Associates. Bill has prepared hundreds of environmental…
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Educating & Influencing Future Generations, ft. Shane Coopersmith aka Sustainable Shane
In this episode, Corinne Lytle Bonine joins as a guest co-host as we feature Shane Coopersmith, an environmental influencer known as Sustainable Shane. Shane grew up surfing in Carlsbad, California where his love for everything sustainable started at a very young age. Everything from beach…
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Using Data to Drive Change, ft. Dr. Cindy J. Lin, Hey Social Good
In this episode, we feature Dr. Cindy J. Lin, the CEO and Co-Founder of Hey Social Good, a social impact tech company working to revolutionize social good for people, planet, and profit. Dr. Lin is an ecologist, environmental engineer, environmental and data scientist, and expert on the...
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Decarbonizing the Built Environment, ft. David Hodgins, Sustento Group
In this episode, we feature David Hodgins, the founder and CEO of Sustento Group and Executive Director of the Los Angeles Better Buildings Challenge. With more than a decade of experience in project development, program delivery and policy implementation, David Hodgins is a recognized leader in...
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AEP Climate Change Committee: Volunteering for Change, ft. Michael Hendrix, Jennifer Reed, & Rich Walter
In this episode, we host a panel with members from AEP’s Climate Change Committee – Michael Hendrix, Jennifer Reed, and Rich Walter. The Committee consists of leaders of climate action planning practices from consulting firms and agencies that have lead many of the local GHG reduction planning...
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Leading an Environmental Consulting Firm, ft. Tania Treis and Susanne Heim, Panorama Environmental
In this episode, we feature Tania Treis and Susanne Heim, Co-Owners and Principals of Panorama Environmental, to discuss their leadership approach to running an environmental consulting firm. Tania is the Founding Principal of Panorama and specializes in CEQA, NEPA, and permitting compliance. She...
About this show
Environmental Leadership Chronicles is brought to you by the California Association of Environmental Professionals. We interview leaders in the environmental industry to share information about their career development beyond the technical work. This podcast is for anyone who is interested in any and all things within the environmental profession.
Hosted by
AEP