There are many different people who make the work of the Sierra Club happen. Please see the list below to identify the correct person to contact with your question or concern.
Wisconsin Chapter Staff
Sierra Club - Wisconsin Chapter
754 Williamson St., Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 256-0565
wisconsin.chapter@sierraclub.org
Elizabeth Ward
She/her/hers
Chapter Director
elizabeth.ward@sierraclub.org
As the Chapter Director, Elizabeth works with the Chapter's Executive Committee to ensure the Chapter is making progress on our goals to ensure everyone has access to clean air, clean water, and our public lands. Elizabeth has the pleasure of working with hundreds of volunteers and leaders across the state. Prior to assuming the role of Chapter Director in December of 2020, Elizabeth directed the Chapter's conservation programs since 2010. She enjoys hiking and biking in Wisconsin's beautiful places.
Jacinda Tessmann
She/her/hers
Chapter Coordinator
jacinda.tessmann@sierraclub.org
In her role as Chapter Coordinator, Jacinda Tessmann oversees operational aspects of the Wisconsin Chapter. In this role, she also contributes to the fundraising, finance, membership development and volunteer programs. Jacinda has a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Over the course of her career she has worked in the private and non-profit sectors but has always been drawn back to the non-profit world. Her interest in pairing her business background with an environmental career was sparked during her time with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Forestry Division. She has been with the Wisconsin Chapter since October 2010 and is pleased to use her business experience in support of the Sierra Club, its volunteers and Wisconsin’s air, water, and wild places.
Cassie Steiner-Bouxa
They/Them/Theirs or She/Her/Hers
Senior Campaign Coordinator
cassandra.steiner@sierraclub.org
In their role as the Campaign Coordinator for the Chapter, Cassie Steiner-Bouxa coordinates online and print communications and serves on priority issue campaigns including public lands access, equitable transportation and the beyond coal campaign. They supports volunteers and members of the public in engaging in decision-making processes and grassroots activism. Cassie has a degree in International Studies with an emphasis in Public Diplomacy and minors in Spanish and Peace and Social Justice from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. In their free time, Cassie enjoys reading, crafting and foraging.
Jadine Sonoda
She/her/hers
Campaign Coordinator
jadine.sonoda@sierraclub.org
As the Campaign Coordinator, Jadine works on and supports a variety of campaigns. She is primarily responsible for supporting the Tar Sands Team and our pipeline work, the Water Team, and the Chapter’s support of the Oak Creek and NTEC campaigns. Jadine has a degree in Biology with a minor in Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis. She is excited to explore Wisconsin and enjoys running, reading and experimenting with new recipes in her free time.
Sierra Club - National Headquarters
2101 Webster St, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (415) 977-5500
www.sierraclub.org
- Membership questions: membership.services@sierraclub.org
- Changes of address: address.changes@sierraclub.org
Wisconsin Chapter Executive Committee Members
Leadership of the WisconsinChapter of the Sierra Club is entrusted to a 15 member volunteer Executive Committee, selected by and representing our membership. Nine Executive Committee members are elected by the Chapter membership at large and serve staggered 3-year terms. Each of our six Local Groups annually appoints a delegate to represent them on the Chapter Executive Committee. Elections are held annually. Details and schedule can be found here.
Gail Syverud, Co-Chair
She/Her/Hers
Gail joined the Sierra Club because she is against oil and gas projects in ANWR. Locally, she is a member of organizations that advocate for sustainability, natural resources, wildlife, and national carbon fee and dividend legislation
Don Ferber, Co-Chair
He/Him/His
Four Lakes Group Delegate
d_ferber@sbcglobal.net
Don is an avid outdoors person with an appreciation for nature. As a fan and advocate of Aldo Leopold and his Land Ethic, he believes we need to live in an ethical manner as a member of the land community and in concert with nature and other people. He believes that currently, much of what we are doing is either unwise or unsustainable, it doesn't bring us happiness, and we need to take a different direction. Climate change and energy policy are key areas in determining our future direction and that of the planet. He works actively on climate and energy to set us on a different course. He also enjoys outreach and communications to engage people and educate them about the environment. Since there is no planet B, he figures we have to figure out how to explore, enjoy and protect this one.
Committees: Fundraising, Legislative, Personnel
Laura Lane
She/Her/Hers
Laura started volunteering with the Sierra Club because she is extremely concerned about environmental issues, especially climate change, and want to advocate for things I care about, including clean energy, mass transit, full funding for our state parks, and clean water. She studied environmental law at the University of Colorado and passed the Wisconsin Bar in 1999 and after her first child was born, she became a full-time mom and freelance writer. She has written three books for children with a fourth one due out this fall, and she specializes in writing about science, nature and social studies. Laura is also a member of our MG&E Beyond Coal team.
Committees: Fundraising, Equity
Linda Frank
She/Her/Hers
Great Waters Group Delegate
Linda@frankenvironmental.com
Linda has a deep concern about climate change and rapid species extinction has prompted her to engage on these issues as a community activist. As a core member of the Milwaukee Equity & Climate Alliance, Linda and her colleagues have successfully advocated for the newly passed resolution committing the city and county to 100% carbon neutrality, along with strong action on racial economic disparity. In this effort, she saw the value of persistent local advocacy and collaboration. In addition to this community work, she serves as president of the Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy, ensuring the preservation and restoration of precious natural landscapes acquired through fee title or conservation easement. She is also a lawyer and member of the American Bar Association. Linda also serves as a member of our Water Team, advocating for stronger factory farm protections.
Committees: Executive, Nominating
Tim Karaskiewicz
He/Him/His
Tim has been a member for more than twenty-five years and have worked, hiked, and paddled with people who have become friends and with whom they share common values: a fundamental respect for the environment, a desire to preserve native habitats, environmental justice, access to clean water, and the conservation of natural resources. Most of all, he has found a shared sense of respect for the environment in the Sierra activities that he's participated in or led. Tim has practiced law for more than 35 years -- at a large law firm, as a civil rights trial attorney with the US Department of Justice, and as General Counsel at Mitchell Airport where, among other things, he became familiar with and addressed environmental issues.
Laura Menefee
Fox Valley Group Delegate
menefee.laura@gmail.com
Amy Mueller
She/Her/Hers
Amy’s professional background of roughly 20 years in corporate Marketing and Communications helps bring a creative and promotional mindset to her advocate work. Recently, Amy’s focus has been partnering with others to reform wildlife policy. It was this passion that helped her earn the "New Activist" award for the Wisconsin Chapter in 2022!
Throughout the year she also focuses on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) efforts for the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter by helping write resolutions, attend and speak at committee meetings and most importantly, educate others on how to participate in this unique statutory group. She also represents the Wisconsin Chapter within the National Sierra Club - Council of Club Leaders (CCL) functioning as a liaison between the local chapter and the National Organization.
Meghan Pierce
She/Her/Hers
Meghan works at Porchlight and is a housing case manager. She has been there for 4 1/2 years now. Before that Meghan served two years in the Peacecorps in Eswatini, Africa and worked in the youth development sector. Her time there is where she really started thinking about the environment. Specifically our countries impact globally. Right after that Meghan worked a few months as a team member with WisCorps. They worked on conservation projects and trail building and maintenance. It was a great way to reconnect with Wisconsin's outdoor spaces. After she started at Porchlight a co-worker luckily connected Meghan to Sierra Club. Committees: Beyond Coal to Clean Energy
Kelsey Saari
She/Her/Hers
Southeast Gateway Group Delegate
saari.kelsey@gmail.com
Kelsey is a Registered Nurse in Kenosha and has been a Sierra Club member since 2019. She serves as the delegate for the Southeast Gateway Group, and is also a member of the Lands Team, Equity Committee, and Book Club. An avid hiker and kayaker, Kelsey is passionate about sustainability and access to Public Lands.
Committees: Equity
Caryn Treiber
She/Her/Hers
Chippewa Valley Group Chair, Chippewa Valley Group Delegate
treibercaryn14@gmail.com
Caryn Treiber has been a member of the Sierra Club since 1982. In addition to serving on the Executive Committee, she is active with her local Chippewa Valley Group, and she serves on the Fundraising Committee of the Wisconsin Chapter. In her role as a member of the Fundraising Committee, she was instrumental in planning an event to highlight our work for renewable energy at a house party held in 2011. Caryn is also a passionate supporter of progressive politics, and she has helped the Sierra Club make the difference to elect environmental candidates for years on the Chapter's Political Committee.
Committees: Political
Pat Wilson
He/Him/His
Coulee Region Group Delegate
pbwilson@centurytel.net
Pat joined the Sierra Club in 1976 because he enjoyed hiking on trails the club had built in the Baraboo Hills. 1980 Coulee Group canoeing outings got him started on paddling. Pat’s environmental ethic began through outdoor recreation. Hiking and paddling sparked an interest in birds, plants, and wildlife, which led to concern for ecosystems. The world has changed since 1976, and his current efforts include climate, energy, and water quality. Pat is also the board president of Friends of the Blufflands, a group working to protect and preserve bluff prairies and forests in the La Crosse area. He has an MSEE from UW and is a retired engineering manager who worked on energy efficient controls for commercial air conditioning equipment and systems.
Emily O'Neil
She/Her/Hers
I work in Marketing in the greater Milwaukee areas. I have been volunteering with Sierra Club for over a year and half. I love the work we do and meeting other people passionate about the environment.
Committees: Transportation Access & Equity