CIRCULAR PHILADELPHIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Director of Sanitation and Environmental Programming, Centennial Parkside CDC
When Aminata Calhoun returned to her childhood residence in West Philadelphia in 2016, she was totally dismayed and completely distraught to see an entire community overrun with illegal dumping, trash/litter, blight, and dilapidated properties, literally falling down to the ground. She was in disbelief and driven to look within herself to ask the question, "How can I awaken a people to the detriment of the conditions of our community that are affecting their health, safety and the environment?"
Aminata began to immerse herself in environmental sustainability in relation to our daily imperfect behaviors in our living environment. She defines this endeavor as Transformer of Environmental Sustainability Urban Revitalization.
In 2019, Aminata established a ‘Mindful Zero Waste Public Domain,' a community cleaning initiative composed of 35 volunteers to cleaned 15 community blocks, alleys, lots, inlets and curbsides to the streets. She also established The Edward Bradley Community Oasis in the Belmont neighborhood of Philadelphia as an outdoor clean and green inter-generational community respite honoring notable Philadelphian, African-American journalist Ed Bradley. In January 2021, Centennial Parkside CDC hired her as their Director of Sanitation and Environmental Programming. In this position, she works on reducing waste throughout the communities and eradicating illegal dumping.
A multi-instrumental musician and artist, Aminata operated a 3-story home art gallery and meeting house, located in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties section from 1992 to 2011. She holds a B.A. in Human Service and an M.A. in Social Work and Psychology from Antioch University.
Job Titles:
- Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Communication is a practice of connection to Ash, who has been working in environmental justice, communications, community outreach, and engagement for 15 years. Throughout their career, they have served small businesses, large organizations, and numerous start-ups seeking cirularity. Ash thrives when connected to their neighbors through gardening, community-centered research, Yoga, organizing, music - and good conversation. Ash sees these practices as tools with the potential to break down harmful systems and create cultures that care for and celebrate everyone.
Since studying Environmental Studies and French at Temple University, Ash has participated in collective and independent research projects. They aim to examine the intersections between systems, identity, environmental justice, and health outcomes. Their passion for sharing Yoga also led them to many meaningful avenues, including studying trauma-informed practices and communications.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Vice President of Environment, Social, Governance ( ESG ), Saint - Gobain North America & Managing Director of Saint - Gobain Circular Economy Solutions
Dennis is the Vice President of Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) for Saint-Gobain in North America, the parent company of CertainTeed. Dennis is also the Managing Director of Saint-Gobain Circular Economy Solutions, a new venture focused on circularity in the built environment. Dennis joined CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain in 2007 and has since worked in a variety of operational EHS, product stewardship and sustainability roles. Dennis' teams manages Saint-Gobain North America's ESG programs as well as process & product sustainability efforts including waste, water, energy, greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy and product life cycle assessments.
Dennis holds a BS in Applied Environmental Health & Safety Sciences (Safety Sciences) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Environmental Protection & Safety Management from St. Joseph's University, an MBA from LaSalle University, and a certificate in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University. Prior to his time at CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain, Dennis held a variety of operations, quality, and regulatory positions in the pharmaceutical, and paper and plastics industries. Dennis was most recently a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group (MR TAG) and the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC) Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Elizabeth Main / Board Member
Job Titles:
- Cofounder
- Member of the BOARD
- Co - Founder and Editor, Green Philly
Julie Hancher is cofounder & Editor of Green Philly, a local media company that makes sustainable living easy, accessible and low cost to the region through its website and thought leadership events.
Since 2008, Green Philly's mission is to connect people to sustainable solutions. Green Philly is the region's top source for sustainability news, tips, inspiration and career advice. In 2016, Hancher created SustainPHL, Philadelphia's annual sustainability awards and celebrations.
With over 10 years of digital marketing experience, Julie is a frequent speaker and sustainability expert, and has appeared on AJ+ (Al Jazeera), WHYY Radio Times, Philly Weekly, Travel & Leisure and more. During her tenure at Green Philly, her initiatives have resulted in plastic bag legislation, connected readers to careers, and increased security of the Schuylkill River Trail.
She graduated from Pennsylvania State University and completed a Climate Change Science, Communication and Action certificate from Cornell University. When she's not behind a computer, you can find Julie enjoying the great outdoors by hiking or biking, or reading nonfiction.
Job Titles:
- President of the BOARD
- Capacity Planning and Strategy Manager, B Lab
Lauren Renée Shifman is an organizational effectiveness professional with more than a decade of leadership experience in the nonprofit world. Originally from the Carolinas, she's driven organizational excellence in North Carolina, Cincinnati, Ohio, and now Philadelphia in areas ranging from food insecurity to preschool access to sustainable economies. Lauren lives in South Philadelphia with her husband Jay Shifman and their dog and roommate, Nell. She spends her community time working for a fairer and more accessible legal system and tree equity in the city. In her free time, you can find her reading, doodling dumb birds ("burds"), or attempting to hike a state park and do a brewery/distillery tour in every state in the U.S.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Treasurer of the BOARD
- Temple University 's Fox School of Business in 2016 As an Assistant Professor
Marilyn Anthony joined Temple University's Fox School of Business in 2016 as an assistant professor in strategic management and business development director for Fox Management Consulting. She directed an innovation and entrepreneurship curriculum design initiative for Flinders University in Australia before being named the first outreach director for the Fox Translational Research Center. Through TRC Anthony co-authored international award-winning business case studies emphasizing women-led and social impact enterprises. She stepped down from full-time teaching in 2021 to pursue a career as a business ghostwriter. Her first book was published in 2021 with another planned for spring 2022.
A multifaceted entrepreneur with a history of successful startups in for-profit and not-for-profit arenas, Anthony has conceived, funded and executed large-scale operations. As regional director for PASA (PA Assoc for Sustainable Agriculture) her initiatives included Philly Farm & Food Fest and Bike Fresh, Bike Local. Later she served as the founding executive director for Lundale Farm in Chester County. Her previous for-profit work was in the hospitality sector, culminating in her time as CEO for the nationally renowned farm-to-table innovator, the White Dog Café, in Philadelphia before launching her own local foods restaurant, Summerhouse Grill.
Anthony received her MA in teaching from Brown University and her BA in English literature from Cornell University. She is a PSU Master Gardener and holds a certificate in Design Thinking from IDEO. Anthony was previously board chair for Weavers Way Coop and has held board positions for Keystone Development Center, the Seed Farm, and Manodharma.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Director, Greenblue
As a long-time sustainability advocate with 15+ years of design, strategy, and operations experience spanning startups and enterprise organizations, Mike has chosen to dedicate his peak productive and creative energies to addressing the urgency of our climate crisis.
Currently working with the environmental non-profit GreenBlue, he leads strategy and advisory services in support of 1300+ member organizations across their Sustainable Packaging Coalition and How2Recycle label program. Prior to joining GreenBlue, Mike worked at The Recycling Partnership as their first Director of Organizational Effectiveness, where he led initiatives resulting in more effective cross-functional collaboration and more efficient internal operations.
With a dedication to accelerating our transformation to a circular economy, redefining the metrics with which we measure societal progress, and designing new, sustainable, and responsible operating models for businesses and institutions, Mike is thrilled to bring his experience, expertise, and passion to advance the mission of Circular Philadelphia.
Mike lives in Germantown with his partner, Arielle, two kids, Marley and Zev, and doggo named Cooper. When he's not staring at a laptop, be can be found in the woods, on the drums, or toiling in the dirt of the vegetable garden.
And as someone who strongly dislikes writing bios in the third person, Mike encourages you to reach out if you think he may be able to help you along your journey
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Director of Policy & Engagement
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Co - Founder and Chief Product Officer of Circa Technologies
- Director of Programs & Operations
Samantha Wittchen is a seasoned sustainability professional whose work with manufacturing, municipal, and institutional clients has spanned operational sustainability (with a focus on energy, waste and recycling), metrics and evaluation, and communications and outreach. Prior to co-founding Circular Philadelphia, her work as a sustainability consultant included leading waste audits for clients such as the University of Pennsylvania and the development of the City's first Commercial Recycling Toolkit, as well as commercial recycling outreach efforts for Philadelphia's Recycling Office.
Samantha chairs Circular Philadelphia's Textile Working Group, and she has written for over a decade on circularity- and sustainability-related topics for Philadelphia-based Grid Magazine, including the January 2023 cover story on the state of recycling in Philadelphia. She has also written for Green Building and Design magazine and Keystone Edge, and she has presented talks on recycling throughout the Eastern PA region.
Samantha is also currently co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Circa Technologies, a start-up focused on building the circular retail platforms of tomorrow. She is a LEED Green Associate, holds in a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia and is also the Professional Associate for harp at the University of Pennsylvania. She was named one of the 150 Most Influential Philadelphians by Philadelphia Magazine in 2023.
Job Titles:
- Vice - President of the BOARD