Christopher Collins, Executive Director
Chris Collins has helmed Solar One since 2004. A graduate of Holy Cross College and Albany Law School, Chris previously worked for 20 years as a litigator in both New York and California, specializing in complex commercial litigation, environmental litigation, civil rights, securities, elder abuse and many other areas of the law. After leaving the law in 1999, Chris worked as a Director at Oracle Corp. and as a Director of Risk Management at Sapient. Born and raised in the NYC area, Chris moved to San Francisco in 1988 and returned to New York to take the position of Executive Director at Solar One. He has had a long history of working with non-profit organizations, including being one of the founders of New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Services Center and the Callan-Lourde Health Clinic. He served as Co-chair of the LGBT Center between 1985 and 1989. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force between 1991 and 1996 and served as Board Co-chair between 1994 and 1996.
Esther Siskind, Director of Programs
Esther comes to Solar One from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection where she managed a wide range of water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. She was a lead developer of New York City’s Green Infrastructure Plan that proposes green infrastructure and water conservation as integral components of a comprehensive strategy to address combined sewer overflows and defer large grey infrastructure investments. With a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Esther has worked for over 20 years as an environmental planner and brings a wide range of policy, project management, and technical skills to her job. She has also worked as a community organizer and co-founded a kids club that focused on learning about environmental issues and taking action to address them. Esther was born and raised in New York City and worked here for most of her career, bringing an in-depth knowledge of how to be effective and produce results in the City’s complex landscape.
PROGRAMS
Sarah Pidgeon, Director, NYC K-12 Education Program
Sarah Pidgeon joined Solar One in 2009 as one of two Education staff. Now, with over 10 educators on board, she is thrilled to be able to offer Solar One education programs to more NYC schools each year. Sarah is excited about the growth of Solar One’s Green Design Lab Program and she is passionate about inspiring NYC students to bring sustainability into their schools and communities. Prior to joining Solar One, Sarah worked as an educator for several years at the Center for the Urban Environment in Brooklyn, where she taught classes in Urban Design and Ecology. However, her real passion for environmental education began during her childhood spent as a camper and staff member at Frost Valley YMCA in the Catskill Mountains, where she was first exposed to sustainable practices like composting food waste. When she is not busy teaching about all things sustainable, Sarah enjoys riding her bike, cooking, and drawing.
Fronsy Thurman, Assistant Director for Instruction
Joe Chavez, Educator
Alex Smith, Educator
Khadijah Frederick, Education Program Administrator
Anna Bakis, Instructor
Sashti Balasundaram, Instructor
Shelley Berlincourt, Instructor
Isa Del Bello, Instructor
Jessica Shreefter, Instructor
Dina Elkan, Director, Arts & Events
Dina Elkan joined the Solar One staff in 2007 after an eclectic career in arts administration, music and theater performance, web and graphic design, and event and arts production. Born and raised in downtown Manhattan, she graduated from the High School of Performing Arts with a degree in music performance and attended Barnard College. After leaving the hallowed halls of higher education, she re-immersed herself in the downtown art scene, working with groups such as Bad Neighbors, Protean Forms Collective, ABC No Rio, Gargoyle Mechanique Lab, the Bowery Poetry Club and Magbana Drum & Dance. As a member of King Missile III, she performed in venues throughout NYC, the US and Europe, releasing six albums over a period of ten years. She is also an avid crafter, crocheter, sewer and maker, often using recycled or organic materials.
Tamar Rogoff, Founding Artistic Director
Michael Johnson-Chase, Director, Green Workforce Training
Michael Johnson-Chase is the Director of the Green Career Training Program at Solar One. Responsible for program design and management, partnership development and employer cultivation, Michael built the training program from an idea in 2009 to serving 695 participants in energy efficiency, renewable energy and building operations and maintenance courses in 2011. A former university professor, Michael is past Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance and Associate Dean for the Peck School of Fine Arts at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Michael has worked extensively at premier cultural and academic institutions all across the globe. In 2004 Michael shifted to a new career in renewable energy and energy efficiency by training in solar system installation at Bronx Community College in New York City. He subsequently worked for a year as a solar installer at Quad State Solar in Long Island before returning to educational programming for Solar One. He holds a BA from San Francisco State University and several professional certificates; however, his education is better described as a long apprenticeship in learning by doing, which is how learning in the theatre and building trades really work.
Ismail Ocasio, Assistant Director for Training
James Kinyanjui, Training Site Manager
Daisy Hoyt, Park Manager
Daisy Hoyt has always had an interest in all things green and growing, from her rural beginnings upstate, where her parents named her after a flower, to her adult career, where she has held many different jobs in horticulture. In 2007, she brought her skills to NYC, where she began working in landscaping and the arts. Soon after, she began at Solar One, and in 2010 she became the Park Manager. Daisy fully supports and believes in Stuyvesant Cove Park’s mission to use only native plants and sustainable practices. She has an abiding affection for all her plants, and enjoys meeting all the characters who come through the park- especially if she can get them to volunteer.
Chris Fowler, Park Maintenance
Max Joel, Director, Energy Connections
Max Joel joined Solar One in 2009 as the Director of the Energy Connections Program. He also serves as a NYSERDA Energy $mart Community Coordinator for Manhattan and Staten Island. Since joining Solar One, Max has developed outreach projects, educational programs, and community partnerships to help make all New Yorkers part of our City’s ambitious efforts to combat climate change and develop a clean, green economy. Prior to Solar One, Max was the Capital Projects Coordinator for the Queens Botanical Garden during a period that saw the construction of a green Visitor Center, new native plant gardens, and other facilities and exhibits. He holds a BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University, a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. His interests include solar-powered dance parties, besting supercomputers at general knowledge competitions, and gingerbread city planning.
Sara Jayanthi, Senior Energy $mart Communities Coordinator
Jeff Irvine, Energy $mart Communities Coordinator
Gary Smith, Tenant Education Program Coordinator
Helen Hooke, Director of Fiscal Operations
Helen Hooke brings 20 years of experience to Solar One from her work as Director of Finance and Administration of the Law Firm of Hollyer Brady Barrett & Hines LLP and Secretary and Director of the Winfield Foundation. She has a BA from Smith College, and Certification as a Non-Profit Accounting Professional from the Financial Management Association. She also has a Certificate in PV Installation from Solar Energy International, and designed and built her solar-powered home. She is originally from Rochester, NY, and studied at the Eastman School of Music Preparatory School. She also writes, performs, and records in the field of music with her original group The Deadly Nightshade, as a side musician on violin, and with her own band, the Helen Hooke Band, and has her musical work released on many recordings and CD’s. She is an avid gardener.
Marc Brodeur, Operations Manager
Jamie Paquette, Operations Consultant
Roberto Rodriguez, IT Technician
Linda Lagomarsino, Administrative Assistant
Lawrence Horne, Development Director
Lawrence Horne recently joined the Solar One team as Development Director. Previously, he served as Vice President of Development and Communications at the Believe High Schools Network, a charter school management organization administering three charter high schools in Brooklyn. Prior to working with Believe High Schools Network, he held executive and development positions at Hetrick-Martin Institute, the Public Theater, California State University, Los Angeles and Claremont Graduate University. He was founder and Executive Director of Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and has provided management and development consulting for clients including the Public Theater, Reboot, Independent Television Service, Melting Pot Theatre Company, Design Trust for Public Space, and the National Coalition Against Censorship. He has an MA in Film History and Theory from UCLA, a BA from SUNY-Binghamton, and studied in Paris at the American Center for Cinema Studies and the Sorbonne.
Sarah Holloway, Senior Development Consultant
James Ryan, Grant Writer
Melanie La Rosa, Grant Writer
Abby Morse, Grant Writer
Natasha Myles, Impact & Evaluation Consultant
Angela Tran, Graphic Design
Angela Tran graduated from Pratt Institute in 2008. She earned a Bachelors in Communications Design specializing in graphic design and typography. Her dedication to environmental awareness, sustainable practice and progressive media led to her involvement in several projects through out NYC including the Solar One campaign I Heart PV. When not creating marketing and web designs for Solar One, Angela enjoys supporting innovative art spaces and collectives, generating murals, and rooftop gardening.
Adam Bezer, Graphic Design