Andy Shrader - State Advocacy Team advisor

Andy quit screenwriting to fight climate change over a decade with Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz. He oversaw LADWP water and power issues, including LA Beyond Coal and LA 100, and staffed the Councilmember on the Metropolitan Water District Board, covering exported water and Colorado River issues extensively. Among myriad other carbon neutrality, zero waste and wildlife campaigns, he is known for his work on Zero Waste LA, LA's building decarb effort, Regenerate LA, aiming to transform the city's food waste via compost into healthy soils, the LA City Biodiversity Index, and the City's Good Food Purchasing Policy, which aims to motivate and fund a healthier transformation of agriculture and won a 2019 "Future Policy Award for Scaling Up Agroecology" from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, et al. Andy has two kids and his primary mission in life is to seed their pathways to a safe, healthy, and equitable year 2100.

Linda Sell - Co-Founder, Advisor

Linda is a Co-Founder and former Board Member of the environmental non-profit Bay Area for Clean Environment which has been instrumental in radically reducing emissions of local toxic pollutants. In recent years, she has worked with volunteers across the state collecting thousands of signatures for petitions and gathering organizational endorsements in support of state legislation to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Over the last decade, she has served on an educational foundation and in leadership positions on several steering/campaign committees. Those efforts have resulted in fundraising campaigns and the passage of local funding measures that have raised millions for our local schools which are being invested into instructional and enrichment programs.

Linda is currently a member of the City Council for the City of Sunnyvale.

David Poeschel - advisor

Dave began pursuing his passion as a “self taught ecologist” as a child in the vacant lots and drainage ditches near the Sacramento home where he grew up.  He worked as a software engineer before retiring to focus on environmental conservation.  His education continued as a volunteer and campaign activist with CNPS, SCVAS, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter and serving on several governmental committees providing him with many years of experience, particularly on City of San Jose land use and environmental policies.

Dave leads native plant restoration efforts in Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, possibly the last remnant of valley floor oak woodland in Silicon Valley.  He also shares his environmental knowledge as a docent for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and at various park activities.  He has also enjoyed volunteering as a math and reading tutor for elementary school children.

Dr. Gary latshaw - advisor

Dr. Gary Latshaw received his doctorate in physics from Stanford University in 1971. Although his career primarily involved non-environmental issues, he maintained a serious interest in the environment and man-induced climate change over the years.

He became personally concerned that global society was ignoring the increasingly convincing threat of climate change and began presenting his findings in 2003 in a home-grown presentation he called “Saving the Future” to various groups. When the movie “Inconvenient Truth” came out and Al Gore formed the Climate Reality Project – a project to train and equip people to present climate change issues – he applied and was accepted to the program.

Now retired, Dr. Latshaw, from working as a physicist in industry and colleges, is a member of the Climate Reality Project and has become active in the Sierra Club, securethefuture2100.org, 350.org, and others. He has served on Cupertino’s Sustainability Commission for six years.

Peri Plantenberg - Advisor

Peri Plantenberg is a UC Berkeley student and one of the youth founding members of SVYCA after joining in the summer of 2019. She helped expand the nonprofit by co-founding several teams, co-leading several initiatives including workshops and speaker series, and mentoring youth leaders. She also served as the first President of the Board of Directors when the organization transitioned from grassroots to a nonprofit 501(c)3.  Peri is passionate about climate advocacy and empowering youth leaders. Her LinkedIn is www.linkedin.com/in/peri-plantenberg.

Jonathan Wan - Advisor

Jonathan Wan is a seasoned leader in sustainability and climate innovation, currently serving as a key senior advisor and a core member of the management team in operations at GODOT Solutions. 

At GODOT, Jonathan works to transform industrial and agricultural waste into sustainable resources through innovative waste-to-energy technologies. His leadership in operations ensures the seamless execution of GODOT’s ambitious projects, including the flagship waste-to-wealth initiative in Central Washington, which aims to convert apple and pear waste into valuable outputs like hydrogen, hydrochar, and carbon credits. This project alone is expected to divert over 43,000 tons of waste annually from landfills, reducing CO₂ emissions by the equivalent of 91,674 barrels of oil burned.

Jonathan is deeply committed to giving back to his community, actively volunteering with organizations such as SVYCA, Swim Across America, and Vitalant Blood Donation, where he strives to make a positive impact through service and philanthropy. Beyond his professional achievements, he exemplifies grit, endurance, and resilience as a dedicated triathlete and Ironman.