Staff

 Dick Kempka, Vice President of Business Development

A long time specialist in eco-asset projects, Dick has over 20 years of executive experience in innovative land conservation, carbon, wetlands, technology development, and sales.  Dick formerly worked for Equator LLC, an asset management firm, who specializes in the generation and management of high quality carbon credits and environmental assets derived from reforestation projects, forest conservation, sustainable land management and other emission reduction project activities.  Dick‘s primary responsibility at Equator was sales and origination, deal negotiation, and product development.  

Before joining Equator, Dick was the Carbon Program lead for Ducks Unlimited (DU), the world’s largest wetlands conservation organization. While at DU, Dick was responsible for the positioning and marketing of DU’s carbon offset program and coordinated all carbon sequestration and environmental asset activities throughout the organization, including a successful effort to deliver a first-of-its-kind forest carbon conservation easement to a consortium of 25 large utility companies and Edison Electric Institute.   He also spearheaded a large terrestrial carbon sequestration project with the Energy and Environmental Research Center as part of a Carbon Sequestration Science Program covering the entire U.S.  He is an accomplished speaker who has participated on several carbon panels and delivered presentations at numerous Environmental, Carbon, and other industry forums.  Before joining DU, Dick served as Remote Sensing Analyst with Pacific Meridian Resources, a natural resources consulting firm in California including a large technology transfer project with NASA, and as a Remote Sensing Analyst for the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Defense Mapping Agency.

The author of more than 20 professional publications, Dick received his B.S. in Geography and Remote Sensing from Carroll College and his Master’s in Geography and Remote Sensing from Indiana State University.

E-mail: Dick Kempka

Sheldon Zakreski, Director of Programs

Sheldon Zakreski has been with The Climate Trust since March 2008. Sheldon has more than 11 years of environmental policy and management experience, with a focus on energy, climate, air, and forestry issues. Sheldon oversees the development and execution of corporate and voluntary carbon programs on behalf of private and public organizations.

Prior to joining The Climate Trust, Sheldon worked for Metafore, a nonprofit that informs corporate buyers of the environmental aspects of their wood and paper purchasing practices. He was responsible for the development of many of Metafore's advisory services, including conducting sustainability seminars and evaluating the environmental performance of pulp and paper mills. He recently wrote two reports on the greenhouse gas emissions of the paper supply chain.

Sheldon also worked as a policy analyst at Trexler and Associates, a climate change consulting company. He developed a carbon offset pricing forecast model and evaluated carbon offset projects in the biomass, forestry, renewable energy, and agricultural sectors.

Sheldon has a M.A. in Economics from the University of Victoria (British Columbia). He earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Saskatchewan.

E-mail: Sheldon Zakreski

 Erica Keeley, Senior Program Manager

Erica Keeley joined The Climate Trust in 2001.  As the Senior Program Manager, Erica's primary responsibilities include recruiting and evaluating offset projects, drafting and negotiating new emissions reduction purchase agreements, and overseeing the existing offset portfolio. During her time at The Climate Trust, Erica has negotiated the purchase of $4.4 million of carbon offsets.

Previously, Erica served as Trust's Program and Operations Manager, where she managed the organization's financial operations, tracked the performance of offset projects, and managed the Trust's communications.  Erica also supported the development and implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Offset Partnership Program.

Prior to joining The Climate Trust, Erica was the head of the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act Division at United States Compliance Corporation. As an environmental consultant, Erica assisted manufacturing facilities nationwide comply with federal and state environmental regulations.  

Erica holds a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College.

E-mail: Erica Keeley

 Karena Gruber, Office & Human Resources Manager

Karena Gruber joined The Climate Trust in March 2013 with over ten years of nonprofit management experience; bringing with her a passion for creating and managing efficient systems. Karena facilitates the administrative functions of the office, including contract management and overseeing all human resources systems and policies.

Previously, Karena worked at Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, where she oversaw the administration of their summer camp for disadvantaged youth. She has a history of working with environmental nonprofits such as energy efficiency solutions leader, PECI, and land and water stewardship organization, Sustainable Conservation. Karena has dedicated her career to putting her organizational skills to good use for worthwhile causes within the nonprofit sector.

Karena enjoys spending time with animals, watching movies, and taking in the Oregon scenery.

E-mail: Karena Gruber

 Teresa Koper, Senior Project Analyst

Teresa Koper joined The Climate Trust team in April 2013. Teresa is a soil microbiologist with experience implementing sustainable programs and working with diverse stakeholders. Her focus is on agricultural sector carbon initiatives, such as soil carbon sequestration, biogas production and nutrient management.

Teresa has worked for the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as a Resource Conservation and Development Coordinator and as a Soil Scientist. As a federal employee, she worked on projects involving: carbon sequestration, Brownfields petroleum and hazardous waste cleanup, biodigesters, renewable energy, conservation education, energy efficiency, biomass, composting and biochar. She has also taught biology and sustainability practices.

Teresa holds an M.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Soil Science from Utah State University, as well as a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Her graduate research focused on microbial nitrification in soils treated with dairy waste and synthetic fertilizers.

Teresa has a great love of the outdoors and enjoys photography, skiing, watercolor painting, and fly-fishing.

E-mail: Teresa Koper

 Kasey Krifka, Marketing & Communications Manager

Kasey Krifka joined The Climate Trust in March 2012. In her current role, Kasey manages all public relations and communications activities for The Trust. She has over 8 years of nonprofit experience and a background in marketing, fundraising, and in building communications programs from the bottom up.

Before joining The Climate Trust, Kasey spent three years as Director of Internet Marketing for The Salvation Army’s Divisional Headquarters in Southern California, during which she managed an extensive website redesign that later became the model for all Salvation Army websites nationally. Kasey has also worked with The Los Angeles Conservation Corps on fundraising efforts for youth conservation and service projects, and provided extensive research on a major study for The Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation, “Civically Engaging Immigrant Boomers in Los Angeles County: How Do We Do It?”

Kasey has an M.A. in Public Administration, emphasis on Environmental and Nonprofit Management, from the University of Southern California, and earned a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Chapman University.

Kasey's pastimes include art, hiking, playing with her rescue bunnies, and exploring Portland’s amazing culinary culture.

E-mail: Kasey Krifka

John Lucas, Staff Accountant

John Lucas joined The Climate Trust in January 2012 after seven years as a nonprofit Chief Financial Officer and consultant.  He has extensive nonprofit experience managing federal and state contracts and foundation grants. He has provided financial consulting for a wide range of industries including publishing, manufacturing and technology distribution.

A man of many interests, John spends most of his time enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, cycling and playing musical instruments.  He also served as fundraising chair for the award-winning Village Building Convergence and a part-time farmer growing vegetables on Sauvie Island.

John graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Accounting and a minor from the Science, Technology and Society Department, with an emphasis on green design applications.  He was a member of the Penn State Green Design Team.

E-mail: John Lucas

Scot Woolley, Colorado Carbon Fund Business Outreach Associate

Scot Woolley joined The Climate Trust in October of 2012 as the Colorado Carbon Fund Business Outreach Associate. Scot is a born-and-raised Colorado native with a background in program management, energy efficiency, and sustainability reporting.

Scot has a demonstrated track record of success in outreach, marketing and communications with the CU Environmental Center’s Energy and Climate Program. He also brings experience as a founding member and manager of several programs, groups and organizations that continue to play a productive part in environmental education, climate protection and energy awareness within the Colorado community. We are excited to bring Scot on board to build a strong carbon network and foster support for projects that provide social, environmental, and economic benefits to the residents of Colorado.

Graduating with a double major in Environmental Policy and Mandarin Chinese from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Scot is an avid skier, outdoor recreationalist and world traveler. Please contact Scot with any Colorado Carbon Fund specific questions, comments or concerns you might have.

E-mail: Scot Woolley

Peter Weisberg, Program Manager

Peter Weisberg joined The Climate Trust in 2007. He originates, analyzes and invests in new projects for The Climate Trust and its clients.  Peter provides technical expertise for all aspects of The Climate Trust’s work, with a focus on understanding and applying existing and proposed carbon market protocols. He also serves as the lead technical resource for the innovative work on new project sectors, methodologies and offset quality criteria. 

Peter has over four years of experience working in carbon markets. Prior to joining The Climate Trust, Peter did a yearlong internship as a research analyst for EcoSecurities. His senior thesis evaluated the effectiveness of Kyoto's Clean Development Mechanism as a tool for greenhouse gas emission mitigation in countries with rapidly growing economies. This topic was inspired by two international internships with the United States-China Environmental Fund and Periodico INTAG, an environmental newspaper in a rural cloud forest in Ecuador.

Peter holds a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College.

E-mail: Peter Weisberg

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