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20-year vegetarian, and award winning executive, fundraiser, advocate, builder of partnerships and memberships, Jane M. DeMarines is dedicated to advancing causes related to environmental conservation and green community development. As founding Executive Director of National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA, Ms. DeMarines rewrote legislation and worked with key U.S. House and Senate staff to advance a “Green Policy” agenda.

She has eight years of federal agency experience, including with the Dept of Homeland Security, addressing climate change-related disasters. Her lengthy career includes managerial and executive positions for banking, housing, and community development. She has served on the boards of several advocacy and volunteer organizations. A resident of the Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C., she developed a Green Party for the Citizens’ Association, with an environmental platform; co-managed a conservation coalition focused on urban forest preservation; testified on tree legislation at Montgomery County Council hearing, certified by “Casey Trees,” and participated in Potomac River conservancy through two coalitions.

She continues her commitment to improving Planet Earth at the Climate Diet Project.

Deborah (Debby) McElroy currently assists Airports Council International-North America with special prjects, after retiring as Executive Vice President in December 2018 following 12 years of service with the association.  She previously worked with the Regional Airline Association, the U.S> International Trade Associations and Department of Labor. A graduate of the University of Maryland, with a degree in economics, McElroy has more that 35 years of experience in aviation, regulatory and trade issues. She is a reduced meat consumer.

Sydney is currently an accounting analyst at Bloomberg Tax, monitoring for new developments from various standard-setters. She previously worked in public accounting and has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Masters in Taxation from Arizona State University. Sydney is a reduced meat consumer.

I have eaten a vegan diet since I was 30 years old. My motivation was my neurological health. I don’t hold an ethical or philosophical position for limiting myself to these choices. Rather, I started because there was no medical answer to my physiological problems. After seeking consultation with a nutritional counselor, within four months, I could tell my condition had improved. Now, 43 years later, I have achieved successful aging. I can “fast walk, lead an independant life, have emotional vitality, and am very healthy.” (all levels within optimal range of those components that are tested), and no arthritis, or diseases. And the side benefit? I’m improving the environment at the same time.

“I am joining the Board because I want to learn more about the relationship between diet and climate change, and the role that financial institutions can play in supporting environmental sustainability efforts through their ESG investments.”

Dr. Ann B. Schnare is President of AB Schnare Associates LLC, a consulting firm specializing in housing and mortgage finance. She provides a range of consulting services focusing on the mortgage and housing markets, financial reform, the secondary mortgage market, credit scoring and credit risk, and fair lending. Her clients include financial institutions, trade associations, law firms, consulting companies, and credit bureaus. From 2010 to 2016, Dr. Schnare staffed a CEO-level policy forum comprised of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders that addressed a variety of policy and business issues related to mortgage regulation and financial reform. She has also assisted clients attempting to create a secondary market for mortgages to recent immigrants, developed automated underwriting models for nontraditional borrowers, and evaluated the potential use of so-called “alternative data” in the assessment of credit risk .

Prior to starting her own firm in 2000, Dr. Schnare was Senior Vice President for Corporate Relations at Freddie Mac. During her tenure at Freddie Mac, she served on the company’s operating committee; directed the company’s corporate communications, industry relations, issues management, and philanthropic giving; and ran its research division. Dr. Schnare has served as Director of Housing and Public Finance at the Urban Institute and managed several large government consulting practices. In addition, Dr. Schnare was Chair of the Center for Housing Policy from 2000 through 2006, and also served on the Board of Volunteers of America National Service. Dr. Schnare holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard University and a BA, summa cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis.

Washington journalist covering environment and agriculture with a particular focus on global biodiversity.

She was the former Executive Director of Genetic Resources Communications, that published the award-winning international journal: DIVERSITY. Such eminent contributors included Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug and Pulitzer-prize winning Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson. DIVERSITY was awarded the Vavilov Medal from the Russian government. She continued her career as a consultant to the World Bank and the Council for Science and the Environment.

Currently a Writer and Editor with the Bloomberg News Company, L.A. Frank has a degree in communications/journalism from the University of Maryland, Mr. Frank has more than 25 years of experience in publications and online written materials focusing on a variety of issues including tax and related federal developments as well as Native American housing advocacy. He is a reduced meat consumer who now enjoys the impossible (burgers).

Nick Rudd is a Middle School Science teacher in Maryland. He is a reduced meat consumer and avid Tai Chi practitioner. He enjoys helping others, teaching, tutoring, playing guitar, travel and learning languages. He favors healthy improvised meals almost always made without recipes.

Erin is President and CEO of E-Fit Foods, a vegan energy bar and food company. Erin is also a vegan chef and appears on national shows as a vegan spokeswoman and entrepreneur.

Founder of Fabrizio & Sons Marble Restoration.
In 1998, I moved from New York City to Florida to open my business, seeking a better quality of life for my family.
My two sons now own and operate this business today.
After a long battle and a history of being overweight, including with type 2 diabetes, in 2013 at the age of 50, I changed my life and began a plant-based health journey. With consistency and determination, I reversed my obesity and diabetes. “FabTheVegan: The Plant Based Health Influencer LLC” was born. I now do public speaking, encouraging others to adopt a healthier lifestyle through plants and exercise.

Eric C Lindstrom, Executive Director of Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), started his career in the animal rights movement in the most unusual way which became the subject of two best-selling books: The Skeptical Vegan and Raising Vegan Kids. Raised by an Italian mother and Nana on meat-heavy Italian dishes, Lindstrom is the last person anyone would expect to go vegan. Then, in 2012 his wife challenged him to try vegan for 30-days which ultimately became a bet that Lindstrom, to this day, refuses to lose. Taking his passion for compassion to another level, Lindstrom started a vegan advertising and marketing firm and later sought a career where he could tie his business expertise to the animals. After four years as Program Manager (FARM) and Director of Marketing (Animal Outlook), Lindstrom was tapped for the Executive Director position at FARM, the nation’s first animal rights organization committed to end the use of animals for food.

Glen Merzer is a playwright, screenwriter, and author. He has authored or co-authored twelve books with a vegan message. His latest book, Food Is Climate: A Response to Al Gore, Bill Gates, Paul Hawken, & The Conventional Narrative on Climate Change, argues that the only way to reverse climate change is to eliminate animal agriculture, rewild grazing land, and protect the oceans.

Glen is also the author of Own Your Health (The Book Publishing Company, 2021), an examination of role of nutrition in health, told with humor and with personal anecdotes. Chef AJ contributed more than 75 recipes to the book.

Glen began his career in non-fiction as co-author, with Howard Lyman, of Mad Cowboy (Simon & Schuster, 1998).  Glen is also co-author of The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss (2018) and Unprocessed (2011) by Chef AJ, as well as other books advocating plant-based eating.  The Tenth Anniversary New Edition of Unprocessed has just been released.

Glen’s one novel is Off the Reservation, a political satire about a vegan congressman from the Midwest who runs for president. Off the Reservation was selected as one of the “Best Books of 2015–Indie” by Kirkus Reviews and one of “Our Favorite Books of 2015” by Progressive Magazine. Glen grew up in Bellmore, N.Y., and attended New College of Florida in Sarasota. You can find him at www.glenmerzer.com.