Staff

Brenda Smith, Executive Director
Brenda Smith joined Nine Mile Run as Executive Director in January 2008. Over the last two decades, she has helped nonprofit groups as diverse as humanitarian aid organizations and arts ensembles with strategic planning, board development, fundraising, and administrative challenges.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Brenda travelled around the world four times, working on Pitt’s Semester-at-Sea program. Between trips she studied at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. In 1989 she co-founded Global Links, a nonprofit organization that provides hospitals in Western Pennsylvania and across the U.S. with an environmentally responsible alternative to disposal or incineration of surplus equipment and supplies. Materials recovered here are sent to hospitals and clinics serving the poor around the world, with special emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. Serving as President of Global Links for ten years, Brenda helped the organization grow to include more than ten paid staff members, hundreds of volunteers, and average annual donations valued at more than $1 million.

Prior to joining NMRWA, Brenda worked in either a volunteer or consultant capacity with the Three Rivers Community Foundation, the Renaissance City Choirs, the Creative Nonfiction Foundation, and Building New Hope. She also served for three years as the full time Development Director of Chatham Baroque, and still attends this ensemble's extraordinary concerts whenever possible. Currently an active participant in the Clean Rivers Campaign and the Green Infrastructure Network, Brenda is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), and was recently honored by the Women and Girls Foundation as one of 15 "Womens Greening the Pittsburgh Region." She lives in Squirrel Hill with her partner, Rosemary Welsch.

Kevin Gieder, Chief Financial Officer
Kevin joined NMRWA in November 2011 as a result of our participation in “The Environmental Finance Collaborative”, a project that is providing four environmental organizations with high level strategic and operational financial expertise via a shared Chief Financial Officer. Our partners in this initiative are Construction Junction, GTECH Strategies and Tree Pittsburgh.

Kevin will be responsible for providing operational financial expertise and oversight, budgeting and business planning, support for the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, and the adoption of best practices in financial management.

Prior to joining the Collaborative, Kevin spent 10 years with H.J. Heinz Company World Headquarters in a variety of finance roles, and 7 years in the audit practice of a regional CPA firm. He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Real Estate Finance. Additionally, Kevin serves as the Vice President of the Board of Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, where he chairs the Finance Committee.

Luke Stamper, Sales Manager - StormWorks

Luke first joined NMRWA in the winter of 2005 as an intern working within the GreenLinks program. He has an undergraduate degree in environmental science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master's of Education from Slippery Rock University. Luke's responsible for the development and performance of all sales and marketing activities for StormWorks. He is currently implementing strategies to provide Nine Mile Run's stormwater expertise to residents all over the country. Any free time he has is spent perfoming in Pittsburgh's premiere bluegrass band, the Mon River Ramblers.

Sara Madden, Design Manager - StormWorks

Sara joined NMRWA as an intern in the summer of 2009. She holds an undergraduate degree in fine arts and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Chatham University. Sara is responsible for the design and project management of StormWorks' rain garden projects. Her interests include: sustainable landscapes, contemporary sculpture, urban ecology, alternative transportation, and environmental planning. In her free time, Sara enjoys traveling by bike through the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.

Alicia M. R. Donner, GreenLinks Coordinator
Alicia joined NMRWA in September 2011 as GreenLinks Coordinator. Originally a native of Toledo, OH, she completed her undergraduate studies in environmental science at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Alicia moved to Pittsburgh in the fall of 2010 as a participant in PULSE - the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience, where her placement was at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, serving as TreeVitalize Program Assistant. Having lived in three unique urban environments, Alicia is fascinated by the intersection of the human and natural environment. In her free time, Alicia enjoys volunteering, knitting and discussing pop culture.  

Sara Powell, Education and Advocacy Coordinator
Sara joined NMRWA in February 2012 as Education and Advocacy Coordinator. She has an undergraduate degree in Marine Science and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Health Sciences, both from the University of South Carolina. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh in Fall 2011, she worked as a Science Communicator for EcoCheck, a partnership group between NOAA and the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science. In her free time, Sara enjoys cooking, watching college football, and exploring Pittsburgh with her partner, Mike, and their dogs, Willa & Gus.

Judi Jungling, Office Manager
Judi comes to NMRWA with 38 years of office experience including key skills in data management and customer service. With gardening and nature as two of her greatest passions, working for Nine Mile Run is a satisfying experience for her. Judi's excellent organizational skills keep the day-to-day operation of the organization running smoothly.

 

Paul Yanulavich, StormWorks Program Assistant
Paul recently received his Horticulture diploma from Bidwell Training Center. He has worked as a Plant ID/Diagnostic Specialist at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. He has a special interest in and affinity for taxonomy, which informs his work with NMRWA installing rain gardens and rain barrels.  Paul has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, both from Goddard College. He enjoys writing, baking, and gardening.

Kristina Nikiforova, StormWorks Intern
Kristina joined StormWorks in November 2011. She is currently pursuing a Master of International Development degree at the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on planning and environmental sustainability. A recent Pittsburgh transplant, she has an undergraduate degree in international relations from the State University of New York at Geneseo and spent the past year working on urban revitalization and education issues as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Rochester, NY. In her free time, Kristina enjoys cooking, biking, and painting.