Alec Robinette, Chair
Founder, The CMPND
Alec Robinette, CFP®, is the founder of The CMPND, a creative studio wher he partners with musicians and artists, guiding them to approach their craft with a business mindset and achieve financial independence. With years of experience in finance, Alec provides practical, tailored advice that empowers clients to take control of their financial futures. He has led initiatives like "Lyrics By The Lake," a concert series that brought together emerging artists and broad audiences. His focus on teamwork and strategic execution ensures that every project not only supports individual artists but also strengthens the broader creative community. Beyond his professional work, Alec is passionate about exploring the outdoors. Along with his wife (Stephanie) and their sons (Cyrus & Zachary), he enjoys hiking and is on a mission to visit every national park.Lindsay Batchelor, Vice-Chair
Director, Office of Climate and Sustainability, Duke University
Lindsay Batchelor is the Director of the Office of Climate and Sustainability at Duke University, with more than 20 years of higher education experience. Prior to joining Duke, she spent two years as the Sustainability Director at Wake Forest University, and 17 years in various roles at NC State University helping catalyze, develop, and lead the evolution of their Sustainability Office and programs to infuse sustainability across the institution. Lindsay’s experience spans a diversity of topics but she is passionate about climate action, sports sustainability, renewable energy, waste reduction and diversion, food insecurity, environmental justice, and student leadership. Lindsay lives in Summerfield, NC with her husband Brian and their two daughters, Ella and June. In her free time, Lindsay loves to watch college basketball and football, cook, coach youth soccer, make pottery and take long walks at the lake.Jessica Fisher, Secretary
Assistant Director, Crosby Scholars
Jessica is a native of Winston-Salem, and a 2014 graduate of Wake Forest University, holding Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and History. She earned her Master’s degree in Crime and Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. She has worked for 10 years with the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership, assisting, and serving middle and high school students in grades 6-10 with future college and career preparation. She is the co-owner of a family business, “The WS Oil Lady”, where she and her mother sell affordable and natural fragrances and other personal care products. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and watching YouTube videos to learn new things.
Steve Zucker, Treasurer
Healthcare Compliance Executive, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Steve is a healthcare compliance professional with over 20 years of experience helping healthcare operators comply with relevant laws and regulations. Along the way, Steve has learned to be a resource to those he serves by creating simple and easy to understand solutions. These skills translate well to Piedmont Environmental Alliance where he serves as the Treasurer, helping to ensure that the organization remains a good steward of its valued financial resources. Steve is committed to acting in a fiduciary role to help Board members, staff and PEA members manage finances wisely. When not busy in his professional role, Steve is often found at a remote trailhead, typically with his wife and Labrador Retrievers, exploring a new trail. Steve and his wife are proud to be part of the Winston-Salem community where they do everything they can to think globally and act locally to support our
environment.
Lawren Desai
Founder & Executive Director, a/perture cinema
Lawren received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and her M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. Prior to her career at a/perture cinema, she worked in film production, marketing/merchandising and financial analysis. She has served on numerous boards over the years including the Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem, the Downtown Partnership, and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. When she’s not watching films, Lawren loves to travel the world, spend time with her family and read. Her interest in sustainability and the environment stems from the countless films she’s watched over the years that call her to action.
Alecia Nicole Gaines
Adult Educator, Guilford Technical Community College & Rockingham Community College
‘the wherever’ places she visits.
Jonathan Halsey
Senior Director of Philanthropic Arts, Arbor Acres
Jonathan Halsey leads development and advancement at Arbor Acres, a nonprofit life plan community. Previously, he worked at The Winston-Salem Foundation as director of both Philanthropic Services and Community Engagement and as Senior Philanthropic Advisor. He also was the managing director and a process facilitator for EmcArts and worked across North America with nonprofit leaders, organizations, and communities to build their adaptive capacities. He has served a variety of nonprofit organizations as a board member. He studied music at the UNC School of the Arts, is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and received his MPA in public management from Appalachian State University.
Jon Hyland
Senior Designer, M Creative
Jon is a senior designer at M Creative, a B Corp-certified strategic communications agency serving visionary nonprofits. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Salem College teaching Introduction to Graphic Design to undergraduates. He graduated with a Master’s degree from the College of Design at North Carolina State University. He has two very blonde daughters, a wife who used to be blonde, and a tabby cat. Jon loves being outdoors when the temperature is between 50° and 90°F. He believes everyone in our community deserves to live in a healthy environment. Robert Leak III
Regional Lead Organizer, PowerUp NC
Pastor Robert Leak III has over fifteen years of community organizing and activism in the city of Winston-Salem. Robert understands that everyone has a gift, skill, and/or talent to be shared with others to help build change in their community. He believes everyone has a right to be included at the table despite their circumstances. Robert attended Winston Salem State University majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Political Science. He enjoys working in the community and pastoring his church, delivering up-lifted messages to his members and the community. During his free time you will find Robert enjoying quality time with his wife and child.
Dawn Lewis
Retired Educator & Fundraising Professional
A passionate environmentalist and recent transplant from Austin, Texas, Dawn Lewis has dedicated her career advocating for various causes. Her professional and volunteer experiences include working as the development director for nonprofits and political candidates, managing a district-wide mentorship program for students across Austin Independent School District, serving as the Chair of the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation board, and working as an educator at a Title I elementary school. She has also served on various nonprofit boards and currently volunteers with her church conference at both the local and national level to advocate for and support sustainable practices in the faith community. She and her husband moved here to spend more time with their three adult children and to spend as much time as possible hiking and biking through all the beautiful nature that North Carolina has to offer. She loves to read, watch sports, attempt art projects, and play with her energetic dog, an adorable Australian Shepherd named Blue.
Rashawn Meekins
Principal, Crossnore Community Charter School (Opening August 2025)
Rashawn is a passionate and driven educator with 13+ years’ experience in leading, supporting, and coaching school leadership, staff, and students to excel. She is the Principal of a new charter school on the campus of Crossnore Communities for Children that will be opening in August of 2025. Previously, she served as the Assistant Principal of Cook Literacy Model School. Rashawn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Winston-Salem State University, a Master of Education in Special Education from Salem College, a Master in School Administration from North Carolina A&T State University, and a North Carolina of Public Instruction (NCDPI) licensure. She serves on various boards in the community and is a member Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Rashawn is a strong advocate for education. She believes that all students can learn and it is up to us as educators to find out how they learn and to meet them where they are.
Shona Simpson,
Writer
Shona Simpson is a writer living in Winston Salem, North Carolina. After receiving her BS in Biology and her PhD in English from Duke University, she now teaches part time at Wake Forest University. Her play for children, Peril on the Red Planet, has been performed throughout the southeast by The Open Dream Ensemble. She is currently working on a novel for young adults which explores the connections between race and environment in 1930s North Carolina. She also manages her daughters’ professional bluegrass band, The Dan River Girls. Shell Sizemore,
Director, Women's Center at Wake Forest Univeristy
Shell Sizemore serves as Director of the Women’s Center at Wake Forest University. In this role, she leads efforts to advance gender equity and support women at Wake Forest and is a member of the leadership team in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. She is passionate about education, equity, and building sustainable communities that work for everyone. She is currently pursuing a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Education where her research is focused on community-based education for social justice, critical community building, and the rhetorics of advocacy and activism. Shell loves to be in the garden with her husband Justin, read, grow and dry herbs, and work on science projects with her son Elliot, who is 8.