Our Board
Pam Skripak, Co-Founder/Executive Officer, is passionate about regenerating a sustainable, just, and biodiverse Earth. She is an educator, community organizer, environmental advocate, and member of Bethlehem Tomorrow, an organization committed to open space and sustainability. Alarmed at the decline in critical pollinators, insects, and wildlife, she has helped spearhead efforts to reduce residential pesticide use and preserve open spaces. More recently, she and her husband became stewards of 7 acres of fields and forest. Learners, like so many, they have taken inspiration from Doug Tallamy’s vision for a world of connected properties that “support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water.” Pam has spent her career in the field of experiential education, leadership development, human and organizational capacity-building, and program design and development in the higher education and nonprofit sectors. She holds a BA in English and Women’s Studies from Hamilton College and a Masters in Public Health, Population and Family Health, from Columbia University. She and her husband, David, were Urban Youth Volunteers in Peace Corps Ecuador.
Fred Erlich, Board of Directors, Vice President, served as the founder and executive director of Living Resources for 46 years, an organization dedicated to the needs of disabled persons. By his last year, Living Resources was serving over 2,000 annually, employed 850 staff, owned approximately 40 community properties and two office buildings, and generated annual revenues of $50 million. During his tenure, Living Resources developed five affiliated corporations, including a home health corporation, a corporation to provide professional care after hospitalization, a community social services agency, a real property corp and tax credit finance apartment complex, and a foundation for private donations. In that time, Living Resources continually received clean financial audits, received a platinum rating from Guidestar.com, and were consistently profitable. Fred is the recipient of numerous awards including the Rockefeller College Alumni Award, the University at Albany Alumni Community Service Award, the Hudson Valley Community College Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognition by the U.S. President's Committee on Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. Fred holds a Master in Business and Master in Social Work from the University of Albany.
Kate Brittenham, Co-Founder/Treasurer, is an ecological landscape designer in Troy, NY. She is the owner of Front Stoop Gardens, an ecological landscape design and gardening company. Kate holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Skidmore College and a Certificate in Landscape Design from the New York Botanical Garden. In 2015 she interned with the Native Plant Trust (formerly New England Wild Flower Society) at their native plant nursery Nasami Farm. She credits this opportunity as transformational, expanding her knowledge not just of native plants, but also the creatures and ecosystems that depend on them. When she is not designing gardens for others, she is usually working on her own. Her favorite place is her own backyard, and she does her best to keep the neighbors from complaining.
Jackson Patterson, Board Secretary, hails from rural Columbia County, where he discovered his enthusiasm for science. His background is in youth development having worked with youth and young adults at a number of summer camps in both seasonal and full-time capacities. Jackson is an environmental educator which has allowed him to connect young adults with the environment and outdoor sciences. Currently, he works for DEC running their summer conservation camps program. Jackson holds a B.A. in Chemistry from the College of Saint Rose.
Pam Tindall O’Brien, Board of Directors, is an attorney who specializes in health care, particularly mental health issues. She worked as an Administrative Law Judge for ten years, and then as Assistant Counsel for the New York State Office of Mental Health for twenty-three years. She left to become Chief Legal Officer for the Institute for Community Living, a large not-for-profit located in New York City. She then worked for the Coalition of Mental Health agencies and Coordinated Behavioral Care.
She loves in Delmar with her husband. She cares deeply about making the planet a decent place to live for her three children and five grandchildren.
Elizabeth (Beth) Meer, Board of Directors, is an environmentalist, gardener and artist whose passion is sharing the joy she experiences in nature with others. Her professional career with the New York State Legislature and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has included leading innovative efforts to help state agencies reduce energy, toxic chemical use, and waste, and to drive the market towards greener products through ingredient disclosure and green procurement. She has designed and installed sustainable gardens featuring native plants and beauty in every season at multiple locations, including the Honest Weight Food Coop in Albany. In recent years, she has embraced art, and loves to paint plants outdoors in their native habitats. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Colgate University and an M.S. in Natural Resources Policy and Planning from Cornell University, and led a team awarded the Peter Berle Memorial Award for outstanding work at DEC.
Chris Fernandez, Board of Directors, Chris is a native of Albany County growing up in Voorheesville. She has enjoyed being part of nature and volunteering in her community her whole life. She earned a degree in Environmental Chemistry and attended Albany Law School imagining a career as an environmental advocate. Instead, she chose a career in the US Air Force. While serving as a judge advocate and commander in the active duty, Reserve, and National Guard components, Chris raised four children, now wonderful young adults. She currently lives with her partner Steve in Slingerlands and is an attorney at the Albany County Department of Law. Chris enjoys collaborating, laughing, biking, gardening, walking, painting, pottery, and numerous other hobbies. She is excited to bring her project management skills to Home Earth Alliance.
Doug Rutnik, Board of Directors, is a multi-sector expert with 30+ years experience at the intersection of business and government. Doug has advised executive teams on driving growth through public sector involvement, including navigation of New York State (NYS) Government, its 50 Agencies and Authorities, Empire State Development economic development strategies, and minority and women owned business enterprise (MWBE) rules and regulations. Doug has worked extensively with MWBE subcontractors to access contracting opportunities with NYS Agencies and Authorities, as well as directly with Prime contractors. Doug has been retained as a lobbyist and public sector business development consultant by a wide range of companies, providing strategic counsel on government relations, compliance and procurement. Doug earned a BA from Hamilton College.
Our Team
Natalie Thomas, Communications Coordinator, graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a BFA in Printmaking, and is currently working at Women’s Studio Workshop as their Digital Marketing Assistant. In late 2023, she connected with Pam and joined the Home Earth Alliance team. She manages our website and social media, creates content, and helps us connect with our audience. She’s very passionate about environmental justice and living sustainably, and is excited to be a part of our team!
Maggie Preller, Plant Tender and Farm Volunteer Coordinator, grew up in Upstate NY and now lives in Delmar, NY as an artist and student at Russell Sage studying Expressive Arts in Mental Health. Prior, she studied Contemplative Studies at Brown University and spent time volunteering at a vegetable and flower farm near Providence. Maggie is passionate about restoring a healthy relationship with the Earth and spreading the beauty of nature through community outreach, education, and art.
Zach Gibeau, Installation Consultant, is from Clarksville, NY, where he had the opportunity to grow up around lush greenery with many different types of tools at his disposal. This has lead to interests in natural building, permaculture, low waste living, and a strong DIY skill set. Zach obtained an associates degree in environmental science from HVCC. He currently owns and operates a small business by the name of ZG Property Services. He tends gardens, does light landscape installs, as well as salvaging and recycling household appliances. He is excited to use his role as installation consultant to help people get outside and foster a healthier environment for themselves and others.