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Meet the Staff
Meet the MEIC staff
- Anne Hedges, Program Director, Lobbyist
- Jim Jensen, Executive Director
- Amy Kelley, Publications Director
- Sara Marino, Development Director
- Adam McLane, Business Manager
- Gail Speck, Staff Assistant
- Kyla Wiens, Energy Advocate, Lobbyist
Anne Hedges, Program Director
Leading MEIC’s lobbying staff at the Capitol is Anne Hedges, MEIC’s Program Director. Anne has been with MEIC since May 1993, and has lobbied every session. She tackles a wide range of issues that are important to MEIC members including hazardous waste, land-use planning, State land management, Superfund cleanup, and air quality.
Before MEIC, Anne was in the Peace Corps in Paraguay as an environmental education/national parks volunteer. Anne received a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from the University of California (Davis) in 1988 and a Masters in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School in 1993. She is married to Michael Downey and has two children, Aidan and Bridget.
In 2006 Anne was given an award by the Montana Wildlife Federation for her outstanding work lobbying on behalf of conservation interests. She also received a similar award from Women's Voices for the Earth two years earlier. In December 2008, the Helena-based Cinnabar Foundation recognized Anne with its highest award, the Len and Sandy Sargent Stewardship Award. Foundation executive director, Jim Posewitz said: “Through the years, your abilities as a spokesperson for protecting Montana’s precious environment have been recognized by a number of conservation organizations. Cinnabar now joins their ranks in expressing our appreciation for your contributions as a lobbyist and a consistent advocate for our state’s air, water, and precious landscapes.” The award included a grant of $5,000 to MEIC.
Contact Anne at: ahedges@meic.org
Jim Jensen, Executive Director
Jim Jensen has been MEIC's Executive Director since 1985. He attended Westminster College in Salt Lake City and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the Univ. of Montana (1980). Jim served in the Montana House of Representatives from Billings where he was a member of the Natural Resources, Fish and Game, and Judiciary committees. Prior to taking his present position he was a lobbyist for various interests including the elderly, child care providers, and magistrates.
In 1989 he was appointed by President George Bush and reappointed by President Bill Clinton to a Federal Advisory Committee to the U.S. EPA Administrator on mine waste regulation. He is a member of the Western Governors Association's Mine Waste Advisory Group. From 1990 to 1994 he was an elected supervisor of the Lewis and Clark County Conservation District.
He is a founding Board member of the Seattle based Northwest Climate Connections, a new organization of private businesses, governments and public interest groups who are working to substantially reduce green house gas emissions in the Pacific Northwest (including British Columbia) through voluntary, co-operative and incentive based approaches. He also is a member of the Steering Committee of the Boulder, CO-based Western Clean Energy Campaign and is on the board of directors of the Portland, OR-based Renewable Northwest Project.
Contact Jim at jjensen@meic.org
Amy Kelley, Publications Director
Amy is primarily responsible for Down to Earth and other MEIC publications, as well as the MEIC web site.
Previous to moving to Montana in 1989, Amy worked for six years as an organizer and publications staffperson for the state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). She served as Executive Director of Montana Common Cause for three years, lobbying campaign finance reform and other "good government" issues at the 1993 Legislature.
When not at MEIC, Amy works as a freelance graphic designer, editor, and illustrator in Bozeman, Montana.
Contact Amy at meic@meic.org
Sara Marino, Development Director
As MEIC's Development Director. Sara works to recruit and retain members for MEIC, keep our active and committed volunteers busy, raise money for MEIC's environmental work, and more.
Prior to joining MEIC, Sara did research work at the National Institute on Money in State Politics located in Helena. Before moving to Montana in 1998, she worked in membership services for the Center for Marine Conservation in Washington, DC and for a direct marketing firm that fundraised for a variety of non-profit clients.
When not at MEIC, Sara can be found hiking and backpacking in Montana's wild places from Glacier down to the Beartooths.
Contact Sara at: smarino@meic.org
Adam McLane, Business Manager
With MEIC since 1985, Adam manages MEIC's finances, helps on member recruiting and fundraising, edits MEIC publications, and assists on other projects. He maintains all MEIC's databases and mailing lists. He has a B.A. in History from Williams College (1960), an M.B.A. in Accounting from Stanford University (1968), is a Certified Public Accountant, and has worked for nonprofit organizations since 1972.
Contact Adam at mclane@meic.org
Gail Speck, Staff Assistant
Gail joined the MEIC staff in 1999. A native of Whitehall, Montana, Gail has lived in Helena since 1985. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts, an M.P.H. from Harvard University, and a medical degree from Tufts University. She and her husband, David Ewer, have two daughters, Meredith and Mallory.
Contact Gail at gspeck@meic.org
Kyla Wiens, Energy Advocate
A native Montanan, Kyla graduated from the University of Montana in 2006, obtaining a degree in Wildlife Biology with an emphasis in Political Science from the College of Forestry and Conservation. Before coming to MEIC, Kyla worked in the Tribal Lands Program at the National Wildlife Federation, interned in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and was a wildlife technician at Denali National Park in Alaska. In the future Kyla hopes to pursue a Masters degree in Public Administration or obtain a law degree.
In her free time, Kyla enjoys running, hiking, flyfishing, and skiing.
Contact Kyla at kwiens@meic.org