Founder & CEO

Kristin Cushman is the CEO for Blue Strike Environmental - with a project emphasis on EcoShift Consulting, Blue Strike's climate division. Kristin’s focus is to build climate mitigation strategies that combine community priorities with local greenhouse gas reduction strategies. She has worked for over a decade on supporting waste and energy state mandates, building public private partnerships to leverage resources and innovate programs.

On the forefront, she designs program activities, creates best practices and reports on UN Sustainable Development goals and Council for Responsible Sport certification. She also has an impeccable record for calculating, tracking, and reporting a wide range of sustainability metrics in electricity consumption, fuel consumption, waste diversion, and greenhouse gas emissions.

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Chief Sustainability Officer

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Alex Baxter is a graduate of the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University holding his degree in Sustainability (Economics of Sustainability) and a minor in Business. He believes in connecting stakeholders and creating mutual benefits among the three pillars of sustainability, economy, environment, and society to advance organizations’ social footprint in their community, and views events as the catalyst and touchpoint for change.

Since joining Blue Strike, Alex has led dozens of successful sustainability programs at PGA TOUR events, the 2019 U.S. Open, road races/marathons, and festivals leading to zero-waste events, Golf Environment Organization (GEO) and Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) certification, and building civic bridges in the community ensuring sustainability is a year-round part of client’s operations by bringing local stakeholders and corporate partners to the table.

Prior to joining Blue Strike, Alex launched the Arizona Diamondbacks’ inaugural composting program in 2017 and supported the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four – the first jewel sporting event to certify as Evergreen by the Council for Responsible Sport.


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Climate & Energy Director

Rich is an energy economist and finance expert, who has worked around the world providing assessments for clean energy projects, regulation, and policy. His economic experience includes feasibility studies, policy evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, tariff-setting, and regulatory trainings. His finance experience includes blended finance, investment analysis, proforma modeling, banking due diligence for energy lending, and risk assessment/mitigation for utilities, developers, and infrastructure banks. He has also performed many GHG emission inventories, carbon accounting and forecasting, and evaluation of mitigation strategies for universities and communities. In addition to his domestic work, Rich has international experience with the World Bank, the Asian and African Development Banks the Green Climate Fund and the National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC). Rich has a Ph.D. in Civil Systems Engineering, a M.A. in International Affairs, and a B.A. in Economics; he heads our Boston office.

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Special Events Director

Born and raised in Dallas, TX Matt Fedorko graduated from The University of North Texas with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Business. Spending his extra hours volunteering at local community cleanups Matt is hoping to bridge mental health and sustainability to fuel behavior change on proper waste disposal. He believes that every time we discard something, we are presented with an opportunity to do the right thing. When we choose to do the wrong thing that mentality sticks with us, and the effects of improper disposal have generational impacts beyond the present day. To make large scale change we need to change our micro-decisions.

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Engagement & Resilience Director

Brennen Jensen joins Blue Strike Environmental as the Director of Engagement and Resilience bringing over two decades of experience conceiving and implementing strategic environmental and community-based programs and initiatives that inspire action, change behavior, foster an appreciation for nature, and offer tangible climate solutions to the communities, local governments and business partners we serve. Brennen was part of the 1st graduating class in the nation to earn a MS in Biomimicry from Arizona State University, and holds a BS in Environmental Science Technology with concentrations in Landscape Ecosystems and Wilderness Conservation and a BA in Spanish from Humboldt State University.

A background in government, private and non-profit organizations, Brennen has a cooperative facilitative approach that seeks to find creative solutions to complex problems, while expanding localized solutions for zerowaste, energy and emissions reductions throughout California and beyond. Her work seeks to give rise to more sustainable, engaged and resilient communities, inspired by nature.

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Development Director, Sustainable Sports & Entertainment

Abbie Beane is Blue Strike Environmental’s Development Director of Sustainable Sports and Entertainment, and has over 15 years of experience in the environmental field. She has worked on conservation efforts for nonprofits in Wyoming and Oregon, and directed two environmental non-profits based in Monterey County.

Abbie has also developed zero-waste, organics recycling and environmental certification programs for businesses and special events, and has extensive experience in extended producer responsibility (EPR). In the EPR world, Abbie has worked as a California statewide director, grants manager and research consultant in opening new end markets for post-consumer materials. Abbie has also worked for the Product Stewardship Institute and led several stakeholder groups tackling waste reduction or restoration priorities.

She is a Sustainable Event Alliance certified professional and holds a Masters degree in international environmental policy and sustainable development from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Abbie is based in the California office.

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Sustainability Program Manager

Dave, a Monterey County native, has been part of the Blue Strike team since 2017. He leads environmental projects throughout the state with a focus on the PGA TOUR and California State Mandated SB 1383. When David is not working, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his friends and family.

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California Event Division Manager

Originally from Nevada, Emily has spent most of her adult life studying sustainable practices all over the world. She graduated from Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability in 2019, and went on to spend time living in Malaysia, Nepal, Australia, and most recently New York, where she worked with volunteer groups to divert fabric waste from landfill.

In 2022 Emily moved to the Monterey area, and joined the Blue Strike team working and leading various events throughout the summer. She’s looking forward to growing with the company and expanding the sustainability efforts in her local community. In her spare time Emily enjoys sewing, gardening, and has recently become an instructor at Pure Barre.

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Sustainability Program Manager

Originally from Northern California, Katy graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a minor in French. Katy’s volunteer and early career experience has been focused on sustainable agriculture and food systems, restoration ecology, and climate adaptation. Before joining Blue Strike, Katy completed an AmeriCorps fellowship with Sacramento Municipal Utility District, where she worked on a variety of climate adaptation projects focusing on topics such as biodiversity, habitat restoration, urban greening and heat mitigation.

Katy joined the Blue Strike team in 2023 to work at events and to support the Engagement and Resilience team. She is excited to bring her passion for food waste reduction into her new role, and to support community oriented solutions for climate resilience. When she’s not working, Katy loves traveling, crocheting, and spending time outdoors.

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Sustainability Program Manager

Born and Raised in the tropical island of Hawaii, Zane developed an appreciation for the Environment at a young age. His passion to learn about the natural environment and find ways to protect it led him to pursue a Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Agroecology and sustainable food systems from The University of California, Santa Cruz. 

With a strong academic background in areas such as sustainability, conservation, and agricultural sciences, Zane is motivated to make a difference in the world. 

During his free time he enjoys surfing, hiking, gardening, and all things outdoors.

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National Sustainability Program Manager

Hailing from Ohio, Riley's educational journey led her to Florida State University, where she pursued dual majors in Spanish and Biology, all while making her mark as a competitive runner. With a background rooted in resilience and disaster response, Riley's dedication to fostering sustainable solutions became evident during her engagement with Florida State University's Resilience Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center. Building on this foundation, she pursued a master's degree in Social and Sustainable Enterprises, delving into critical areas such as methane emission reduction initiatives.

Riley's exceptional work earned her recognition as a global semifinalist in the University of Oxford's prestigious "Map the System" competition, highlighting her ability to navigate the intricate intersections of climate change, policy, and infrastructure.

Armed with a dynamic problem-solving approach and an entrepreneurial spirit, Riley is committed to innovative strategies prioritizing the well-being of both people and the planet. As she takes on her role at Blue Strike Environmental, Riley's vision and expertise are poised to drive the organization's sustainability initiatives to new heights, leaving a lasting and positive impact on our world.

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Program Manager; Climate and Energy Business Development Lead

Originally from New Brunswick, Canada, Sandrine Mallet is a trilingual professional with a Master’s degree in Commerce and Economic Development from Northeastern University. With previous experience in non-profit, public and private organizations, Sandrine brings a broad skill set in economics, strategy and program management

Sandrine joins Blue Strike as the Program Manager; Climate and Energy Business Development Lead, supporting the team on climate and energy projects as well as sustainable event programs. In her down time, Sandrine enjoys being outdoors with her dog Jasper.

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Analyst; GHG Inventories and Forecasting

Originally from Salida, Colorado, Sol graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2020 while receiving a degree in Environmental Studies and minors in Leadership Studies and Geography. Sol joined Blue Strike Environmental in 2022 and works towards increasing the sphere of influence in sustainability as best possible. Sol works as both an analyst for climate action plans and greenhouse gas analysis for municipalities, universities, and businesses across the globe, as well as managing sustainability at events in the Monterey Area.

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Program Manager;
Energy and Carbon Markets

Anna Bugankova, MS, has a wide range of experience in carbon markets, renewable energy projects, GHG inventories, and product marketing. She recently graduated from Columbia University with a M.S. in Sustainability Science, completing projects ranging from building a taxonomy of CDR solutions, creating a framework to evaluate carbon removal credit issuance readiness, designing decarbonization solutions, and building financial and implementation models for solar, EV, and sustainable development projects.

In her professional life, she was a part of the reforestation startup Terraformation, where she helped develop the world’s first reforestation accelerator. Before that, she worked at the proptech startup CompStak, owning marketing functions and analyzing trends in the commercial real estate landscape. Anna also works as a teaching assistant for several graduate level classes at Columbia University. In her free time Anna loves skiing, cooking, and traveling.

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Program Manager; Data and Climate Scientist

Daianne is originally from Brazil and has over ten years of experience extracting insightful information from complex datasets. With a Bachelor's degree in Geology from the Universidade Federal do Paraná, followed by a Master's degree in Oceanography from Texas A&M University, Daianne further honed her skills at Harvard University, where she completed a Master's in Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Before joining Blue Strike, Daianne's career experience was focused on climate science, data analysis, and biogeochemistry. From designing experiments that study photosynthetic bacterial respiration to creating predictive climate change models, Daianne brings her data science skills to Blue Strike to contribute to the team's climate and energy projects. Outside her professional life, Daianne enjoys exploring Boston, the city she now calls home. She is a nature enthusiast who cherishes every opportunity to connect with the outdoors.

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Analyst; Adaptation Specialist

Originally from Northern Michigan, Andrea has dedicated her academic career to studying sustainability and corporate ESG. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Masters of the Environment program earning a Masters degree in Urban Resilience & Sustainability. Prior to her time at CU Boulder, she earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies & Sustainability from Michigan State University. Andrea has a background in topics such as greenhouse gas accounting, ESG reporting, and corporate social responsibility.

She joins Blue Strike as an Analyst; Adaptation Specialist for climate and energy projects. In her free time, Andrea enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.

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Analyst; Climate & Energy

Hailing from Northern California, Marley graduated with distinction in Biology from Duke University in 2023, where she received a B.S. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy. Building on her background in ecology research, data analysis, and conservation policy development, Marley joined the team as a Climate and Energy analyst in 2023. Her work focuses on equitable climate action plan development, technical writing, and stakeholder engagement.

In her free time, she enjoys skiing, cycling, and playing volleyball on Carmel beach.

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Graphic Design and Marketing Lead

Rose Freidin is an accomplished graphic designer, offering over two decades of specialized expertise in her field. Currently anchoring her talents at Blue Strike as the full-time in-house Graphic Design and Marketing Lead, she plays a pivotal role in steering the company's creative direction and marketing efforts. Her creativity and leadership skills are vital in orchestrating effective design concepts for extensive and intricate projects.

Freidin holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Design and Marketing from California State University, Monterey Bay and has worked in-house for several newspapers and magazines. Her career is punctuated with spotlight projects, particularly in digital art for activism, collaborating with organizations like Save Our Shores and the American Cetacean Society. A highlight of her career entailed working for the Monterey County Weekly for almost a decade performing high-speed print/web ad design, print production work, website maintenance, and marketing for clients. Another highlight includes working with California Bay Area's MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art), an arts education program, where Freidin created promotional materials for education programs. Freidin’s hobbies include: reading, drawing, gardening and the gym.

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