Board President, La Weeda Ward

La Weeda Ward is an active environmental professional in the government sector. After receiving a Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles, Ms. Ward began her career at regulatory agencies and later operated her own environmental consultancy helping numerous businesses design and implement innovative and effective solutions to environmental problems. Over the years, Ms. Ward has gained considerable expertise in both air quality compliance and hazardous waste holding several highly responsible positions in the Environmental Management arena. She once managed the Air Quality Compliance Program for Edwards Air Force Base, which consists of a footprint of 475 square miles, and over 2,300 distinct air compliance sites. Throughout her career, Ms. Ward has received numerous awards and honors including the prestigious “Civilian Manager of the Year” of the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, the largest major command of the U.S. Air Force. 

Board Treasurer, Nicole Ussery

​Nicole Ussery is a Compensation Consultant for Farmers Insurance, one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. She has many years of valued experience in human resources specializing in compensation consulting and management. Nicole previously worked in the banking and aerospace industries. Nicole earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and later earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Prior to her election to the NELA Board of Directors, Nicole served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer for the Clarissa Manuel Foundation. Nicole is also a very active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. a public service organization. She is currently the Chair of the Finance committee for the Long Beach Alumnae chapter. During her membership, Nicole has held numerous elected positions including Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Finance Chair. She has also served as the Chairperson or member for several committees.  

Board Secretary, Natalia Baudin

Natalia has 20 years experience in air quality. She was recruited to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to help develop and implement their Small Business Assistance Program. She was also the technical consultant to the United States Environmental Protection Agency in their business ombudsman program. She was the AQMD’s first Environmental Justice Coordinator assisting communities impacted by air pollution and a vital member of their Public Information Program. She received the AQMD’s highest Employee Award for her work bringing communities and manufacturing together. Natalia has a strong background in research, investigation, and resolution of complex environmental issues. Prior to her environmental work, Natalia was involved in technical writing, promotions and marketing. Natalia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in Urban Planning and Communication.

Board Member, Samantha Waterman

​Samantha has 15+ years of experience in law, politics, and most recently, water. She is currently Vice President for Project Management at Cadiz Inc., a water resources company developing a state-of-the-art water conservation, supply, and storage project as well as a conservation land bank for desert tortoise. At Cadiz, Samantha has helped shepherd the company through a rigorous environmental review process, the litigation process that followed, and now a public relations campaign. Prior to joining Cadiz, Samantha worked in politics and government, working on federal, state, and Los Angeles political campaigns, including the 2008 Hillary Clinton campaign, the U.S. Senate race to fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat, and several of former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s races. Samantha also worked for Councilmember and then Mayor Villaraigosa for eight years in both Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Samantha has a J.D. from Vermont Law School and a B.A. in political science from the University of California, San Diego. She is also an avid rower on Newport’s Back Bay.

Board Member, Shirley F. Rivera

​Shirley F. Rivera has served in the environmental and energy sector since 1987. She has over 30 years of experience in the air quality and energy sector after receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. She started her career with the U.S. EPA Region IX and followed suit in consulting, with an investor-owned utility, and as a solopreneur and collaborator. She established Resource Catalysts (R|CAT) in 1994, her independent consultancy, during California’s restructuring of the electricity industry. Her experience includes project development and working with and evaluating environmental features of power generation assets, technologies, and market evaluations – from traditional fossil fuel-fired sources to bioenergy and renewable energy sources. She continues to serve in air quality, energy projects, and environmental communications, as well as coupling these with her skills in applied improv and coaching for behavior design and habit formation. She values connecting seemingly disparate perspectives among business, government, and community to create meaningful interactions for better air quality.

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