Staff

Jonathan M. Scherch, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Founder & President

Jonathan leads PBR collaborations with many years of exploring, studying, and discussing themes of international bamboo cultures. His work has included local-through-international sustainable community, business and economic development initiatives, leadership and innovation in non-profit (NGO) capacity-building and business administration, and myriad courses, projects and events since the late 1980s.

A frequent speaker and presenter on subjects of innovative social work, sustainable community development, integrated bamboo resources and ecological design, Jonathan was an invited Foreign Expert Keynote Speaker for the 2007 International Bamboo Workshop, convened at Zhejiang Forestry University in Lin'an, China.  Jonathan gained International Training Certification on Bamboo Industrial Processing Technologies and Machines in 2006.

A returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer (Jamaica, 1991-93), his teaching, fieldwork and writing involves themes of bamboo agroforestry, stable food and energy systems, low-impact and “benign emission” industrial ecologies, social work and appropriate technology transfer, and international ecological design initiatives. Collaborations have led him and others to Bangladesh, China, India, Vietnam, and elsewhere.

Since 1998, Jonathan has served as Core Faculty (and formerly Director) of the Graduate Program in Environment & Community at Antioch University Seattle. A trans-disciplinary degree program, Jonathan's courses focus on sustainable community, business and economic development imperatives, social work for social change, and whole system design innovation and leadership. Active with many NGO's over the years, he was a founding Board Member of Climate Solutions and presently serves as Program Vice President for the Northwest Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration, involving members from across seven northwestern states.

Jonathan is also an avid amateur radio operator, holding an Extra Class license (KK7PW), connecting with people across the region and around the world, and volunteers locally with the Auxiliary Communication Service within the City of Seattle's Department of Emergency Management. His station and household electrical loads are powered by a solar photovoltaic energy system which he designed and installed.

A few recent publications referencing bamboo resources and sustainable development:

• Article featuring Jonathan's collaboration with Tibetan farmers in India. An Invitation from Tibet Government in Exile. (2009).
• Scherch, J. & Phelan, T. (2009). Bamboo as a Catalyst for Change. Interview (audio podcast) with Terry Phelan, WebTalk Radio.
  
• Scherch, J. (2009). Social Work and Agroforestry: Towards an integral practice model for sustainable futures. Paper proposal accepted for the 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry, Nairobi, Kenya, August.
• Scherch, J. (2009). Whither Our Embrace of Bamboo: Observations from Forest, Farm and Factory. International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, 5(4), pgs. 163-178. In association with the 5th Conference convened at University of Technology, Mauritius, January.
• Scherch, J. (2008). Poverty Alleviation and Urban/Rural Reciprocities: Designing, Learning, Collaborating for Eco-City Dhaka, Bangladesh. Paper accepted for EcoCity World Summit 2008, San Francisco, CA, April.
• Scherch, J. (2006). From Rhizome to Renaissance: Engaging Integral Bamboo Systems for Sustainable Development. International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability. 2(4), Pgs. 39-52.
• Scherch, J. (2006). Sustainable Business Principles: New Approaches for a New Era. An earlier version appeared in the March 22, 1999 edition of the Puget Sound Business Journal.
• Scherch, J. (2005). Sustainability in Exile: Envisioning Permanent Culture in Tibetan Refugee Settlements. International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, 1(2), Pgs. 75-86.
• Scherch, J. (2003). Washington's Future: No Time or Resources to Waste. An abridged version appeared in the July 17 edition of the Daily Journal of Commerce.

 
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Todd Ellis, M.A.
Vice-President, Strategic Business Development

Todd brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of sustainable business and economic development to PBR initiatives. As Vice President of Business Development for Imperium Renewables Inc. (IRI), a national leader in next generation biodiesel refining and manufacturing technology, Todd was one of the original employees of IRI and was instrumental in the development of the company including biodiesel and co-product sales, Western State policy development, federal and state government project management, corporate social responsibility and domestic feedstock acquisition and development.

Todd has also participated in numerous local, regional, and national biodiesel market developments and is an active participant of the Northwest Biofuels Association, Washington State Biofuels Advisory committee, and the National Biodiesel Board.

Todd has worked as an outdoor educator with the National Outdoor Leadership School. He holds a B.A. in Humanities from Fort Lewis College and a M.A. from Antioch University Seattle's Environment and Community program.

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Rachel Lazar, M.A.
Director, Volunteer & Internship Programs

Rachel joins the PBR team with experience in volunteer outreach and coordination. She moved to Seattle for an AmeriCorps position with the YMCA Earth Service Corps, and spent her time creatively recruiting students to environmental restoration and sustainable education events. She connected people’s passion for a healthy planet with tangible projects and educational experiences.

Rachel received her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon, and completed her M.A. in Environment & Community at Antioch University Seattle. She holds certification in Integrated Skills for Sustainable Change and Ecological Planning & Design.

Inspired by one of Jonathan’s E&C courses at Antioch, Rachel began a Sustainable Pet’s business called Earthworm Design. She addressed the adverse environmental impacts of pet ownership and sought to find creative solutions to lessen them. Earthworm Design held presentations at Woodland Park Zoo and the Humane Society as well as stocked educational brochures in Veterinary clinics throughout Seattle.

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Kirsten Koba, M.A.
Director of Development

Kirsten joins PBR with over ten years experience in non-profit research and development; editorial writing and styling; and green marketing and production (including brand development, ecologically-sound sourcing, and event management). It is a combination that helps her facilitate the wholistic design of sustainable organizations from best practice analysis to product and program creation to outreach and fundraising strategies—skills she is bringing to PBR as she shepherds its non-profit development process.

Kirsten is a Senior Associate at Comprehensive Prospect Research, where she conducts donor research and training for organizations that have included The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, and Environmental Defense. She recently worked with Sustainable Seattle to design a new program called The Leadership Lab, which empowers emerging leaders to drive change through a systemic and collaborative approach. As a facilitator of the Lab she used dialogue, asset mapping, and appreciative inquiry to engage diverse constituencies. Previously, she was the Director of Research and Development at agricult design (now Bahar Shahpar), a pioneer in sustainable fashion, which has been profiled in Elle and Vogue. Kirsten’s own writing has been published in numerous magazines including Ms., Shout, and Hemp Times.

Kirsten received her B.A. in Magazine Journalism from Drake University and her M.A. in Environment and Community from Antioch University, where she serves on the Alumni Advisory Council. She holds certifications in Integrated Skills for Sustainable Change, Ecological Planning & Design, and Permaculture Design.