Board & Staff

  Introducing Mike Piepsny: The New EHW Executive Director

Mike received his B.A. in political science from Cleveland State University in 1994 and his J.D. from the Cleveland Marshall School of Law in 1997. During his education, he was the recipient of competitive internship placements at the Housing Advocates, Inc. and the United States Department of Justice. 

Mike joins EHW as a progressive political activist and the former executive director of the Cleveland Tenants Organization.  Under Mike’s stewardship of CTO, he preserved and strengthened one of the most respected housing rights and social justice organizations in the country.  During his tenure, he was responsible for the creation of the Foreclosure Renter Outreach program (FRO), a program which provides unprecedented outreach and information to properties facing foreclosure in which renters live. In recognition of the program, CTO was recognized by the Center for Community Solutions and the Cleveland Foundation and awarded the 2009 Anisfield-Wolf Memorial award, largely considered the most prestigious award a local non-profit is eligible to receive.

Mike has been a frequent local and national speaker on affordable housing issues and grassroots organizing strategies, and has been a guest speaker and writer on nationally renowned television, internet and print media such as Bill Moyer’s Journal, the USA Today and MSN.com.  Mike currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Cuyahoga County Housing Advisory Board, and the Vice-Chair of the City of Middleburg Heights Board of Zoning and Building Appeals.  Mike has also been appointed by Mayor Frank G. Jackson to the City of Cleveland Housing Advisory Board.

Board of Trustees

Shari Weir – President, Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services
Steve Weiss – Treasurer, Attorney
Elizabeth Cagan – PhD, Cleveland State University, School of Social Work
Alan Finkelstein – Strongsville Fire and Emergency Services
Don Slocum – Neighborhood Leadership Institute
Carol Smith – Alphaport, Inc
Mike Kinsella - Cleveland Institute of Art

Core Program Staff

Fatima Allen – Research and Data Manager

Fatima started working at EHW as a volunteer in 1999 and worked intermittently in that capacity for quite some time. She was hired as a staff member in July 2009. Fatima has a BA and MA in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Policy and an MA in English. Fatima is a Sanitarian in Training, Licensed Lead Risk Assessor, and Certified Radon Measurement Specialist
 

Matt Berges – Green Housing Manager

Matt began working for EHW in 2007 and in 2008 he helped establish EHW’s Affordable Green Housing Center. After college, Matt completed a year of service with AmeriCorps in California, working for Habitat for Humanity. Matt is also a Certified Healthy House Practitioner and a BPI Certified Building Analyst.

Kim Foreman – Education and Outreach Director

Kim commenced working for EHW part-time in 1999 and became a full-time health educator in 2001. Kim earned an associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College and bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve. Kim is a Certified Asthma Educator, Licensed Lead Risk Assessor, and Licensed Lead Contractor.

Stuart Greenberg – Advisor

Stu started on staff at the Council on Hazardous Materials (now EHW) in 1984; prior to that he was on the Board and part of the founding group while he worked at the Ohio Public Interest Campaign (now Ohio Citizen Action). Stu graduated from Western Reserve University in 1966 and obtained a MS in Organizational Behavior from Case Institute of Technology. Stu was co-founder and first executive director (1970-78) of Panta Rhei, Inc. (now Spectrum of Supportive Services), a rehabilitation agency for people coming back into the community after long-term hospitalizations for mental illness.

Mandy Metcalf – Affordable Green Housing Center Director

Mandy joined EHW in 2008 to establish the Affordable Green Housing Center. Mandy has an Urban Planning master’s degree from the University of North Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State. Mandy’s past jobs include Cleveland EcoVillage Project Director, planner at the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, and Planner for Sanford/Lee County in North Carolina. Mandy is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Debrah Muhammad – Project Manager

Debrah began at Environmental Health Watch as a part-time AmeriCorps VISTA for two years and then was hired on part-time until 2010, when she became a full-time employee. Debrah is a Licensed Lead Risk Assessor, a Licensed Lead Abatement Worker, and has EPA RRP Certification.