About the Solana Center

About the Solana Center

The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (SCEI) was founded in 1983. Known as Solana Recyclers in
the early days, we pioneered the first comprehensive curbside recycling program in San Diego County and one
of the first community-based recycling programs in the State of California. In 1996, we left the recycling collection
business to focus our energies on community outreach, public education and creating new markets for recycled
products. The word Solana has remained and is symbolic of our work in the broader community. In Spanish,
Solana means "place where the light shines." Carrying the torch of environmental awareness is something that
we take very seriously, finding ways to illuminate problems, create solutions and inspire change.

	Sandy Atkinson, Executive Director sandy@solanacenter.org Sandy has served on the Solana Center's Board of Directors since the early curbside recycling days in the 1980's. She has a B.S. in education and has been a successful entrepreneur and realtor. Sandy was an officer in both national and community organizations. She holds professional certification from The California Resource and Recovery Association, and active membership in other industry related groups. Originally from the east coast, then Cardiff by The Sea, she now lives on Batiquitos lagoon in S. Carlsbad. Sandy is the proud owner of an ever growing worm farm.
	Laura McIntire, Pollution Prevention Program Manager laura@solanacenter.org
	Michael Murphy, Environmental Technician mike@solanacenter.org Michael joined the Solana Center after working for over 20 years in the industrial fabric industry as a contractor, designer, and business owner. He is a native Californian. He volunteers in the community for a variety of environmental causes.
	Leslie Barnes, Volunteer Coordinator leslie@solanacenter.org Leslie Barnes joined the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation in May 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Prior to college she lived in a small town in Northern California. For the past seven years Leslie has worked for non profit child care organizations. She has joined the Solana Center to further her involvement in improving the environment. Leslie enjoys traveling, surfing, and photography.
	Christine Monet, Bookkeeper chris@solanacenter.org Christine Monet joined the Solana Center in August 2008. Christine has been a Cardiff resident for 10 years, after moving from Santa Barbara, where she resided for over 18 years. She has a 17-year-old daughter, who is a senior at San Dieguto Academy and is an active volleyball player. While in Santa Barbara, she studied Environmental Science and Business Economics. Her BS is in Organizational Leadership, which she received from Azuza Pacific University. She teaches 3-5 year olds Dance and Art weekly. She enjoys hiking, gardening, reading and biking.
	Whitney Ketchum whitney@solanacenter.org Whitney is a graduate of the Environmental Studies and Molecular Biology programs of UCSD. She is originally from San Diego and works at the Solana Center because she enjoys teaching about environmental issues and is provided with more opportunities to do outreach within the community.
	Victor Cuate, Recycling Outreach victor@solanacenter.org
	Elizabeth Mendelson, Intern elizabeth@solanacenter.org
	Alex Mullen-Ley alex@solanacenter.org
Solana Center Board of Directors
	Margaret “Wootsie” Stockton, President The Solana Center has been the center of Wootsie’s volunteer life since 1983 when she introduced curbside recycling to her 152 unit condominium complex. Early on, when the executive director left the organization temporarily, she and her husband managed the day to day operations of Solana Recyclers for one year, including curbside recycling collection and taking recyclables to market . Wootsie helped guide the organization through the transition out of recycling collection while broadening our community education programs.
	Pamela Yates Boynton, Vice President Pamela is a retired educator from the public and private school systems and has degrees from Florida Southern College in education and biology. She has served on the boards of the Burnham Institute and La Jolla Shores Association and has volunteered for Junior League projects and Mentorship of San Diego. She is currently a member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation and Project Concern International. In the early 1990s she and a colleague started an innovative reusable lunch bag company to help reduce the use of paper lunch bags on school campuses. She has been influenced and enlightened by her daughters, who have “green” careers, and through her extensive travels to remote regions of the world.
	Denis E. Bohlman, Treasurer Denis earned his BS degree from the University of North Dakota and MBA from the University of Chicago. He served as officer in the United States Air Force and has 34 years diversified experience in the defense industry, 19 years of which as a corporate officer and 10 years of serving on corporate boards of directors. Denis has been a board member and treasurer of the Solana Center for 9 years.
	Amy Moser, Secretary As TriStaff Group’s VP, Amy has recruited and placed software professionals for over 24 years for a wide variety of clients in areas such as real time systems, satellite communications, graphics, GUI, database, Internet, bioinformatics, and IT financial and business applications. Born and raised in Hawaii, Amy studied at the University of Hawaii and CSU, Sacramento, where she completed her B.A. degree in Political Science. She received her M.S. degree in Social Sciences & Education from State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
	Lindsay Pucket Lindsay joined Solana Center in March 2009. She currently practices environmental and land use law at Best Best & Krieger LLP. Lindsay represents local agencies and private clients in matters involving the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, hazardous and solid waste, water quality, global warming, sustainable communities, alternative energy, endangered species laws, and coastal development. Lindsay received her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2004 and her Bachelor of Arts degree in American Literature and Culture from UCLA in 2001. In addition to the Solana Center, Lindsay is a member of Lawyers Club of San Diego and the Association of Environmental Professionals. Lindsay grew up in North County and attended Torrey Pines High School.
	Cris Hicks Cris is a renowned artist. Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured on national media. She originated the concept for and designed the "surfer crossing" street signs, for which she (and the City of Encinitas) gained national acclaim. She serves on various local boards. As Vice President of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Chamber of Commerce, she chaired the Hansen/Machado Surf Classic and Cardiff Beach Fair. She has served on the City of Encinitas Commission for the Arts and was its Chair for one year. Cris chaired the American Legion San Dieguito Post 416 Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Committee that produced the preliminary design for the site in Encinitas. While on the Board of Directors of Ivey Ranch Handicapped Park in Oceanside, she designed a sensory garden for the blind and designed and implemented a large bird aviary with the assistance of staff at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. She has judged the Teen Art Exhibition at the San Diego County Fair for 11 years.
	Joel Rabasco Joel joined the Solana Center in October of 2009. Currently, Joel is Staff Product Manager at Qualcomm's FLO TV subsidiary where he leads the design and implementation of FLO's Direct to Consumer merchandising platform initiatives. Joel also led the product design and commercial launch activities for Qualcomm's first mobile television device into the commercial retail market. Prior to Qualcomm, he held leadership positions in Product Management, Engineering, and Business Development at notable high tech companies including Texas Instruments, Siemens Mobile, Dell, and Hewlett Packard. Joel holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in International Management (MPIA), both from UCSD. Joel is a San Diego native and his personal interests include spending time with his wife and two children, cooking, and reading. He is a distance runner and avid surfer.

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