Staff Bios
Mariel Nanasi – Executive Director and President of the Board
Mariel Nanasi, President and Executive Director, New Energy Economy, is a civil rights and criminal defense lawyer. She is licensed to practice in both the state and federal courts in New Mexico and Illinois and the U.S. Supreme Court. Legal cases she has won and settled have been featured in the major media, including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Albuquerque Journal, Santa Fe New Mexican, and on many television stations, including a documentary on PBS. She has been working on policy and community organizing with New Energy Economy for 3.5 years. Mariel serves as a board member of the Santa Fe Art Institute.
Anna Rondon – Native Outreach Director
Anna Rondon is Dine (Navajo) Kinyanni (Towering House Clan) and born for Nakai Dine (Mexican Clan) and resides on a ranch in Chichitah, NM. Anna has 30 years of experience in community planning and community development, grant writing, social/environmental justice issues and ten years of volunteer work on Gulf War Veterans health concerns. Her community planning/development are based on years of research and interviews with elders and the study of sustainable community development practices throughout the world. Anna represents New Energy Economy on green jobs/economy throughout Navajo country and she is a board member of the Navajo Green Economy Coalition.
Betsy Taylor – Young Climate Leaders Director
Betsy Taylor leads the Young Climate Leaders Action Network, an informal yet highly dynamic network of predominantly young social entrepreneurs working for climate solutions and a sustainable economy. She is President of Breakthrough Strategies & Solutions, a small consulting firm offering strategic services to philanthropic, business and non-profit clients. Her consulting practice focuses on high-impact, catalytic initiatives to address climate change and promote a sustainable culture and economy. Betsy is former president of the Center for a New American Dream and board member of Garrison Institute. She is the author of three books including More Fun, Less Stuff, What Kids Really Want that Money Can’t Buy, and Sustainable Planet: Solutions for the 21st Century.
Bryan Watchman – 2011 Summer Intern
Bryan is an 18-year-old graduate of the Santa Fe Indian School. He was born in Window Rock, Arizona but has spent the majority of life in Santa Fe. He was a summer intern with New Energy Economy and will attend Luna Community College in the fall.
