Interns

Andrew Schmerl, Business Greening Program Consultant
Andrew provides professional services for the Green Business programs of Sustainable Works. As a volunteer advisor, Andrew is currently assisting with integrating procedures of Santa Monica’s program with the California Green Business Program Network.  He has been responsible for creating business case analyses to show the ROI and CO2 savings for recommended electricity and water improvements; summarizing key metrics of the program’s success; and communicating with over 60 Chamber of Commerce members regarding the program.  Besides his time with Sustainable Works, Andrew works as a management consultant with Robert Half International.  He has 20 years of experience in the delivery of business solutions and services.  Andrew holds an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, as well as a BS in International Economics from Georgetown University.  Andrew is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and is pursuing the LEED Green Associate accredidation.

Sara Hickman LEED AP, Marketing Program Intern
(June - September 2010)
Sara is originally from Boston, where she received her Bachelors in Architectural Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology. She has several years of experience dealing with building design, energy analysis, green product research and LEED project management. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, she has immersed herself in green living and has taken an interested in sustainable community development. As a committed advocate for sustainability, she enjoys collaborating with various non-profits to promote awareness and education.

Daniel Yaffe, Marketing Program Intern
(January - September 2010)
Daniel is a third generation native angelino with a passion for preserving California's natural beauty. While studying Biochemistry at UCLA Daniel was heavily involved in student organizing around environmental and social justice issues. After graduating in 2006 with his BS, Daniel moved to NYC where he spent time as an Industrial Hygenist and was moved to pursue a career in sustainable structural materials after inspecting commerical and residential buildings throughout the city. In addition to Sustainable Works, Daniel is working with the Household Hazardous Waste Facilities and the Dept of Green Chemistry for the City of Santa Monica to gain a better understanding of environmental issues as he prepares for a graduate program in Material Science Engineering.

Fernanda Campana da Costa Gama, Marketing Program Intern
(September - December 2010)
To come.

Vahagn Karapetyan, Residential Greening Program Intern
(January - September 2010)
Vahagn received a BA in History with a minor in Public Affairs from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and is currently back at UCLA working towards an MA in Public Policy.  Vahagn is interested in policy issues dealing with the environment and transportation. Vahagn has been interning at Sustainable Works since January 2010 and primarily serves as a field representative for the Residential Greening Program. He is involved in projects dealing with community outreach, research of potential grants and sources of funding, and workshop participant questionnaire data analysis.  He hopes to enhance his educational experience at UCLA with hands-on experience with the Sustainable Works staff.

Meghan Kavanagh, Residential Greening Program 
Alternative Transit Consultant
Meghan is a passionate environmentalist. She is an avid cyclist who is equally comfortable in the saddle wearing a dress and heels or a spandex skinsuit for racing. She is an award-winning writer and worked for several years as a radio news editor. Meghan is also the Green Consultant for SoCalCross.

Claire Soley, Residential Greening Program Intern
Claire Soley has been an intern for the Residential Greening Program at Sustainable Works since February 2010. Claire updates weekly announcements for workshop participants, does research for in-kind donations, and is also researching ways for the residential workshops to expand more into the Greater Los Angeles Area. Claire is beginning her second year at Santa Monica College, and is planning on transferring to a four year university in Southern California.

Victoria Charles, Student Greening Program

Victoria brings 20 years of experience as an international consultant in the beauty and wellness industry. Recently, Victoria has crossed over to the Greener side bringing her skills of public speaking, marketing and educational facilitation. Victoria acts as the Student Greening Program Coordinator for Sustainable Works, educating students how to apply a green lens to their lifestyle choices. Additionally, she is very engaged in her community, participating in teaching school children about environmental issues, conducts meetings on ways to implement sustainable practices and organizes in beach clean ups. For 11 years Victoria has been residing in Topanga Canyon, Ca with her 6-year-old daughter living a sustainable lifestyle by gardening, composting and raising chickens. Victoria is committed to bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on this planet.