Our People
Staff
Laurie Valeriano
Executive Director
Laurie Valeriano is Toxic-Free Future's executive director. Laurie has worked at Toxic-Free Future for over 25 years, working to advance precedent-setting state environmental health policies that protect people and the environment. More
Jennifer Ahrens
Development Director
Jennifer Ahrens joined Toxic-Free Future in 2021 and leads our fundraising activities. Prior to TFF, Jennifer worked for other nonprofit organizations in the fields of health and human services, early learning, and most recently in animal welfare at Seattle Humane. More
Liz Hitchcock
Director of Safer Chemicals Healthy Families
Liz Hitchcock is director of Toxic-Free Future’s federal policy program. She leads advocacy efforts with Congress, EPA and other federal agencies. More
Beth Kemler
Mobilization and Marketing Director
Beth Kemler leads Toxic-Free Future’s public outreach and marketing activities to maximize the organization’s effectiveness. She has been organizing public interest campaigns for twenty years, focusing on both policy and markets-based campaigns. More
Megan Liu
Science and Policy Manager
Megan Liu is Toxic-Free Future's science and policy manager. She manages Toxic-Free Future’s numerous science projects and policy initiatives. More
Melissa Lound
Digital Communications and Fundraising Manager
Melissa Lound is Toxic-Free Future’s digital communications expert, providing concise and informative content for supporters and the public. More
Cheri Peele
Senior Project Manager
Cheri Peele joined Toxic-Free Future in 2022 to play a leadership role in both the Retailer Report Card and public policy advocacy. She has worked for over 20 years to create and implement leadership strategies for the transition to safer chemicals. More
Kathleen Quinn
Director of Finance and Administration
Kathleen Quinn is a recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest and joined Toxic-Free Future as the Director of Finance and Administration. She has worked in the nonprofit world for over a decade and was most recently affiliated with a national nonprofit focused on community improvement. More
Mike Schade
Mind the Store Program Director
Mike Schade leads Toxic-Free Future’s Mind the Store program, which challenges retailers to shift the marketplace away from hazardous chemicals and develop comprehensive safer chemicals policies. More
Natalie Schmidt
Administrative Coordinator
Natalie Schmidt manages Toxic-Free Future’s many organizational details as Administrative Coordinator, providing operational, bookkeeping, and administrative support for the TFF team. More
Erika Schreder
Science Director
Erika Schreder leads Toxic-Free Future’s scientific research program, developing strategic investigations to advance the organization’s goals. Research topics and expertise include testing breast milk for PFAS and flame retardants, testing household air for flame retardants, tracing the path of toxic chemicals from the home to waterways, and biomonitoring pregnant women for BPA, phthalates, and other chemicals. More
Stephanie Stohler
Communications Director
Stephanie Stohler leads Toxic-Free Future’s strategic communications program, bringing a wealth of skills and experience to advance the organization’s public profile. More
Marlyn Twitchell
Deputy Director
Marlyn Twitchell is responsible for Toxic-Free Future’s operations, staff, and project management. An environmental lawyer and policy analyst, she has more than 20 years of experience advocating for a more just and healthier world, serving in leadership positions and as a consultant to a range of regional and national organizations. More
Eduardo Valenzuela
Tech Support
Eddy joined the staff of Safer States in 2020 as the Administrative Assistant. He provides technical support for Toxic-Free Future. More
Board
Dan Mensher
Chair
Dan Mensher represents consumers, communities, and governments in complex environmental and consumer protection litigation. Before joining Keller Rohrback, Dan was an environmental law professor at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, where he also litigated cases with students involving toxic waste, water pollution, and natural resource management. More
Marilyn Heiman
Secretary
Marilyn Heiman is an environmental policy consultant with decades of experience in land and marine conservation and energy policy. She has served as the US Arctic Project Director and managed the International Boreal Conservation Campaign for the Pew Charitable Trusts; served as the Secretary of Interior’s Alaska Senior Advisor and Special Assistant to Alaska’s Governor for natural resources; was a legislative aide in Alaska and staff to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Commission. More
Roald Bradley Severtsen
Treasurer
Roald Severtsen has worked as a software developer for 20 years at Microsoft and Amazon, a hydrogeologist in Seattle, and a teacher of mathematics and physics at d’Overbroeck’s College, Oxford. More
Dr. Paulene Quigley
Director
Paulene Quigley is a protein biochemist specializing in viral vectors. As a Fulbright Scholar, she studied protein crystallography at the University of Glasgow, then earned her PhD in biomolecular structure and drug design from University of Washington. More
Emily Cousins
Director
Emily Cousins is the Director of Strategic Communications for the International Boreal Conservation Campaign, which seeks protection and sustainable management of Canada’s Boreal, the world’s largest. Before joining IBCC, Emily worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council, and has written extensively about climate change, clean energy, and public health for national publications and online platforms. More
Dr. Jennifer Klein
Director
Jennifer Klein is a family physician who lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids. Outside of patient care, she is passionate about ensuring the health of her children and community, including access to healthy food, products, and environment. More