ICLEI USA is excited to introduce six outstanding new members to our Board of Directors. These leaders bring deep expertise and a shared passion for sustainability, strengthening our mission to support local governments in their climate and resilience efforts:
- Mayor Alix Desulme – North Miami, FL
- Mayor Jeni Arndt – Fort Collins, CO
- Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen – Coral Springs, FL
- Mayor Nicola Armacost – Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
- Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson – Riverside, CA
- Victoria Salinas – Former Deputy Administrator for Resilience, FEMA
With their leadership, ICLEI USA will continue to provide communities nationwide with the tools, resources, and guidance they need to take bold climate action.
They join an already dynamic group of local and national leaders—including mayors, county executives, and sustainability experts from diverse regions—who help shape ICLEI USA’s strategic direction. Together, our Board ensures we continue delivering cutting-edge tools, resources, and support to our members, which include cities, towns, counties, Tribal nations, and regions across the U.S.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these passionate leaders to our Board,” said Saharnaz Mirzazad, ICLEI USA’s Executive Director. “Their hands-on experience and commitment to sustainability will be invaluable as we work with our members to achieve their environmental goals and build resilient communities.”
Meet the New Board Members
Mayor Alix Desulme, North Miami, FL
“I’m excited to join the ICLEI USA Board and bring North Miami’s commitment to sustainability to a national platform. Local governments are on the front lines of climate action, and by working together, we can build greener, stronger communities for future generations.”
Mayor Jeni Arndt, Fort Collins, CO
“Local governments are on the forefront of the clean energy transition. Now more than ever, ICLEI USA’s work is relevant to our daily lives. I’m thrilled to join the ICLEI USA Board; having Fort Collins be part of the critical work going forward benefits us all.”
Vice Mayor Nancy Bowen, Coral Springs, FL
“I’m thrilled to not only share the success of the Coral Springs Sustainability Action Plan and our city’s commitment to sustainability with the rest of the ICLEI USA Board, but also to gain knowledge and ideas from other thought leaders on how to enhance environmental sustainability in our community. Networks like ICLEI are crucial for sharing solutions, and I look forward to advancing climate resilience and equity through collective action at the international and local levels.”
Mayor Nicola Armacost, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
“I’m honored to join the ICLEI USA Board and represent Hastings-on-Hudson in this network of local leaders working to build more sustainable communities. As a village committed to climate action, we know that local efforts drive real change. ICLEI USA has been a valuable partner in helping communities like ours turn climate goals into action, and I look forward to working with fellow board members to support villages, towns, and cities across the country in tackling today’s environmental challenges. This work is more important now than ever!”
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Riverside, CA
“I’m privileged to join the ICLEI USA board, working alongside local leaders and advancing climate action on a national scale. As Riverside positions itself to be a hub for green technology and innovation, partnerships like these are key to shared success.”
Victoria Salinas, Former Associate Administrator for Resilience of FEMA
“I’m thrilled to join ICLEI USA’s board because its collaborative approach reflects my belief that partnerships help communities thrive amid growing risks. Having led resilience efforts locally and nationally, I know cities are on the front lines, and I look forward to advancing innovative solutions with ICLEI and its members.”
Current ICLEI USA Board Members:
- Board Chair Brigid Shea, Commissioner of Travis County, TX;
- Board Vice-Chair Pam O’Connor, former Mayor of City of Santa Monica, CA;
- Board Treasurer Matthew Appelbaum, Former Mayor of City of Boulder, CO;
- Alix Desulme, Mayor, North Miami, FL;
- David Driskell, Principal with Baird + Driskell Planning in Seattle, WA;
- Dan Stiles, Founding Partner at Stiles.Legal and Senior Strategic Advisor, and General Counsel to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project;
- Frank Cownie, Former Mayor, Des Moines, IA;
- Jeni Arndt, Mayor, Fort Collins, CO;
- Kelly Takaya King, Former Maui Hawaii County Councilmember;
- Meghna Tare, Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Texas Arlington;
- Nancy Metayer Bowen, Vice Mayor, Coral Springs, FL;
- Nicola Armacost, Mayor, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY;
- Patricia Lock Dawson, Mayor, Riverside, CA;
- Ravi Bhalla, Mayor of Hoboken, NJ; and
- Victoria Salinas, Former Deputy Administrator for Resilience, FEMA
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About ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA)
ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability is the leading global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in more than 100 countries, we support local governments to deliver their self-determined sustainability policy and drive local action for low-emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient, and circular development. Our members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships, and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability.
ICLEI USA is the United States country office of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and the leading technical experts on greenhouse-gas emissions accounting, climate action, and resilience and sustainability planning. Along with our ClearPath tool for local greenhouse gas emissions accounting, we remain firmly positioned as the experts in the industry through our development of the U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the Local Government Operations Protocol, and the Recycling and Composting Protocol. Learn more about ICLEI USA: https://icleiusa.org/.