Board

    As a start-up nonprofit, we realize fully that the below is, by necessity, a start-up board. We are committed to adding to the talent which this board offers in the coming year as we grow to meet The Freecycle Network's™ growing needs. (Side note: our bylaws restrict the board size to a maximum of fifteen members.)

    Deron Beal, Board Chairperson & Treasurer. Deron founded The Freecycle Network on May 1st, 2003. He now also fills the position of Executive Director. During and previous to this, he spent 2 1/2 years with RISE as its Enterprise Manager. RISE runs a recycling and transitional employment program in downtown Tucson. Before that, he worked with a conservation group called Native Seeds/SEARCH as its Director of Foundation Giving & Venture Philanthropy, and prior to that, as its Development Director. Deron has a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird. He spent several years living, studying and working in Germany. Currently living in Tucson, he looks forward to learning a bit of Spanish.

    Jennifer Columbus, Board Vice Chair. Jennifer currently administers the graduate studies program in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Arizona. Before that, she spent several years working in membership and media relations with The Nature Conservancy in its main office in Arlington, VA as well as in its Arizona state office in Tucson. Previous to this she worked for Greenpeace USA in DC. Her years of nonprofit experience are an invaluable asset to us. And, in the interest of full disclosure (and because he is so darned proud of this), Jennifer also happens to be married to Deron.

    Jolie Sibert, Board Secretary. Also based in Tucson, Arizona, Jolie travels the globe for The Nature Conservancy as a lead strategist in their Philanthropy Strategy & Consulting team for TNC worldwide. She also has previous experience in marketing in not-for-profit healthcare organizations and is a wonderful volunteer for many other nonprofits. Her years of in-depth and high-level nonprofit experience add a critical element to the board. Jolie also shares Deron and Jennifer's love of cats...