Our Staff
Jane Allen
Jane is passionate about solving issues that intersect between people and the environment. Jane received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from University of Northern Colorado, followed by a master’s degree in the Climate Change and Society program at North Carolina State University. After college, Jane served in the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments AmeriCorps program, supporting economic development in rural Oregon and Washington. She has seen the impacts of a changing climate from coast to coast and aims to foster more resilient and equitable communities through her work. In her free time you will most likely find her reading, listening to live music or exploring the outdoors with her husky in tow.
Madalyn Atlas-Smith
Born and raised in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, Madalyn has had a passion for the environment since early childhood, pushing her to participate in many environmental justice groups through school and initiating her drive for environmental activism. As a recent graduate of Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Sociology, Madalyn is inspired to use intersectional tools to create a positive impact on the climate crisis. As the Alliance Center Coordinator, Madalyn has taken an enthusiastic approach to community programming and daily operations. Prioritizing healing, equity and regeneration, Madalyn is excited to work alongside colleagues who also care about serving their community. In her free time, you’ll find Madalyn camping or in a museum!
Jolie Brawner
Jolie is a passionate leader dedicated to serving her community and brings over a decade of community building and advocacy leadership experience to the Coalition. In 2021, Jolie served as Vice Chair for the Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission. She travelled all over the state, hearing from Coloradans and tirelessly working to amplify the voices of the marginalized. This commitment to elevating the voices and needs of her community is something Jolie is excited to continue in her role as Coalition Director. Most recently, Jolie served as the Executive Director of the Washington Street Community Center. She worked to unite the neighbors and neighborhoods of South-Central Denver, cultivating an intergenerational gathering place for the community.
When not working, Jolie can be found (or better not found) enjoying the unparalleled beauty of our natural world: hiking, backpacking and camping in those magical places that still exist outside the reach of cellular reception.
Ryan Campbell
Ryan is a strategic thinker with an iterative and action-centered approach to solving problems. He grew up in Fort Collins, CO and left to study liberal arts at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He graduated with a degree in political science, returning to start his career working as a case manager for veterans experiencing homelessness. He then left to serve for a year in Rwanda via the Young Adults in Global Mission program through the ELCA, also working with a development NGO there. When he returned, he worked in construction, fundraising and most recently the State of Colorado where he partnered with businesses and community organizations to improve disability inclusion within the business landscape of Colorado. You can usually find Ryan involved with one of his many hobbies-reading, painting, dancing, cycling, backpacking, traveling and more.
Valeria Cintora
Valeria is fascinated by the interconnectedness of environmental issues and the relationship between the planet and people. Born in Mexico but raised in Kansas, Valeria considers herself a global citizen. She has seen firsthand the innovative sustainability solutions created through the power of resiliency from her time traveling to 23 different countries across the world. Valeria graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in ecosystem science and sustainability. Although she enjoyed working in science, she found her love in nonprofit work, and her path led her to the Alliance. Combining her fundraising expertise with her extensive scientific knowledge, Valeria strives to break the boundaries of philanthropic giving in the environmental and social justice space. In her free time she can be found playing tennis, trying new restaurants or planning for her next big trip.
Elizabeth Fierro
An avid adventurer, Elizabeth is from Austin, Texas but has also called Indonesia, Morocco, the Philippines and Chicago, Illinois home. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, where she majored in Environmental and Urban Studies and minored in Creative Writing. During college, Elizabeth spent a summer traveling all over the Rocky Mountains with a conservation corps, which cemented her desire to pursue a career in sustainability. Now, with the Alliance, Elizabeth is grateful to combine her love for storytelling and design with her passion for the environment! In her free time, Elizabeth likes to try new vegan restaurants, study foreign languages, write poetry, play chess and plan her next adventure.
Mary Gloven
Mary holds a BA in Sustainability Studies from The Evergreen State College and AAS in Building Construction Technology: Design/Build Remodel from Portland Community College. In addition to her formal education, she has hands-on experience working in the residential building world. From pouring concrete to framing walls to nailing shingles on roofs—she has done it all! Her time swinging a hammer as a general laborer led her to complete further training related to PV solar, high performance building methods and leadership in the trades. She prides herself in taking a whole systems approach when it comes to buildings and seeks to share this knowledge with others. Mary grew up in the mountains of Conifer, Colorado. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering for historic preservation projects, playing the banjo and building her backyard homestead.
Evans Kwesi Mensah
An author of two bestselling books who has lived on three continents, Evans acts as the second in command to advance the Alliance’s mission. After his preliminary education in his native country of Ghana, Evans graduated from the University of Greenwich with a Communications degree. He later acquired his MBA from Howard University and a Philanthropy and Resource Management Graduate Certificate from the University of Denver.
Evans has served in many senior leadership roles. He was honored with a lifetime Made Man award for social impact on a global basis as well as a leadership award from the late Gen. Colin Powell for successfully leading the Dwight Eisenhower Fellowship into Ghana. Evans served as a private citizen think-tank at the US Army War Center as well as on the United Nations Association’s National Council as their first Chair for Partnerships.
Evans currently serves on the Howard University Executive Education Board and as an Adjunct Faculty Coach for the University College of Denver. He spends quality time with his family when not working.
Britney Orellana
Britney’s career started in Texas in the electrical construction industry as a project coordinator, where she was able to expand her knowledge in everyday operations best practice, project management and employee management. These experiences allowed her to find opportunities in Denver, Colorado during the pandemic. After relocating, she found herself wanting to work for an organization with a greater cause—this is when her journey with the Alliance began. When Britney is not working with the team to live out their mission, vision and values you can find her enjoying Denver’s many city parks with her dog Clutch, rock climbing or enjoying a craft beer at a brewery.
Riley Ruff
Growing up in Colorado and spending countless hours enjoying the outdoors, Riley’s passion for the environment started at a young age. They started working in community organizing over six years ago, getting involved with the Denver Climate Movement and local environmental justice issues. Riley previously worked for 350 Colorado as the Northern Colorado Coordinator, building a grassroots environmental movement and advocating for a just transition. Now a graduate of Colorado State University, Riley holds a BS in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and brings their knowledge and passion of event planning, community building and sustainability to the Events Manager position. When not curled up with a book, Riley can be found figure skating at the local ice rink or outside, likely tackling another Colorado 14er.
Alyssa Shea
A storyteller at heart, Aly loves channeling her passion for equity and sustainability into creative, audience-centered marketing campaigns. Her love of all the ways people come together to make change led her to nonprofit work after starting her career in higher education communications. A transplant from the Midwest, Aly graduated from The University of Iowa with a degree in Communication Studies and Journalism. When she’s not working, you’ll find her secondhand shopping, in a barre or yoga studio or enjoying nature with her two dogs.
Keeley Stokes
Keeley’s academic and professional focus has been the alleviation of social and economic inequality. Stepping into this role at the Alliance Center feels like a natural extension of her social justice work as it intersects with environmental issues. Keeley did her undergraduate studies at Pomona College, earned an MA at the School of Social Justice, University College Dublin and a PhD in Political Science at CU Boulder. She’s worked in social good organizations for nearly 15 years writing grants and managing research and evaluation projects. In her free time, you’ll find Keeley skiing, hiking, camping and otherwise exploring Colorado and beyond with her family.
Mariah Shell
Mariah has called Colorado home for most of her life and loves working to improve this incredible state. She spends each day supporting the work of our talented tenant community and making the Alliance Center the most welcoming, energy-efficient building in Denver. She is a problem-solver who loves thinking about the most efficient ways to get things done and is always looking for ways to improve the systems we use. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Denver and has been working in the nonprofit sector ever since. In her downtime, Mariah enjoys going to the movies, drinking whiskey and going on long walks with her two rescue pups.
Brenna Simmons-St. Onge
Brenna was raised in Telluride, Colorado, where a deep love of and respect for nature and community were instilled. She spent over ten years developing sustainability programs for some of the world’s leading hotel brands in Hawaii, Texas, New York and Colorado. Brenna made an intentional career shift to join the Alliance in 2015 and was promoted to Executive Director in 2018. She has led the organization through a regenerative evolution, inside and out. As a pragmatic visionary she leads with a business mind and a nonprofit heart to drive systems change for a thriving planet. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii, where she created an interdisciplinary program (business and environmental sciences) before CSR was a thing. She is a Certified Fundraising Professional through Indiana School of Philanthropy. Brenna was named one of the top 25 Most Influential Young Professionals (2015) and received the City of Denver’s Community Builder Award (2017).
