About
The California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of business, labor, and public leaders, which advances balanced policies for a healthy environment and a strong economy.
Mission & Vision
Committed to California
Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown founded the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB) in 1973 to bring together the perspectives of business, labor, and public leaders in pursuit of balanced and effective policy solutions. Our approach is informed by Governor Brown’s philosophy that in California we should never say, “No,” but instead say, “Here’s How.”
CCEEB tackles the toughest environmental problems facing California, including air quality, climate change, water quality, hazardous waste management, transportation, energy, and land use.
Our credibility and commitment to fairness and excellence has earned us a broad membership base that is unmatched by any other association.
The CCEEB Board of Directors reflects our diverse membership and spirit of collaboration. Board representatives belong to each of the Council’s three constituencies: business, labor, and public leaders.
CCEEB is a nonprofit and nonpartisan association. Our reputation rests on our ideas. CCEEB does not make political contributions of any kind.
Since 1973, CCEEB has worked to carry out the spirit of Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown’s call to action:
Can We Have Economic Growth And A Better Environment? We Can And We Must. For, In Reality, We Cannot Divide And Segregate Economic And Environmental Issues. They Are Inextricably Tied Together And The Decisions We Make About One Affects The Other.
— Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown
Team
Board Officers
Tim Carmichael
President & CEO
Bio
Mr. Carmichael has over 20 years of leadership in both the non-profit and private sectors. Most recently, Mr. Carmichael served as State Agency Relations Manager for Sempra Utilities. Previously, Mr. Carmichael led the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, a group of vehicle and engine manufacturers, utilities, fuel providers, and fleet operators. Mr. Carmichael began his public policy career at the Coalition for Clean Air, serving as President from 1998-2007, where he helped negotiate key emissions reduction and climate change policy, including the legislation that paved the way for California to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles. timc@cceeb.org
Fran Inman
Chair
Bio
Fran Inman, Senior Vice President, directs government relations and external affairs activities for Majestic Realty Co., one of the nation’s largest privately held real estate development companies. With a real estate portfolio totaling approximately 84 million square feet of commercial properties, Majestic Realty has offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Bethlehem, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Laredo, and Phoenix.
Recognized as a national leader in the global supply chain, Inman previously served on the California Transportation Commission for twelve years. Inman was also a founding member of the National Freight Advisory Committee and co-chaired the sub-committee on project delivery and operations. Inman currently serves as the chair of the board for BizFed and previously served as the chair of the board for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board for the California Business Roundtable. She is the chair of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership (SGVEP). She is a current board member of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors.
Also recognized as a leader in the philanthropic community, Inman is the founding president of the Majestic Realty Foundation. Established in 2002, the Majestic Realty Foundation provides grants and other support to various charitable community partners that work the areas of youth, family, education, health, and violence prevention in the communities where Majestic Realty Co. does business.
Inman further demonstrates her commitment to active community engagement through her service as board member and former board chair of THINK Together, a nationally recognized non-profit providing extended learning programs that serve more than 150,000 at-risk and low-income students daily across California. She serves as Vice Chair of the board of QueensCare, a $480 million foundation dedicated to providing healthcare for the underserved.
A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Inman holds both a BA and an MBA in finance. In 2010, Inman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Woodbury University. She was recently awarded the Peter Drucker Award for Excellence in Logistics and the California Trucking Association Annual Leadership in Logistics Award.
Patricia Rucker
Vice Chair
Bio
Patricia Ann Rucker is the Legislative Advocate for the California Teachers Association (CTA). Rucker has served on California’s State Board of Education from 2011 to 2021. Rucker served as a consultant for CTA on instruction and professional development from 1997 to 2008 following her career as an educator. Rucker serves on boards and task forces focused on assessment and testing, teacher evaluation and academic freedom, and career and technical education.
Barbara McBride
Treasurer
Bio
Barbara McBride currently serves as Director of Environmental Policy for Calpine Corporation. In this role, McBride is responsible for identifying, developing or modifying existing legislation, regulations and policy that impact the company. She works closely with the government affairs department and various industry groups on both Federal and State legislation, regulations and policies. McBride was previously the Safety, Health and Environmental Director for the Western Region. McBride works closely with all permitting agencies including the California Energy Commission, EPA and other state and local agencies.
Brandon Matson
Secretary
Bio
Brandon Matson is the Director of Strategic Communication for Martinez Refining Company LLC, overseeing the company’s community and government relations activities. Prior to this, he served in government relations roles for the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) and Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served for several years in the United States Army as an Airborne Ranger-qualified Infantry Officer, promoting to the rank of Major.
Brandon holds an MBA in Economics from Cal State Fullerton and a bachelor’s degree from UCLA. He lives in the Bay Area with his wife and two young daughters.
Staff and Consultants
Candice Barnes
Accountant
Bio
Candice Barnes is CCEEB’s Accountant. She has a degree in accounting from San Jose State University and has 15 years of experience in the accounting profession. She has a strong desire to become a financial controller. Outside of work, Candice has an interest in scuba diving, creative cooking, learning French and new travel.
Kirstin Kolpitcke
Senior Associate
Bio
Kirstin Kolpitcke is CCEEB’s Senior Associate. Prior to joining CCEEB, Kirstin served as Chief of Staff to two California State Assembly Members, was appointed as the Assistant Director of Legislation for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and worked for the Assembly Republican Caucus for the Natural Resources Committee and Budget Sub 4. She has lobbied for various organizations including the California Forestry Association and the League of California Cities.
kirstink@cceeb.org
Peter Okurowski
Policy Director
Bio
Peter Okurowski is CCEEB’s Policy Director. Prior to joining CCEEB, over the past 30 years Peter was a Director of the Policy & Advocacy Group at CEA Consulting in San Francisco, served as an environmental consultant and analyst for the international law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and worked for four years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Mobile Sources in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Peter has extensive knowledge on a wide range of environmental policy issues and has worked closely with CCEEB and its members for over 20 years.
Yvonne Vukasin
Director of Members, Events, and Administration
Bio
Yvonne Vukasin is Director of Members, Events, and Administration. Yvonne oversees CCEEB’s day-to-day operations, advises the President on key issues, and acts as a liaison to the board and members. Additionally, she facilitates employee benefit plans, coordinates events, and assists with development. Yvonne most enjoys spending time with family and friends and is an avid swimmer.
yvonnev@cceeb.org
Bill Quinn
Consultant
Bio
Bill Quinn currently manages the South Coast Air Project (SCAP) as a consultant for CCEEB. He is CCEEB’s immediate past President and CEO. Quinn joined CCEEB in 2005 and has managed SCAP for most of these years. He brings extensive knowledge to the air quality arena not only with his work with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, but also his work to help create many of the state laws that guide the air district and its work.
The Gualco Group, Inc.
Bio
The Gualco Group, Inc. is a California lobbying and consulting firm with years of hands-on experience with Federal, State, and local policy making and regulatory activities. Representing over 100 years of combined experience, The Gualco Group, Inc. retains notable expertise in issue areas significant to California political and regulatory landscape, including but not limited to agriculture, business, local government, healthcare and education. Policy areas where The Gualco Group, Inc. is most active encompass power, water, natural resources, environment, state budget, transportation, trade and procurement.
McHugh Koepke & Associates
Bio
McHugh Koepke & Associates is a government relations firm specializing in advocacy, public affairs, research and analysis for clients throughout California. It devises and implements effective lobbying and communication strategies, analyzes the impacts of proposed legislation and regulations, organizes grassroots advocacy efforts and drafts legislation, regulations and technical amendments. The firm was established in December 2000; however, its partners, Gavin and Shari McHugh and Dawn Koepke, represent over 40 years of lobbying experience in Sacramento. They have successfully advocated the interests of their clients and have developed the relationships and expertise necessary to develop and promote legislation and regulation before California’s State Senate, Assembly, Governor and state agencies.
Tradesman Advisors
Bio
Founded in 2016 by Jon Costantino, Tradesman Advisors brings three decades of experience working on the front lines of environmental policy, regulatory development and compliance. Jon Costantino was the original Climate Change Planning Manager for the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Climate Change and he oversaw the first publication of the AB 32 Scoping Plan in 2008. He was also on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board as a governor’s appointee. The Regional Board oversees water quality for 40 percent of California.
Prior to founding Tradesman Advisors, Inc. Jon managed a diverse portfolio of clients at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLC. As AB 32 climate change manager he saw the program through its infancy. In that role, he developed internationally followed policies and implemented programs with billion-dollar implications for California’s largest industries. Jon was also the lead legislative analyst at ARB, where he made technical and policy recommendations on both state and federal legislation. During his years covering California’s Capitol, Jon gained insights about California’s biggest industries and stakeholders, including water, agriculture, construction, energy and all aspects of transportation fuels.