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

Photographed by G. Paul Bishop

Photographed by G. Paul Bishop

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

Sunne Wright McPeak

Chair

Bio

Sunne Wright McPeak currently serves as the President and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund, a statewide non-profit foundation working to close the Digital Divide by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband. From 2003 to 2006, McPeak served as Secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the lead State agency for economic development. Before being recruited to the Governor’s Cabinet, McPeak led the Bay Area Council and the Bay Area Economic Forum. McPeak began her career in public service on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. She was inducted into the National Academy of Public Administration in 2016 and received the Champion of Technology Award from the California State Fair in 2018.

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.

Mark Krausse

Secretary

Bio

Mark Krausse is the Director of State Agency Relations for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Krausse leads a group that oversees all non-CPUC state regulatory matters for PG&E. Prior to PG&E, he served as the Executive Director of the Fair Political Practices Commission following several years on Senate and Assembly staff. Mr. Krausse serves CCEEB as Board Secretary.

Staff and Consultants

Christine Wolfe

Director of Policy and Communications

Bio

Ms. Wolfe currently supports the Council’s air quality and environmental justice policy portfolios, as well as leading communications efforts across the organization. She brings previous expertise in land use policy and waste and recycling policy. Ms. Wolfe’s experience securing environmental permits and conducting NEPA/CEQA review for complex infrastructure and ecosystems affords her a practical perspective on the complexities of permitting in California. Ms. Wolfe graduated from Harvard College. christinew@cceeb.org

Jason Henderson

Associate

Bio

Mr. Henderson supports all project work at CCEEB with a particular focus on regulatory affairs for the Air Project, Bay Area Project and South Coast Air Project. Previously, Mr. Henderson worked in advocacy and policy development wherein his six years as a legislative analyst, he advocated for policy issues regarding education, nutrition, and youth mental health. An alumnus of California State University – Long Beach (CSULB), Mr. Henderson is still actively involved in the community — a frequent mentor for transfers and incoming students. jasonh@cceeb.org

Yvonne Vukasin

Director of Members, Events, and Administration

Bio

Ms. Vukasin plays a key role in the day-to-day operations of CCEEB, acting as a liaison to the board and members. She engages current members, advises the President on key issues, assists in development, and facilitates employee benefit plans as well as events. Ms. Vukasin also supports both CCEEB’s Natural Resources Task Force and the Water Quality Task Force. An avid swimmer who enjoys the outdoors, cooking and traveling with her family, she lives in San Francisco with her husband. yvonnev@cceeb.org

Ken Stevens

Accounting Manager

Bio

Mr. Stevens joined the Council in July 1990 and manages all aspects of CCEEB’s financials including audits, billings and receivables. Prior to joining CCEEB, Mr. Stevens was an auditor for the Unocal Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara. kens@cceeb.org

Bill Quinn

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

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 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 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.

The Secundy Group

Bio

The Secundy Group, founded by Gerald D. Secundy, holds an extensive background of business, regulatory agencies, and the environmental community matters, as well as has more than three decades of leadership experience. Prior to joining California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance, Mr. Secundy worked with the California State Water Resources Control Board. He also served large corporations like ARCO as an environmental law expert during the course of his career and established an environmental policy consultancy for smaller businesses. Other past positions include Executive Director of Audubon California, Vice President of External Affairs and Environmental Health and Safety at Atlantic Richfield Company, President of the Four Corners Pipeline Company, and as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Land and Natural Resources Division.

Exponent

Bio

Exponent is a multi-disciplinary organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and regulatory consultants who bring together more than 90 technical disciplines to address complicated issues facing industry and government today. Dr. Susan Paulsen, Principal Scientist and Practice Director, Earth Sciences Division has more than 25 years of experience with hydrology as well as the Clean Water Act and related statute. For over 50 years, Exponent has provided engineering, scientific, environmental and health consulting services to corporations, insurance carriers, government agencies, law firms and individuals.

Tradesman Advisors Logo

Tradesman Advisors

Bio

Jon Costantino is the founder and Principal of his own regulatory consultancy and advocacy firm—Tradesman Advisors, Inc. He has 30 years of regulatory experience both within Government and in the private sector, mainly focused on air pollution control and climate change regulatory implementation and policy development. He was the original Climate Change Planning Manager for the California Air Resources Board and oversaw the first publication of the State’s economy-wide climate policy document—the original AB 32 Scoping Plan. Jon was appointed to two terms by Governor Brown as a governing Board Member on the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. The appointment allowed him to work closely with agricultural and domestic water users, and industries discharging waste, to protect and ensure water quality, within California’s Central Valley region—the largest region in the state.

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