Board of Directors
Debbie: I’ve always felt a connection to nature and deep concern for the health of our planet. I grew up on a farm, worked at a coal power plant while getting a B.S. in Business and after a diverse career path including retail, banking, consulting, and communications I found my dream job and spent 15 years in municipal sustainabiity. I discovered that sustainability is often misunderstood, too narrowly defined and tracking metrics vague or nonexistent. I saw the need and opportunity to increase overall understanding of sustainability and that led to founding MOGreenFuture. Our mission is to encourage environmentally conscious decisions by providing reliable information, actions, and resources with the goal of a sustainable and Green Future for our Missouri community.
Debra Knoble, President and Founder |
Gabi: I am a positive productive proactive professional working within the advertising community for over 25 years. I graduated from SIUE with focus on International business. My personal environmental passions started when I first saw a PSA commercial of the “Crying Indian” and forever more I have been observant of litter and trying to understand why humans think it is o.k. To this day my relaxation is walking and picking up trash. The animals walking are not always enamored with my sense of accomplishment. Environmental concerns lead me to volunteering for my city and joining MOGreenFuture. Sustainable survival is going to be a growth factor for all humans and our homes to stay healthy.
Gabriele Schwartz, Treasurer
Leslie: I am the #byetobags program coordinator at the Saint Louis Zoo. I work with the Zoo’s teen volunteers to encourage visitors and the public to protect the ocean and rivers by switching to reusable shopping bags. My background is in wildlife conservation. I have a Master’s degree in Biology and have worked for the U.S.G.S Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. My graduate research was on the natural history of salamanders in central Panama. Currently, I’m a volunteer at the Wildlife Rescue Center in Ballwin, MO. I am dedicated to sustainability in my personal life and my community. I am minimalist, flexitarian, and strive to be zero waste. I am also a member of Extinction Rebellion.
Leslie Gittemeier, Secretary
Ron: I am personally driven by two of my lifelong passions, the environment and gardening. Currently, I am focused on plastic pollution, recycling contamination, general environmental issues, native plants, and conservation of Eastern bluebirds. My background includes 20 years of experience establishing and managing the City of St. Peters’ recycling and environmental health programs and working with waste management in St. Louis County. I am also actively involved with the St. Louis County Waste Commission and the Hazelwood Green Committee. It is my honor to be part of MOGreenFuture as an advisor and advocate for sustainable action.
Ron Darling, Advisor
Our Actions