Our Team
Executive Director and Founder
Kristin Cushman founded The Offset Project in 2007 with the vision of creating sustainable programs that would engage and inspire the local community. Since that time, The Offset Project has granted over $75,000 to local community groups and brought thousands of volunteers to local events to build education around sustainability. She received the Breathe California 2014 Clean Air Leadership Award, presented by the Air District Control Board, for developing California’s first local community carbon fund, the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund and spearheaded environmental certification programs that have earned accolades at both a state and national level.
Kristin manages the Monterey Bay Region Climate Action Compact, is a steering committee member of the Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Alliance (MBEVA) and represents District 5 on the County’s Integrated Waste Task Force Committee. She also serves on the Pacific Grove Library Advisory Board to the City Council.
Chosen as one of the “25 for the Next 25” by the Monterey County Weekly
Deputy Director
Abbie Beane joined The Offset Project in 2010 and spearheads zero-waste, organics recycling and environmental certification programs for special events and venues in Monterey County and beyond. She holds a Masters degree in International Environmental Policy and Sustainable Business and Development from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and is a 2004 graduate of Middlebury College. Abbie has also worked for the national Product Stewardship Institute, for several Northwest-based conservation groups, and as a full-time journalist. Abbie is a Sustainable Event Alliance accredited professional and serves on the California Resource Recovery Association Green Initiatives for Events and Venues technical council, the Monterey Regional Compost Coalition and on the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy board.
Program Liaison, Monterey Bay Carbon Fund
Chris Sentieri joined The Offset Project in 2010 to assist in the development and launch of the Monterey Bay Carbon Fund program. Chris is an experienced professional consultant who specializes in: Public Policy, Economic Development, Greenhouse Gas Reporting, Climate and Energy Action Planning, and Sustainability. Chris is a Certified Green Building Professional, and he holds a Master of Public Policy Degree from the Panetta Institute/CSUMB, where he studied with Leon Panetta. Chris was the former Director of Competitive Clusters for the Monterey County Business Council (MCBC), where he developed and led many effective economic development and sustainability initiatives. Chris was a founding member of the Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Alliance (MBEVA). Chris has also worked for the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG), where he coordinated Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Climate and Energy Action Planning services for the 21 municipalities in the Monterey Bay region.
Program Liaison, Monterey Bay Carbon Fund
Brennen Jensen joins The Offset Project with over a decade of experience conceiving and implementing strategic environmental and community-based programs and initiatives that inspire action, change behavior, foster an appreciation for nature, encourage the adoption of conservation best practices, and serve to effectively address some of the most pressing social and environmental challenges of our time.
Brennen is the recipient of the California Department of Conservation Comprehensive Recycling Community Award for her work transforming special event recycling in the Monterey Bay Area, an alumna of Bioneers Cultivating Woman’s Leadership Training, and served at the helm of the statewide Energy Upgrade California implementation team uniting, surpassing in the first quarter the results achieved by the California Solar Initiative in its first year. A background in government, private and non-profit organizations, Brennen has a passion for building collaborative partnerships, drawing on a cooperative facilitative approach that seeks to find creative solutions to complex problems, while expanding localized opportunities for greenhouse gas emissions reductions throughout our region.
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Melissa Rangel joined The Offset Project a couple of months after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she majored in Global Studies. Her passion for environmental education and outreach grew at a young age when she began volunteering at clean-ups in the Monterey County. She later began working with her High School on implementing a working recycling system and was chosen to be part of the California Climate Champions, a program sponsored by the California Air Resources Board and the British Council. As the Environmental Outreach Coordinator Melissa will focus on creating waste diversion plans for small businesses and special event venues in underserved communities throughout the Salinas Valley.
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Dani Banionis joined The Offset Project in 2015 a few months after graduating from California State University Monterey Bay, with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration on Science for Sustainable Communities and a minor in Environmental Health Policy. Her experience at CSU Monterey Bay inspired her to become an activist for ecological, environmental and social justice. During her time as a student, Dani became involved in the community through volunteering at a variety of local organizations including Planned Parenthood, The Village Project Inc., and Pueblo Del Mar Family Recovery Community. After years of volunteer work for non-profit organizations, Dani is elated to be part of the team at TOP as Environmental Outreach Coordinator.
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Anthony Vladivia joined The Offset Project after months of volunteering and part-time work. His devotion to excellence at zero waste events landed him a secure position as an Environmental Outreach Coordinator for Top. Anthony is ecstatic about finally being a part of the team!