Jesse Kharbanda
Executive Director

Jesse Kharbanda is the Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana’s largest environmental policy organization.   He oversees HEC’s strategic and program development, legislative initiatives, operations, and fundraising.  Jesse has spearheaded focusing HEC’s efforts on three core initiatives: clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and 21st century transportation systems.  Jesse has made it a priority of HEC to build bridges with groups that may not have been as engaged with the organization in the past, such as the business community and religious conservatives.   Jesse was named to the “Forty Under 40″ list by the Indianapolis Business Journal in 2011, and was the sole Indianapolis-based community leader named to Delta Omega, the national public health honorary, in 2010.  Jesse has a graduate degree from Oxford University and undergraduate degrees from the University of Chicago.  

Jesse can be reached at jkharbanda@hecweb.org and 317.685.8800 ext. 103

Tim Maloney
Senior Policy Director

Tim leads the Hoosier Environmental Council’s programs on forestry, land use, and public transit. In addition, Tim is the Council’s principal presence at the Indiana legislature. He has served as the Council`s Executive Director and previously as its Natural Heritage Director. Maloney has also been chair of the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club as well as a field organizer for the Sierra Club and National Clean Air Coalition. Among his extensive volunteer activities, Maloney has served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. He was a Founding Member of the HEC Board of Directors. He has a bachelors degree in Forensic Studies /Psychology from Indiana University.

Tim can be reached at tmaloney@hecweb.org and 317.685.8800 ext. 115

Kim Ferraro
Water and Agriculture Policy Director

Kim Ferraro is HEC’s new Water and Agriculture Policy Director.   Kim comes to HEC from the Legal Environmental Aid Foundation (LEAF), the state’s only non-for-profit legal aid services organization focused on the environment.   Kim served as the Executive Director of LEAF from its founding until its merger with HEC in Dec. 2011.   As LEAF’s ED, Kim achieved several legal victories that have helped communities impacted by industrial pollution, factory farm waste, reckless residential development, and coal ash contamination.   Kim’s honors include “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Indiana Lawyer, “Legal Advocate of the Year” by HEC, and Dean W. Kohlhoff Memorial Award for Excellence in Environmental Law.   Kim has a law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University.  

Kim can be reached at kferraro@hecweb.org, and at HEC’s Valparaiso office at 219-464-0104.

Mary Brock
Development Coordinator

Mary works to cultivate continued support from our donors through management of our database, print and e-communications, event planning and many other development-related efforts. Mary comes to HEC from WFYI, where she served in development and marketing capacities for 9 years.

Mary can be reached at mbrock@hecweb.org or at 317.685.8800 ext. 114

Falon French
Outreach Associate & Policy Researcher

Falon works out of our office in Lafayette and educates members on HEC`s key issues – with dedicated outreach in the counties of the Wabash River Valley.  She comes to our organization with bachelor degrees in English and Philosophy from Purdue University. Falon has a strong coursework background in ecology, and long-standing volunteer experience with environmental organizations.

Falon can be reached at ffrench@hecweb.org.

Renee Sweany
Special Projects Coordinator (Part-time)

Renee is in charge of the planning and execution of HEC’s Annual Forum.   She is owner of Green Indy, a company that currently has two branches: Green Piece Indy, a twice-weekly email with green living tips sent to more than 4,000 subscribers, and GreenClipping, a deal web site that connects consumers to green businesses and habits. Renee is a Board member of Workforce Inc., a nonprofit employing ex-offenders to recycle electronics. She received a 2009 Sustainability Award from the Mayor’s Office for her Rush Hour Recycling events where more than 75 tons of electronics and cardboard were recycled. She was also recognized as Enterprising Woman of the Year at the Indiana Green Business Awards 2010.  

Renee can be reached at rsweany@hecweb.org.

Wanda Lewis
Part-time Administrative Assistant

Wanda has over 10 years of data entry and administrative support experience, primarily in the non-profit sector. Wanda ensures our database is accurate and performs many essential responsibilities related to keeping our donor records updated.