Our Team

Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.

Chris Austin Hadfield - Retired Canadian Space Agency astronaut, engineer, science communicator, singer, and fighter pilot.

Introduction

SPEC is run by a small and dedicated core team of contributors and volunteers. We come from different social identities, backgrounds, and perspectives. Many of us have families, full-time jobs, are going to school, making a career change, or experiencing another major life event, especially with the current pandemic and climate crisis. SPEC's co-founders and steering committee work entirely on a voluntary basis, have no financial stake in the organization, and do not receive compensation in any form.

We are striving to create sustainable careers for our contributors. Currently, all of SPEC's researchers and contributors are classified as independent contractors for SPEC and by proxy the Open Collective Foundation (OCF). We are working on being able to have contributors classified as employees and enable access to benefits like health insurance.

We won't be able to create these jobs without funding. Please consider donating and helping to create more jobs for people working on making the world a better place! Learn more on our donation page.

Team Members

Joe Torreggiani

Co-founder & Collective Administrator San Francisco, California

Nan Eileen Mead

Research Lead New York City Metropolitan Area

Marcus Steiner

Operations Lead Noblesville, Indiana

Grant Newland

Research Associate Arlington, TX

Sam Miyamoto

Research Associate (Engineering) Los Angeles, CA

Victoria Lo

Research Associate (Engineering) San Francisco Bay Area

Yoline Banerjee

Research Associate (Engineering) Oakland, California

Alicia Bong

Research Associate Philadelphia, PA

Lawrence Kincheloe

Research Associate (Engineering) Norman, OK

Ilia de Leon

Research Associate (UX/UI Research) New York City Metropolitan Area

Joe Golden

Research Associate New York City Metropolitan Area

Najwana Nashmin

Research Associate (Engineering) Greater Seattle Area

Crystal Shamsi

Research Associate (Engineering) Steamboat Springs, CO

Get Involved

Interested in joining the team? SPEC is always looking for highly dedicated contributors who have an interest in and passion for sustainability, social justice, and community development. If you are interested in becoming a researcher or contributor at SPEC please email us at [e-mail]. The more information about your research interests, areas of expertise, and learning objectives the better. Please attach or link any helpful information about you including your resume, CV, cover letter, and portfolio.