Our Team

We were founded in 1987 by Kay Wilson, who, with an eclectic background – planning director, facilitator, and environmental professional – saw the need for integrated environmental and communication services. We’ve carried on this tradition as the company has grown into a collective of highly motivated environmental planners, marketers, brand strategists, social media experts, web designers and more. This unique team goes the extra mile, breaks down barriers, and collaborates to identify the best solutions to address our clients’ needs.

Join Our Team!

“These past two years have been such a blast and everyone at Circlepoint has played such huge role in making it so enjoyable. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead and working with everyone on some incredible projects!”

– Derek Hicks, Associate Planner

Our Culture

Circlepoint empowers individuals to create positive impacts in communities in a collaborative and supportive environment. Circlepointers are committed to helping each other and the company achieve success by fostering and leveraging our team’s diverse strengths and their unique life experiences.

Leadership

Audrey Zagazeta

Susan Harden

Ivy Morrison

Geoffrey Reilly

Alma Victoria

Team

Arun Bird

Ashlyn Reining

Avery Harmon

Chloe Altura

Cristina Lefemine

Derek Hicks

Dian (Eric) Xia

Ian Kroll

James Dambrowski

Jena Inay

Jonathan Winslow

Juliet Martin

Krysten McCue

Leah Nichols

Lisa Cuoco

Patti Ransdell

Regina Merrill

Robert Manford

Scott Steinwert

Simon Stahl

Stacey Miller

Tracy Cook

Community Engagement Coordinators

Amadeusz Sanchez
Eric Ingersoll
Gabrielle Rienhart
Isabelle Spangler
Peitian Liang

Circlepoint's values are inspiration, collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and purpose. Our mission is partnering with clients to offer innovative environmental and communication services that advance communities and help us better understand our environment. Our culture empowers individuals to creative positive impacts in communities in a collaborative and supportive environment. Circlepointers are committed to helping each other and the company achieve success by fostering and leveraging our team's diverse strengths and their unique life experiences.

Circlepoint's culture empowers individuals to creative positive impacts in communities in a collaborative and supportive environment. Circlepointers are committed to helping each other and the company achieve success by fostering and leveraging our team's diverse strengths and their unique life experiences. Circlepoint's values are inspiration, collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and purpose. Our mission is partnering with clients to offer innovative environmental and communication services that advance communities and help us better understand our environment.

Let’s Make a Difference

Together we can engage the public and help build our communities!

Join Our Team Let’s Collaborate

Arun Bird

Senior Associate

Arun completed his B.S. in Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, emphasizing in the study of ecology, evolution and marine biology. During his time there, he quickly developed a passion in environmental science and policy, which spurred him to complete his Master of Environmental Science and Management at the Bren School at UCSB. His experience through graduate teaching and research assistantships, his work with the California Coastal Commission, and his passion for tackling environmental issues have given him the optimal framework to assist Circlepoint’s environmental team in researching and developing environmental documents.

Ashlyn Reining

Assistant Planner

Ashlyn completed her dual B.S. in Molecular Environmental Biology and Conservation & Resource Studies at UC Berkeley in 2023. Her curiosity about the connections between our natural and built environments motivated her to embrace environmental projects of all kinds. While working with the university’s Office of Sustainability, she led annual carbon emissions inventories, revisions to the campus Climate Action Plan, and the development of work-from-home protocols. Ashlyn brings both analytical and policy-focused expertise to her role as an Assistant Planner in Circlepoint’s Environmental Services Group, and community engagement remains a hallmark of her work. Outside of the office, Ashlyn enjoys baking, playing board games with friends, and spending time with her cat.

Avery Harmon

Senior Project Associate, Communications

Avery has a strong background in community engagement, housing policy, and equitable infrastructure planning. With experience spanning local and regional initiatives, Avery has led outreach and policy efforts on tenant protections, clean energy, and multimodal transportation projects across the Bay Area. He is passionate about improving neighborhoods through infrastructure, policy, and community-driven solutions. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time outdoors—hiking, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and biking throughout the Bay Area with fellow cyclists.

Chloe Altura

Coordinator, Communications

Chloe brings excellent verbal and written communication skills to Circlepoint’s Communications Services Group. She has extensive experience with public speaking and creating and delivering presentations. At Circlepoint, she applies her experience with interview techniques for research, writing reports, and documenting results in support of public engagement and stakeholder outreach efforts. Outside of the office, she enjoys exploring the Bay Area, playing and listening to music, and relaxing in nature.

Cristina Lefemine

Associate Planner

Cristina completed her BS in Geology/Earth Science at UC Santa Barbara and a received a certificate in Data Analytics from UC Berkeley Extension. Her experience with data analysis and scientific research has taught her to think analytically, collaborate with team members, and creatively problem-solve – skills that will help her thrive as she assists with legal documentation of environmental analysis. Outside the office, Cristina is an avid birdwatcher, loves rock climbing, and spends time training her rescue pup to do commands/tricks.

Derek Hicks

Associate Planner

Derek completed his B.S in Urban and Regional Development at the University of Arizona where he discovered a passion for creating sustainable and resilient communities. To further pursue this passion, Derek completed his Master’s in Urban Planning with a focus in Land Use and Transportation at San Jose State University where he gained a better understanding about the relationship between the natural and built environment. Outside of work, Derek enjoys relaxing in the outdoors by doing a variety of activities including biking, hiking, or camping.

Dian (Eric) Xia

Assistant Planner

Eric completed his B.A. in Geography at the University of California, Berkeley with a minor in city planning. Passionate about urban planning, he pursued M.S. Urban Planning in Columbia University with a concentration in built environment, urban analytics, and community development. He brings a passion for urban planning, extensive academic and internship experience in environmental planning, sustainable urban design, environmental impact assessment and community outreach to his role in Circlepoint’s Environmental Services Group. Outside of work, he is an amateur photographer and travel enthusiast.

Ian Kroll

Senior Project Manager, Environmental

Ian Kroll is a passionate environmental and fisheries professional with extensive experience in infrastructure and renewable environmental assessments, natural resource permitting and policy, and project management. He is highly skilled in interdisciplinary research design, execution, and publication. Ian possesses strong interpersonal skills with an emphasis on leadership, collaboration, and communication. His experience includes federal, state, and local policy development and implementation. Outside of work, Ian enjoys cooking, live music, traveling, and all things outdoors.

James Dambrowski

Proposal Manager

James is a marketing/business development professional building on 8 years of experience. He is a goal-focused strategic thinker with a proven record of increasing engagement and sales. James is a creative self-starter who can multitask while maintaining acute attention to detail. His strong graphic design skills enable him to create effective proposals and captivating marketing communications. He thinks analytically and solves problems with innovative solutions. A skilled researcher, James is continuously searching for a clearer understanding of local, regional, and state issues and advancements in transportation, water, land use, waste management and sustainability. His combination of skills and knowledge gained from experience in marketing/business development, communications, design, and sales set him up to be successful in any pursuit.

Jena Inay

Executive Assistant

Executive Assistant with over 20 years of experience in administration. Proud to take care of the San Jose office for Circlepoint, ensuring everything runs smoothly. As a dedicated team player, she thrives on collaboration and genuinely enjoys helping others. Jena uses her wealth of experience to contribute to the success of our team and makes each day more efficient and enjoyable for everyone.

Jonathan Winslow

Project Manager

Jon is a well-rounded communications professional with more than 10 years of experience. Drawing on time spent as a journalist at the Orange County Register and at public relations and marketing agencies – where his clients included local non-profits, land trusts, commercial developers and international tech companies – Jon has a keen nose for news and sharp writing skills that allow him to clearly and concisely convey even the most complicated subject matter to stakeholders. As a Project Manager in Circlepoint’s Communications Services Group, he leads leads projects focused on community engagement, public communications, and campaigns around a diverse array of market sectors, including transportation, sustainability, infrastructure, and land use planning. Outside of work, Jon is a film buff with a particular love of sci-fi and horror flicks, as well as a fondness for Golden Age detective fiction.

Juliet Martin

Project Manager

With degrees in Environmental Policy and Communications, Juliet is quickly proving to be a valuable addition to the Circlepoint team. She is assisting both the Communications and Environmental teams on a variety of projects in the land use and transportation market sectors. Juliet is passionate about sustainability and demonstrates a desire to reduce her carbon footprint by bicycling as her primary mode of transportation.

Krysten McCue

Senior Associate
Krysten developed her passion for environmental planning and resource conservation while studying at U.C. Berkeley where she received her degree in Environmental Economics and Policy. While at U.C. Berkeley, she volunteered with the Cal Zero Waste team where she educated others on the importance of sustainability. She is excited to bring her passion to Circlepoint to help solve environmental issues. Outside the office, you can find Krysten traveling or cuddled up with her three dogs.

Leah Nichols

Project Associate

Leah brings experience implementing campaigns with multiple stakeholders, designing surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings through comprehensive and concise evaluation reports. She is passionate about applying social science to solve real-world problems and improve social well-being. Leah supports the Circlepoint Communications Group with writing copy, project-related social media campaigns, coordinating meetings, and developing market knowledge while supporting the team in all other capacities. Outside of the office, Leah likes exploring new hiking trails, playing with her hyper Pomeranian, and winding down with a book.

Lisa Cuoco

Office Manager

Lisa, a vital member of Circlepoint for over 11 years. As Office Manager for our Oakland office, she ensures seamless operations, bringing a wealth of knowledge and collaboration to our team. Lisa’s dedication goes beyond management—she fosters a positive atmosphere, always ready to assist colleagues. Her expertise navigates daily operations, contributing to the company’s smooth functioning.

What sets Lisa apart is her unwavering commitment to building strong relationships with every member of our team. She prioritizes being there for everyone, striving to create an inclusive and supportive work environment. Lisa’s genuine care for her colleagues makes her an invaluable asset, fostering not only professional success but also a sense of community within the Circlepoint family.

Patti Ransdell

Associate Principal

Patti is passionate about involving communities in the development and completion of public works and infrastructure projects. She views public involvement in the development and completion of such projects as vital to improving the quality of life in our communities. She derives great satisfaction when a neighborhood benefits from a safer road or an expanded or improved water or wastewater conveyance system. With more than 12 years of experience developing and implementing public outreach programs for both public and private clients, Patti’s primary focus in the strategic communications field has been in planning and implementing community relations and education programs.

Regina Merrill

Project Manager

Regina is a marketing and public relations professional who has served a variety of clients in Chicago and the Bay Area. Her clients have included Chambers of Commerce, business alliances, major destinations, and performing arts organizations. She is experienced at forming strategic partnerships with a variety of stakeholders within a community, as well as transforming broad strategic plans into actionable information for the public and the media. She is well-versed in how to create and implement effective public relations campaigns tailored to an organization’s specific needs and excels at developing and maintaining relationships with clients and journalists.

Robert Manford

Senior Environmental Planning Consultant

Robert has more than 30 years of experience leading complex land use, environmental, and community development initiatives for public agencies and private clients. He has managed hundreds of CEQA/NEPA reviews, led land use entitlement and planning approval processes for complex real estate development projects, and guided city councils and planning commissions on major development decisions. He has also taught environmental planning courses at USC and Cal Poly Pomona as an adjunct. Outside of work, Robert enjoys traveling, Karate, playing scrabble, and watching basketball or soccer.

Scott Steinwert

Senior Principal

Scott thrives on helping clients study the effects of major infrastructure projects on the environment and designing and building these projects with minimal impact and often benefits to the environment. With 20 years of environmental planning experience on many high-profile documents, Scott helps clients figure out how to streamline the often arduous environmental process while still providing the environmental protections intended by laws and regulations. He is expert in leading interdisciplinary teams of specialists in all areas of environmental analysis and planning, crafting integrated public involvement strategies, and believes strongly in creating communications tools that make environmental documents more approachable and understandable for a broader audience – to get back to the core intent of our environmental laws and regulations.

Simon Stahl

Art Director

Simon has always been fascinated by visual storytelling and by the potential of new technologies to transform art and design. With a background in computer graphics and animation, he has the ability to bridge the gap between artists and engineers. His seven years of experience as an art director at an award-winning publishing house taught him the intricacies of illustration and print production. Simon enjoys working with clients to create groundbreaking solutions to their design needs, and to tell their stories in the most creative and distinct ways possible.

Stacey Miller

Senior Project Manager

Stacey is an innovative marketing communications leader who is adept at building program affinity by connecting with audiences and driving program recognition. She has over 14 years of professional experience implementing effective communication strategies in digital and print channels with a focus on developing creative vehicles that exceed project objectives. She manages internal and external creative teams who implement client communications and branding strategy.

Stacey enjoys donating her communications skills to work with local animal shelters on public outreach and education. She has worked with representatives from the OC Board of Supervisors to promote discounted adoption events and support awareness for the new OC Animal Shelter.

Tracy Cook

Senior Project Associate

Tracy has more than 20 years of experience in public outreach and event planning. Her expertise includes a wide range of subjects from vendor solicitation and logistics management, to building relational databases and project-specific mailing lists. Tracy has excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven problem-solving abilities. Experienced in designing and implementing targeted outreach efforts and effective communication strategies, developing strategic alliances and supporting community dialogue within diverse multi-cultural settings in a variety of Bay Area communities.

Tracy possesses fundamental Spanish-language skills and a familiarity with a wide range of stakeholders and issues. A resident of the Bay Area for the last 20 years, she is very familiar with the socio-cultural setting, geographic patterns and environment, development trends and constraints, and politics of the Bay Area.

Her rich experience in public education and community involvement includes a background in event production, fundraising, and member services at local and regional non-profit cultural institutions and foundations in Northern and Southern California. Tracy’s responsibilities have included production of many large-scale, historically significant public and private special events, including ribbon-cuttings, bridge openings and groundbreaking ceremonies. She also has a wealth of experience in producing public meetings, conferences and workshops, as well as designing and managing production of project websites and collateral materials.