Staff and Consultant Bios
PTP Staff Bios:
Alice Aguilar, Acting Executive Director, Austin, TX
Alice Aguilar joined the PTP staff in 2008 after serving on the board since 2002. For over 15 years, Alice has been committed to providing capacity-building support to advocacy and community organizing groups that focused on issues such as environmental justice, Indigenous People's subsistence and sovereignty rights, at-risk youth, immigrant rights, and low-income communities access to health care.
Alice started as a database specialist and trainer while working on the Rockefeller Technology Project and the introduction of ebase™ version 1.0. Her work and interests transitioned to focusing on providing communication technology assistance and training with environmental justice groups in the Southwest through the Environmental Support Center.
Alice worked in various roles in the non-profit sector in Arizona and Alaska as a health education program coordinator and grant writer assisting the Hopi Foundation, HOPI Substance Abuse Center, various Navajo and Hopi schools; a membership director for Alaska Center for the Environment; a writer/editor for Eyak Preservation Council; an executive director for the Wrangell Mountains Center; a development director for the Alaska Community Action on Toxics; and most recently, a paralegal with Trustees for Alaska.
Upon receiving her M.A. and M.A.T. in English and Secondary Education from the State University (SUNY) of New York at Binghamton in 1991, she then taught multi-cultural literature and creative writing at SUNY Morrisville as an Assistant Professor. Prior to her tenure as an educator, she also received her B.S. in Computer Science at Utica College of Syracuse University in 1984 and soon after worked as Systems Programmer at IBM – Glendale Labs, NY, until 1989.
When there are a few hours left in the day, Alice enjoys strapping on her quad skates to play women's flat track derby and indulges her creative side as a Taiko drummer.
Christina Roessler, Communications & Program Development Director, Oakland, CA & Santa Fe, New Mexico
Christina has an eclectic background that spans over 30 years of work with non-profits and businesses, and includes producing off-Broadway plays, fundraising, writing, photography, strategic communications, and program development. She has directed and consulted with arts organizations, environmental groups, social justice organizations, and foundations. In 1994, Christina became the founding director of the French American Charitable Trust. While there, she provided start-up funding and became one of the founding board members of the Progressive Technology Project. She has written numerous articles and reports on topics ranging from technology and organizing to water conservation in the West.
Jamie McClelland, Technology Systems Director, New York, NY
Jamie joined PTP in June to support the infrastructure and development of our PowerBase project. He also serves as co-director of May First/People Link. Prior to working at May First, Jamie worked at Libraries for the Future network administrator, national Youth ACCESS coordinator, and Information and Technology Policy Specialist. Jamie was formerly on the Board of Directors of Paper Tiger TV where he was an active producer and activist between 1994 and 2004. Previously, Jamie worked as a video instructor for Sidewalks of New York, teaching basic production skills to homeless youth. He also worked as a community organizer for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and was an active member of ACT UP New Orleans.
Josué Guillén, Community Engagement Director, Austin, TX
Josué spent two years with IGC - the Institute for Global Communications, where he ran the LaborNet website, helped unions take advantage of technological advances and helped the staff form a union with SEIU Local 790. Additionally, he was a founding member of PODER, a community organization doing work on environmental and economic justice issues in San Francisco's Mission District, and is a current board member of IMC - the Institute for Mass Communications.
In February 2001, Josué joined Media Jumpstart, a non profit worker collective (whose name later changed to May First Technology Collective) dedicated to supporting the technology needs of small non profits in New York City. When that project was shut down in May 2005, it merged with People Link to form a membership based Internet company striving to build a technology infrastructure to support the creation of real social change. Josué is on the Leadership Committee of that venture, named May First/People Link.
Josué served on the PTP board from 2008 to 2009. He has been instrumental in kicking off PTP's PowerBase Project since he started as PowerBase Coordinator at PTP in late 2009.
Mark Sherman, Chief Innovations Director, Santa Barbara, CA & Saint Paul, MN
For more than 30 years, Mark has had multiple careers in information technology with a particular interest in software development, project management, and team development.
He has also founded and run cooperative ventures and small businesses, and has been the director of PTP. Mark has done technology support for a Nicaraguan bank, the African National Congress, Fortune 50 corporations, small nonprofits, and organizations of every size in between. He co-authored the Voter TechKit website and book on voter project integration with community organizing. Last but not least, Mark has worked as a janitor, welder, storekeeper, and programmer. He has a garden and a wonderful family.
Natalie Brenner graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN in 2004 with a degree in International Relations and Peace and Global Studies. Before joining the Progressive Technology Project, Natalie worked for the INGO Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) for 6 ½ years in financial management, development, and administrative management. At NP, she was passionate about her involvement with strategic planning, infrastructure development, international event planning and crisis and conflict management. Natalie is eager to bring her experiences and skills to PTP as she joins this dedicated and passionate team.
Natalie enjoys riding and training her horse Fiona in Dressage, spending time with her husband Francisco and their two cats, continually learning and trying new things, reading and spending time with friends and family.
Robyn Perry, Program Associate, Minneapolis, MN
Robyn grew up in the State of Jefferson and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Italian Studies 2008 from UC Santa Cruz. Through the Global Information Internship Program at UCSC, a program that trains students to become "info-activists", she connected with PTP and moved to the Twin Cities. She feels lucky to have landed at PTP, and to get to teach and learn from organizers through PTP programs.
She has tutored college-level writing, Italian, and Spanish, and is enjoying transferring her teaching skills to technology trainings. She manages PTP's database, event logistics, and supports PTP's program and communications work.
She loves the Minnesota climate all year long. Depending on the season, you can either find her swimming, biking, square-dancing, or salsa-ing.
Brendan Smith, PTP Senior Fellow, REVERB CRIB Notes, New York, NY
Brendan Smith, PTP's Senior Fellow, is a journalist, oysterman and co-founder of Voices for a Sustainable Future. He is author of two books and his commentary has appeared in The Atlantic, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Nation, and CBS News.com . Brendan worked previously for Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as a senior legislative aide, staff on the U.S. House Banking Committee and campaign director. After leaving Congress Smith ran legislative campaigns and worked for a range of organizations, including the National Alliance for Fair Employment, AFL-CIO, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and SEIU. He also served as co-director of UCLA Law School’s Globalization and Labor Standards Project. He is a graduate of Cornell Law School. Brendan's work with PTP includes working with groups into improve social networking, voter engagement, and strategic communications skills. He currently works on PTP's REVERB and runs the CRIB Notes blog. Read more about Brendan at www.bsmith.org.
