AWWI Staff

Abby Arnold, Executive Director
aarnold@awwi.org and 202.535.7800 x105
Abby Arnold, who served as AWWI’s interim director during its founding, rejoined AWWI as Executive Director in March 2010. Abby is known for designing collaborative processes that bring diverse stakeholders together, elevate the best available science into decision-making processes, and achieve results. As Executive Director, Abby has worked with the AWWI Board of Directors and AWWI partners to establish a Strategic Plan, adopt a five-year national Research Program Plan, implement key program initiatives, and offer a forum for dialogue.  As Senior Mediator and Vice President at the Washington DC-based firm of Kearns & West, Abby has been lead facilitator and strategic advisor for the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, the Department of the Interior's Wind Turbine Guidelines Federal Advisory Committee, and many other regional and national collaborations. Abby holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. in Environmental Planning and Politics from UC Santa Cruz.

Taber Allison, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation
tallison@awwi.org and 202.330.3191
Taber Allison is an ecologist with special expertise in wind-wildlife impacts. He joined AWWI in December 2010 to direct all research initiatives. Previously, Taber was Vice President for Science, Policy and Climate Change at the Massachusetts Audubon Society, where he led Mass Audubon's environmental evaluation of wind energy and climate change. Taber has served at the National Science Foundation, was Director of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, and taught at Ohio State University and the University of Colorado. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Minnesota, a Master's in Forest Science from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a B.A. degree in Biology from Wesleyan University.

Stacie Sears, Director of Development
ssears@awwi.org and 802.482.3025
Stacie Sears joined AWWI in May 2011 and brings with her over 12 years experience as a nonprofit and higher education fundraiser.  She has held senior fundraising and management positions with Environmental Defense Fund, St. Lawrence University, Middlebury College and Naropa University.  In addition, she has volunteered as a Presidential campaign fundraiser and served on several non-profit boards. Stacie is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, from which she received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Economics.

Lauren Flinn, AWWI Manager and Facilitator
lflinn@awwi.org and 202.535.7800
Lauren Flinn joined AWWI in December 2011.  She brings  experience in facilitation, management and consensus-building  from her work at RESOLVE, where she helped  facilitate and manage the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC).   For the NWCC, Lauren  supported the identification of research priorities, the production of reference and outreach materials, the organization of technical and information meetings and workshops, and the development and communication of wind-wildlife solutions. Lauren holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Studies from Williams College.

Trevor Tisler, Associate
ttisler@awwi.org and 202-535-7800
Trevor Tisler joined AWWI in March 2012. He brings experience in federal environmental policy research and formulation in environmental justice and wastewater management issues from his work at MDB, Inc. where he supported junior and senior staff with stakeholder meeting facilitation and policy formulation guidance with various offices of the U.S. EPA.  Trevor has past experience in international climate policy research and transportation equity research from his past internships at the U.S. Department of State and at the Brookings Institution.  Trevor holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs & Geography from the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University.