IEC STAFF
Our Team
executive director
Programs
Deputy DIRECTOR
Colleen Smith
Colleen started with IEC in 2017. She is in the Capitol each day the General Assembly is in session.
AGRICULTURE & WATER PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
Eliot Clay
Eliot leads ideation, drafting and evaluation IEC’s legislative and administrative policy proposals.
CONSERVATION DIRECTOR
Lindsay Keeney
Lindsay is focused on protecting open space and clean water resources in Illinois.
CLEAN WATER POLICY DIRECTOR
Iyana Simba
Iyana oversees coalition building, advocacy, & policy for water issues.
CHICAGOLAND CONSERVATION MANAGER
Tonyisha Harris
Tonyisha manages IEC Chicagoland conservation work.
LEGAL & POLICY RESEARCHER
Ariel Hampton
Ariel provides legal and policy guidance to IECEF.
Development & Communications
Chief of staff
Matt Steffen
Matt has been with IEC since 2014. He oversees IEC’s operations and develops organizational strategy.
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Jeff Shelden
Jeff leads IEC’s fundraising efforts, ranging from grant management to individual appeals to event planning.
Communications director
Tucker Barry
Tucker oversees the IEC’s traditional and digital communications strategy to protect Illinois’s environment.
Operations
Finance Director
Crystal Kern
Crystal began as IEC’s accountant in 2017 before transitioning to Finance Director in February 2019.