Bridging The Gap Staff

Kristin Riott | Executive Director

Kristin Riott began her environmental career by growing a single sweet pea blossom from seed in lousy suburban soil in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was sidetracked for a number of years by a career in creative management at Hallmark Cards. Moving to Hong Kong in 2000 for her husband's career, she and her family witnessed the rapid environmental degradation so easy to see in crowded Asian cities. Upon returning to Kansas City, she became active in various environmental movements, and in 2007 trained with Al Gore to become a spokesperson for climate change. She is also chairperson of Johnson County Climate Protection, a group devoted to reducing greenhouse gases in greater Kansas City.

Becki DeRusseau | Operations and Financial Director

Becki has a Degree in Environmental Studies from Kansas University. After eight years in accounting and systems management, she finally made her way to the field of her passion at Bridging The Gap. Becki is a Missouri Master Naturalist and certified in Permaculture Design. She enjoys volunteering on an urban farm, gardening, camping, kayaking, walking, learning and teaching permaculture, sewing, barn dancing and spending time with her family.

Kechia Smith | Director of Environmental Justice and Organizational Growth

Sarah Crowder | Director of Forestry and Natural Systems

Sarah is a certified arborist with a degree in Urban Forestry and a certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She grew up in Northwest Arkansas floating, camping and hiking. Her deep love of all things tree came early in life when it was time to cut down the family Christmas tree. After her indecisive grandfather cut down several cedar on his Texas cattle ranch confident, (some may say stubborn) young Sarah insisted he stopped “killing trees!” Sarah has experience working in state and municipal forestry before joining Bridging The Gap. She has been a long time supporter of BTG by volunteering and previously sitting on the Heartland Tree Alliance Steering Committee. Sarah enjoys spending time in her yard and loves talking to anyone that will listen about the importance of a healthy urban forest.

Glenda Swinton | Manager of People and Culture

Andres Alfaro | Heartland Tree Alliance Program Associate

A native of Costa Rica, Andres decided to leave the big city of San Jose to seek the peacefulness and clear air of the mountains, and started a career in tourism. He's been a zip line guide, a naturalist guide, birdwatcher, trekking expedition guide, canyoneering explorer, Search and Rescue volunteer, and business owner and operator of his own small travel agency. When he came to the US in 2004 he put his rope skills to good use and worked in the tree care industry for a couple of years. Since then, he's been reacquainted with another big passion of his: cycling, and nowadays you'll find him guiding bike tours in different parts of the US, as well as riding bikes for fun anytime he can. At Bridging The Gap he looks forward to staying connected with his love for trees, natural spaces and outdoor activities as well as sharing it with others through our programs.

Leslie Barland | Donor & Business Engagement Manager

Leslie graduated from Kansas State University with dual degrees in print journalism and public relations. With a knack for paying attention to small details, she quickly fell in love in with event planning first working in the marketing department at the Kansas City Zoo. It's there where she was introduced to Bridging The Gap's work and joined BTG on staff in 2001. When she's not working, Leslie enjoys spending time with family, running, reading and pretty much anything outdoors.

John Fish | Litter and Green Events Program Associate

John grew up in the small towns of Edwardsville, IL and Mapaville, MO, running wild in the woods around his home with his brothers. He traces his concerns about what we’re doing to the world to seeing the film Soylent Green at the drive-in theater in 1973, though he didn’t become active until his late-20s. His history with BTG goes back to our early days, first as a volunteer at the Independence Recycling Center before working as a site manager from late-1996 to early-1998 at the Bannister and Chouteau Recycling Centers. After he left that position, he resumed volunteering at the recycling centers in Midtown KCMO. He returned to BTG as a fill-in Community Recycling Center Manager in 2012 and became the regular 3 Trails manager in March 2014. Outside of BTG, he advocates for cultural change and works with 350KC to build a grassroots climate action and clean energy movement. He loves to spend time with his lovely wife Rakmi and learn more about why the world is the way it is, and how it came to be this way.

Jason Gray | Green Steward Crew Member

Eric Hemphill | Volunteer Program Manager

Jay Jones | Green Infrastructure Coordinator

Jay Jones was born and raised in KCMO. Jay has several years of working in the community , Jay grew up in the Town Fork Creek neighborhood where he was a part of the neighborhood clean up crew as a youth. As a teen he joined Community Builders of Kansas City, a non- profit aimed towards building the community around the youth in the community. Jay studied Project Planning and Community Development at Metropolitan Community College obtaining his completion in May 2019. In the last few years Jay has been working in the non profit sector working in the community, bringing awareness of food insecurity in our area and how it affects East of Troost. Helping develop several programs and partnerships across the Kansas City Metro area. Notable (Veterans Community Project and Urban Community Connections). Jay is a part of the Community that Cares Committee for the Marlborough Neighborhood and Center School District. Jay is excited to bring his passion and knowledge of our community to help fight Environmental Justice issues in areas of Kansas City. Focusing on the urban core. In his spare time Jay is a father, Certified Life Coach and Motivational Speaker. Jay also coaches 8th grade youth football and trains student athletes to develop on and off the playing field.

Cathy Justice | Heartland Tree Alliance Program Coordinator

Gerome King | Green Steward Crew Member

Meagan Leavoy | Green Steward Crew Member

Linda Lehrbaum | Kansas City WildLands Program Manager

Linda’s passion for wildlife and wild places started early. As an Air Force brat, she had the opportunity to explore wild habitats all over North America, observing the connections between animals, plants and humans in a wide range of situations. After graduating from the KC Art Institute, she stayed put in Kansas City and intertwined her love of the wilds, animals, education and art into a variety of nature and science-based ventures, with habitat health and conservation always a primary focus. Working with KC WildLands has allowed Linda to directly work on these issues, from both “hands-on” and educational angles. She can now look a lizard on a glade square in the eye and know she’s doing her best for its future, and know that the next generation of humans will be able to experience what a healthy prairie really is. Linda is an active volunteer with Friends of Lakeside Nature Center, Missouri Stream Team #175 and the Kansas City Herpetological Society.

Mark Morales | Metro North Community Recycling Center Manager

Mark Morales, a lifelong resident of Kansas City Missouri, volunteered with Bridging The Gap for 10 years before coming on board in 2008. Mark now manages the 3 Trails Community Recycling Center and is the Rain Barrel Coordinator. As a community organizer for more than a decade, he worked with 15 different neighborhood associations north and south of the river, established relationships with stakeholders, incorporated low maintenance plantings, native grasses and rain gardens throughout the community and generated new interests for green space and gardens in urban core parks. As BTG Rain Barrel Coordinator, Mark is able to reach out to the community and educate about the importance of water issues in the KC area. He is presently working with urban gardeners from neighborhood associations who are incorporating gardens in vacant lots and reaching out to local schools and other civic groups. Mark joined BTG in 2008 and is a resident of Kansas City, Missouri.

Diana Parrino | Water & Energy Program Manager

Curtis Robinson | Energy Efficiency Manager

Thomas Schlange | Recycling Center Operations Manager

Thomas Schlange was raised in an agricultural community in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Conversations of ecology, agri-business concerns and water conservation dominated dinner table conversations during his childhood years. Local faith-based organizations also impacted his educational development. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln he spent several years working for elected officials in State and Federal Government positions. A 15-year career as Executive Director of college fraternal organizations was followed by stints in retail management, overnight freight delivery and arena guest services. Spare time activities include active participation in savoring foods of the world, healthy conversation about connecting the dots and exploring the wonderful world of words.

Carolyn Tragasz | Energy & Water Program Community Specialist

Autumn Weir | Heartland Tree Alliance Program Associate

Ginger Werp | Kansas City WildLands Program Coordinator

Joe Wheelock | Heartland Tree Alliance Program Manager

Joe is the resident “What’s this bug??” expert for BTG having graduated from Iowa State University with a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Entomology. At ISU he developed a healthy obsession with native plants, native pollinators, and building a more resilient agroecosystem. An AmeriCorps VISTA position with BoysGrow brought him to KC and a position researching honey bees kept him here after his year of service. Joe is excited to get back to his roots and become more involved with the KC community and to help grow the HTA program. In his free time, he can be found playing ultimate frisbee, camping, hiking, or floating a river.

Jillian Youngbird | Social Media Coordinator