Our Staff

Elizabeth Crowe, Executive Director.

Elizabeth has a strong background in organizing and communications on the local, regional and national levels. She has worked at KEF since 1992, with duties ranging from public education, coalition building and networking, organizing and grantwriting, and assumed the Director position in January 2008.

She also serves as the National Co-Coordinator for the Coming Clean collaborative. In addition to her responsibilities associated with KEF and the CWWG, Elizabeth is President of the League of Women Voters of Berea and Madison County and involved in a number of community civic engagement and sustainability projects. She earned a BA in Communications from Hope College. She lives in Berea, Kentucky with her husband and daughter.

Craig Williams, Chemical Weapons Working Group Director.

Craig is a founding member of the grassroots community group Common Ground and of KEF, and served as Director of KEF till January 2008. Craig maintains his position as Director of the CWWG, of which KEF is the lead organization. He is a charter member of the Kentucky Governor’s Chemical Material Demilitarization Citizen’s Advisory Commission, and currently serves as co-chair of the Kentucky Chemical Destruction Advisory Board.

Craig also has extensive community organizing experience related to veterans’ programs. He is the co-founder and secretary of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize), He has received several tributes in the U.S. Congress and was presented the John O‘Connor Citizens Achievement Award in 2003.

In April 2006 Craig was North American recipient of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. Craig received a BA in Philosophy from Eastern Kentucky University, and in May 2008 was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree in Humanities from the University. Craig lives in Berea, Kentucky with his wife, and near his two children and two grandchildren.

Lois Kleffman, Research and Administration.

Lois has an extensive background in communications and education. She is a former editor of the Jackson County Sun newspaper and a former elementary school teacher. Past employment with grassroots and non-profit groups includes the Community Farm Alliance and the Barnabas Home for disadvantaged youth.

Lois maintains the KEF & CWWG websites, manages media coverage and documents, edits reports and educational materials and provides research support. She has an MA in Education from Eastern Kentucky University. Lois is a resident of Jackson County, Kentucky and for the most part  enjoys having her three children and five grandchildren living nearby.

Jamie Austad, Bookkeeping

Jamie received her BBA in Accounting from Eastern Michigan University and her Master’s of Accounting degree from Florida State University in 2007.  She lives in Richmond, KY with her husband Jonathan and their four children.

Deborah Payne, Energy & Health Coordinator.

Deborah, a native of Berea, joined the staff in April 2010. She has a BA in Biology with a minor in Sustainability and Environmental studies from Berea College. She received her Masters of Public Health at the University of Kentucky with a focus on Environmental and Occupational Health.

Deborah is a returned Peace Corps volunteer having served in Uganda from 2007-2009 focusing on water and sanitation programming with Katosi Women Development Trust. She is the youth director at Union Church and enjoys playing traditional music.

click to meet
Our Board

KEF's Issues

• Safe Chemical Weapons Disposal
• Clean Air, Clean Energy
       Clean Air, Clean Energy Archive
  
• Toxic-Free Future
       Toxic-Free Future Archive
  

Welcome to Jason Howard

KEF is pleased to welcome Jason Howard as
our Policy Communications Coordinator.

Jason joined KEF in January 2012 with an extensive background in communications. Since receiving a B.A. in Political Communication from The George Washington University, he has worked for or advised a variety of non-profit organizations and community groups.

At KEF, Jason will focus on community education and cultural organizing around the dangers of toxic chemicals. Also an acclaimed writer, he is a strong believer in the power of personal stories to influence government policy.