Erika Strassburger is a member of Pittsburgh City Council, proudly serving the residents of the City’s 8th District. She is the first woman elected to this seat. Before her election, Erika served as Chief of Staff for her predecessor, former-Councilman Dan Gilman. Prior to that, she worked for nearly a decade advocating for clean air, clean water, and a clean energy future at the state and federal levels.

Since being sworn into City Council in April of 2018, Erika has passed trailblazing legislation to guard against employment discrimination for pregnant workers and their partners throughout Pittsburgh; led the charge to overhaul and modernize Pittsburgh’s municipal waste and recycling code; passed policies to prevent against discrimination based on gender identity and expression citywide; pursed a comprehensive lead safety law to keep dangerous toxins out of our homes and community centers; and secured passage of a landmark ban on single-use plastic bags at checkout which takes effect in 2023.

Erika has been an outspoken advocate for policies promoting clean water and air, equitable and diverse communities, safe and complete streets, and a transparent, and responsive government. She is passionate about offering new ways for her constituents to be informed & involved in city government.

Steve Patterson has lived in Athens since 1998 working as an Associate Professor of Health Psychology at Ohio University until March, 2016 and is currently the Mayor of Athens, Ohio. Mayor Patterson served in the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard for over 20 years in both the Enlisted (9 years) and Commissioned (14 years) ranks and retired as a Major with the District of Columbia Air Nation Guard 113th Fighter Wing.

Mayor Patterson serves on the Executive Boards of the International Town-Gown Association (President-elect), the Athens County Economic Development Council, the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, the Athens County Foundation, the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC), the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), the American Red Cross Ohio South Central Chapter and a member of the Ohio Mayors Alliance. Mayor Patterson also serves as the President for the Mayors Partnership for Progress, Co-Vice Chair for the National League of Cities Race, Equity and Leadership Council, Athens County Transportation Improvement District, the Athens County Regional Planning Commission, and the Athens City Planning Commission (Chair).

Natalia Rudiak serves as the director of special projects at ReImagine Appalachia, a coalition of 200+ organizations, where she advocates for federal climate investments, and leads regional planning for sustainable economic development across Appalachian Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Natalia was raised in a working-class, Polish, immigrant household, and was the youngest woman elected to Pittsburgh City Council, winning and serving two terms.

She is also an advisor for climate simulations designed by the global Centre for Systems Solutions based in Poland, and the founder of CivicPartners, a social impact consultancy. She earned her MSc in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University as well as her BA in International Affairs from George Washington University.Director of Special Projects & Former Elected Official, Reimagine Appalachi

Anita Prizio was elected to the Allegheny County Council in November 2017 to represent District 3, which extends from Reserve Township to West Deer Township.

Anita believes that like our water, our government should be transparent and accessible. To that end, Anita intends to be an independent voice for her constituents fighting to make Allegheny County the best it can be.

Anita earned both her MBA and her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 1999. As a court appointed special advocate, she has used her law degree to fight for the interests of children in family court.

In November 2018, Councilwoman Prizio was recognized as an Outstanding Elected Democratic Woman by the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women, Inc.

Prior to serving on Allegheny County Council, Anita served on O'Hara Council from 1998 through 2006, and during that time she also represented the township in the North Hills Council of Governments.

Evan Hansen is a West Virginia House Delegate serving District 51. Evan is a devoted father, a scientist, and a small business owner. He knows how to run a business, balance a budget, and meet a payroll. He founded and runs a company in Monongalia County that provides jobs for West Virginians and attracts working professionals to Monongalia County.

Over two decades, Evan’s made a name for himself by applying scientific analysis to issues related to water, energy, and economic development. He’s a respected scientist committed to creating a better economy in West Virginia by focusing on long-term solutions that build upon West Virginia’s strengths. His company’s projects have led to opportunities in new energy sectors, restoring abandoned coal mines, cleaning up rivers, and growing local food.

Before his election, Evan worked with legislators to respond to the Freedom Industries chemical leak, which contaminated the water supply for approximately 300,000 West Virginians. In 2017, he provided testimony regarding attempts to increase the amount of cancer-causing chemicals in our rivers. Clean drinking water doesn’t just keep us healthy; it’s also a foundation for economic growth.

Liane Jollon, Western Leaders Executive Director, is acting as Interim Executive Director for Appalachian Leaders Network.

She joined WLN in 2025, bringing 25 years of executive leadership experience primarily with governmental organizations dedicated to protecting and advancing public health. In these roles, she worked closely with elected officials and built cross-sector partnerships to transform community health systems.

Most recently, she served as executive director of the Health District of Northern Larimer County in Colorado. She was previously executive director of San Juan Basin Public Health, where she orchestrated an innovative, multi-agency COVID-19 pandemic response and led the department in navigating the health impacts of the 2015 Gold King Mine spill in southwest Colorado.

In 2019, she was appointed by Governor Jared Polis to serve on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission as the commission implemented a sweeping mission change to prioritize public health. In this role, Liane demonstrated her ability to integrate her public health expertise with environmental regulation and community protection.

She holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Pueblo Community College in Durango; a bachelor’s degree in arts, history, and sociology from Columbia University; and a master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. In 2022, she was named a Gates Family Fellow as a Senior Executive in State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University.