Board of Directors

Woman smiling in a park with trees in the background.

Mia Lopez

Past President
Public Information Officer at SACOG

Mia Lopez joined the SacBreathe Board of Directors in 2020. She brings nearly a decade of experience in marketing and communications to the Board. In her marketing career, she has developed campaigns for numerous organizations and served on various volunteer committees to support the organizations that are shaping our region. She believes that all Californians should get to enjoy clean and fresh air 365 days a year.

A man in a suit and tie smiling outdoors with plants in the background.

Orville Thomas

President
CEO of Cal EPIC

Orville Thomas was named CEO of the California Mobility Center in November of 2023 and has immediately gotten to work trying to build a 25-acre clean energy, power, and zero-emission innovation campus in Sacramento. Raising funds for $300 million project is the latest “big project” for Orville. In the last decade, he worked to get California’s high-speed rail project to groundbreaking, helped pass the state’s first gas tax increase in 20-years, and most recently, led the lobbying effort to reauthorize over $2 billion in state funding for zero-emission infrastructure and zero-emission programs.
Orville has a Bachelor of Art degree in Broadcast Journalism from San Francisco State University and worked as a news reporter in Redding, Chico, and Sacramento prior to graduate school. He has a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and serves as their Sacramento-area alumni coordinator. Outside of work and the Breathe California board, you can find Orville getting back into golf and walking to favorite restaurants with his wife and two dogs.

Grace Kaufman

Treasurer
Sustainability Program Manager at City of Elk Grove

Person smiling with long dark hair, wearing a necklace and dark top.

Samantha Hoshida

Director of Employee Relations at Otto Construction

Samantha Hoshida has been dedicated to community engagement, cultivating nonprofit relationships and implementing community development. Samantha has over 12 years in community engagement and staff management, more than 4 years in marketing and publicity and social media, and a lifetime passion for community development. She participated in Leadership Sacramento in 2017 and in 2019 became the Leadership Sacramento Alumni Chair. She has been an active member of Point West Rotary since joining in 2013. In 2002, she received the Gold Award, the highest award achievable in Girl Scouts. Currently Samantha is the Director of Employee Relations at Otto Construction.

Smiling woman standing in front of green foliage, wearing a black jacket and red shirt.

Sue Teranishi

Retired

Sue joined the Board in 1998 and has served as President, on various committees, and has been chair of the Policy Committee for many years. She became involved with Breathe CA when she was promoting Active Transportation with the CA Franchise Tax Board, worked at SACOG as the Bicycle/Pedestrian/Rideshare Coordinator, at CalEPA and the CA Dept of General Services and is now retired. Sue was a bike commuter, is still a utility cyclist to eliminate some short car trips and has been a Bike Trekker every year since 1999. Sue is also on the Board of the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates and is chair of her church´s Mission and Social Concerns Committee. She has two adult sons, two beautiful granddaughters and is expecting a grandson in June 2021.

Emel Wadhwani

Chief Counsel at CalRecycle & Board Member of Active Transportation Commission

Emel Wadhwani is the Chief Counsel at the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecyle). She manages a team of forty-five attorneys and legal staff who advise the state’s recycling and waste management programs, and support the Department’s goal of moving the state towards a circular economy that reduces waste and reuses all materials.
Prior to joining CalRecycle, Emel was an Assistant Chief Counsel with the California State Water Resources Control Board. In that capacity, she oversaw the work of a team of attorneys counseling the Governor-appointed regional water boards on permitting and enforcement actions to protect and restore the quality of water bodies throughout the state. While at the Board, Emel also served as Acting General Counsel for the California Environmental Protection Agency for several months.

Emel’s management roles include training, mentoring, and coaching new attorneys, and she frequently speaks and lectures to legal, policy, and technical audiences. She works on issues of good governance, including transparency, public official ethics, and public outreach and engagement.

Emel previously worked in private legal practice on land use and environmental matters, and as a city planner and policy analyst. She holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Emel also currently serves on the City of Sacramento’s Active Transportation Commission and on the board of the non-profit Sacramento Advocates for Rail and Transit. In her leisure time, she likes to spend time outdoors hiking, walking, and biking. Emel was born and raised in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Smiling person with long dark hair, wearing a patterned top and black cardigan, standing outdoors.

Jazmine Alop

Director of Public Policy at California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

Jazmine Alop is a strategic leader with a strong background in building infrastructure, managing projects, and fostering collaboration across diverse industries. She is the Senior Vice President of Member Services at the Supply Chain Federation, where she oversees membership services, events, and experiences to drive engagement and deliver value to members. In addition to her role at the Federation, Jazmine provides consulting services through Blackwood Strategies, leveraging her expertise in coalition building, operational management, and board development.
With a passion for economic and workforce development, business growth, and community engagement, Jazmine has spent over six years working with regional employers, nonprofits, and community organizations to drive regional economic prosperity. She has developed and led successful initiatives spanning entrepreneurship, business development, work-based learning, women’s leadership, and young professional board development.
Jazmine holds a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Sacramento.

Smiling woman taking a selfie along a waterway in Venice, Italy at sunset, with historic buildings and domed church in the background.

Sophie Froelich

Attorney IV Office of Chief Counsel at State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)

Sophie N. Froelich is a senior attorney at the State Water Resources Control Board, assigned to the Regional Board Unit I. For the past three years, she has been advising the Central Coast Water Board, and for five years before that, the Los Angeles Water Board, on matters pertaining to water quality. In addition to advising the Regional Board, Ms. Froelich handles personnel matters for the State Water Board. Prior to joining the State Water Board, Ms. Froelich was a civil litigator and trial lawyer with Nossaman LLP, and in-house litigation counsel for the Wonderful Company. She holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law, and a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Mellissa Meng

Executive Director of North Natomas Jibe

Mellissa Meng joined the Breathe board in 2025 and works as the Director of North Natomas Jibe, an organization with the mission to empower the community with sustainable transportation choices that reduces traffic congestion, improve air quality and advance a thriving community. She has a background with and love for community serving programs with an environmental focus. She started her career coordinating programs focused on pollution prevention, ranging from motor oil recycling, composting, to coastal clean ups. A real passion ignited when she coordinated county-wide Bike to Work and School events and became an enthusiast cyclist. Mellissa is a Banana Slug, an alumni from UC Santa Cruz, and when not working loves to camp, craft, and spend time outdoors with friends and family.

Man in blue suit smiling against gray background

Chris Flores

Chief of Staff / VP of Real Estate at Sacramento Regional Transit District

Chris Flores is the Deputy Chief of Staff / Special Assistant to GM at Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT). In that position he assists and serves the General Manager on a daily basis by providing executive level management oversight and strategic direction to assigned projects, programs, administrative matters, and special assignments. Chris also provides oversight and direction to SacRT’s Government Affairs Department. Prior to join SacRT, he was a Senior Field Representative and Policy Advisor in Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s office providing assistance on matters related to transportation, the environment, energy, small business, labor and more. Chris serves on the Boards of the Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition, Sacramento County Census Complete Count and BREATHE Policy Committee. He holds a BA in Political Science and Communications from the University of California at Davis.

Woman smiling in beige turtleneck standing next to a plant shelf.

Julia Garcia

Senior Environmental Scientist at CalRecycle

Julia Garcia is a Senior Environmental Scientist at the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), where she leads the implementation of compliance initiatives involving Senate Bill 1383, a law aimed at reducing organic waste in landfills, recovering edible food for those in need, and lowering methane emissions. With a strong background in regulatory compliance, Julia previously worked at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), where she ensured food safety and worked with County Agricultural Commissioners, industry leaders, and public stakeholders to protect human health and the environment from the impacts of pesticide use. She has extensive experience leading teams, shaping policy implementation, and fostering collaboration across government agencies and the private sector.
As a dynamic and influential leader, Julia has spearheaded high-profile initiatives and served as an emcee for a major black-tie fundraiser supporting former foster youth where she engaged with politicians, philanthropists, and executives of major corporations, among other prominent figures. As President of her local Toastmasters club, she mentors emerging leaders in public speaking and communication.
Julia is a dedicated board member of Breathe California Sacramento Region, leveraging her expertise in environmental policy and community engagement to drive impactful programs that improve air quality and public health. She also actively volunteers at food banks and local tree planting events, reinforcing her commitment to sustainability, rescuing food from landfills, and providing food to those in need.
She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management and is passionate about innovative solutions to environmental challenges. In her free time, she enjoys reading nonfiction on science and sustainability, exercising, hiking, and spending time with her husband and cat.

Torin Dunnavant

Tasting Room Assistant Manager at Terre Rouge & Easton Wines

Torin has served in the environmental sector since 2005, starting with the California Wild Heritage Campaign and then Friends of the River. He worked at TreePeople in Los Angeles for seven years as their Director of Engagement and Partnerships, then moved back to Sacramento in 2017 to work at Sacramento Tree Foundation as their Director of Education and Engagement. Most recently he was the Executive Director at Tree Davis from 2022 to 2025, expanding the organization’s impact to under-canopied communities in West Sacramento, Woodland, Dixon and Winters. He has served on the boards of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance, the Los Angeles River State Park Partners, Los Angeles River Expeditions and the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council. He is slated for appointment to the El Dorado County Parks and Recreation Commission. Torin enjoys whitewater rafting and kayaking, backpacking and wine.

Smiling person with long curly hair in front of a colorful geometric background, wearing a light gray blazer and blue shirt.

Grace Kaufman is a Senior Project Manager, supporting Valley Vision’s Food and Agriculture and Clean Air and Climate impact areas. Throughout her four years at Valley Vision, Grace co-authored the regional Food System Action Plan in 2021, the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), and has been a leader in the formation of the Yolo County Food Hub partnership activation and business model design. She is actively working to advance action to address climate change in our region, and has provided leadership on the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRCRC) for over six years.

Grace also manages communications and partner coordination for the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, a four-state effort to accelerate resilient, diverse and competitive local and regional food systems by improving opportunities for food and farm businesses across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. She also manages community engagement for the West Sacramento Hydrogen Locomotive pilot project, and is on the advisory committee for the Yolo County Regional Resilience Collaborative.

Prior to Valley Vision, Grace worked at CivicWell, formally the Local Government Commission, where she managed several regional and statewide collaboratives focused on energy efficiency and climate action.

She is an alumni of UC Davis with a degree in Community Development. Grace is passionate about community development, environmental justice, and sustainable food systems. In her free time, Grace loves riding her bike and eating at farm to fork restaurants and markets

Man with glasses and a suit smiling in front of a gray curtain.

Dean O’Brien

Health Facility Construction Financing Officer at Deputy Director at California Department of Health Care Access and Information

Dean O’Brien is a native West Sacramentan, and currently lives in Midtown Sacramento. O’Brien is a cycling advocate, bike commuter, and avid road cyclist, riding more than 10,000 miles a year. Proud member of Team VeloCity and multi-year Breathe Bike Trek participant, highlight in 2018 when he biked from Sacramento to Petaluma before the Trek even started. His professional background is in business, and he has 17 years of experience in commercial lending, financial analysis, risk management, and real estate development. O’Brien has worked in both the private and public sectors, and currently holds the title of Health Construction Finance Officer at the Cal-Mortgage Loan Insurance Program where he focuses on healthcare facility development financing. O’Brien has demonstrated a passion and commitment to the Sacramento community through his leadership and involvement with the American River Parkway Foundation (Immediate past President / Ride the Parkway Chair), Urban Land Institute Sacramento District Council (Mentorship Program Chair), Cool Projects Bike Tour (Co-Founder), Drexel University Sacramento Alumni Network (Founder / Past President), and volunteer Amateur Athletic Union youth basketball coach for the Sacramento Scorpions.

Person wearing glasses and a cap, smiling indoors with wooden ceiling.

Ralph Propper