Centerfor Environment - usaid

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USDAIRSSA Staff Bio-Sketches (continued)
Sheila Young, Energy and Environment Resource Specialist, Energy
Efficiency Project (EEP)
In the two years Sheila Young has been with the Office ofEnergy, Environment,
and Technology, she has been involved in a wide range of technical activities.
She is presently involved in the preparation ofthe report to Congress on global
clinlate :hange and global climate change action plans; and will be working with
EEP on issues surrounding the Global Environmental Facility. She also provides
assistance to the efforts of the White House Subcommittee on Environmental
Technology. In Ms. Young's previous capacity as a Technical Writer for the
Office, she drafted policy papers, project implementation orders, and narratives
for the Office's portfolio and managed the Office's Magellan computer system.
She has prepared talking points, briefmgs, and presentations on global climate
change, energy efficiency, geographic information systems, and gender issues and
helped the Office shape its gender strategy. Prior to coming to USAID, Ms.
Young was a marketing specialist for the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, served
in the Peace Corps in agroforestry, was a public school teacher, and performed
computer coding and research for law finns. Ms. Young holds a bachelor's degree
in Philosophy and is currently working on her master's degree in Environmental
Science and Policy at George Mason University. Her interests are in energy and
environmental policy, geographic information systems, global climate change, and
environmental impact assessments. Ms. Young speaks Mauritanian, Arabic, and
French.
Datex, Inc., EET Support Contract
Staff Bio-Sketches
Rowena "Roni" Laxa, Project Manager
Roni Laxa has supported the EET office under various contracts since March
1989. In her present position, she is responsible for the overall management and
supervision of the Office's IO-person support contract. Prior to assuming this
position, Ms. Laxa served as the administrative manager of the office's Global
Warming Project and the Energy and Environmental Policy, Innovation, and
Commercialization (EPIC) Program. Before coming to USAID, she managed the
compliance division ofthe D.C. minority business development program, served
as program assistant at a state and local policy center, performed legislative
research for the Detroit City Council, and worked as a legal assistant at two major
Detroit law firms. Ms. Laxa has a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the
University of Michigan. Her interests include urban and international business
development, international trade policy and regulation, and computers as
management and communication tools.
Nathaniel Brackett, TeChnical WriterlDeputy Project Manager
Nathaniel Brackett has been with the EET office under various contracts since
1988. In his current capacity, he assists the Office's Energy Technology
Innovation Project (ETIP) with technical writing, and policy and planning
activities. His interests lie in policy planning and computer engineering. Prior
to coming to USAlD, Mr. Brackett worked as an intern at The World Banle He
has a bachelor's degree in Energy Studies and a master's degree in Public and
International Affairs. He is pursuing further study in Energy Engineering. Mr.
Brackett has a working knowledge ofSpanish.