Steering Committee Members

Jeff Heie is the Founder and Director of GiveSolar, a social impact organization under the 501(c)3 non-profit umbrella of New Community Project. GiveSolar is partnering with Habitat for Humanity Virginia and Solar United Neighbors to make the benefits of solar energy accessible to low income families around the state.

Doug Hendren, MD, MBA. Doug is a retired orthopedic surgeon, and a solar energy advocate. He has been with 50by25 since it began in 2015. He has also served on Harrisonburg's Environmental Performance Standards and Advisory Committee since it began in 2017.

Joy Loving: Central Valley resident since November 1994. Member of Climate Action Alliance of the Valley since 2013, working on state and local energy policies. Joined 50by25 by way of Renew Rocktown in 2015. Since January 2020, serving on Harrisonburg’s Environmental Performance Standards Advisory Area, focusing on energy and buildings. Distributed solar advocate and energy efficiency supporter.

Pete Bsumek is a professor in the School of Communication Studies. He is coordinator of the interdisciplinary Environmental Studies minor.
He has been part of 50by25 since it began in 2015, and is the current Excom Chair of the local Sierra Club chapter.

Isaac Witmer has worked at a local software company since he moved to Harrisonburg in 2011. He helps with the website, email, social media and general computer administration for 50by25 since he joined in 2015. He also joined the local Sierra Club a bit later, and has served as a liaison between the two organizations.
Biking is important to Isaac, as is political engagement.

Ashlyn Johns is a recent graduate from JMU with her Master’s in Environmental Communication and Advocacy (and her BA in Communication Studies and Spanish). In 2021, she interned with 50by25, working on a project to help local Hispanic businesses through the process of switching to solar and identifying barriers that make renewable energy challenging to access. Currently, Ashlyn is a Intern at Massanutten Resort doing Ski Sustainability.

Tom Benevento, is coordinator of New Community Project’s Sustainable Living Center in Harrisonburg facilitating social and ecological justice work in the region. He serves on Harrisonburg’s Environmental Performance Standards Advisory Committee and the VA Council on Environmental Justice.