OUR TEAM
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Rikki Epperson
Executive Director
Rikki is a huge fan of CR and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for nearly three years before becoming the Program Director, and now the Executive Director in Fall 2019.
2015 - present.
Nancy Morlock
Administrative Assistant
Nancy built a straw bale home with Community Rebuilds in Spring of 2012, and is now serving on the board for her second term, representing all CR homeowners in the non-profit program.
Spring 2022 - Present
Mandy Turner
AmeriCorps Director for the Community Rebuilds Project
Mandy Turner was born and raised in the woods of Pennsylvania, earned her BS in Ecology at San Francisco State University, then moved to Moab to become a waitress and make smoothies for tourists. She has worked for the USGS, the BLM, the MARC, and WabiSabi, before finding her way to CR, a nonprofit that combines ecology, art, sustainability, and community - and that suits her very well.
Leah Olson
AmeriCorps State
Outreach & Program Facilitator
Originally from Portland, OR, Leah has worked for the past 8 years in state and federal policy making and advocacy and non-profit programs facilitation. Prior to this position, Leah worked as a case manager rehousing homeless families in Portland for Family Promise of Tualatin Valley and as a legislative aide in the Oregon state legislature. She is excited to bring her prior experience to the state of Utah to contribute to grassroots solutions to the nation-wide housing crisis.
Jessica Chamberlin
Planning & Development Manager
Jessica was born and raised in Salt Lake City prior to moving to Moab in 2021. She has been a fan of CR for a number of years, and is excited to bring her background in sustainable design to the team.
Feb 2022 - Present
Moab Winter/Spring 2023 Build Team
Amanda Jane
Construction Supervisor
Amanda Jane has worked with CR since 2016. She started her building career with Habitat for Humanity and worked there as a lead builder for 15 years. She studied natural building with Yestermorrow in Vermont, and has worked on projects in North Carolina to Honduras.
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Edwin Castillo
Design + Build Apprentice
Edwin is from New Jersey with a background in Architecture and Interior Design. He came to CR to cultivate knowledge and skills that observe sustainability practices and see how he can help his fellow neighbor! Edwin loves finding creative outlets, practicing Capoeira, and cooking. The name Edwin means: “Happy Friend” translated from the Old English Eadwine.
Bonnie Smith
Build Apprentice
Bonnie is pursuing her dream of working with her hands outdoors, learning construction skills, while connecting with natural building. CR has been on her radar for a number of years and she was finally free to become a Build Apprentice - spring 2023. She has a Master's in Environmental Studies and has worked in higher education for 20 years.
Sarah Dannenbrink
Build Apprentice
Sarah hails from the north and southwest regions of the U.S. where her passion for permaculture was cultivated in garden spaces and has continued to grow throughout her travels. She studied a variety of topics at the University of Arizona, and continues to seek opportunities that facilitate personal growth and connection with community. She has worked as an environmental educator for youth, a barista, a baker, a gardener, and a rock climbing instructor, and now is delighted to be a part of the Community Rebuilds mission and the community in Moab.
PAST STAFF
Maret Sonder
Assistant Construction Supervisor
Maret is from Evanston, IL. They worked on farms, gardens, and trails before coming to CR. They were an intern in Spring 2020 and are now back for a yearlong apprenticeship.
Spring 2020 - present
Alex Burbidge
Construction Supervisor & Qualifier
Alex has been a natural builder in Moab for the past two decades. He came onto the team in the Fall of 2017 when it just so happened that CR was building next door to his home.
2017 - 2022
Megan Vickery
AmeriCorps VISTA
Education Developer
Originally from Austin, Megan received her degree from the University of Virginia in American studies and economics with lots of focus on housing, social justice, and public history. After a return to Texas, some travel, and sifting through too many overwhelming post-graduate decisions, she decided the incredible mission of CR and the beautiful environment and community in Moab was her next step. January 2022 - Present.
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Claudia O'Herron
Build Apprentice
Claudia earned her BA in Environmental Design at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has a broad scope of design experience, but is pursuing a career in natural building and permaculture design in hopes to help and teach emerging designers the importance of working with the earth, and not against.
Chloe Dorin
Build Apprentice
Chloe is from Boone, North Carolina and has spent the last four years working on her bachelor’s and then master’s degree in biology. After researching bats, salamanders, and honeybees, and witnessing the impacts of climate change on these species, Chloe wanted to learn more about how people can live sustainably with the planet. She was fascinated by the unique model CR uses to tackle these issues, so she joined the team as an Americorps Build Apprentice. August 2022- present.
Jess is a builder with a background in affordable housing construction, art history, and design/build projects. She first worked with CR as an intern in 2016 and she's back now.
Spring 2021 - present
Jess Hough
Assistant Construction Supervisor
Olivia was an intern in Fall 2016, and spent the following four years working for Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. She is now back with CR as an assistant builder. She is originally from California's Central Valley.
Spring 2021 - present
Olivia Mendonca
Assistant Construction Supervisor
Shelby Rockelein
AmeriCorps VISTA
Fundraising Coordinator
Shelby moved from Portland, OR to Moab chasing the red rocks. She has a background in anthropology with a particular passion for building community. She is stoked to be joining and playing a part with CR!
January 2022 - Present
Will is from the SF Bay Area and has a background in architecture. He first joined CR as an intern in 2018 on the Bunkhouse build and has returned as a build apprentice for Fall 2020 - present.
Cole Statts
Lead Builder
Cole first joined us in the Spring of 2018, after being an intern, apprentice, and assistant builder, he stepped into the role of lead builder. Spring 2018 - Spring 2021.
Emily is the founder of Community Rebuilds. She is proud of the accomplishments of the organization and the CR team in the pursuit of shifting the construction paradigm to be inclusive and regenerative.
Emily Niehaus
Founder /
Executive Director
Jason has been an intern, board member, and CR fan since 2012. He recently built his own straw bale home prior to becoming an instructor in 2017. Spring 2012 - Spring 2020
Reid originally joined the CR team in 2018 as an AmeriCorps VISTA. After a year and a half of LBC coordination and planning in the office she became CR's Project Manager. September 2018 - April 2021.
Reid Saunders
Project Manager
Kenny got fired up about affordable housing while working on a 20K Home at Auburn University’s Rural Studio. He created new plans for upcoming CR homes and so much more. Fall 2019 - Fall 2020.
Kenny Fallon Jr
Americorps VISTA
Planning and Development
Jordan served as an intern in the Fall 2017 build. She enjoyed CR and Moab so much that she decided to come back as an AmeriCorps Vista to handle intern recruitment. August 2018 - Fall 2019.
Jordan Deschamp
Americorps VISTA
Recruitment Coordinator
An Oregon native, Melissa previously worked as a trail crew leader and youth educator. After being both an intern and apprentice, she became a supervisor. Spring 2015- Spring 2019.
Melissa Graciosa
Construction Supervisor
Jessica Manderfield
Program Director
Jess has been developing her career in natural building with CR since joining us as an intern in the Spring of 2014. She has built homes in Moab, Crested Butte, CO, and was the assistant supervisor for our Bunkhouse build. She joined the administrative side of CR as Program Director. 2014 - 2020.
Charlotte was a build intern for the Fall 2019 semester and continued on as an office intern in Spring 2020. She sees adequate housing as both a basic human need and a complex challenge.
Karen is a natural builder for Build Like A Bird, LLC in Asheville, NC. She first built with CR in the Fall 2016 and is back as our Construction Supervisor for our pilot build in Bluff, UT.
Karen George
Construction Supervisor
Bea worked with CR as an intern in 2016 and 2017 on builds in Crested Butte and Moab before becoming an apprentice in 2018, Fall 2016 - Fall 2018.
Beatrice Denham
Apprentice
Brittany is originally from western Washington and has a background in Urban Planning. She served as an intern and then as an office intern in Spring of 2019. Brittany continued on as a build apprentice for Fall 2019 - Spring 2020.
Brittany Vallene
Apprentice
Kenya is originally from the San Fransisco Bay Area. She was an intern in the Spring of 2016 and returned this past fall to work on our pilot build in Bluff, UT. Spring 2018-Spring 2019.
Kenya Wright
Apprentice
Claire was an intern for the Spring 2016 semester and decided to stay on for an additional 2 years through AmeriCorps. Her key duties centered around intern recruitment. February 2016 – July 2018.
Claire Spalding
AmeriCorps VISTA
Volunteer Coordinator
Mitch hails from Montana and has been a builder since 1990. Fall 2016.
Mitchell Heuer
Construction Supervisor
Jamie was an intern with Community Rebuilds in Fall 2018, and returned as an Office Intern. Originally from Virginia, she worked in a Boston planning firm prior to CR. Fall 2018- Spring 2019.
Jamie Shalvey
Office Intern
Callie is originally from Arizona, has a background in civil engineering. She was an intern in the Spring of 2018 and is sticking around to apprentice with CR for the Fall of 2018 and Spring of 2019 semesters. Spring 2018- Spring 2019.
Callie Ochsner
Apprentice
Originally from Dallas, TX, Amanda has worked in a variety of industries from healthcare to now building. She was an intern in the Fall of 2015 as an intern before becoming an apprentice. Spring 2016 – Fall 2016
Amanda Stephenson
Apprentice
Kyle has a background in architecture and began as an intern during the Fall of 2014 and Spring of 2015. He worked on several projects in Moab, as well as our three story duplex in Mount Crested Butte, CO. Spring 2016 – Fall 2016
Kyle Terrio
Apprentice
Maggie is a native of Fort Collins, CO. She first came to CR as an intern in the Spring of 2017. After restoring homes in Detroit for the last year, she joined us to be a part of the campus build.
Maggie Stitzel
Asst. Construction Supervisor
Lev is an alumni of the Spring 2014 intern crew. He worked with CR as an apprentice for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015, and is continuing to work on natural building projects in the Moab area.
Lev Darkhovsky
Apprentice
Originally from Harlem, NY, Marcus has a background in sustainable design and permaculture. Marcus joined us in the Spring of 2017 as an intern and continued on as an apprentice through the Fall of 2017 and Spring of 2018. Spring 2017 - Spring 2018
Marcus Henderson
Apprentice
Will led CR interns as an apprentice from the Fall of 2015 and Spring of 2016.
Will Munger
Apprentice
Eric is currently the principal at Ecologic Design Build. He helped get CR off the ground as a straw bale subcontractor and instructor from 2011-2014.
Eric Plourde
Construction Supervisor
Dusty is the principal at Straw and Timber Craftsman, and has worked with CR as the straw bale subcontractor and natural building instructor in Gunnison County, CO in both 2013 & 2016.
Dusty Syzmanski
Construction Supervisor
Chris is a natural builder based in Cleveland Ohio. He joined CR for four builds from the Fall of 2014 to the Spring of 2016.
A Denver, CO native, Mitch is a natural builder living in Bluff, UT. He was a part of three CR builds from Spring 2015-2016.
Mitch McComb
Construction Supervisor
Dan is a CR alum from the Fall 2013 build who continued on as an apprentice for the Spring 2014 semester.
Dan McCann
Apprentice
Chris Strayer
Construction Supervisor
Kris worked with CR as a graduate fellow during the Fall of 2013.
Jessica was an intern for the first CR build in 2010. She then went on to serve as an administrative role in 2011.
Jessica Retka
Administrative Apprentice
Kris Wilson
Apprentice
Charlotte Van Voast
Office Intern
Jason Pronovost
Construction Supervisor
Will Kershner
Apprentice
Alivia served a year as a Fundraising Coordinator, establishing grant databases and searching for partnerships with local businesses to diversify CR's funding sources. October 2019 - October 2020.
Alivia Michalski
AmeriCorps VISTA
Fundraising Coordinator
Doug has been a natural builder of over 20 years, and now serves as a Natural Building Expert and consultant for CR.
Doug Nichols
CR's "Cobbfather"
Originally from Colorado, Charlie was working commercial salmon fishing in Alaska before moving to Moab to apprentice with CR. Spring 2020 - Summer 2021
Charlie Britton
Apprentice
Aidan grew up splitting her time between parts of Oregon and California, eventually graduating from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She left the advertising scene to embrace a more Earth conscious way of life, finding CR to fit those needs.
Aidan McClean
Project Manager
Alex came to CR as an intern in Spring 2020 to learn about natural building and is back for a year as the sustainability coordinator. He is looking forward to working on the campus landscape design. Spring 2020 - Summer 2021.
Alex Sanchez
AmeriCorps Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Rose was 2020 spring intern excited who decided to keep learning and come back again for a yearlong apprenticeship. Spring 2020 - Summer 2021.
Rose DeLorie
Apprentice
Andy Coppola
Assistant Construction Supervisor
Andy's intro to straw bale and clay plasters construction came in college and he quickly dreamed up elaborate homes he could sculpt from ground up. He is now with CR as an assistant builder. Fall 2020 - Winter 2021.
Lena Jaffe
Program Coordinator
Lena worked as a build intern in the Fall of 2017, and an office intern Fall 2019. Lena is passionate about the intersection between environmental and community health, and calls Seattle and now Moab home.
January 2020 - June 2022.
Joe has experience working in Landscape Architecture and is passionate about public space, living systems, and green infrastructure large & small. He is excited to help plan for upcoming CR homes & working with community land trusts. September 2020 - October 2021.
Aidan grew up splitting her time between parts of Oregon and California, eventually graduating from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She left the advertising scene to embrace a more Earth conscious way of life, finding CR to fit those needs.
Joe Bondi
AmeriCorps VISTA
Planning & Development
Molly calls Brattleboro, Vermont home. Driven by her passion for how space can allow for deeper connections between folks, Molly's experience includes facilitating dialogues on climate change, organizing for political change, and building fairy houses. She is excited to dive into the tangible ways of creating livable futures with CR.
Molly Gurney
AmeriCorps VISTA
Fundraising Coordinator
Ellie Grosse
AmeriCorps VISTA
Planning & Content Developer
Originally from Chicago, Ellie studied sustainability in built environments in California and Southern Germany. She has a background in public art, research, and design. Ellie is excited to become a part of the natural building world! April 2020 - present.
Ben Zeitz-Moskin
AmeriCorps
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Ben is originally from Irvington, New York. He came to Moab for the CR internship in 2020 from Colorado Springs. His interest in building comes from a background in visual art, and he is excited to be rummaging through junk and exploring in Moab!
Izzy Korostoff
AmeriCorps Apprentice
Izzy grew up in rural central Pennsylvania, and spent much of his life prior to Moab in Philadelphia. He loves supporting and creating community through collaborative work, and has practiced this via glassblowing, theater, and most recently, the thrilling collective undertaking of natural building.
Gabe’s first CR experience was as board member in 2011, and then went on to become and intern and staff in the year of 2014. In 2017, he became a CR homeowner.
Gabe Woytek
Assistant Supervisor
Doni lead the first build in 2010, helping Community Rebuilds get off the ground.
Doni Kiffmeyer
Construction Supervisor
Kristin is a CR alum from the Spring 2013 build who continued on as an apprentice for the Fall 2013 semester.
Kristin O'Brien
Apprentice
Kelly worked as a co-instructor for three different CR homes from 2011-2012.
Kelly Matthews
Co-Construction Supervisor
Kate is a CR alum from the firs build in 2010, and continued on as an apprentice for the year of 2011.
Kate Heath
Apprentice
Serah was an intern with one of the early semesters in Fall 2011. She went on to become an administrative team member as Associate Director until 2014. In 2017, she became a CR homeowner.
Serah Meade
Associate Director
