Flagstaff Sustainability Office introduces three new staff and liaison

City sustainability staff introduced three new employees to the Sustainability Commission on Oct. 20 and described their roles supporting commission work and community engagement.

Jenny Niemann, Climate Action Section Director, introduced Diane Bridger as the office’s new engagement specialist and commission liaison. Bridger said she grew up in Flagstaff, holds a civil engineering degree and a master’s in water resources engineering, and has 15 years of water‑resources and climate research experience, including work on major river basins.

The commission also heard from Sierra Friedenland, who joined the neighborhood engagement team after working for the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Blake, the sustainability office’s new community service coordinator overseeing the Community Stewards/volunteer program. Blake described his background in outdoor education, guiding and conservation and said he will coordinate the Community Stewards program and volunteer events.

Commissioners welcomed the new staff and scheduled follow‑up agenda items on volunteer programs and other staff‑led initiatives in upcoming meetings.