Ellen Toomey-Hale served in Colorado’s juvenile justice system as a deputy district attorney, guardian ad litem, defense counsel, and district court magistrate. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College.

For decades, Ellen’s true passion has been helping nonprofit startups. She still believes that one person can change the world which includes the founders of nonprofits and their visions. Her expertise in nonprofit development has taken her on the path of serving eco-communities; veterans; single parents; impaired, abused and neglected children; and families and orphans.

As Executive Director, Ellen provides CEL  with unmatched expertise in the areas of nonprofit fundraising, legal oversight and community leadership.  She brings a passion for providing individuals and communities with the skills and tools to achieve a more sustainable future and healthier environment.

Ellen and her husband, Curt, reside on their 80-acre farm she describes as an eco-living, work-in-progress, complete with fresh eggs and vegetable gardens.

Janet Shapan’s passion for sustainable living and all things agriculture originates from her childhood experiences on the family farms in North Carolina.

Her career in media design and project management began in Palm Beach, FL serving as manager of Roberta Di Camerino and Martha’s Valentino Boutiques.  She then became a partner in a leading fashion photography firm that created resort/designer layouts featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Town & Country magazines.

Upon relocating to the SF Bay Area, she served as Project & Business Manager for Applied Decision Analysis, a spin-off of Stanford Research Institute. And, after the birth of her daughter,  she joined  Montgomery Securities – the 13th largest institutional banking firm in the U.S. during the 80s & 90s – as an Associate Analyst and National Conference Coordinator.

In the early 90s, Janet co-founded sister publishing and television production companies, The Hagen Network (THN) and The Hagen Group (THG), that produced sports in-arena league magazines and national television events which broadcast to over 40 million households each week for 10 years.

Since 2001, Janet has owned and operated Shapan, Inc., a media management entity for private and public groups in a range of industry categories.

Coming full circle, serving as President, Publisher, and Media Director, Janet brings to CEL a unique and broad set of talents in managing publishing and TV media, grassroots marketing programs, as well as designing advanced visual media presentations, on and off the world wide web.