2026 Executive Committee Election
The Miami Group Executive Committee has nine seats. Members are elected for two-year staggered terms.
There are four open seats for the 2027-2028 Executive Committee, and there are five candidates. The candidates for ExCom this year are Grace Behrman, Sally Dannemiller, Liz Flynn, Marie Kocoshis, and Gail Lewin. Candidate statements are available below.
Ballots must be cast before December 20, 2026.
In order to cast your vote, you will need to enter your Sierra Club member ID. You can find your eight-digit membership number on your membership card or on the mailing label of your Sierra magazine. If you received a postcard or email notice about the Executive Committee election, you will also find your member ID provided there. If you need help finding your member ID, contact the Sierra Club membership office at [email protected] or (415) 977-5653. If you have other questions, please contact the Miami Group via email [email protected].
Grace Behrman
Grace is a lifelong resident of Cincinnati and passionate climate and sustainability advocate. She works as an Environmental Compliance Coordinator at a global consulting firm and is in the process of completing her Master of Science in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Cincinnati, where she focused on climate communication and local sustainability initiatives. Throughout her professional career, Grace has worked with organizations including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and the Mill Creek Alliance, gaining experience in environmental communications, program coordination, and data management. Additionally, she has completed her LEED Green Associate Certification and is also a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP). Within the Miami Group, Grace has served as Treasurer since August 2025. Grace is passionate about using her communication and project coordination skills to make an impact in mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis.
Sally Dannemiller
An active member of the Sierra Club Miami Group for the last 10 years, Sally has served as Chair for the past four. Her interests lie with the conservation and protection of our environment in Southwestern Ohio: opposing the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels; working toward waste diversion from landfills; and concern about pollution from PFAS and other threats to our air, land and water. Another crucial focus is the need to promote and secure the expanded use of clean energy. Sally values empowering people through information about environmental issues and how they can take action to support environmental goals. She enjoys working collaboratively with both Miami Group teams and many other groups in the region. A former teacher, Sally has worked diligently with a number of nonprofits and local communities over the many years that she has called Cincinnati home. In her free time, she likes to hike, bike and paddle.
Liz Flynn
After joining Sierra Club Miami Group earlier this year, Liz has become an active member of the Energy Committee and is an Outings Leader. She was drawn to the Sierra Club because of the intersection of education, advocacy and connecting people to the outdoors at all levels of interest and experience.
Most at home in the outdoors, Liz enjoys backpacking, biking for transport, gardening with native plants, implementing sustainable lifestyle measures, photographing flowers and dining al fresco. She thinks we are all stewards of the beautiful, natural world in which we live and its resources, and Sierra Club plays an important role in ensuring we all flourish together.
An attorney by background, Liz has enjoyed a varied professional career. As a former non-profit development and executive director, Liz has experience with strategic planning, fundraising, governance, event planning, and board, volunteer and client recruitment and engagement.
Liz looks forward to utilizing her skills on Sierra Club Miami Group’s Executive Committee to help meet environmental challenges facing the region, including by increasing member participation and attracting new members to maximize our reach and impact.
Marie Kocoshis
Gail Lewin
I have served as a member of the Executive Committee for the past two years and I have served as the chair of the Miami Group Sierra Club Political Committee the past eight years. As a result of my service on the Executive Committee, I have a good understanding of what we need to do to strengthen the Miami Group for the future and how we can enhance communication, education, and service, to our members. The Political Committee endorsements have been successful in electing public servants who take action in response to environmental issues impacting all of us. We have educated politicians on improvements needed to the Metropolitan Sewer District as it faces 500-year floods, damaging weather and climate change, the building of data centers effects on water, pollution, energy prices and tax breaks for large corporations, the harmful expansion of landfills and protections to public lands. As a result of our endorsements, we have established relationships with the Cincinnati City Council, Hamilton County Commission, Ohio Statehouse Representatives and Federal Representatives. I will continue to work on all of the above issues if reelected. I will also fight against those who want to reduce legislative environmental protections.
