About

Derek joined the CEA in 1985, when it was known as the Windsor and District Clean Water Alliance, his father was the organization’s spokesperson, and the office was in his house. He was appointed Executive Director/Coordinator in 2008. Previously he was a volunteer, board member and Director of Research and Policy at the CEA. “Working with my dad was the best advocacy training I could have ever received,” said Derek.

Derek has served as a board member for other environmental organizations, including the Ontario Environment Network, served on Windsor-Essex County’s Environment Committee for 20 years and served on multiple caucuses of the Canadian Environmental Network. He holds political science degrees from the University of Windsor and Dalhousie University.

Vittorio Sbrocca (MFA, 1991) has been part of the CEA since 2006. His duties include Office, Membership, Volunteer and Fundraising Coordinator as well as Bookkeeper, Webmaster and Librarian of our Environmental Resource Centre. 

Born in Matrice, Italy and arriving in Windsor at the age of 1, Vittorio has never really left. With a B.F.A from the University of Windsor he earned an M.F.A. from West Virginia University. During that time he witnessed illegal toxic dumping into the Monongahela River. This brazen act of water contamination has bothered him ever since and eventually led to his environmental vocation. "Fighting for clean water, air and land is a self-evident good for all of us and the reason I love my job" says Vittorio.

Frank Butler recently retired from the Workers Health & Safety Centre as a training services representative for 6 years & prior to that as an Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Program Coordinator. Prior to that he retired from Customs Border Services Agency (CBSA) as a customs officer in 2005 with 23 years of experience. In addition to serving on the CEA Board for 25 years, Frank has served on OHS & environmental committees & working groups at the federal, provincial & municipal level, most often as a labour representative. As an active retiree, Frank sits on a number of committees in addition to the CEA BOD.

Frank has a number of hobbies including being an avid gardener on the west side including Campus Community Garden & several plots with his Environmental Unionism working group.

Born in Koblenz, Germany, Michael moved to Canada in 1980. His career arc has shifted from general residential construction to renewable energy and energy efficiency through his expertise in thermography and infrared imaging. Michael has been with Green Sun Rising since 2010, directing sales and overseeing local customer service and project management. 

Originally a founding member of WEEVA (Windsor-Essex Electric Vehicle Association), the organization merged with the EV Society and is presently an active community of about 150 EV owners throughout our region. He is presently the Chapter Lead, promoting public EV awareness and encouraging EV charging infrastructure for local businesses and municipalities . As the Vice-President of CEA, he is helping to uphold the mandate and guiding principles to educate as well as gather and disseminate information about environmental problems and solutions to the public, citizen’s groups, labour and business groups, environmental organizations, schools as well as other resource groups. 

 Parma Yarkin, a CEA director since 2007, previously worked with the Sierra Club of Michigan in various capacities.  She also serves on the board of the Canada South Land Trust, which supports land conservation and restoration throughout SW Ontario.

She despairs over anti-environment sentiment but believes the reasoned critique from the CEA can educate and inform Windsor-Essex residents.

Phil Roberts started his career in parks working in the national parks system and for conservation authorities in Ontario including the Essex Region Conservation Authority. He ended his career the same way as the Director of Parks for the City of Windsor and Director of Parks, Recreation, Facilities and Culture for the Town of Amherstburg. In between he enjoyed a nearly 25 year career in aviation where he helped manage the Windsor Airport. 

He is an accomplished wildlife control specialist, ecologist and avian researcher. He has a master permit to band birds specializing in raptors, passerines and waterfowl and is an active and founding member of the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory. Phil has a long-standing record of being involved in the environmental initiatives, habitat creation and restoration projects as well as avian migration monitoring and population census research. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Citizens Environment Alliance, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup - Public Advisory Council and formerly for the Essex County Field Naturalist’s Club and Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation.

Phil is recently retired, lives in Gesto with his wife Lori where they frequently entertain their two adult daughters, Meg and Tess.

Born and raised in Lasalle, Alan Mckinnon spent his childhood exploring Yawkey bush and Ojibway park. He has since shared these adventures with his own three children. After a 30 year career as writer and producer in local radio, Alan is  now an Instructor at St Clair college’s School of Media, Art & Design. Elected to the CEA board in 2006, Alan considers the day CEA founder Ric Coronado endorsed him one of the proudest moments of his life.  He  is passionate about habitat restoration and preservation and believes the  CEA offers everyone a simple way to contribute to the good fight.

Alan says “Every name added to the CEA membership roll makes the real, rational  voice of Windsor & Essex county residents more powerful, tell your family and neighbours to join today.”

Born in Windsor with a passion for the environment, Giovanni Abati graduated with a B.A. in Geography at the University of Windsor.  He spent 1 year in the Water Resources Department at the Essex Region Conservation Authority before furthering his education at Sir Sandford Fleming College as a Cartographer. This led to the Kawartha Region Conservation Authority where he performed various duties in their Watershed Management, Flood Forecasting, Conservation Services, Education and Parks Maintenance Departments.

Family situations saw Giovanni move to Nova Scotia where he spent 10 years in the Waste Management field focusing his efforts on waste diversion through composting, recycling and improving landfill processes.

Always an active member of environmental organizations, Giovanni often appears before municipal councils or at public events, standing up for sustainable development and conserving our natural heritage.

“I’m proud to be a part of the CEA, our region’s strong and constant voice for environmental health”.  Giovanni Abati

    Philippa von Ziegenweidt has been active in local public initiatives since immigrating to Canada in 1996. Born in The Netherlands, her family moved to South Africa in the early 1970’s. While Philippa’s professional background is in public and forensic accounting, she is also a vocal advocate for responsible urban planning, active transportation (including advocating for bike infrastructure that is safe for cyclists of all ages), and food security — all of these are themes relating to environmental sustainability and improving community wellbeing.