Mike Hiller (he/him)

Executive Director

mike@upstreampgh.org

Mr. Hiller has helped lead the organization for seven years, first as Director of
Policy and Outreach, and for the last two and a half years as Assistant Director. He will begin serving as Executive Director on January 1, 2022.

Mike Hiller rejoined UpstreamPgh in 2019 as the Assistant Director after previously serving as the Director of Policy and Outreach. He has 15 years of experience working in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Mike is a passionate climate justice advocate and Regenerative Practitioner and brings the frameworks and principles of regenerative development to UpstreamPgh. This approach calls for co-developing living systems that integrate people, nature and the built environment in our watershed communities. Mike moved to Pittsburgh from upstate NY, where he received his Master of Arts in Geography with a Graduate Certificate in GIS + Spatial Analytics from the University at Albany. When not at work, he can be found with his wife, Haley, his son, Myles, and their rescue Pitbull, Layla. He stays busy renovating his 120-year-old house, studying and practicing permaculture and hunting for the perfect slice of pizza.

Kelsey Small (she/her)

Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Finance Collaborative

Kelsey Small is the shared Chief Financial Officer for the Environmental Finance Collaborative with financial responsibilities for four additional organizations: Allegheny County Conservation District, Construction Junction, Grounded Strategies and Tree Pittsburgh. Kelsey is responsible for providing strategic financial management and oversight for financial operations, accounting, financial analysis, reporting and planning. Prior to joining UpstreamPgh in 2019, Kelsey worked at the Carnegie Museum of Art, where she oversaw financial, fundraising and organizational planning initiatives. Kelsey holds a Master of Arts Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida. When not at work, Kelsey can be found hiking, gardening and enjoying sweet treats from her kitchen or other local bakeries.

Aaron Birdy (he/him)

Plan/Build Manager

aaron@upstreampgh.org

Aaron joined UpstreamPgh as an intern in January of 2020 after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a certificate in GIS and Remote Sensing from the University of Pittsburgh. With a focus in GIS and a passion for sustainable infrastructure, Aaron found a perfect fit at our organization working on a GIS study that highlights locations for green stormwater infrastructure projects within our watershed through an environmental justice lens. Aaron joined the team full time in October of 2020 as our Programs Assistant helping with Communications, GIS, Monitoring and Residential GSI programs. Outside of work, Aaron likes cooking vegetarian meals, tasting local craft beers, biking and exploring the three rivers with his partner, Lauren.

Leslie Centola (she/her)

Advocacy Manager

leslie@upstreampgh.org

Leslie joined UpstreamPgh in the fall of 2020 as an intern from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work’s Community Organizing & Social Action (COSA) program. After obtaining her MSW, she joined our team as UpstreamPgh’s first Community Organizer and continues to develop the Climate Justice Collaborative (CJC), advocating for climate resilient communities. Leslie grew up on the coast of North Carolina but spent most of her adult life in Asheville, North Carolina. She brings over 15 years of experience in the human services sector working with youth, adults, and families providing case management, Intensive In-Home therapy, and hospice services. In her free time, she enjoys being in nature, music, knitting, gardening, and traveling.

Taylor Wilkerson (she/her)

Communications and Operations Manager

taylor@upstreampgh.org

Taylor joined UpstreamPgh in April 2021. A Southern California native, Taylor originally came from the arts world, with degrees from UCLA and Carnegie Mellon in Theatrical Design & Production and Arts Management respectively, but quickly moved into nonprofit administration and has found many worthy causes that have become near and dear to her heart. Now, she manages the office, print, and online worlds for UpstreamPgh, and she could not be more honored to call this organization her home. In her spare time, Taylor enjoys video games, embroidery, making floral art, being a goofball with her partner, talking to animals in silly voices, and taking care of her houseplant babies. She’s also a big fan of a well-crafted Excel spreadsheet.

Ryan Ferrebee (he/him, they/them)

Development Manager

ryan@upstreampgh.org

Ryan Ferrebee joined UpstreamPgh as Development Manager in July 2023. So far in their career, Ryan has raised over $15 million in support of nonprofit organizations. He previously worked in the arts sector, serving most recently as Director of Institutional support for Pittsburgh Public Theater downtown and Development Officer for Institutional Funding at City Theatre Company on the South Side. Ryan is responsible for all aspects of fundraising for UpstreamPgh, including grant writing, special events, sponsorships, and individual giving. They hold a master’s degree in Theater with a focus in arts management from Louisiana Tech University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from West Liberty University. In their spare time, Ryan enjoys reading, hiking, and scouring the local area for Mid-century Modern furniture and decor.

Keith Moore (he/him)

Ecosystems Programs Assistant

keith@upstreampgh.org

Keith began at UpstreamPgh in September 2022 to assist with our ecosystem maintenance and monitoring. He currently works with our Urban EcoStewards in an effort to keep the watershed well managed. Being a Pittsburgh native, Keith has lived in the city his whole life and studied at Chatham University learning about sustainability and ecology. Keith’s background in sustainability focuses on natural resource management and urban systems. He also has an interest in native forestry and combating invasive species. Outside of work, Keith enjoys hiking, cooking, photography, traveling, and caring for all kinds of plants, both indoors and outdoors.