We are strategists, advocates, and industry leaders with deep expertise in policy and innovation.

Giana Amador is one of the foremost thinkers on carbon removal and co-founded the first dedicated carbon removal organization, Carbon180, in 2015. At Carbon180, Giana wore many hats — from guiding the team’s strategy and communications to ultimately leading its policy program. During her time as policy director, Giana advocated for landmark carbon removal policies, including the $3.5 billion for direct air capture hubs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the first-ever dedicated carbon removal research program in the Energy Act of 2020. Giana has provided testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee and advised presidential campaigns on carbon removal priorities.

Her past research focused on the political economy of renewable energy, with an emphasis on green industrial policy and coalition building. In 2022, Giana was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 and was named one of Entrepreneur's 100 Most Influential Women. She holds a degree in Environmental Economics & Policy from UC Berkeley. Find her LinkedIn and Twitter.

Dana Jacobs serves as chief of staff, building the Carbon Removal Alliance's operational and strategic muscles and overseeing communications. Dana previously led public affairs at Carbon180, shaping the organization's messaging and media relations strategy, managing events and partnerships, and helping to build their communications team. During her time at Carbon180, Dana helped bring carbon removal into the national political consciousness, steering pressrooms across the country to examine and cover carbon removal more thoroughly. Before joining the carbon removal ecosystem, she helped launch early-stage tech companies, from autonomous vehicle startups to innovative retail companies.

She holds a B.A. in Political Science and Creative Writing from Colgate University. She's based in Brooklyn, NY. Find her LinkedIn and Twitter.

Laura Hatalsky serves as deputy director of policy, building the Carbon Removal Alliance's policy priorities and representing the organization's interests before key players in Washington, DC. Laura joins the organization after nearly 20 years working at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and politics, including roles with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, the Senate Democratic Policy Communications Center under Senators Reid and Schumer, and Ron Wyden. Laura has advised candidates around the country as the policy director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and is a Hub Project alumna. 

She lives in Queens, NY with her partner and their two bicycles. Find her on LinkedIn.

Marcela serves as Deputy Director of Partnerships, engaging carbon removal leaders and the broader ecosystem in the policymaking process. She comes to CRA from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) where she led stakeholder engagement for the Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs and Long Duration Energy Storage programs. Prior to that she was Political Director at Data for Progress, a progressive think-tank and polling firm, where she spearheaded efforts to incorporate public opinion analysis into policy development. She specializes in communicating climate innovation to a wide range of audiences including policymakers, philanthropists, and impacted communities. She has also worked as a climate policy analyst for The Century Foundation and interned for the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program and the Sunrise Movement.

Marcela is a South Florida native and holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sustainability Studies from the University of Florida. She’s based in Brooklyn, NY. Find her on LinkedIn.

As the senior communications manager, Dan leads the Alliance’s digital, media relations, and communications strategy work. Previously, Dan was an Associate Vice President at Precision Strategies, a communications and public affairs firm working with top companies, causes and candidates to build programs that drive engagement as well as lasting change. There, Dan helped his clients launch award-winning campaigns, top the New York Times Best Seller list, and pass critical legislation. Before Precision, he worked as the Digital Strategy and Communications Manager for Community Catalyst, a national health care advocacy organization working in more than 45 U.S. states to build power for the health justice movement. Dan holds a B.S. from the University of Vermont, where he studied political science and public communication.

He happily resides in America’s next state, Washington D.C., with his anxious but infinitely lovable dog. Find him on LinkedIn.

Eli serves as the Senior Policy Manager at the Carbon Removal Alliance. He is focused on policy development, with a special interest in demand-side policy. He is passionate about creating a robust market for durable carbon removal and hopes to see a net-negative world in his lifetime. He comes to Carbon Removal Alliance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where he led a $115 million carbon removal funding portfolio. His portfolio included the $35 million Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize and the $52.5 million Direct Air Capture Pilot Prize. Through the Purchase Pilot Prize, Eli helped design and implement the first government program ever to purchase carbon removal credits directly from the private sector. He has advised states and international governments on their carbon removal purchasing initiatives and sits on various industry advisory groups. 

Eli holds a B.A. in Political Science from Haverford College, and is based in Denver, Colorado. Outside of work, he enjoys rock climbing, napping, and cuddling with his dog. Find him on Linkedin.