Board
The board helps to support the mission of the Clean Air Coalition and the work of its staff members to make our communities healthier through grassroots organizing. Our board is comprised of individuals from all walks of life who share a commitment to making life better for communities across the region. This incredible group supports the organization by fundraising, serving as organizational ambassadors and making big-picture policy decisions.
Meet Our 2025 Board
James B. Jones, he/him (President and Treasurer)
Jim retired as Town Engineer in 2019 working as a licensed civil engineer in the Town of Tonawanda for 30 years. Project highlights while at Tonawanda included development and construction of over 23 miles of multi- use trails including the hallmark Tonawanda Rail Trail. Design and construction of beneficial reuse of recycled asphalt millings for multi-use trail base along Western NY’s largest rain garden. Jim also initiated the town’s 2 MW solar array project on their landfill, managed several brownfield redevelopment projects, launched the forthcoming LED street light conversion, mini-roundabout intersection conversions and electric vehicle charging stations. In 2020, Jim established Mode Choice Engineering, PLLC focusing on alternative transportation solutions and became part of the staff at GObike Buffalo as their in-house engineer assisting with alternative transportation advocacy planning and design. Jim also serves as chairman of the Rotary of the Tonawandas and volunteer with the Niagara River Greenway, Greater Buffalo Wellness Institute and the Clean Air’s Tonawanda Coke and Huntley Campaign Teams.
Ms. Della Miller, she/her (Secretary)
Ms. Della Miller is a committed community advocate and advisor, advancing solutions in communities. Ms. Della strongly supports building healthy and safe environments. She has participated in several Clean Air Coalition campaigns: Participatory Budgeting, Voter Registration, and Delavan Grider/American Axle. In recognition of her contributions, Ms. Della received Clean Air’s “Golden Gas Mask” Award in 2018. A few of her other accomplishments include: winning the 1st prize of the “Designed to Live Sustainably” Blind Competition, being selected as Champion of Change by UB twice, and completing UB’s Citizen’s Planning School. In addition to her role at Clean Air, Ms. Della is also a member of the Buffalo and Erie County Food Policy Council. Alongside this, she considers herself a one-woman movement for “Front Porch Container Gardening”. Through this, Ms. Della encourages, educates and supports everyone to grow one or two container vegetables and fruit.”
Grace Bogdanove, she/her
Grace first became involved in organized labor during an internship with the WNY ALF, AFL-CIO while she was an undergraduate student at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. After graduating Cornell and organizing for briefly with the Pennsylvania State Education Association, she found her way to 1199SEIU – the union she admired most throughout her time with the WNY ALF. After roles in Syracuse and the North Country, Grace returned to WNY as Vice President of 1199SEIU’s WNY Nursing Home Division. She currently represents several thousand nursing home workers across WNY, focusing on member organizing, comprehensive contract campaigns, and social justice unionism that will improve the lives of healthcare workers and the communities in which they live.
Kate Hey, she/her
Kate Hey is a former small business owner, who has become intimately familiar with local bureaucracy and operations in the City of Buffalo and Beyond. She is a city resident who is interested in creating cleaner, safer, end more just communities by empowering others. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, she approaches Clean Air from a social justice orientation and is committed to joyful service from a space of cultural curiosity and humility.
Madison Rios, she/her
Madison Rios is an organic farmer with an educational background in community development and city planning. Madison received her bachelor’s degree in Community, Environment and Development with a focus on food systems. That degree equipped her with a range of skillsets from community outreach, technical writing, research techniques, translating data into relatable and audience appropriate ways, excel knowledge, basic GIS mapping and more. Alongside this, Madison has a creative side that serves her just as well. She has a long history of photography, both digital and film, video production, editing, and extensive social media account management for organizations.